What did Paul mean when he used the word for “deacon” and the word for “benefactor” but also “church official” (in the Septuagint) in association with Phoebe’s service to Paul and to the Body of Christ? What was Paul assuming his readers would already know and understand, so it went without being said?
Pastor in Philippi: Lydia
It is through such stories as Lydia’s that the scriptures convey the dignity God settled on women in first century Palestine, and on Lydia. In keeping with the Lord’s example, the apostle Paul also conferred dignity on women and on Lydia when she hosted the first church in Europe in her home.
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“I Can’t Take It Anymore!”
God is not the one authoring the harm. That is on the broken world, all the broken people (including you and me) in the world with our sharp edges, and the powers of evil that hate God and all that is good and lovely. But God does not leave it there. God insists on finding a way to turn even these horrible things into good.
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“Why Should I Get Involved?”
DeStefano points out this amazingly simple yet propfound truth: When we help someone we reduce the amount of suffering in the world, we become part of the process of God working things together for good.
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Meditation for the Lenten Season: Obedient to God
Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).” 9hebrews 10:7, NRSV)
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Acts Wednesday: Chapter 11, From Peter to Paul
Peter’s simple, straightforward logic, and God’s obvious affirmation, rendered them speechless. There was no tenable argument, no counterpoint could be made, God had made His desire and will abundantly clear. But this issue was going to crop again and again. Prejudice is hard to get rid of.
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Acts Wednesday: Chapter 9, From Saul to Paul
Never underestimate the value of one person being brought to a saving faith. The only reason you and I know about Ananias is because of his willing response to God resulted in the conversion of this one man, Saul, who became the apostle Paul.
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1 Peter 3, Do Not Fear?
Peter intimated there is a redemptive quality about suffering for the good, for doing good, for goodness’s sake, as unto the Lord, who intimately knows what this suffering is like, and what it entails.
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Acts Wednesday: Chapter 7, Stephen
I think, for me, this story means determining to see adversity and ordeals as opportunities to see the spiritual realm more clearly, and to expect God’s glory to be revealed in the moment, even in me. Growth is not the goal, it’s simply the side-effect. The goal is to incarnate Jesus, reveal Jesus, and to become ever closer to Jesus.
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Epistle to the Hebrews: An Introduction
Jesus is the hope for all people, the one in whom are all the hopes of the world.
