Commentary
If we want to know the will of God for our lives here is one clue: Give thanks in all circumstances. One might say, "How could I give thanks? You don't know my circumstances. I have absolutely no reason to give thanks for what happened to me." But in not giving thanks we relegate ourselves to the tyranny of a broken and fallen world. The Bible speaks of a fallen creation that needs rescue. Giving thanks reminds us and aligns us with God's rescue plan for our lives.Commentary
The apostle Paul applies the strength of God both to good and bad circumstances. He is basically saying that the gospel gives him the power to process victory and defeat similarly: as under the hand of God. In other words, how we handle our victories is also the way we handle our defeats. When our identity is in Christ and not in our achievement, success and setback are held in the same hand.
Today's commentary by:Commentary
We would like to think that we found God - but He actually chose us! Our ability to bear fruit doesn't come from our own will power, but from a heavenly intervention on our behalf. We are not our own - to ask based around our own agendas betrays the fact that we have been chosen and appointed. Chosen for what? Appointed for what? To love one another. This begins the pilgrim's journey. This forms the asking. This becomes the great adventure of following Jesus.Commentary
This is both sobering and liberating! To experience a growing, vibrant spiritual life with Jesus is not just an intellectual exercise. Nor is it and exhausting series of good deeds. It is in remaining in the vine that our fulfillment comes. From the vine comes knowledge and good works, but now it's from a position of having experienced God's love and acceptance. We must resist the urge to do things to get God's acceptance. He is offering us a resting place with Him with amazing results.Commentary
Notice that both branches get cut. The difference is in how we respond to the pain of the pruning. In many ways, the way that we bear the pruning is how we know that we are growing in our relationship with God. Do we get bitter, or better? What does the experience of loss or hindrance expose in us? Our Father is a faithful gardener, ready to cut off the things in our lives that don't bear fruit, and reminding the fruitful ones that our life is not in the fruit, but only in the vine.Commentary
In this comparison, we see a picture of competence and loyalty. The master is like the fig tree, providing for the needs of his servant. But if the tree is not tended, no one benefits. If the master is not looked after, he won't have the resources to honor his servant. Today, we could remove the master/slave titles and put in employer/employee, or entrepreneur/client. To tend to our source of provision is to take care of ourselves.Commentary
Muzzling the ox would have kept the ox from eating from the grain while it worked. This command from the laws of Moses reminds us that it is not unreasonable to provide for the needs of an animal that is producing profit for us. Remember that this was written after God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt; where they were treated as little more than animals. To allow the ox to eat the grain that it's treading tells us that He cares that we benefit from the results of our work.Commentary
This proverb follows a commonly used literary tool of contrast. To follow in the ways of God (the righteous) causes one to pay attention to the smallest details with care. In a similar way, those who resist the ways of God (the wicked) have no hope of compensating for their hardness of heart. Even acts of kindness won't cover selfish motives.
Commentary
This is the first Great Commission that is given to mankind. Notice that God tells Adam and Eve to actively engage the world that He has created. This was repeated thousands of years later when Jesus said to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:18-12) Like Adam and Eve, we are called to engage the world with the good news of God's mercy in Jesus.
Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC
Commentary
The garden was perfectly prepared. It was man's home and he had to tend and keep it. Even the biblical paradise required work (1:26-28)!Commentary
This is not a condemnation of adequate preparation but rather of reliance on it for victory, instead of on the Lord (cf. Ezra 8:22; Ps. 20:7; Is. 31:1-3; Hos. 1:7).Commentary
Mansions refers to dwelling places. Everybody has a longing for a permanent, secure place. Such places have already been set aside for all of God's children. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare our place. Peter never got over the wonder of his unfading, reserved, heavenly home (1 Pet. 1:3, 4). The Lord is telling them that though they are disturbed now, they will have rest and refreshment later.Commentary
Christians need to remember that though we are in this world we are not of this world; our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. The eager desire of Christians is not earthly things, but a heavenly Person, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:19-25).Commentary
David wrote this psalm as he was about to retire for the night (v. 8). He could not do much about the war around him, but he could do something about the war within him. He did not want to lie in bed and worry, so he committed himself and his situation to the Lord.Commentary
An ideal of conduct is urged in the comments on how we should say what we say (v. 1). A soft answer is a concilatory answer, often relieving a tense situation by dissolving a person's anger. Such responses require kindness, self-control, patience, love, peace - all the fruit of the Spirit.Commentary
One who is a peacemaker is under the blessing of God (Matt. 5:9). A needlessly contentious person is but a fool. The man of peace has glory; the fool, only shame.Commentary
Believers are to be model citizens, known as law abiding not rabble-rousing, obedient rather than rebellious, respectful of government rather than demeaning of it. We must speak against sin, against injustice, against immorality and ungodliness with fearless dedication, but we must do it within the framework of civil law and with respect for civil authorities.Commentary
The idea of praying for kings (or national leaders) has a twofold emphasis. First, it is a specific way to pray for all men, because the actions of a king affect society as a whole. Second, it reminds believers that God is the ultimate Sovereign. He is in control, and our prayers affect decisions at the highest level.Commentary
The point is that even the best of people are not adequate help in times of terrible stress. Even princes (national leaders) are mortal, and are not able even to help themselves (118:9). In contrast is the individual who finds ultimate help in God who lives forever (vv. 5-7).Commentary
To meditate means much more than just contemplation. The idea here is that one should reflect upon God's Word in a thoughtful way, appropriating its truths personally and applying them to life (Ps. 1:2, 3).
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jos 1:8-9). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.