Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the … More Costly cleanup
This is a long quote, but will help understand our readings in Hosea this month- Ray Stedman comments on the first 3 chapters of Hosea: So Hosea is rather discouraged and in the opening chapter of this little book of prophecy we read a personal note about him. He went to God and God told … More An object lesson in redeeming love
One dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure, his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.” (Job 21:22-26) Ray Stedman, in a sermon, “Why Doesn’t … More Where to file “God-in-a-box” theology
Ray Stedman, in an introduction to 2 John: The second letter of John is the only letter in the New Testament that was written to a woman. As we can gather from the letter itself, it was written to a mother with several children, perhaps a widow. It appears that she had written to the … More 2 John: The sanity of balance
Ezekiel 11:16-20 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the … More Heart Transplant Needed
Ray Stedman comments on Song of Solomon 8:9 God has ordained that the delights reflected here be a part of the experience of man and woman in marriage. To ignore this is to cheapen these delights and to make sex as commonplace as cutting one’s fingernails. That which, with due restraint, is intended to be … More ‘We have a little sister…”
Ray Stedman, concludes his comments on Lamentations 4-5: Chapter 5 describes the humiliation of judgment, but in the end, Jeremiah comes to another flash of insight (verse 19): But thou, O Lord, dost reign for ever; thy throne endures to all generations. (Lamentations 5:19 RSV) What does this mean? Well, it means that though man … More God Endures
The Lord has done what he purposed, has carried out his threat; as he ordained long ago, he has demolished without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you, and exalted the might of your foes. (Lamentations 2:17 RSV) Ray Stedman on Lamentations 2: In other words, God is faithful. Suddenly Jeremiah realizes that … More God is Faithful to His Purposes
Ray Stedman on Lamentations, to be continued over the next few days: What a description of the utter despair of the human spirit in the grip of deep distress and sorrow! And yet, in each of these chapters an insight is revealed, a lesson that God teaches through sorrow that otherwise would never have been learned. … More Lessons through sorrow
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. [That is, Seraiah went down to Babylon as an ambassador from Judah.] Jeremiah wrote in a book all the … More God is adequate for all our enemies
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 