1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The death of a loved one, after a long illness. Enough said....
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Long-suffering
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is...long-suffering....
I like the idea of Long-suffering. Long-suffering is a long, dull day, without revelry, without satisfying human contact, without fun. But a day that, somehow, in the end, leaves you with a little bit of Christ's peace which passeth understanding. That's my definition, anyway.
Some examples. Care-giving for a senile parent. A job that's really boring. Getting teenage children through tough times.
When you believe in the saving grace of Jesus, even a rotten day can be a great day....
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is...long-suffering....
I like the idea of Long-suffering. Long-suffering is a long, dull day, without revelry, without satisfying human contact, without fun. But a day that, somehow, in the end, leaves you with a little bit of Christ's peace which passeth understanding. That's my definition, anyway.
Some examples. Care-giving for a senile parent. A job that's really boring. Getting teenage children through tough times.
When you believe in the saving grace of Jesus, even a rotten day can be a great day....
Monday, February 15, 2010
Beseiged
Isaiah 29
4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
In a chapter surrounded by David's glory past and Jesus' glory to come, we have this striking prophesy of misery to come, to the seige of Sennacherib.
But there is the promise of good things to come.
More From Isaiah 29
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Here we can hear echos of themes to come - the beatitudes. And....
More From Isaiah 29
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
And so, in this chapter we look near - to the seige of Sennacherib and to the captivities. And we also look far - to the first coming of Jesus, to the coming of the church and to the second coming of Jesus and the conversion of the Jews.
Lesson for today: no matter how bad it gets, there is always hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ....
4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
In a chapter surrounded by David's glory past and Jesus' glory to come, we have this striking prophesy of misery to come, to the seige of Sennacherib.
But there is the promise of good things to come.
More From Isaiah 29
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Here we can hear echos of themes to come - the beatitudes. And....
More From Isaiah 29
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
And so, in this chapter we look near - to the seige of Sennacherib and to the captivities. And we also look far - to the first coming of Jesus, to the coming of the church and to the second coming of Jesus and the conversion of the Jews.
Lesson for today: no matter how bad it gets, there is always hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ....
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Read Your Bible
1 Timothy 4
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
No matter the difficulties you face in live, no matter how hard it is to get through a bad day. Don't forget, you must read your Bible. Every day.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
No matter the difficulties you face in live, no matter how hard it is to get through a bad day. Don't forget, you must read your Bible. Every day.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Cleansing The Temple
John 2
14 And [Jesus] found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables.....
A scourge? A lash consisting of a strap or cord.
These people were in the temple and they were making money. This was their job; this is what put food on their family's tables. They were not, however, attentive, fully and faithfully and deeply, to their God.
God, as we see so many times in the Old Testament, and here in the New Testament, demands, demands our attention.
So, this may be a lesson lost on Christians today. Then again, it is not for me to judge - maybe it's not for me to comment - even in passing - on my fellow Christians....
14 And [Jesus] found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables.....
A scourge? A lash consisting of a strap or cord.
These people were in the temple and they were making money. This was their job; this is what put food on their family's tables. They were not, however, attentive, fully and faithfully and deeply, to their God.
God, as we see so many times in the Old Testament, and here in the New Testament, demands, demands our attention.
So, this may be a lesson lost on Christians today. Then again, it is not for me to judge - maybe it's not for me to comment - even in passing - on my fellow Christians....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Humility
Matthew 11
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
We learn humility, and we learn of the will of God, not from other men, but from Jesus, himself.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
We learn humility, and we learn of the will of God, not from other men, but from Jesus, himself.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The LORD Is My Light
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light....
These words from Psalms are etched on the stain glass window closest to my pew in church. It's an oddly beautiful window for a modest church.
More
1 ....of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
I do thank the Lord every day for my dearth of enemies. Especially ones that might want to eat my flesh.
More
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
I think I will sleep well tonight. And, Amen....
1 The LORD is my light....
These words from Psalms are etched on the stain glass window closest to my pew in church. It's an oddly beautiful window for a modest church.
More
1 ....of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
I do thank the Lord every day for my dearth of enemies. Especially ones that might want to eat my flesh.
More
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
I think I will sleep well tonight. And, Amen....
Friday, February 5, 2010
Teaching The Word
Isaiah 28
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
So, who shall teach us the Word of God? Certainly not drunken priests.
More From Isaiah 28
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
So, what do we need?
More From Isaiah 28
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.
We need pure, Godly, sober men, pastors of God. Patience and intelligence seem to be notably important.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
So, who shall teach us the Word of God? Certainly not drunken priests.
More From Isaiah 28
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
So, what do we need?
More From Isaiah 28
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.
We need pure, Godly, sober men, pastors of God. Patience and intelligence seem to be notably important.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Will of God...and Righteousness
John 1613 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth....
The truth is, God's will for us is to live humbly, to live righteously, to fear Him and to glorify Him. Until Jesus comes.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
RIGHTEOUS, a. ri'chus.
Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man.
The truth is, God's will for us is to live humbly, to live righteously, to fear Him and to glorify Him. Until Jesus comes.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
RIGHTEOUS, a. ri'chus.
Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man.
Monday, February 1, 2010
How Shall They Hear Without A Preacher
Romans 10
14 .....and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Salvation is a process. And, the process includes the Word, faith, and preaching.
More From Romans 10
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So, as a practical matter....God bless or God blesses the preacher....
And Finally From Romans 10
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
14 .....and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Salvation is a process. And, the process includes the Word, faith, and preaching.
More From Romans 10
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So, as a practical matter....God bless or God blesses the preacher....
And Finally From Romans 10
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
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