By:
On:
In: Bible and Theology, Prayer and Devotions

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)   These instructions come to us in the midst of similar instructions. At first glance, we are tempted to think context offers us no additional insights. But let’s look again anyway at the immediate context: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:9-11) See it now? Again we have a careful balance between truth and love:  Being sincere, real, loathing evil/sin, doing good–butRead More →

By:
On:
In: Bible and Theology, Legalism, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Romans 15:2) Yikes! Whatever happened to you can’t please everyone? Okay, lay some context on me, please: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written,”The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (Romans 15:1-3) Ah, there, Paul is continuing his discourse from Romans 14 on the varying convictions in the Body and saying we shouldRead More →

By:
On:
In: abuse, Bible and Theology, Guest posts

A guest post by Adam Graham Many will gloat today, thanks to those who proclaimed Christ’s return today only for it not to happen. Their words come to us in scripture: knowing this first: that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”-2 Peters 3:3,4 (KJ21) Scripture disallows predicting Christ’s return.  The Lord tells us that “No man knows the day or the hour.” (Matthew 24:36). Peter echoes Christ’s words, saying, “the day of theRead More →

By:
On:
In: Bible and Theology, Idols, Post-Modernism, Prayer and Devotions

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6) Longing for peace and harmony in your relationships? This blessing in Romans points us to the only source of reconciliation: Jesus. It starts with prayer, filling up on encouragement and endurance from the Lord, opening up to his power to bring  each of us into accord with him. The more like him each of us grows, the more harmony we will have with oneRead More →

By:
On:
In: abuse, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17-18) The immediate context includes verses 13-16, which tell us, if I understand them correctly: Quietly let your wisdom and understanding be evident in how you conduct yourself, enduring injury with patience and without resentment (Thank you m-w.com.) Do not boast of being such while deceitfully hiding in your heart an attitude of hostility toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage and ambitions that put yourself first and furtherRead More →