Tag: mercy
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Criminal Christian
Luke 23:32–43; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 A criminal is saved on the cross. Talk about a “bedside” or “execution” salvation! He was on the cross when he was saved. Look at the words the criminal stated. Look at the words that Jesus spoke. We often have longer phrases and understandings (even from Jesus’ own words) of…
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Stirring
Isaiah 43:8–13; Romans 11:13–29 What or who are you fighting for? If you are not fighting for God, then are you fighting for an idol? Often Christians dismiss the Israelites of the Old Testament as the clueless. They were the people that didn’t get it. This view seems to be reinforced by Jesus’ words, yet…
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Speed Check
Isaiah 56:1–8; Ezekiel 2:1–10 When you’re driving, do you continue to check your speed? What do you do when you check a speed limit sign? A speed limit sign cannot make you stop speeding. A speed limit sign cannot make you speed up. A speed limit sign can only tell what the authorities have set…
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Heart of Money; Heart of Mercy
2 Corinthians 8:1–15; 1 Timothy 6:17–19 Generosity is a good thing. A generous heart is a good thing. Paul encouraged generosity among the churches. The churches would care for one another as they were going through trials (famines, war, etc.). The graciousness of one church gave life to another church. The churches did not do…
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Using Ways
Luke 16:1–9 This is one of those interesting parables. I knew a small business owner who taught a Sunday School lesson on this passage. He was quite honest that he hated it. As a small business owner, he could not understand the apparent praise for a person who reduced what was owed. This is understandable.…
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Drink or Eat
Judges 6:25–32; Hebrews 5:11–6:3 Supposedly, the Israelites were the People of God. Their lives after their entrance into the Promised Land was certainly not a testimony to that. The worthless gods and idols of the land became the focus of their lives. God became a second thought, if that. Weak Gideon (his own thoughts of…
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Wholly New or Newly Whole
2 Corinthians 5:14–21; Titus 1:1–3 The “new creation” is an often-quoted phrase. Like many verses in the Scriptures, it can stand on its own. However (you knew that was coming), in context its meaning is so much more important than a mere new creation. It is a creation with a purpose. While it is accurate…
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Red or White?
Genesis 18:16–33; Jeremiah 5:1–9; Romans 3:5–24 God hates me. God would/could never love me. God doesn’t care about me. No one can measure up to that standard. Any of those sound familiar? When we read stories such as Sodom and Gomorrah it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of destruction. Yet, there…