Psalm: 33 Meditation Ephesians: “You must no longer live as the Gentiles live…” (v. 17) Gentiles were regarded as “sinners” always. Israelites, on the other hand, are God’s people. Black and white, as it were. Habitual Bible reading (study) will serve us by lightening our understanding and softening our hearts. This Bible reading is intended …
Tag: Holy Spirit
Monday, December 13
Psalm: 68 Meditation 2 Peter: I confess, I have never met St. Peter, well, not yet anyway. What I can say is that the Peter of the gospels is vastly different from the writer of this epistle. What changed? What happened? The most major event in Peter’s life must have been Pentecost – the descent …
Sunday, November 14
Psalm: 97 Meditation Ecclesiasticus: This passage will close our brief overview of Ecclesiasticus. (I can hear a collective sigh saying: “It’s about time.”) What Sirach craved for and received (I might say with determination) is a gift we receive upon being “born from above” (John 3:3), that is from the Holy Spirit. Sirach spent 51 …
Tuesday, November 2
Psalm: 119:121-144 Meditation Ecclesiasticus: Sirach here is helping us to see not only the beauty of Wisdom but also Her place in the order of things. As I slide off the rails, please bear with me. When Solomon describes Wisdom, he hints at Her divinity. I think this Wisdom is the Holy Spirit of Whom …
Wednesday, October 13
Psalm: 39 Meditation Luke: John the Baptist was a Levite, Jesus of the tribe of Judah. Isaiah in chapter 40 prophesies John’s coming. By the time John arrives on the scene, there had been no prophet in the land – numerous false messiahs but, alas, no prophets. John had received the gift of the Holy …
Wednesday, September 29
Psalm: 119:97-120 Meditation Acts: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” (v. 2) It is a mystery to me how anyone could hear the gospel and yet not have heard about the Holy Spirit. As the passage reminds us, John preached a “greater than he” would arise and that He would baptize …
Friday, August 13
Psalm: 88 Meditation Acts: Boldness begets boldness. This section begins with the boldness of Peter and John. Well, we can’t have that! So now Peter and John were summoned to the Council (of elders) to explain the healing of the paralytic. The Council members did not like Peter’s response thus they told him to keep …
Saturday, August 7
Psalms: 36, 46 Meditation Acts: It is the day of Pentecost (50 days after Passover/Easter); the Apostles and about 108 others are gathered in the upper room when suddenly a mighty rushing wind comes upon them, also tongues of fire resting on their heads. Without saying a word, the Holy Spirit Himself, comes upon them …
Wednesday, August 4
Psalms: 48, 67 Meditation Acts: These opening verses are packed with activity: Jesus ascends to His Father, leaving His apostles (missionaries) with the promise of the Father to send to them the Holy Spirit. Next, there was a vacancy among these Apostles – Judas, who by now was dead – so, in order to keep …
Wednesday, February 24
Psalm 119:49-72 Meditation: 1 Corinthians – Human knowledge and wisdom has very little impact on the spread of the Gospel. Acknowledging this and coming from a place of humble testimony is how Paul says he teaches and ministers. There is nothing more frightening than being the leader in a situation and acknowledge that no amount …
Pacific Union Connect 