An ongoing and perhaps long-standing debate wrestles with the question, “Is accuracy or readability more important?” Frankly, the question tells much about the theologians and scholars who are debating it. Continue reading
When the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians, they were newly recovering from paganism, and they were being severely persecuted by people who were once their “friends.” Paul didn’t encourage the new believers in Yeshua the Messiah to convert anyone…quite the opposite; he set up a three-point instruction for a lifestyle that would keep them out of trouble and establish them as lights in the midst of the darkness surrounding them. Continue reading
Nothing escapes our Father’s attention. not only that, but He has already provided for any and every eventuality. The Father is omniscient, after all, which means He knows everything, the end from the beginning. Continue reading
When God moves, He moves quickly. There’s no time to hang back, drag our heels, or think that He’s going to take a number in our “waiting room” while we “work out our stuff.” He’s NOT waiting…he’s MOVING! We’re invited to go with Him; to “set out” at His command, just like the children of Israel set out when the cloud lifted. Continue reading
It’s invaluable to know whether we’re moving at cross-purposes or in lockstep with Our Father in Heaven. He moves in our lives whether we say, “Yes” or “No” to what He’s doing…to His purpose in our lives, even when we don’t know what His purpose is exactly. Continue reading
When we wonder why areas of life seem limited and we just seem unable to break through to victory, let’s go back to Step One: “First seek the counsel of the Lord“ (1 Kings 22:5, 2 Chronicles 18:4).
Why wonder about any area of life? Continue reading
Those Thessalonians: they knew how it oughta be done!
Paul’s second missionary journey took him into Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia (what is now northern Greece). After he arrived in Corinth, he wrote back to the Thessalonians to encourage and establish them more firmly. The believers there had become known widely as shining examples for others to emulate…in fact, that’s where the title above came from: Continue reading
The Apostle Paul was not using a figure of speech, or a form of symbolic writing in the following excerpt from his first letter to the Thessalonians:
“…to establish your hearts unblamable in holiness in front of our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13) Continue reading
I read a story recently by a Christian writer who equated the “Church” with the “Bride of Christ.” The writer’s tone assumed this to be the correct identity for all believers in Jesus Christ. It seems a common mistake I’ve heard preached frequently in many churches around the country, denominational and nondenominational alike. Continue reading
God’s grace “superabounds” (Romans 5:15), “superexceeds” (Romans 5:20), and “overwhelms,” (1 Timothy 1:14). His patience, however, is limited (1 Peter 3:20).
Want evidence? Read the story of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Moses, Saul, Jonah, and countless others (Heck, read the whole book of Revelation!).
What’s it all mean to us today? Perhaps at least this: God can’t lose us, since Christ died for us, but we can lose Him if we become stubborn and rebellious, and remain that way (Romans 1:16-32).
I’d much rather live in the Father’s superabounding, superexceeding, overwhelming grace, wouldn’t you?
Blessings and joy in the journey.
