John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This morning I was at a prayer meeting and there is one elderly woman in particular who I am always glad to hear pray. She lives all by herself and often walks to the church during the week and […]
1 John 3:17, “…if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” This verse follows directly on the heels of John’s first real definition of love in this epistle, namely: ”By this we know love, that He laid down
1 John 2:16-17, “…everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Short Thoughts: If we unrepentantly share the
Psalm 80:3,7,19 — “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” “Restore us, O YHWH God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” First, the phrase translated “restore us,” can also
John 8:32, “…and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The truth will set you free…not some generic truth, but the truth that comes from abiding in Jesus’ word (8:31). And what is His word? Typically in John’s gospel, the “word” (λόγος) of Christ refers to His teaching about Himself
Isaiah 46:4, “…I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 53:4, “Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” A song for today’s picture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c26hIle6lKY I’m currently working on a script for a new animation that I plan to make the first or
Hosea 11:3, “…they did not know that I healed them.” + Isaiah 53:5 As I was reading yesterday, I was struck by the poignancy of Hosea 11:3 in light of the cross. In the context, YHWH is talking about His persistent care for the people of Israel and that—despite His centuries of nurturing, healing,
Numbers 24:17, “…a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab…” Revelation 22:16, “I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Numbers 24:17 combines a number of images that are and will become important in the symbolic grammar
Numbers 24:17 + Revelation 22:16 Read More »
John 7:7, “but [the world] hates me because I testify concerning it that its works are evil.” Short Thoughts: In the light of the sin-bearing death and righteousness-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are ALL revealed as evil to the core… The world hates Him for this… But His sheep will accept that revelation,
1 Peter 1:2-3, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence…” Short Thoughts: Everything needful to live
John 6:63, 65, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe…This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is
Psalm 71:20, “You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” As with all Psalms, and really all the promises of scripture, these words are true of Christians—even on their deathbed—because they were true of Christ—even on
Philippians 3:7-9, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ…for His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…” Many things could be said about this section of scripture, but
1 Peter 2:2, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” The “pure spiritual milk” that Peter is talking about here is likely the “good news that was preached to you,” from chapter 1 verse 25, and the “imperishable seed” by which we have
John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (See also John 3:6; 14:6,9; 16:14-15). Short Thoughts: Much worship is false worship…There is no worship of God happening unless it is happening as the the Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about who the One
Hebrews 13:12-13, “…let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach that He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Where Christ is is our heaven…..so let us go to Him outside the camp that me might be with Him in
1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The only thing we have—or want—to proclaim to others is the all-satisfying excellency of the
John 3:18, “The one believing in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Short Thoughts: How our hearts respond to the gospel of the glory the crucified and risen Jesus gives us a
John 17:19, “For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth…” In John 17:19, Jesus speaks of His coming passion and death as a “consecration” that He enacts of His own power and will (similar to 10:18). There is much to say about Jesus’ “setting Himself apart” or “consecrating
John 17:19 + Exodus 29:1 Read More »
Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Again, no big write up today….I just wanted to put something together that expressed the freedom, the joy, and the duty
