Romans 14, Part 1. On the brother Christ died for. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. — Romans 14:15 Into the Word The Bible is a book of treasure. We usually mean by that the treasure of salvation, the word that gives us eternal life. But the same… Continue reading The One Across the Table
Category: Daily Bread
He Came Hungry
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. — Mark 11:13 Into the Word It is the week He will die. Jesus leaves Bethany… Continue reading He Came Hungry
What the Clay Is Carrying
Nobody hides a fortune in the cheapest container in the house. Paul says God did. On purpose. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. — 2 Corinthians 4:7 Into the Word Corinth knew fine things. Its bronze was prized across… Continue reading What the Clay Is Carrying
“Is That God’s Job, Not Mine?” — The Twisted Logic of the One-Talent Servant
He Wasn’t Wrong In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, there is a fascinating character — the servant who received just one talent. He was not a foolish man. In fact, he had a surprisingly accurate understanding of who God is. Listen to what he said when he stood before his master: “Master,… Continue reading “Is That God’s Job, Not Mine?” — The Twisted Logic of the One-Talent Servant
A Brief Parting, an Eternal Reunion — The Providence Beyond Tragedy in Philemon
“Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever.” (Philemon 1:15) Onesimus’s Flight — The Beginning of Tragedy Onesimus ran. He ran with stolen goods in hand. Within the Roman imperial order, this was no minor transgression. A slave fleeing his master was an… Continue reading A Brief Parting, an Eternal Reunion — The Providence Beyond Tragedy in Philemon
What Does “The Righteous Shall Live by Faith” Mean?
This single sentence from Romans 1:17 — rooted in Habakkuk 2:4 — pierced Martin Luther’s heart and ignited the flame of the Reformation. But do we truly understand what it means? First, We Need to Clear Up a Misunderstanding Many people think of faith this way: “If I believe hard enough, if my faith is… Continue reading What Does “The Righteous Shall Live by Faith” Mean?
What Does Jesus’ Death 2,000 Years Ago Have to Do With Me?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? “Something that happened 2,000 years ago — what does it have to do with me today?” Let me answer that with one simple illustration. A Father Who Secretly Paid Off the Debt A son had fallen into a debt so enormous he could never repay it. But his… Continue reading What Does Jesus’ Death 2,000 Years Ago Have to Do With Me?
Until Dawn — What God Gives to Those Who Hold On to the End
“Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ — Genesis 32:26” There Is a Moment When You Most Want to Give Up Everyone has that moment. The moment when it feels impossible to hold on any longer. When you have fought too long, when you are too exhausted, when nothing seems… Continue reading Until Dawn — What God Gives to Those Who Hold On to the End
Those Who Met in Rome — The Gravitational Pull of the Gospel That Held the Early Church Together
Introduction: A Human Map Found at the End of a Letter A letter’s closing reveals the writer’s truest heart. After the long and solemn theological argument has ended, after the words of comfort and exhortation to suffering saints have drawn to a close, the Apostle Peter records two names side by side at the very… Continue reading Those Who Met in Rome — The Gravitational Pull of the Gospel That Held the Early Church Together
Why Did the Apostles Command “Submission” in the Face of Unjust Suffering?— The True Meaning of Romans 13 and First Peter
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Rom. 13:1–2) “Submit yourselves… Continue reading Why Did the Apostles Command “Submission” in the Face of Unjust Suffering?— The True Meaning of Romans 13 and First Peter