Category: Devotional
-
Evangel, Part II: The Story of God (and Me)
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first…
-
Evangel, Part I: What is the Gospel?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” – Romans 1:16
-
Joshua 4: Stoned In To Your Mind
Questions: What is worth celebrating? How does Joshua anticipate God’s commands? Why must we remember God’s wondrous works? When do we teach our children? Read more to pursue answers in [Joshua 4]
-
Joshua 3: Holy Shittim!
Questions: Why should the Israelites stay a kilometer behind the ark? How does God exalt Joshua? To what end? Where should priests keep the presence of God? What is the connection between “relationship” and “results”? What’s the secret to leading a large group on inconceivable adventures? Read more to pursue…
-
Joshua 2: The Whore of Jericho
Questions: Who is Rahab? Why is she a harlot? How come she was so ready to help the spies? What is God trying to teach Joshua? Where should I be looking for those God has placed to help me fulfill my purpose? Read more to pursue answers in Joshua 2
-
Joshua 1: Dying to Lead
Questions: What must it have felt like to be Joshua? How can we lead men to fight the very shame that destroyed their fathers? Is having God with you the secret to being strong and courageous? Read more to pursue answers in Joshua 1
-
Leviticus 4-6 Ignorance is Blitzed
Questions: Are we accountable for unintentional sin? How much? Does it depend on who we are? Or what kind of sin? What if we can’t pay the price? What if we sin against our neighbor? Does that cost God? “Read More” to pursue answers from Leviticus. [Ed. note: Yeah, it…
-
Proverbs 3 Miss Understanding
More, we need to actively fear God’s punishment if we try to abuse that world for own selfish purposes.But this fear doesn’t weaken us, it strengthens us:It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.In fact, the more we give over to God, the better off we’ll…
-
Leviticus 1-3 Sacrifice Play
From this I presume that the children of Israel were already in the habit of bringing offerings, but were (at best) inconsistent in their quality: his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will…
-
Philemon Slave-ish Obedience
What if Paul really did know Phil’s heart? In that case, rather than feeling shamed into doing what he did not want, Phil would actually be encouraged at Paul’s faith in him — and delighted at the chance to demonstrate his love for Paul in his treatment of Onesimus. The…
-
Titus 3 Fruitless
The key, I suppose, is to set the bar for humility and unity by our own example, so that we have the moral authority to judge those who are truly divisive (vs. merely inquisitive).Perhaps that is why Paul values Titus so highly, and commends other such men to him:
-
Titus 2 Discrete Advice
The bar for female elders is even higher, since they need to be his proxies to teach younger women:That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that…
-
Titus 1 Cretins!
Titus’ primary duty would actually appear to be leadership development, not evangelism:For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:Then follows a list of criteria, quite similar to those…
-
2 Timothy 4 Well Seasoned
But, based on the previous chapters, I think it applies equally to those who “dispute about words”, and obsess about “myths and genealogies” instead of pursuing godliness with their whole hearts.For Paul seems less concerned about Timothy’s notional beliefs than his practical behavior:But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions,…
-
2 Timothy 3 Be Wise
It is more encouraging to reflect on Paul’s positive example:But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,And we can trust him not just because of the power of God made manifest in his virtues, but also in his sufferings:Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto…
-
2 Timothy 2 Trouble and Strife
As we see in the athletic metaphor:And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.And (cf. other translations) also in an agricultural metaphor:The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.Clearly, the triple repetition implies Paul wants Timothy to take…
-
2 Timothy 1 Hold On!
At any rate, Timothy has not merely inherited his maternal faith, but also a spiritual anointing:Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.Paul seems particularly concerned that Timothy use that gift to combat…
-
1 Timothy 6 Trust: Me
Rather, it gets back to the desire to be our own god, to be in control of our circumstances by accumulating the power to control the world around us.Rather than submitting to the God-given circumstances in order to develop godly character:But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and…
-
1 Timothy 5 Family Matters
Really, it sounds as if the widows are actually enrolling in some sort of religious order, not merely receiving some free handouts.Which might be Rule 3: only enroll widows are willing to devote the rest of their lives to ministry, instead of seeking a family.And lest this seem too severe,…
-
1 Timothy 5 Family Matters
Questions: What is the question?”Read More” to pursue answers from First Timothy.Lord, make me a Fountain of your Love.Draw me into your PresenceAnd fill me with your Holy SpiritThat I would know you as my FatherAnd manifest the image of ChristIn this world, and the world to come.
Radically Happy 