Author: Dana Hagstrom

Matthew 6:33 – The Kingdom of God

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33)

Every time I read this verse, the old worship song composed by Karen Lafferty, “Seek Ye First,” plays in my head. Join me in listening here to a recording by Maranatha! Music. We need an arsenal of Bible verses at our disposal for those times when worry creeps in to dampen our joy. This verse is one of those places we can escape.

Context (Matthew 6:24-34): This text comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount when Jesus shared so much wisdom we can only stand amazed. Here, Jesus talks about worry, knowing that people tend to obsess when things are unknown. Our memory verse is the solution we can cling to when those worries crowd our heads and hearts. Continue reading “Matthew 6:33 – The Kingdom of God”

Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27:1)

This is a great verse to have close at hand to help us make sense of our fear. There’s plenty in our world to make us fearful if we allow it. It’s harder to fear when we picture God as our fortress, providing all the light we need to claim our salvation. Our problems seem so much smaller when we imagine God towering over them.

Context (Psalm 27): The psalmist, presumably David, writes about his fear of being attacked by his enemies. We might have similar fears, yet our enemies will look a lot different. David uses several images in this psalm to conjure up trust in our mighty God who stands to protect and guide. Just as David used this psalm to calm himself, we can as well. Continue reading “Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?”

Romans 1:16 – The Good News

“ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)

As Christians, we know it’s our privilege to share the “Good News” with others. What is this news, and why is it good? Well, some refer to it as the “Gospel.” That is, Jesus’ story and how it involves us all. We are written into God’s story when we believe, no matter our earthly heritage.

Context (Romans 1:8-17): This section quotes our memory verse and discusses the “Good News” to a group of Christ-followers in Rome. Paul has been welcoming his audience in Rome and applauding their faithfulness. Paul felt that the believers in Rome understood the importance of the “Good News.” The news part suggests it’s a message, and the good is something very good—that God loves us and wants a relationship with us. That’s a message everyone should know, don’t you agree? Continue reading “Romans 1:16 – The Good News”

John 17:17 – What is Truth?

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” (John 17:17)

In today’s world, the word “truth” is misused in some frightful ways. People like to claim their “own” truth in situations, that is, their own views and opinions of the world. In those circles, everyone’s “truth” could be different. I wish they could use a different word, because for me, “truth” means what Jesus defines in our verse, part of his prayer. Truth is God’s word.

Context (John 17): This whole chapter is a prayer of Jesus. It’s a very tender moment as Jesus prays after teaching his disciples some very important truths and before he is arrested and put to death. Jesus is showing his own obedience to the Father as his moment has come—the moment for which he was sent. Jesus acknowledges God’s plan and his love for his followers, including those of us who believe. Jesus appeals to God on our behalf for protection and to teach us the truth. Continue reading “John 17:17 – What is Truth?”

Luke 16:10 – Faithful Responsibility

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:10)

If there was such a thing as “faith scorecards,” then we’d all want to be recognized for the large faith opportunities we encounter. Jesus makes a bold observation here. Are there ever exceptions? It’s interesting that Jesus compares faithfulness and dishonesty in this example.

Context (Luke 16:1-18): Jesus was great at telling stories or parables to teach his audience. This verse falls right after Jesus’ Parable of the Shrewd Manager and right before Jesus tells us we can’t serve two masters, in particular, God and money. The lesson of the parable had been to use your worldly resources to “benefit others and make friends.” While the surrounding verses are somewhat connected, it seems our memory verse could also stand alone and not be involved in the money discussion. Continue reading “Luke 16:10 – Faithful Responsibility”

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