July 2017 – Page 3

Morning Musings: Proverbs 18:13

July 27, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (ESV)

How many times have you watched a talking heads program as the two (or more) guests responded to what each other was saying almost as if they hadn’t heard them at all? The fact is, a lot of the times they haven’t. They come ready with their list of talking points and are committed to firing those off regardless of what the other person has said. Those shows may attract some audiences for the spectacle of it, but not for the news they offer. It’s really embarrassing. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 1 Chronicles 1:1

July 26, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“Adam, Seth, Enosh…” (ESV)

The first Bible reading plan I ever went through was three years long. It had you read basically one chapter a day. The major exception was when you started into 1 Chronicles. They had you read the first nine chapters all at once. I remember doing a double take when I saw it. Then I started reading and did exactly what they figured I would do, justifying their decision to group all nine chapters together. I skimmed. Quickly. Because it was boring. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Romans 10:3

July 26, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” (ESV)

Paul’s argument here is that while the Jewish people were striving to be in a right relationship with God (that is, to obtain righteousness), they were going about it as if that relationship depended on them, not God. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Hosea 13:14

July 26, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“I shall random them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.” (ESV)

This prophecy, quoted by Paul in the magnificent conclusion to 1 Corinthians 15, was fulfilled in Christ who provided the ransom God promised here. Here once again, though, we see God’s heart. He will punish the people for their embrace of injustice and idolatry (and idolatry in whatever form it happens to take always leads to injustice), but He will not leave them there. He will redeem them. That redemption was fulfilled in Christ. And, it is a redemption made available to all who would receive it. We have all walked the path of Israel, the path of sin and rebellion. In His justice, God allows us to taste the consequences of our choices, but in His love He has provided a way out through Christ. We need only take it.

Morning Musings: Hosea 12:8

July 25, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“Ephraim has said, ‘Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity of sin.'” (ESV)

There is a great temptation in being wealthy (and if you are reading this on a computer or smart device you are fabulously wealthy compared to the rest of the world) to place our trust in our wealth instead of in God. There is a great temptation to believe that if we have enough money, we can generally be protected from whatever life may throw at us. This is a false belief. It will invariably lead to a great fall. Our only real hope is to trust in God. Everything else is transitory and will eventually fail us. He alone will stand firm.