Tag: Quick Takes

Morning Musings: 1 Chronicles 5:20

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“And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.”  (ESV)

Here is another gem hiding in the tedium of the genealogies of 1 Chronicles (maybe they aren’t so tedious after all?…).  The warriors of the Reubenites had their urgent plea to God granted because they trusted in Him.  When we trust in the Lord and live out of that trust, we can go to Him in our times of need, in our battles, and He will be our help.  If He was faithful to them as they trusted in Him, He will be faithful to us as well.

Morning Musings: 1 Chronicles 4:27

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“Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their clan multiply like the men of Judah.”  (ESV)

Children are a blessing from God.  This is something the secular culture that is growing more and more prominent in the West (but also in many places in Asia including China and Japan) does not understand.  A few decades ago an environmental activist named Paul Ehrlich wrote a book called The Population Bomb in which he argued that the world was on a path toward rampant overpopulation which would lead to mass starvation as the environment could not produce enough food to feed everyone.  The only solution was for world leaders to take drastic steps to decrease the world’s population and prevent its rapid growth in the future.  Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Romans 11:6

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“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis on works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”  (ESV)

Our insistence on salvation by grace alone must be absolute.  If we allow even a smidgen of works in the door the whole thing comes undone.  Grace flies out the window and doesn’t return until we drive out works completely.  When it comes to salvation, grace and works are mutually exclusive.  You can have one or the other, but not both.  Period.   Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 18:13

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“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

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“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…