Emmaus

“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:5 NKJV). Two important thoughts are in this verse. The first one is about passion; the second one is about perseverance. Passion – “The Lord direct your hearts into the love God.” This is an exhortation about our affections. Here the apostle Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to have their love for God and what He represents. So many things are competing for our affections tod

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8 NKJV). Judgment is the theme of this verse. It is the judgment which shall come when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth. This verse speaks of the crowd and character of judgment. Crowd for judgment – “Those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Two things are said about the crowd

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3 NKJV). The subject of our verse is the will of God. From it we want to note the awareness of the will of God and the abstinence in the will of God. Awareness of the will of God – “This is the will of God.” Note two things here about the will of God. First, the place of learning the will of God: We learn about the will of God from the Word of God. We will not lear

“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thess. 1:8 NKJV). Here in his introduction to the first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul speaks very highly of the believers in this church. One of the things he commends is their witness. Thus, we want to note the conspicuousness of their witness, the continuousne

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1 NKJV). The liberty (freedom) mentioned here by the apostle Paul is freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies, properly called the “yoke of bondage;” and also liberty from the power and guilt of sin, which nothing but the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ can take away. So, he gave them two commands – be faithful and be free Be faithful – “Stand

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8 NKJV). Here the apostle Paul gives a strong warning about a deadly peril that is quite common in our day. We need to pay attention to this verse. It tells us about the nature of the peril, the naming of the peril, and the negating of the peril. Nature of the peril - “Cheat.” The word mean

“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” (Gen. 18:19 NKJV). Fatherhood is not merely a biological role; it is a divine calling. In Gen. 18:19, God reveals why He chose Abraham: because Abraham would lead his children and guide his household in the ways of the Lord. This verse is a blueprint for

“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Col. 1:3 NKJV). The greetings in the letters of the apostle Paul are often filled with many instructive comments. The greeting to Colossians is no different. Thus, we want to note the practice of Paul, the phrase of Paul, and the praying of Paul. Practice of Paul – “We give thanks to God.” The apostle Paul was in the habit of thanking God. This is a good habit which honors God. It also

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:10 NKJV). The Apostle Paul desired to know four important things about the Lord Jesus Christ. They are the Person of Christ, the power of Christ, the pain of Christ, and the purpose of Christ. This desire of Paul is a most noble desire we all need to have. Person of Christ - “That I may know Him.” People know a lot of things, but much of what

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation” (Phil. 3:2 NKJV). When the Bible tells us three times in one verse to “beware,” we need to sit up and take notice; we need to take extra care when warned. Our verse warns us to beware of dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation. Beware of dogs – “Dogs” in Bible times were not the nice, cuddly, faithful pets that we are familiar with. Rather, “dogs” in Bible times were mostly vicious, untamed, and detestable an