Tag: selfishness
-
Jesus Invites The Messy
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”–John 4 When you read this section of John you learn that this woman’s story was a broken relationship mess and that men like Jesus normally kept their distance from that mess. I think the most helpful way to read her…
-
The Humble Need God
27For You save a humble people,but the haughty eyes you bring down.28For it is You who light my lamp;the LORD my God lightens my darkness.–Psalm 18 Fugitive David had been delivered from the hand of King Saul and he wrote this psalm in response. He presents two contrasts. I will list them as 4. 3 are proclaimed…
-
Bedtime Thoughts
3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,you have tested me, and you will find nothing–Psalm 17 The Hebrew word for ‘tried’ has a meaning of ‘examined.’ The word for ‘tested’ is linked to a goldsmith’s method of refining precious metals. The metal is heated to a high degree and the impurities…
-
Indignant God
11God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.–Psalm 7 David spent Psalm 7 pondering man’s wickedness and God’s judgment. The word he used for indignant is a rare one and can mean ‘anger, curse, denounce, and abhor.’ Jesus showed indignation when he cleansed the temple (John 2). He was angry,…
-
Don’t Add to the Bible
6Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.–Proverbs 30 Most people reading these words are not going to be adding a new chapter to the Bible or trying to discredit God in any way. But does this proverb have something to indeed keep in mind for the…
-
Two Abrams, One Chapter
One of the reasons the Bible is so relevant is that even many of the featured characters are presented warts and all. Such is the case with Abram in Genesis 12. Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will…
-
Gotcha’ Moment
1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good…
-
The Best Kind of Fruit
8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.–Matthew 3 John the Baptist was speaking and people were coming to him. Even famous and highly respected ‘holy’ people like the Pharisees and the Sadducees. John was quick to call them on their responses. If you are truly repenting, then your life will show it. Think of repentance like…
-
A Reason You Go Through Hard Times
3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,and the LORD tests hearts.–Proverbs 17 It’s been years since I have taken a chemistry class, and so I brushed up with a little online research regarding crucibles this morning. Crucibles were a way for metals to be purified. Say an ancient culture mined gold or silver.…
Joel M Bradshaw 