Scripture: Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the
Scripture: Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. Hebrews 12:2 (MSG)Observation: Author. Gr. archgos, “leader,” “originator,” “founder,” “pioneer” (RSV). Archgos is
Scripture: Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13-14 (NKJV)Observation: thirst again … never thirst, &c.—The contrast
Scripture: So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Acts 17:27-28 (NKJV)Observation:
Scripture: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)Observation: Are changed. Literally, “are being changed.” The plan of redemption aims to restore the image of God in man (Rom.
Scripture: (Num 16:31-33 NKJV) Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, {32} and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. {33} So they and all those with them went down alive into the
Scripture: But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 (NKJV)Observation: Cannot contain. Paul stresses the importance of being continent, but he also
Scripture: Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NRSV)Observation: Rejoicing in hope. The three brief injunctions in this verse seem even more pointed when the word order of the Greek is retained: “In hope rejoicing, in tribulation enduring, in prayer persevering.” Paul has already commended the spirit of cheerfulness (v. 8). In ch. 5:2 he
Scripture: Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord. Romans 12:11 (GW)Observation: Fervent. Gr. ze, literally, “to boil.” Apollos is described as a man who was “fervent in the spirit” (Acts 18:25). The zealous Christian will always keep his interest in the cause of God at the boiling point, as it were. His fervor
Scripture: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (MSG)Observation: Be perfectly joined together. Gr. katartiz, “to mend [as a torn fishing net]” (Matt. 4:21); ethically, “to perfect,” “to complete.”Mind … judgment. Gr. nous … gnm. These words may be distinguished as follows: Nous
