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
James 4:14, “…you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” Short Thoughts: We are all blind regarding not only the next day but the next moment…how good, like blind beggars, to cling to our merciful Shepherd who ordains every step, who sees clearly to the end, and who has paved the path to our
Isaiah 53:4, “Surely, He has borne our griefs…” As I type it is 6pm on Sunday evening and news about the Sutherland Springs church shooting is flowing in via internet media outlets…. When we heard, Courtney and I prayed together…its hard to find words…Its hard to know how to respond with such an overload
James 2:26, “…faith apart from works is dead.” No big write up today, I suppose that yesterday’s makes up for the lack 😉 James’ words here are pretty self-explanatory—and sobering. The Spirit is crystal clear that the sort of faith in Christ that is “counted as righteousness“ (2:23), is the faith that bears fruit.
Luke 24:40-41, “…He showed them His hands and His feet…[they] disbelieved for joy…” Short Thoughts: The wounds of their God’s agony, the wounds dealt by the worst sin imaginable, the wounds of temporally-borne eternal torment, of damnation itself—seen in the flesh of the risen Son—call forth such passion of joy from the hearts
Ezekiel 34:11, “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all the
Isaiah 52:15, “…he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.” May it be so….. Below you can read the string of thoughts from my journal that led me to this
Psalm 60:4-5, “You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!” I read these verses again today and was reminded of a journal entry from back in
Exodus 24:16, “The glory of YHWH dwelt on Mount Sinai…” Exodus 25:8, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” Exodus 24:16 tells us that the glory of the LORD dwelt on Sinai. Of course, we know—as did Moses—that God is “omnipresent,” but in a unique way, His glory
Exodus 24:16, 25:8 + John 1:14 Read More »
Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is the final of the “Beatitudes” pictures…..The main points that I wanted to hit in this final image were: 1) To be persecuted “for righteousness’ sake” is to be persecuted—whether intentionally or unintentionally on the part
Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” As the Church reconciles the shattered family of humanity to one another and to God, she manifests and continues the work of the True Child of God: the crucified and risen Lord whose blood has purchased all true and lasting
Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit”
Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” While preparing for this picture, I was pointed to Psalm 24:4-6, which is the primary OT context that Jesus seems to be drawing from in this Beatitude. There the concept of a “pure heart” seems to be unfolded in v.4b, namely,
