Daily Liturgy and Scripture

Paul is getting to the point of his argument. It’s not about the theology of law vs. grace. It’s about where our focus lies when we believe the law to be superior. Life in the Spirit is our goal, and that life looks very different than chasing after a purity standard. If we are living in the Spirit, we aren’t focused on the condemnation of what we do wrong. We get Paul’s list of fruits, and those...

Paul decides to come into the discussion about the law by bringing Abraham (the father of the nation) into play. Issac was the son God promised, but Ishmael (the son by the slave woman) was the son that Abraham produced of his own accord. Ishmael was not the son of the promise, but he was still a son. God’s working out of the covenant works the same way: the law was a framework, it was a glimpse i...

Paul seems to be splitting a few doctrinal hairs with this talk about law and Jesus, but it does matter. What he is saying is that God’s covenant with Abraham, is fulfilled in Christ, and that matters tremendously. That means that the old covenant with Abraham isn’t null; it’s fulfilled. If our faith is in Christ then we receive the benefit of that fulfilled covenant, which is the reward that is o...

In this second chapter of Galatians, there is a lot going on. Paul is establishing a fairly critical piece of theology that defined the Christian Church vs. historical Judaism: that the law convicts and brings death, but Christ gives life. He is trying to bring that live to the early church, but of course it was no small task. Even Peter (called “Cephas” several times here, the Aramaic version of...

Today we start a new year, and also remember the day when Jesus received his name in Jewish tradition. That is a pretty big deal, because that’s the very name that Philippians 2:10 says will cause every knee to bow. We also have a passage from Paul to the Galatians that reminds us that Jesus is enough, his authority is more than that of men. (And lest we think that we can claim that same authority...

The King at last! John has been before Jesus before, but this time it is different. This is not merely the man he walked beside, but a King to rule all other kings. It is telling that he falls down before the angel, even though he knew it was not Jesus. The atmosphere must have been overwhelming. This was his future, and it is ours as well. Come soon, Lord Jesus.

This grand city isn’t the thing we’re following Jesus for; Jesus himself is enough and we should be content with him. Still, it’s a pretty good retirement plan! It’s intriguing that part of John’s dream is measuring, because Jesus did say he was going to prepare a place, and this is it. God will abolish sadness and pain, and we will be worshiping him for eternity as we have been on earth.

Here at the end of the calendar year, we take a look at what a new beginning will look like, and it’s all God’s design. We’re passing the judgments and getting to what God was all about: a new Heaven and earth where he will live among his people. This is why we worship: because we need to be people well-acquainted with worship. This is why we become disciples: because that will be our main identit...

As we remember the slaughter of the innocents after the birth of Jesus, we must also remember that God is concerned for the suffering of innocents. Jesus opened the Sermon on the Mount by lifting up the rejected. In Jeremiah, we see a picture of God restoring his scattered people. Even in today’s verse from Revelation, we see the flip side: those who have oppressed the innocent are dealt with hars...

We actually have two writings from John today, on the day of his feast. Remembering him is best done with both Revelation and his Gospel. He makes a point of shooting down the idea that he would live forever, but it's more than verification of him as some sort of super hero. He would never want to distract from what Jesus has done and will do, and we see that in Revelation, as Jesus begins to judg...

On the day when we remember Stephen, our passage from Revelation is actually very appropriate. Stephen was a victim of the powers, rules who had the authority to sentence him to death for his witness to Christ. In his final speech, he also has a bit to say about waiting on God. Abraham and David had to yield some of their own hopes and dreams, as both of them had disappointments that might have al...

Our Savior is born! While this physical event is obviously not happening today, it still has deep meaning for our lives. Because Christ has come, the victory is already sealed in him. This also includes victory over worldly kingdoms that think they have absolute power; they do not. That Savior born in a manger thousands of years ago remains at the right hand of the Father, and the world is his.

