Faithful to the End

James encourages his readers to endure, even in the face of opposition and hardship. This endurance is motivated by the return of the Lord. He is coming again, this is the second advent of Jesus. Advent is about celebrating his first coming, but also anticipating his second coming. As we live our lives, there often difficult circumstances and difficulties that come into our lives. Believers must p...

As John begins his gospel account, he begins with a description of the Word - Jesus, the pre-incarnate, Son of God, the second person of the Trinity and his role his creation and sustaining creation. John affirms throughout his gospel that Jesus is God, and this is where he begins. The gospel of John uses signs, witnesses and the very statements of Jesus himself to prove his identity as the second...

In his closing remarks to the church at Philippi, Paul commends the Philippians for their faithful giving to him throughout his ministry. He commends giving generously, for the glory of God. Giving is a regular part of our worship. Giving exalts God, praising him for all he has given to us. The riches that we enjoy through Jesus should cause us to joyfully give back to God. As Paul says goodbye, h...

As Paul continues his letter to the Philippians, he first encourages two women to seek reconciliation and end their public conflict with one another. Paul then turns and calls the believers to rejoice in the Lord. He calls them to reasonableness because the return of the Lord is near. Paul then calls them to put away anxiety, by releasing their concerns to God in prayer. Prayer with thanksgiving s...

In Psalm 107, the unknown author rehearses the faithful love of God, the steadfast love of Yahweh, for his people in sustaining and delivering them. The Psalmist focuses on the attributes of God, specifically his  hesed , faithful love, loyal love or steadfast love, to his people. God has demonstrated his faithful love to you. This is our reason for giving thanks, this is what thanksgiving should...

Paul continues his call for the Philippian believers to grow in their knowledge of Jesus. This growth in knowledge reflects the relationship believers enjoy with Jesus. Growth in Christlikeness comes from growth in your relationship with Jesus, growth in your knowledge of who he is and all he has done for you. Paul also challenges these believers to follow godly examples, first his example, but al...

As Paul continues his letter to the Philippians, he turns to address false teachers and the truth of the gospel. Paul begins with a warning about false teachers. He describes them and what makes them dangerous. He confronts the idea that our religious credentials can actually accomplish anything at all. Instead, Paul focuses in on our hope in salvation - knowing Jesus personally. Paul turns on his...

As Solomon continues, he turns now to address wealth and the hardships of it, as well as, the insecurity and unquenched longings wealth creates. The answer, as it has been several times in Ecclesiastes, is that the gifts of this life must be enjoyed within a right relationship to God. Being rightly oriented to God enables us to enjoy the good gifts he provides. The constant longing and pursuit of...

Solomon, the teacher, addresses the appropriate way to approach worship. Worship is not about words, its not about promises made to God. Worship is about reverencing God, in our attitudes and in our words. Genuine, appropriate worship flows from a right view of God and a right view of yourself. As Solomon writes Ecclesiastes, as the teacher (Qohelet), he expresses various aspects that everyone exp...

As Paul continues his letter to the Philippians, he encourages them to accept and honor, both Timothy and Epaphroditus because of their faithful service. Paul first commends Timothy to the church at Philippi, because Timothy cares for them and will care for them, as Paul himself would care for them. He commends both men for their service. Both are examples for believers today, we too must be faith...

Paul continues his challenge to the believers in Philippi, calling them to live out - to carry out the common salvation they share through Jesus. Paul calls them to willing obedience, to work together, by the power of God to willingly work together in a way that pleases God. When believers live together, selflessly serving, humbling loving one another in unity; it honors God and points unbelievers...

As Solomon continues, he turns now and addresses four observations about injustice, oppression, envy in work and the lack of companions. Solomon acknowledges the frustration of both injustice and oppression, offering as our hope the certainty of the justice of God as the final accounting for every person. Solomon once again returns to futility of work, both the emptiness of envy and the constant c...

