A man had fallen into an old, dry well and was stuck at the bottom. He called out for help and finally someone came by. The person lowered a rope down to the man. The man grabbed the rope, looked at it, and asked, “What happens if this rope breaks?” Fortunately, the person on topContinue reading “The Disciple and Opportunity”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Useful!
Based on data frompeople applying for Social Security cards for their children, the most popular baby names for boys are: Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah, James, William, Benjamin,Lucas, Henry, and Theodore. But no Onesimus. That’s too bad. Although it’s a little long at four consonants (you’d probably have to come up with a shortenedversion), it’s aContinue reading “Useful!”
Proverbs and Love
The word “love” occurs 31 times in Proverbs—that’s once for every chapter. And why not? Love is a basic human need. You can own the world but if you don’t have love—it’s all kind of meaningless, isn’t it? On the other hand, if you have love, it changes everything. It was Victor Hugo who wrote,Continue reading “Proverbs and Love”
Seven Miles From Jerusalem
Two disciples are headed to Emmaus (a village about seven miles from Jerusalem) where presumably they have been attending the Passover Feast. But that’s not what is on their hearts and minds. They are thinking about Jesus and how He had been turned over to the Romans for crucifixion by the Jewish leaders. As ifContinue reading “Seven Miles From Jerusalem”
Our Decisions And God’s Will
God is not micromanaging things in Acts. While there are certainly times when He steps in, intervenes, and overrules (i.e., the call to Macedonia – 16:9-10), most of the time it is His will that His people choose, trusting that He will help them make the best out of their choices (note word “decide” inContinue reading “Our Decisions And God’s Will”
A Sandcastle Faith
There will be storms for the disciple. When Jesus speaks of them in Matthew 7:24ff, it is a when rather than an if type of statement that He makes. This shouldn’t surprise us, the Scripture promises believers will have their share of difficulties and hardships (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12, etc.). They are part of the tapestry of our faith. Continue reading “A Sandcastle Faith”
Fishing for Taxes
The account of Jesus paying the temple tax is a brief story tucked away in the last part of a chapter (Matthew 17). Furthermore, it is greatly overshadowed by the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus and the healing story in the first part of that chapter. When we finally do zoom in on theContinue reading “Fishing for Taxes”
Guarding Our Hearts
“Heart” is a huge word in Proverbs—it is used 75 times in 31 chapters! The heart is at the center of who and what we are. It is where we process life—where attitudes are formed and actions are determined. It is the command post of our being. According to Proverbs, our life is a reflectionContinue reading “Guarding Our Hearts”
Pride and Humility
You don’t have to read much of Proverbs before you understand the writer likes to use contrast to make his point. He tells us in 1:7 that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” He does the same kind of thing in v. 32-33. Then thereContinue reading “Pride and Humility”
For Freedom (2)
Our freedom in Christ isn’t always used by us in liberating ways. Part of that is because living free isn’t anywhere near as easy as it sounds. Many people equate living a liberated life with essentially doing whatever they want to do. That’s nonsense and Paul says so in Galatians 5:17 when he writes “youContinue reading “For Freedom (2)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 