“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror” (James 1:23 ESV). James compared a person who heard God’s Word without obeying it to one who looked carefully at his natural face in a mirror and
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18 ESV). James wrote to scattered Jewish believers who were enduring trials, temptations, and the danger of being “led away” by sin’s deadly deception. In the immediate context, he had
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17 ESV). The author of Hebrews exhorted first-century Jewish-background Christians, believers
“And to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23 ESV). Hebrews 12:23 lifts our eyes to the unseen reality of what Christ has already secured for His people. The writer described believers coming, not to the fearsome mountain of Sinai, representing the old covenant, but to Zion, the dwelling place
“I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations.” (Ezekiel 29:14–15 ESV). God declared through Ezekiel that He
“He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!” (Psalm 111:9 ESV). Psalm 111 is a song of praise celebrating the mighty works of the LORD. It is an acrostic psalm, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, demonstrating the completeness of
“Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing” (Proverbs 27:14 ESV). Solomon had a keen sense of humor and deep insight into human behavior. Here, he paints a vivid picture of a man who bursts into his neighbor’s home early in the morning, loudly blessing
“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings” (Hebrews 10:32 ESV). The writer of Hebrews urges believers to recall—to bring deliberately to mind—their earlier experiences of faith and endurance. This remembering was not sentimental; it was strengthening. After they first came to Christ, these believers faced
“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10 ESV). The writer of Hebrews contrasts the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant priests with the once-for-all offering of Christ. The animal sacrifices could never truly take away sin; they were only shadows
“And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 20:44 ESV). When Ezekiel delivered this prophecy, many of God’s people were living in exile in