As Paul concludes this amazing hymn on the incarnation and exaltation of Jesus, he speaks of the glories of the exaltation of Jesus. Paul addresses the supremacy of Jesus, his exaltation by God the Father and its importance for us as believers. Jesus, as Lord, reigns supreme, glorified; calling you to bow before him today or on Judgment Day. Philippians is a wonderful letter of hopeful encourageme...

As Paul continues his call to humble, selfless service for others, he calls the Philippian Church to think like Jesus thought. He explains the attitude of Jesus as he came to earth in the incarnation, took on human form (became a man) and ultimately died for our sins. As believers our motivation for right attitudes and responses to one another is the example of Jesus. Jesus demonstrated humility,...

As Paul continues his letter to the church at Philippi, he addresses what would give him great joy. First, Paul offers four stabalizing truths that are intended to ground the believers in Philippi and motivate them to love one another. These truths: the comfort of Christ, the love of God, the fellowship of the Spirit and the compassionate mercy of God toward us must stabalize us and motivate us to...

As Solomon continues, he provides a wisdom poem to point out the mortality of man, every human being is governed or controlled by time. You cannot stop its passing and you cannot change it. Solomon continues and comments on the reality of our mortality. He recognizes that even in our work, our mortality is clearly on display. This is the nature of life for mortal, finite human beings and this is t...

As Paul shifts and begins to address the specific needs of the church at Philippi, Paul begins with a direct challenge to "walk worthy of the gospel of Jesus." The result of walking worthy is standing firm in one spirit, single minded contending for the faith of the gospel and no being intimidated by your opponents. The interconnectedness of the church body is critical to walking worthy...

As Solomon, the Teacher, continues, he addresses the issue of working for a lifetime, accumulating and leaving it all to a successor. If your work defines, if your work is where you find your satisfaction and enjoyment or if your work is your identity this realization is hard to accept. As Solomon continues, he comes to the place of understanding that everything we have in this life is truly a goo...

As Paul continues his letter to the church at Philippi, he addresses his own circumstances and the reality of life and death. He is not fearful of death, he welcomes it, if that is the Lord's plan for him, because he will be with Jesus. Paul offers the familiar verse,  For me to live is Christ and to die is gain . Our focus must also be on living our lives for Jesus, even as face the difficult...

As Solomon continues, he examines and explores everything human beings do on earth. This examination includes wisdom, pleasure, achievements and aquisitions. All of these fall short, each of them is empty in and of itself. These earthly, temporal pursuits cannot satisfy; each of these falls short, each is futile. All of our successes in life are actually fleeting, none will last forever; so you ca...

As Paul continues his letter to the church at Philippi, he turns to address his own circumstances. First, he notes that despite the hardship and bad circumstance he is currently enduring, it is producing gospel advance and for that he can and does rejoice. It is difficult for us to rejoice in hardship and look for gospel advances in our hardships. Paul continues (v. 15-17) to explain that some are...

As Solomon opens this incredible book of wisdom, he begins with a hard question, a seeming dilemma of life - what's the point of it all? What do we gain from all of our labors and efforts in life? Solomon continues by giving examples of the endless cycles of life. Solomon concludes this section with a summary, emphasizing the fact that there is nothing new, nothing that changes the fundamental...

Paul gives the believers in Philippi his prayer for them. He longs for them to grow in their love, which leads to knowledge and discernment (understanding that appropriately applies knowledge). Paul continues to pray that these believers would be ready to meet Jesus at his return. He longs for them to be sincere and to avoid acting in a manner that causes them or others to stumble. Together, all o...

As Solomon writes Ecclesiastes, as the teacher (Qohelet), he expresses various aspects that everyone experiences in life. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon rehearses the frustration, futility, irony and fleeting nature of life. The difficulties that exist are described throughout Ecclesiastes as  hevel  or vanity (futility). This theme consistently appears throughout this wisdom literature. Togethe...

Paul here addresses the issue of conscience, and maintaining a clear conscience. God calls us to follow him, to follow in the way he has called us to follow. Paul here addresses the issue of conscience and how it is impacted by the way we follow and obey God's word and his directions for our lives.  Throughout 2 Corinthians Paul addresses the impact of suffering on ministry, life and the messa...