Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is…
The Gift of Apostleship
Mention the word apostle, and you may send people scattering in many directions! Without delving into the differing ideas on today’s use of the word, let us consider that there is a usage of the word “apostle” in the historical sense, and there is a gift of “apostleship” that is still alive and active today….
How Do You Tell A Boulder From A Backpack?
We want to be good people! We want to help others when they are in need. As we consider these verses from the sixth chapter of Galatians, we may find ourselves wondering how to distinguish between the burdens that we help other people carry versus the load for which an individual is responsible. In essence,…
The Gift of Administration
In the context of spiritual gifts, the concept of administration is also called governing, guidance, wise counsel, or leadership, depending on the translation. Imagine the person steering a ship along its course, guiding both crew and cargo to the intended destination. Consider what happens in the absence of this gift: “Where no counsel is, the…
Resurrection!
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” When…
A Grain of Wheat
“The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in…
The Wicked Tenants
“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then…
The Wedding Banquet
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they…
What To Remember, What To Forget
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I…
But Nobody Wants To Be Called A Slave
Nobody wants to be called a slave. Nobody wants to talk about slavery. If we today find ourselves in debt, a slave is exactly what we are. Consider these words from Proverbs: The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. – Proverbs 22:7 We can dress it up all…
