Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Now to the King … immortal …
Summary: Immortal is one of those interesting words that sounds like it should be the same as eternal, but isn’t.
As we continue our deep dive into Paul’s praise of God, let’s look at the word “immortal” and consider how that is different than “eternal.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 1:17b – Immortal”
…and who put no confidence in the flesh—
Summary: As we prepare for Paul’s essay on what the flesh can and cannot do, it is helpful to understand the basics of our human nature.
If you don’t know what Paul means by putting “confidence in the flesh,” he is going to explain, in great detail, in the next few verses. Meanwhile, this is a good opportunity to preview the concept before we dive into the details.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:3d – Flesh & Spirit”
… and he began to teach them.
Summary: Jesus is more than a man. People who meet him face-to-face are looking into the eyes of the being who made everything.
In Part I, we looked at Jesus’ divine nature and the fact that he is God. Yet, somehow, Jesus is more. Other religions lay claim to stories about how the world was made, but only one man was ever said to have created the world. Jesus’ disciple, John, describes Jesus this way:
Continue reading “Matthew 5: 2 — Who is Jesus? Part II — Creator”Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Summary: When God enters, our lives become a battlefield between the Spirit and the flesh. With God’s help, we can choose life in the Spirit and crucify the flesh.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:24 – Choosing Life”For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
Summary: Teaching someone about things we can see is hard enough. Teaching people about invisible things is immensely more difficult.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:17a – Learning To Drive”Take the helmet of salvation …
Summary: What is the “helmet of salvation?” Where do we get it and why did Paul call it a “helmet?” These curious questions are the heart of today’s meditation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:17a – Mindfulness”And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love …
Summary: Paul writes, presuming his readers are “rooted and established in love.” But what does that mean, and why would Paul think it important?
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:17b – Spiritual Potting Soil”And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus …
Summary: When it comes to putting words on paper, Paul is no slouch. He is careful to say what he means. In this passage he says something very interesting. He says we are with Christ already.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:6 – Uplifted”… gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Summary: There is a weird aspect to being human that is hard for us to understand. Our spirit and our body are not one and the same. They have two separate agendas.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:3b – Two of Me”After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Summary: We turn now to the ultimate temptation and the ultimate test. God himself is tested.
Continue reading “Matthew 4:2 – The Mouth of God”