Digging in Deeper – Page 156

Digging in Deeper: Philippians 1:20

March 9, 2018March 6, 2018Leave a comment

“…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Here, Paul is talking about his current physical situation and how some folks are responding to it. Just before v. 20 here, he talks about people who are sharing the Gospel out of both pure and selfish motives. Either way, Paul says, the Gospel is proclaimed, which brings him joy. Verse 20 is followed by his much more famous declaration that to live is Christ, but to die is gain. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Revelation 20:7-8

March 7, 2018March 6, 2018Leave a comment

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Hell is hard. Perhaps no orthodox Christian doctrine is as difficult for folks to get their hearts and minds around as is the notion that those who finally reject God will, upon final judgment, spend an eternity separated from Him in Hell. And, I’ll say this as gently as I can: If the doctrine doesn’t give you at least a bit of unease, you may not be paying very much attention to it. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Proverbs 31:3-4; 8-9

March 5, 2018March 1, 2018Leave a comment

“Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink. . .Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Do you want to live like a king? Who doesn’t? And yet, what exactly does it mean to live like a king? Most cultures certainly have an answer to that question. It means getting to be wealthy. It mean getting to have whatever–or whomever–you want. It means getting to do whatever you want. It means getting to go to neat places and meet amazing people. It means getting to live like…well…a king. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Malachi 1:8

March 2, 2018March 1, 2018Leave a comment

“When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Malachi was the last prophet of the people of Israel until John the Baptist arrived on the scene to introduce people to Jesus some 400 years later. In other words, he was the last word the people had from God for 400 years. Ancient though he may be, his words could have been written yesterday they are so relevant to issues we are still facing today. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Revelation 9:20-21

February 28, 2018February 27, 2018Leave a comment

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

This is the real key of this chapter and, really, one of the main themes of the entire record. There appear to be two goals of the various acts of cataclysmic judgments described in Revelation. One goal is the punishment of sin. God has been patient long enough and now it is time for judgment. It is time to let people see and experience the full weight of their sin. Just like with the nation of Israel in the days leading up to and during the conquest of Jerusalem and the exile, the time for the whole world has come up and sin is finally being judged on a large scale. Read the rest…