Bible Commentary & Daily Devotional

 Hebrews 2:1-5 - Signs and Wonders - Miracles and Gifts I can shock myself at my inability to learn simple lessons.  They say just showing up is 90% of success.  Well, I’m confident inattentiveness, waffling, and ambivalence are keys to failure. In this passage, we hear yet again a warning to “listen very carefully” to God’s message or we run a real risk of total failure - drifting away from God (2:1).  With responsibility comes consequences.  Just ask any sentry, goaltender, place-kicker, or pilot.  You have a job to do - if you don’t do it well the results are clear.  So, let’s do it well. It’s the same as we develop and grow as Christians.  We have to make a decision to grow.  I've been reading about growthmindset lately and I think God is finally getting through to me.           It will not come as a shocker to any dad hooked on porn, a mom who has dabbled in an office romance, or the pastor who’s craftily swindled money from the church.  Christians can’t just casually li

  Hebrews 1 - The King It's a good day for  trading.  I’ve made a lot of bad trades over the years.  But there are good trades, nay, great trades available today.  A lot of us wait decades, clinging to our old ways - doubling down on what we know is unfulfilling.  I’m tired of my way; I want God’s way.  Give up sickness, so-called freedom (stubbornness really), selfishness, and pride - in return receive God’s way, the real good life, with wisdom, freedom in Christ, and joy.  I’m ready for that trade.  I’m ready to grow in Christ.  Please pour out your oil of joy in us Lord Jesus.  Please refresh our souls with goodness, kindness, and godly confidence. These final days - the church age if you will - spans from when Jesus finished His rescue mission on earth, and sat down in heaven (1:3), until His return to earth.  Some think that Jesus does not yet reign and that the final days are some far-off future time.  I have no doubt that Jesus reigns today (Revelation 19:6). Jesus is

 Hebrews 1 - The Son - Jesus Christ It is a blessing that God has revealed to us the relationship between the Father and the Son.  We understand family relationships - at least somewhat.  We understand how much we love our kids.   God wants us to understand who Jesus is because God wants us to understand how much he loves us.  God didn’t send His Son to die on the Cross for angels, He sent His Son to die for you.  And for me.           It is good for us to think deeply about the character of Almighty God.  Indeed, if we get God’s character wrong we are lost.  I believe God wants us to know Him more by using all of our faculties and abilities to do so.             There is a deep mystery in the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.  We hear God’s truth of that relationship in this passage (completely consistent with all of Scripture including Colossians 1:15, John 1:3, 1 John 1:2, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Romans 1:5, Acts 4:12, etc.).   The more we understand

 Hebrews 1 - Waiting on God's Timing God is not silent.  He speaks through Scripture; He displays His solemn majesty through creation.  I’m reminded of that this morning as I watched the purples and pinks of the sunrise.  Any mom can tell you the same thing.  They’ve seen God’s hand in the breath of their newborn - in the perfect eyelashes of their little one. We’re reminded in this passage to pause and reflect on the power and majesty of Jesus Christ.  Today, as we approach the celebration of the resurrection of our King, we patiently wait for God’s timing and we listen for what He is saying to us. Jesus is to be worshiped - by God’s angels (1:6) and by His followers (Matthew 16:16).  Jesus, our God and our Saviour, laid the foundation of this earth.  With his powerful and gentle hands, He made everything.  And with those same hands pierced by nails, he suffered to cleanse us from our sins.  And today, He reigns in Heaven and powerfully sustains everything by His command (1:

 Philemon - Keep Learning, Keep Growing How much can we learn from Scripture?  How much can we learn from an old man writing from an ancient Roman prison?  Is there any ceiling on our growth in Christ?  Do we ever reach a point where we stop needing the encouragement to grow and learn in Christ?  What’s the power of an ancient message, a letter from a prisoner, a preacher, a co-worker, a partner in the Gospel, a brother, and a fellow soldier in Christ?  We get the answer in Philemon. Honesty.   Paul tells the truth.  Philemon knows it because he’s worked with Paul.  He knows Paul’s character.  And he knows very well the power of the Holy Spirit.  Without truth, there is no love, no God-fearing relationship.  Truth can be hard to hear (you may want to burn the message like King Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 36 rather than letting the message transform you and bring you to a place of repentance and forgiveness).  With honesty, we can be useful for Christ - productive.           But make no m

  Philemon - The Kindness Policy God sets a “tone from the top.”  God is patient.  But He does not suffer fools lightly; jerks have a very short tenure on His team.           As Jesus' followers, He expects us to do the same.  Christian organizations should be known for their cultures of kindness and godly behavior.  Sadly, that’s often not the case.  In our “niceness,” we often overlook the ill-treatment of people because we are scared of confrontation.  That is not God’s style.  And it shouldn’t be ours.   Sometimes, as Paul shows in this short letter, we have to ask for what we want and clearly set our expectations.  You'll notice here that Paul's ask is not for himself.  Paul has a big favor to ask in terms of Philemon giving up his rights against Onesimus (Philemon’s former slave).  This is much more than a reference letter for Onesimus.  It is a code of conduct for the Christian household, nay, for the Christian community. God’s consistent character is that of a

