Pearl & Prodigal

The Apostle John lays out for us three categories of temptations which can lead us into sin. 1. Things that appeal to the flesh. There are things that appeal to the physical senses and natural functions.2. Things that appeal to the eyes. Under here we might list things that appeal to the imagination. Things that awaken an ungodly desire in us or a covetous desire for anything that is not lawfully ours to have.3. Things that appeal to pride. Under this category we can list things that appeal to an ungodly sense of self worth or identity.These three categories are a recurring motif throughout Scripture. 

You play an important role in the body of Christ – His church. To say otherwise is to be dismissive of both His own valuation of your life and sacrifice on your behalf, but also lacking in a true acceptance of the fact that as a Christian your life is not your own. As Christians we have offered our lives in service to Him, and an important part of that continuing service is to fellow Christians. As we age, those of us who are Christians accumulate the pains of the losses which broken Christian lives bring. It is important that you do your part in both encouraging Christians to continue to move forward, and to personally strive in exercising your faith to grow and mature in Christ so that we do not fail ourselves.

There is war in the Middle East, and that usually means people will be making predictions concerning the return of Christ. But consider carefully that the verses of Matthew 24 are given a limited and specific timeframe by Jesus which excludes them from application to the horrors of our own time. Verse 34 is key: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:34 NAS95)

"By faith Enoch" the writer of Hebrews begins his verses about this outstanding hero that testifies even today of the possibility of living a life that is pleasing to God. The Scriptures seem to tell us so little about him, but his life is a marvelous witness of a life defined by faith. What can we learn from him so that we might strive more to walk close with our Lord.

Perhaps you've heard a sermon on the different words used for "love" in the discussion Jesus has with Simon Peter in John chapter 21. Perhaps you've learned to think about "agape" love as a love of decision, or a love of the will. These are a couple of related items I want to dive into this week in thinking about the straightforward thoughts given in the first three verses of 1 Corinthians 13.

Clemens of Alexandria, born about 150 AD, left an account which was handed down of an event concerning the Apostle John and a murderous bandit who had at one time been counted among the Christians. Looking back over the first few centuries of the Christian age, Eusebius selected this story as one fit for preservation as representing the power of the Gospel in his Ecclesiastical History written in the 300s. While the truth of the event may be questioned, the point it is making is well worth considering.

In Numbers 13-14 we encounter the story of the spies being sent into the Promised Land to see what it was that God was giving them. However, when ten of the twelve that were sent brought back a bad report which caused the people to despair, God made a promise that He would never allow them to cross over into the rest He had prepared for them – they missed their gift that was just waiting for them to receive in faith. What might we learn from this about how we should live today?

There is a form of a word which repeats several times in the original Greek of John's Gospel (ἐγένετο; egeneto/egg-en-eh-tah). The word shows up in various forms in the first chapter eleven times. In this episode I want to think some about the superiority of Christ, and how John highlights that in part through the repetition of these terms.

In this episode we look at the two instances in the life of Elijah, and how simple baked bread in both of them were used by God to remind him of where to put his faith and trust.

Without God's mercy and grace, we are without hope. The Law of Moses makes that clear through a careful reading of the sacrificial requirements, and the lives of God's people who sought Him before the cross of Christ.

When it boils down to it, there are really just two foundational philosophies competing for our allegiance. Either can be logically defended, but neither should be mixed. Let those of us who belong to Christ, submit to His ethic. Further, let us call people not to an ethic, but to a person – Jesus Christ. Without Him, a Christian ethic is indefensible and foolish.

A look at a helpful part of your modern English Bible translations. 

What is it that answers life big questions? The answer is in Christ. The proof is in His resurrection. 

A look at the nature of God's love for us as individuals at a grand scale.