Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Now to the King … invisible…
Summary: I was going to write this meditation in invisible ink, but I didn’t think anyone would get the joke. 🙂
To a blind man, everything is invisible. Everything.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 1:17c – The Invisible King”
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”
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Summary: Paul continues to lay challenges before us, even in the last line of his letter.
Paul closes out his letter to the Philippians with these beautiful words:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
Continue reading “Philippians 4:23a – Spiritual Sight”
… help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Summary: The struggle between Euodia and Syntyche is not unique. When we consider other disagreements the early church experienced, certain patterns emerge.
It might be helpful to know what Euodia and Syntyche had disagreed about. Of course, since Paul tells us that they were both “in the book of life,” it doesn’t matter to them now. They are enjoying the blessings of heaven and the company of the Lord Jesus. Earthly disagreements carry little weight in heaven.
Continue reading “Philippians 4:3b – Body Parts”
[If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in] the flesh, I have more:
Summary: Understanding Paul’s language sometimes requires that we know Jesus to know what he is talking about.
Here is an interesting fact: To understand the “flesh,” you first have to be in the “spirit.”
What does that mean? Let’s use fish for an example.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:4c – The Flesh”
…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”
… in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Summary: Paul’s simple little phrase about places above and below the earth opens a door of wonder about how things work in the spiritual realms.
This is an interesting passage. Paul could have said, “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow,” and left it at that, but he didn’t. Instead, he added these words:
“… in heaven and on earth and under the earth…”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:10b – Spirit and Flesh”
[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… being one in spirit…
Summary: This passage challenges us to explore the meaning of the word Paul used for “one in spirit.”
Nestled between the “same love” and being “of one mind,” Paul inserted today’s passage: “… being one in spirit.”
Have you ever wondered why the text reads “spirit,” and not “Spirit?”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2d – Spiritual Harmony”[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… having the same love…
Summary: Having the “same love” as Christ is a challenge. Understanding why helps us to focus our efforts on serving God’s will.
Paul’s sentences are famously long and convoluted. In this passage, he begins with a series of “if’s,” and then, when he reaches his “then,” he asks his readers to “make my joy complete by being like-minded.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2c – Two Kinds of Love”
[Therefore] … if [you have] any tenderness and compassion …[from being united with Christ]
Summary: Paul points us to a softness of heart that forms inside the breast of each believer.
The emotion that Paul describes in this passage is not a shallow feeling. Paul is talking about an emotion that comes from deep inside. In fact, Strong’s points us to the root of tenderness as being in the spleen.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:1d – A Gentle Whisper”