Psalm: 115 Meditation 1 Corinthians: “…on whom the ends of the ages have come.” (v. 11 NRSV) Paul was keenly and sensitively aware of Jesus’ imminent return. He makes constant allusion to it, which, unfortunately for us, is not a foregone conclusion. Paul opens with a reminder of just how God led His people out …
Tag: Paul
Sunday, August 1
Psalm: 44 Meditation Acts: At this point Paul is in what amounts to home confinement. He will enjoy this status for the next two years. Not wanting to squander the time left to him, Paul invites the leaders of the local synagogues to dispute with him concerning this Jesus of Nazareth. While he may not …
Thursday, July 29
Psalm: 71 Meditation Romans: Edifying. Paul is exhorting these Romans to encourage each other by building up or edifying one another. Paul also knows his audience for he makes several citations from the Old Covenant which speak of the place the Gentiles have among the people of God. All of this is “in order that …
Friday, July 23
Psalm: 38 Meditation Romans: Love If you want to know how to “do” love, Paul outlines it here in rather simple terms. One of the admonitions is to “associate with the lowly.” (v. 16) Just yesterday we read how Jesus was associating with a leper just before His last Passover, jeopardizing His own “cleanness” to …
Tuesday, July 20
Psalm: 17 Meditation Romans: Paul has a recurring theme running throughout his letters: he wants to make the Jews jealous of the joyful life of the Gentile Christians. He has said that he would be willing to trade his salvation for theirs (the Jews). That particular office belongs solely to Jesus. Paul also points out …
Saturday, June 12
Psalms: 87, 93 Meditation 1 Timothy: Paul warns Timothy about false teachers and in the next breath cautions him not to crave money for “those who want to be rich fall into temptations and are tripped up by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money …
Wednesday, June 9
Psalm: 119:73-96 Meditation 1 Timothy: Paul is telling Timothy (whom Paul regarded even as a son) all the qualifications of both elders and deacons. Many of these qualifications are shared by both. The elder cannot be a recent convert else he may be conceited. The insertion of women among the deacons may suggest, in fact, …
Wednesday, July 14
Psalm: 49 Meditation Romans: More about promises (see Monday’s meditation). Paul, himself a Pharisee, perhaps much of the Pentateuch (Torah – the first 5 books of the O.T.: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Paul also aches for Israel – his kinsman and would gladly trade his redemption for theirs. Does any of us have that …
Thursday, June 24
Psalm: 118 Meditation Romans: Paul is telling us again that there is something universal about the Law. In chapter 1 Paul outlines that everyone has the Law or segments of it written in his heart. This is why Paul repeatedly exclaims: “They are without excuse.” While the Gentiles may be aware of violations of the …
Monday, June 21
Psalm: 135 Meditation Romans: It is certain I will be unable to do Romans justice in these meditation – I am limited chiefly by space but also by intellect and finally time. Romans ranks among the most profound theological works ever written about the atonement followed closely by Hebrews. Romans might be called the bedrock …
