Psalm 33 Dear RTB’ers, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” I feel like many/most/all of us look on the USA as a nation blessed by God. I certainly do. Two verses earlier David has this to say, “The Lord nullifies the counsel …
Author Archives: Fred
November 16 / Psalm 32
Psalm 32 Dear RTB’ers, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (v. 8) How do we hear from the Lord? I daresay people have been asking that question for the two millennia since Jesus ascended. Our most straightforward answer …
November 15 / Psalm 31
Psalm 31 Dear RTB’ers, I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols… (v. 6a) I could understand what David was saying about people in his day who worshiped idols. But in our 21st century world, I’m calling to mind preachers asking us, “What are your idols?” Are you seeking money? Fame? Possessions? Power? Success? …
November 14 / Psalm 30
Psalm 30 Dear RTB’ers, We have left I Corinthians behind and will spend a couple of weeks in the Psalms before returning to II Corinthians. I typically have difficulties relating to David’s psalms when he writes of deliverance from his enemies and not letting his foes rejoice over him. In my adult life I’ve been …
November 13 / I Corinthians 16
I Corinthians 16 Dear RTB’ers, I was noticing Paul’s concern for his fellow workers. First, Timothy: When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace… (vv. 10-11a) …
November 12 / I Corinthians 15:35-58
I Corinthians 15:35-58 Dear RTB’ers, What is sown is … What is raised is … Perishable Imperishable Dishonor Glory Weakness Power A natural body A spiritual body I Corinthians 15:42b-44a In comparing the earthly and the heavenly, Paul compares Adam with Jesus and identifies us directly both to Adam and to Jesus: The first man …
November 11 / I Corinthians 15:1-34
I Corinthians 15:1-34 Dear RTB’ers, Today’s reading is about Jesus’ Resurrection and what it means for us. First Paul provides “evidence” for the Resurrection in the form of a list of people to whom Jesus appeared in bodily form, the strongest of which is that …He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one …
November 10 / I Corinthians 14
I Corinthians 14 Dear RTB’ers, … edification, exhortation, and consolation … (v. 3b) Paul speaks of uplifting activities – just the opposite of divisiveness or quarreling or judgmentalism. He also mentions edification twice more in the next few verses (vv. 4, 5). It’s a lesson we could all take when discussing church matters, whether in …
November 9 / I Corinthians 13
I Corinthians 13 Dear RTB’ers, I think that I am not very loving. I am cheerful and friendly and helpful and responsible and a lot of other good things, but I’m not sure that I am very loving. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. …
November 8 / I Corinthians 12
I Corinthians 12 Dear RTB’ers, But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. (v. 18) When I take time to reflect, I am in awe of the human body. Paul spoke of the eye, the ear, the nose, the hand, the feet, and even the …