It’s Christmas Eve, and it feels a little odd to be in Revelation. Still, God coming to live among man is relevant to Revelation. It was one of God’s many attempts to let himself be known to mankind, so that we can learn to be more like him. In this chapter of Revelation, we see God in his wrath giving man one of the last chances. God needs us to be followers of Jesus so that we will be ready for...

If God did not judge wickedness, He could not be a holy God. This is what is coming: the unfurling of final judgement and the preservation of the Church. The Church is not the one doing the fighting, though, that action is reserved for God. As we draw closer to the time of God restoring creation (sorry, spoiler!) God is keeping his people close to him, and their suffering has not been in vain. The...

There is a LOT going on in this chapter of Revelation, so it might be helpful to situate ourselves somewhat in the position of its original audience. The Romans had probably already destroyed Jerusalem and the temple prior to this book being written, and that time was full of intense suffering. The suffering of God’s people does not go unnoticed by him, and worship can still emerge from the madnes...

Thomas has gotten a pretty scathing title through the years: “Doubting Thomas.” He was certainly the one who piped up demanding proof, and he was the one asking the hard question before Jesus in this case as well. But Jesus did not reject him. He didn’t cast him out as a heretic. He kept Thomas in the group of 12, and kept answering his questions. This should encourage us because our questions are...

Here's a version of the Christmas story you're not likely to hear read to the children this week! Christ came as a man, and certainly Satan tried to destroy him. The victory was always Christ's, it was never in question. This is the Savior we serve. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he will fight for us.

In this chapter of Revelation, prophecy precedes worship. Witnesses preach the word, but it is ignored, even despised. Their death is celebrated. After that, worship continues. This act of worship is the point, the prophets are merely preparing the way for what will come much later. We worship God now for many of the same reasons: we are preparing for an eternity before our Lord.

This time of judgement is to be a bitter time indeed. Not only for those who have rejected Christ, but for those who have followed him. To observe judgement will not be pleasant. We can actually take some peace from the passage from Wisdom of Solomon: God has already put us to the test, and this testing in judgement will not be to judge us. And of course, this whole show is being run by the Jesus...

A LOT of wild visuals in this verse today. Evil is being let loose, and it is doing its work. It is not running rampant because God hates mankind, though, very much the opposite. For Christ to complete the work of God and bring the new Heaven and earth, the things that need to be purified are brought out. Death and destruction are their tools, and they do their job all too well.

We’re in the part of the book now that people generally think of when they hear “Revelation,” when destruction and mayhem seem to be aimed from God toward the earth. There is indeed fire, and certainly there is destruction. This isn’t in chaos or rage, however, because remember: we know Jesus, and his plans are for our good. In this moment, though, his holiness is taking center stage. He is purify...

Not only is Jesus running the show in this crazy book, but he has not forgotten his people. Israel is there, front and center, but so is the "vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe." What are they present to do? Worship. This is why worship in the here and now is so important: it's not just a thing we do as earth-dwellers, but something we will be doing for all eternity. Stand...

Why would the Prince of Peace give someone the authority to take peace from the earth? Isn’t that exactly what he came to bring? Well, yes. But the Peace Christ will bring is a new Heaven and a new earth, and we’re not to that part yet. Before that happens, things are going to get pretty crazy in this book. Remember though, we know this guy. The same Jesus who touched lepers is the Jesus who restr...

As the events of Revelation start to unfold, we should be very encouraged by one enduring truth: it is about Jesus, and we are well-acquainted with who he is. Amid the action that will follow in this book, it can become very easy to forget that. Remember, though, that it was the humility and love that Jesus showed that put him in his place of power, and he did not become someone else when he ascen...

Imagine what it must be like to have the worship of God as your main task. Of course, we are supposed to be learning that very skill before we come before God's presence, and it's a skill that takes a lifetime without ever fully becoming complete. But the creatures in this picture are committed to the task. Surely it's not boring... can anything be more fascinating than God?