  Titus 3 - The Power of Good Doctrine - God's Kindness and Love Christians are to be known for what they do (good things).  What we do is based on the truth of God’s word (good doctrine).  The Book of Titus (especially 3:4-8) packs a heavy punch of the doctrine we need to learn to live the newborn Christian life.  In just a few words we hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.           We hear about God’s grace, washing away our sins, and pouring the Holy Spirit into our lives to show us how to turn from godless living to living for our Creator.  We hear of our mission and our purpose.  God’s grace declares us righteous.  God loves us!  God loves every man and every woman. God came to earth in the Son of Man, nay, as the Son of Man.  God’s grace is revealed in the Son.  And God pours out the Spirit generously so that we can worship God and do good - for the benefit of ourselves and the growth of God’s Kingdom. We know too well that we are all being led by something.  What’s lead

 Titus 2:9-15 - Pray for Revival Nothing is too hard for God.  God made the heavens and the earth (Jeremiah 32:17).  Upon King Jesus’ return God will make new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13).  The newly created earth is one of God’s promises to us (Isaiah 65:17).  But before the destruction and recreation God “wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).  I believe that.           Let us pray for many to turn to God today.  Let us pray for revival - in our own homes, first and foremost.  But also across the globe.  Let us thank God for His grace.  Only by God’s grace do we live and breathe. Don’t take my word for it.  But the Bible says that you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, have the Holy Spirit in you.  As such, “you are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16).  What a crazy thought.  The temple!  Of God.  Humbling.  I am certainly not worthy.  None of us is.           But Jesus loves us.  He gives us the promise that we are His people.  No matter what situation we a

  Titus 2:11-15 - God’s People In Saskatchewan we like to say that this is God's country filled with God's people - only with the Holy Spirit can you get through those winters.  But who are God's people?  And where is God's country?           The Bible (OT and NT) teaches us that Jesus made a new covenant with us, His people (Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8-12).  This may be new to you and if so I gladly share it with you.  Jesus is God.  God’s agreement with us is sealed with what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary.  Jesus gave His life for us - now that is love. Remarkably, there is considerable debate and doubt in the Church and out about who exactly is God’s people.  We entertained a group of well-educated people at our house who tried to convince us that all paths lead to the top of the mountain.  They were nice people I suppose, but truly insufferable in their ignorance and their disdain for the Gospel.  Their committed contention was that all religions a

 Titus 2:3-5 - The Grandmas Teaching impacts living.  What we teach and what we learn (and refuse to learn) will define our lives.  I fear we’ve been too timid in preaching NT living, wholesome living.  The New Testament is filled with examples of how the church family is to live.  We really have no excuse.  But time and again we defer to those who advocate for the world.  Yet another attempt to be culturally relevant.  We yield where we should assert, and vice versa. This Scripture reminds us that it is the Christian way to promote wholesome living.  God is a gentleman.  He does not force.  But He indeed promotes.  There is no better Teacher than the Holy Spirit.  The family of God is to live in a way that honors God.  That is the healthy life; the Good Life.  The pursuit of happiness is godliness.  Putting God first always produces good results.  We know it.  Now the challenge is to live wisely.  And put it into action. So, just as Chuck Colson asked and answered years ago, we

 Titus 2:2 - The Grandpas           Anyone who looks for God wholeheartedly will find him.  Anyone. The devil wants people to think God is vindictive - that God has plans of disaster for them.  You are not washed up.  You are loved by God.  God is for you.           Just as Jeremiah encouraged the exiles that were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon I believe God wants to encourage us today.  God’s word reminds us how much He loves us. God tells us to work hard and to build strong families.  To multiply, to work for peace and prosperity right here where the Holy Spirit has sent us.  For me, that’s right here in Lynchburg.  For you, it’s where God has you.  Do not listen to the so-called prophets and fortune tellers.  God has a good plan for us.  It’s a plan with a great future.  Our hope is in the good promises of Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 29:11). But we, the older gents, must take on the roles and responsibilities God gives us.  We must listen to God.  Not the devil and his worker bees. 

  Titus 2 - Teach the Men The best teachers are experienced in what they teach.  And they actively lead by example.  That is true in the legal practice.  In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, I worked for a firm called BDP in Calgary.  On our securities and tax floor of the firm (I think we had just over a hundred lawyers; we covered the gamut but were primarily energy-focused) we had several old bucks that led by example.  They gave us a tremendous amount of leeway to advise clients on our own.  But their doors were always open.          I remember one file where we had a dot com millionaire who had stashed a ton of dough offshore and was fighting with the Canada Revenue Agency.  He eventually had most of his Canadian assets seized.  He would later go through bankruptcy at least twice.  A real gem.  He hated lawyers, and he hated taking advice.  But he loved to fly on his private jet and he was constantly raising capital for the next scheme.  Usually, those are great clients for a secur