“I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ” (Philemon 1:6 ESV). Paul’s brief letter to Philemon is deeply personal yet profoundly spiritual. In verse 6, he prays that Philemon’s “sharing of [his] faith” (koinōnia tēs
“Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3 ESV). Psalm 100 is a psalm of joyful praise calling all people to worship the LORD with gladness. At its center is this command: “Know that
“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry, and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.’” (Jeremiah 51:36–37 ESV). Jeremiah’s prophecy was written before Babylon’s
“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon” (Jeremiah 50:34 ESV). In Jeremiah’s day, God’s people were exiled and oppressed by Babylon. Their situation seemed hopeless, yet the Lord sent them
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4:16–17 ESV). These words come
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:24–25 ESV). Paul reminded Timothy that as a servant of the Lord, he must reflect the character of his Master. The goal of ministry is not to win arguments but
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV). Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, urging him to be diligent in his study and handling of God’s Word. The phrase “do your best”
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14 ESV). In Psalm 90, Moses contrasts the eternal nature of God with the frailty and brevity of human life. In verse 14, he pleads for what our souls most desperately need—God’s steadfast love (Hebrew:
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18 ESV). Paul instructed Timothy to charge the wealthy believers in Ephesus not to set their hopes on riches but on God, “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (v.17). Instead of trusting in
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17 ESV). Paul’s instruction to Timothy affirms that elders—those who serve as spiritual leaders and shepherds in the local church—are to be honored for their faithful labor. The phrase “rule well” refers to