It is not clear to me that I am in a place right now where I can say something other than what I need to hear myself. I am preaching things I need to get myself. I was once having a conversation with with someone about the need for truths known in the head to … Continue reading Lenses and Images
Month: January 2019
Father
"No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well." -1 John 2:23 The latter half of this verse is somewhat of an affirmation for me, because until very recently my prayers were adressed "Christ Jesus". I actually felt a bit self-conscious about that because … Continue reading Father
As Defined by You
"Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a man of understanding draws it up." -Proverbs 20:5 I believe that "deep water" has to do with drawing water up from a deep well, because that's what they would have done in those days. What I had on my mind when this verse grabbed my … Continue reading As Defined by You
Rhema
"So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17 Another translation renders it, "...what is heard comes through the message about Christ." The Greek for "word" is not "logos" here, but "rhema". Personally, what this verse means to me is that I am made able to hear by God … Continue reading Rhema
Humble Vessels
"This is what the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel says: take these scrolls, this purchase agreement with the sealed copy and this open copy - and put them in an earthen storage jar so they will last a long time." - Jeremiah 32:14 I can't help but think of us humans, creatures of … Continue reading Humble Vessels
Things are not as They Appear
"For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself if he does not judge the body rightly" - 1 Corinthians 11:29 1 Corinthians 11:17-33 is not a passage to be used by your church as an incantation for their particular theological bent on communion. Instead, it is a call for the church … Continue reading Things are not as They Appear
Unique
"Based on the gift they have recieved, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God." -1 Peter 4:10 Two things I want to emphasize here: "based on the gift they have recieved", and, "the varied grace of God". If you don't fit in, maybe it's because God … Continue reading Unique
Deviating from Peace
"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden." - Genesis 3:8 It fascinates me that, after the man and woman ate from the tree of … Continue reading Deviating from Peace
Callings and Arguments
In John 12:1-7, Judas chastised Mary for anointing Jesus’ feet with an expensive, fragrant oil, which he argued could’ve been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not … Continue reading Callings and Arguments
Idols and Rebels
"We are men also, with the same nature as you..." - from Acts 14:15 Paul and Barnabas shouted this at a crowd that was about to start worshiping them. I recently had a conversation with a friend about kids who rebel from really conservative families. How does that subject relate to this verse? The thought … Continue reading Idols and Rebels
Andrew K. Banks 