“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: 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 inquire in His temple” (Ps 27:4). One secret of getting the important things in life done is leaving […]
“If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (Jas 1:23-24). A friend recently shared that the word “natural” is genesis, suggesting that a hearer […]
“Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:6-7). How does a man become a miser? One thought at a time! What consumes your mind controls your life. Remember, “It’s not what you think you are, but what you think—you […]
“He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Question to self: When I’m going through a time of testing, do I complain because I think I have no more need for improvement? Oh, no—I’m not exactly pure gold yet. But I will be! […]
“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21). Laying up treasure in heaven gives you a vested interest in heaven’s interests on earth. How do we do this—get treasures from earth to heaven? By investing in people who will be going there! […]
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible’” (Mk 10:27). What seems impossible to men? In context, it’s the salvation of self-satisfied people, content in their riches. Perhaps like your friends and relatives and neighbors. Impossible? Not with God! […]
“Bear one another’s burdens (baros), and so fulfill the law of Christ…each one shall bear his own burden (phortion)” (Gal 6:2, 5). Phortion is a load without reference to weight; baros always suggests a heavy burden. Christ’s phortion is light, but He wants us to help those under heavy loads. Know someone like that? […]
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Eccl 9:10). I’m wearied not by what I do but what I leave undone. Hard to improve on the old Saxon saying: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.” […]
“The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge” (Ruth 2:12). Did the Psalmist (17:8; 36:7; 91:4) borrow this from Boaz? And was Boaz thinking of the Lord’s own words to His people (Deut 32:11-12)? Proximity! Protection! Provision! […]