Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage are both a statement of fact and a warning.
Paul’s words in this passage are rather stark.
As a believer in Jesus Christ and one who has devoted a large part of his life to following Jesus, this feels like a slap in the face.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:21 – Self-Interest”… since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
Summary: In this passage, Paul introduces the concept of our “inheritance in the Lord.” How we understand our spiritual life has a lot of influence on how we understand this passage.
Ah! Now we get down to brass tacks! If we do all this stuff for Jesus, what do we get out of it?
This is where theology gets hard.
Continue reading “Colossians 3:24a – Self-Interest”
…clothe yourselves with …
Summary: Paul provides us with an interesting metaphor for Christian living — putting on clothes. It is something we all do every day, and it is an easy way to visualize the change God wants to see in our lives.
Yikes! This is where Christianity gets real.
Looking back at verses nine and ten, Paul talks about taking off the “old self” and putting on the “new self.” Now he is telling us exactly how to do it. In the transition from nonbeliever to believer, this difference between “old self” and “new” is where the rubber hits the road.
And what, exactly, is the difference?
Continue reading “Colossians 3:12b – God’s Closet”The acts of the flesh are obvious: … jealousy …
Summary: Jealousy is an emotion that is akin to zeal. Like fire, this emotion can be used for good or for evil.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:20c – The Acts of the Flesh Part IV: Holy Zeal”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Summary: Sometimes it helps to restate what Paul has said in simpler terms. Here we look at a simplified version of this passage to get a better picture of what Paul is trying to say.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11-13 – The Goal of Faith”