Ephesians 3:17-18That you may comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Check out the dimensions of Jesus’ love for you! It has breadth, which means it encompasses everybody. It has length, which means it never runs out. It has height, which means it’s there on the mountaintop. And it also has depth,...  Read More

Ephesians 2:14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. There was a thick-slab wall that stood in the temple. It read: “Foreigners must not enter… Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.” This was called the Thanatos Inscription. Thanatos is a Greek word that means death. So, you can call it th...  Read More

Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. One of the most repeated words in this first chapter is the small little word “in.” But what a huge concept! We hear the phrase, “Are you in?” “Oh yeah, I’m in!” Leading out of the Seattle Seahawks’ locker room is a sign that reads, “I’m in!” It’s ...  Read More

Galatians 6:1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.I think we can infer from this verse that anybody can be harsh. It doesn’t take much thought. It’s our default setting. We get angry and fly off the handle. We think if we clobber somebody, they’ll get the point. But this tendency typically only aggravates the situati...  Read More

Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.Putting your confidence in your own performance is like slipping your hand into a ponderous chain. Submitting to this way of life requires incredible stamina because you, no matter how well you perform, will never run far enough, jump high enough, or dig deep enough. There’s always s...  Read More

Galatians 4:30What does the scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” When we try to mix grace and works, we, like Abraham, bring a second wife into the marriage. We would be better off simply living with the one God provided for us: Grace. She treats us well. She shows us how to have a relationship with ...  Read More

Galatians 3:24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. Paul uses an interesting metaphor to describe the role of the law. Back in the day, a guardian was an esteemed servant who attended the child from home to school and then back home again. He wasn't the teacher, but he conducted safe passage for his student. He had general charge over hi...  Read More

Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This world has no more hold on me than it does on Christ. Once a man is dead, there is nothing the world can do to him. And, verse 20 says, that because of my faith in Christ, I am just ...  Read More

Galatians 1:10Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. These are questions we all need to ask from time to time. Our default setting seems to be set on what others think of us. However, we need to consciously shift our focus back to God. Always back to God. This is a daily choice. What d...  Read More

2 Corinthians 13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Think of it. The grace of Jesus is with you. His favor and unmerited kindness belong to you. The love of God is with you. His affection rests firmly on you and gives you eternal worth. And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is open to you at any hour of the day. Can it ge...  Read More

2 Corinthians 12:10 When I am weak, then I am strong. Paradoxes are interesting. They’re these absurd statements that seem to contradict themselves. They lead to a conclusion that is senseless and implausible because they contain two concepts that cancel each other out. For example, “working vacation” and “instant classic.” When I am weak, then I am strong? Implausible! However, weakness is God’s ...  Read More

2 Corinthians 11:30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weaknesses. Famed theologian Karl Barth used to say, “When we speak of our virtues, we are competitors, but when we confess our sins, we become brothers.” There is something disarming when we disclose our weaknesses. However, weaknesses are something we typically don’t like to put on display. We’d rather people to see our ...  Read More