It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. …
Word Play Gems
Bible Gem 1054 – The Older Son Refuses To Go In (Luke 15:25-32)
But the older son was in the field. And having come, as he drew near to the house, he heard music and dances. And having called one of the children, he inquired what this may be. And he said to him, “Your brother came, and …
Bible Gem 1019 – Playing Mind Games at Lunch with the Pharisees (Luke 14:1-6)
One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching Him closely. There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law,”Is it …
Bible Gem 1018 – Oh Jerusalem . . . You won’t See Me Again until . . . (Luke 13:34-35)
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. And …
Bible Gem 1017 – Outa Town by Sundown! No Thanks. (Luke 13:31-33)
At that time some Pharisees said to Him, “Get away from here if You want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill You!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the …
Bible Gem 37 – True Worship (John 4:23-24)
Yet the time is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” …
Bible Gem 36 – Background to Samaritan Worship (John 4:20)
Background to Samaritan Worship: The king of Assyria transported groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and resettled them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns . . . …