Philippians 1:6 – Work in Progress

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6)

We are all a work in progress. God’s not through with us just yet. It’s a helpful reminder when we fall short or don’t live up to even our own expectations. I love that Paul was “certain” about God’s involvement. Do we have that same confidence?

Context (Philippians 1:1-11): The apostle Paul is giving thanks and praying for the Philippians as he opens this letter. Paul acknowledges them as being pioneers of the faith and offers encouragement. You can tell from his salutation that Paul loves these people. They share a common bond of trusting in Christ, and that bond solidifies their relationship. We can identify with that when we meet other Christians–the immediate bond is tangible. Continue reading “Philippians 1:6 – Work in Progress”

Mark 16:15 – Preach It!

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)

Now we have our marching orders straight from Jesus. How do you respond? We could easily sit back and say that Jesus meant this for someone else. One excuse after another could come spewing from our mouths. I think having this verse close in mind helps us know what Jesus wants from us.

Context (Mark 16:9-20): Jesus’ command comes in the concluding section of Mark’s gospel, not found in all manuscripts. But this passage takes us from Jesus’ resurrection, final teachings, all the way to his ascension into heaven. These words are consistent with Jesus’ message in other gospel accounts about his final days. Being an avid fan of The Chosen television series, I can actually picture these events playing out by those representing our Bible characters. Of course, the series’ season I’m currently watching covers Holy Week, so there is plenty more to happen before these verses are portrayed. Continue reading “Mark 16:15 – Preach It!”

Revelation 21:4 – No More Tears

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4)

God will one day do all these wonderful things. Such a tender and loving God we have! Can you imagine a world where death is no more, and sorrow and pain are gone forever? It is certainly a comforting thought to look forward to.

Context (Revelation 21:1-7): Our memory verse is part of how John describes the New Jerusalem, which will one day become the new reality for believers. This verse gives us hope to cling to in the dark times that will precede the day our tears are gone. We can imagine the place where we will live with God forever. That is a promise yet to be fulfilled, and people have been anxiously waiting for centuries. Continue reading “Revelation 21:4 – No More Tears”

Psalm 119:11 – Hide It!

“I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
(Psalm 119:11)

This verse sums up precisely why I often reflect on one verse at a time. It is easier to memorize or “hide” God’s word in our hearts when it’s in smaller chunks. When we can associate a given situation with a verse, it helps us to recall when those situations arise.

Context (Psalm 119:9-16): This is only a small excerpt from the longest chapter in the Bible. This psalm’s central theme is the importance of God’s word. The psalmist knows our lives depend on our obedience to the truths of Scripture. Other descriptors for God’s word include decrees, regulations, commandments, and laws. The whole psalm follows this pattern of singing the praises of God’s instruction book for us. Continue reading “Psalm 119:11 – Hide It!”

Galatians 6:4-5 – Our Responsibility

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” (Galatians 6:4-5)

What a great reminder to take a self-check right now. Paul is giving us permission, encouraging us to do so in this moment. Each time we claim this verse and live it out, we can make sure we’re taking care of our own faith business before we try and change the world or, worse yet, compare ourselves to others.

Context (Galatians 6:1-10): Paul is handling some sensitive subjects here in chapter 6. Namely, the harvest of those seeds we plant both in ourselves and in others. We’ll face temptation and plenty of opportunities to do the wrong thing in God’s eyes. Paul is hoping to help us thwart those inevitable missteps. Continue reading “Galatians 6:4-5 – Our Responsibility”

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