The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Acts 1:8 records the final words of Jesus to His apostles: “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The Matthew 28:18-20 passage describing Jesus’ last words adds the follow-up of discipleship: “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing…..
When we attended a “Walk Thru the Bible” (https://www.walkthru.org) workshop with our children some thirty years ago, we learned a mnemonic phrase to designate the relationships of three kings with God: Saul had no heart for God, David had a whole heart for God, and Solomon served God with only half a heart. More than once, Scripture applies David’s relationship with God as the standard by which other kings of Israel and Judah related to God.
1 Samuel 13:13 records…..
Some time ago Heritage hosted a panel discussion on issues surrounding transgenderism. Along with obviously conservative members, the panel included a lesbian and a prominent leader of NOW. The idea of the negative impact of promotion of transgender acceptability on women was probably the only thing they agreed on. But that one idea brought them together in an activist setting to declare concerns about safety and the potential loss of many years’ worth of progress on all levels of women’s…..
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:9-13)
The Lord’s Prayer ends with the praise phrase “for thine is the kingdom and…..
The sample prayer that Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 also includes the phrase “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. According to William MacDonald, “This petition expresses a healthy distrust of one’s own ability to resist temptations or to stand up under trial” (Believer’s Bible Commentary – New Testament. Wichita, Kansas: A&O Press, 1989. p. 40). Jesus warned His disciples to “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is…..
At Hezekiah’s request, Isaiah asked God to take the shadow backwards ten degrees as a sign of His healing. And God did it (2 Kings 20:8-11). While it is nothing for the Creator to bend time and reverse solar movement like that, it is a significant demonstration of God’s intent to honor Hezekiah’s request.
The Matthew 6:9-13 Lord’s Prayer includes the phrase “Give us this day, our daily bread.” It is not the specific request for the miraculous that Hezekiah…..
When I fell and broke my right wrist three and a half years ago, I asked my left-handed daughter if we could trade “handedness” for a while. She doesn’t think it works that way.
When things like broken bones happen, most people bemoan the issue and complain about the crimp the temporary disability puts on their lifestyle. Yes, we are distracted by the pain. But for the Christian living in the culture of hope that is founded on faith, such…..
“Feet Wet” is a term I have heard in movies and TV programs involving military flight. It is a short way of saying, “We are no longer flying over land, but we are now flying over water.” We also have a “wet feet” idiomatic expression in the English language that refers to being afraid to do something. In Christianity, however, there is an Old Testament benchmark for wet feet that involves faith.
Joshua 3:7-8 and 10 describes God’s directions regarding…..
You may be wondering why I have been doing re-runs the past few weeks. For one thing, the topic of prayer seemed an appropriate direction given our current chaotic social and political culture. But it was primarily a matter of survival for me. Recently my husband was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. We have been busy with biopsies, doctor visits, and surgical after-care. In other words, God has, once again placed us in a medical mission field. This…..
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:9-13)
In last week’s blog, I talked about seeking forgiveness from God. But the prayer…..