Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy Mercy is showing love to the helpless and hopeless (as opposed to grace which is showing love to the undeserving). The best definition of the two that I have ever encountered is this: ‘Grace is especially associated with men in their sins; mercy is especially associated […]
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth To be meek is to truly understand what I am and how that affects my interactions with others. I see others through the lens of my own sin. If I am poor in spirit to the extent that it causes me to mourn over sin, […]
The Beatitudes The word ‘beatitude’ roughly means ‘blessing.’ Jesus starts His sermon with a list of attributes that characterize those who are blessed – who receive God’s approval. Said another way, He lists the attributes of those for whom this sermon is intended. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ manifesto explaining how to live […]
1 Amos is a sheepherder and keeper of figs from Tekoa, a city just south of Jerusalem in Judah, sent by God to prophesy against Israel. Though he lives in the Southern Kingdom, he is sent to speak against the North. The words he speaks come from visions that God has sent to him. He […]
Amos is a book of prophecies and condemnations proclaimed by a shepherd from Tekoa – a town just south of Bethlehem in Judah. Not a prophet by trade, Amos describes himself in the book as a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs (7:14). Amos is called by God to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom […]
Paul ends the letter by sending greetings from those who are with him and giving instructions regarding the distribution of the epistle. These verses do not contain doctrine per se, but by discussing people in the ministry they provide both encouragement about life in Christ and a sobering reminder of the fallibility of man. 7-9 […]
Paul wraps up his admonitions to Christian living by turning the focus outside the church. To this point he has instructed the Colossians on how to live within the community and interact with fellow believers. Now he commands them to look outside the body as well. Every believer lives under the final words of Christ […]
Paul takes what he said in verses 12-17 about interacting with one another generally and applies it very specifically to family relationships. He instructs believers who are free in Christ and who know there are no longer any distinctions between them in Christ how to relate to each other in a household now based in […]
Paul takes what he said in verses 12-17 about interacting with one another generally and applies it very specifically to family relationships. He instructs believers who are free in Christ and who know there are no longer any distinctions between them in Christ how to relate to each other in a household now based in […]
Paul mentioned the new self in verse 10 and said it was being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. He also said that Christ is all and in all. In light of those truths, he now explains what the new self looks like. If our identity […]
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