Every American needs to hear this. Puts a little perspective on things.
[The Shawn Ryan Show] Memorial Day Special: Navy Veteran Memorizes Every Service Member Killed in Afghanistan
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Here’s a simple tip for reading and studying the Bible: pay attention to how often the biblical authors place two narratives side by side so you can compare and contrast them.
A great example appears in Matthew 14, one of the chapters we read today in Bible in One Year. There, you have a striking contrast between Herod, who orders the beheading of John the Baptist, and Jesus, who feeds the five thousand.
Herod is a ruler, but how does he act? On his birthday, when the daughter of Herodias dances before him, he rashly vows to give her whatever she asks. Prompted by her mother, she asked for John the Baptist to be decapitated. Because of the oath and his guests, Herod had John beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter.
Herod, the ruler, is all about Herod. He even takes the life of an innocent man.
Then you have Jesus. He is compassionate, merciful, and selfless. When he sees the crowds, he has compassion on them, heals their sick, and refuses to send them away hungry. Instead, he provides for them abundantly.
Jesus, the ruler, is all about others, even willing to die as an innocent man for us, the guilty.
So which ruler is truly powerful? Herod or Jesus?
Jesus, the Son of God, is the truly powerful one. Yet he exercises his power not through domination or cruelty, but through mercy toward those in need.
These are two very different kinds of rulers, two very different ways of relating to people.
In the kingdom of God, what kind of ruler do we have in Jesus?
We have the one who looks upon us with compassion. The one who sees our need and desires to meet it. The one who acts toward us with grace and love, welcoming us into his kingdom to give us everything he desires us to have.
In the Hebrew of Psalm 23, goodness and mercy do not "follow" us all the days of our lives. That translation is far too bloodless for the verb radaf (רדף), which means "chase" or "pursue." God's mercy doesn't follow us like a good little puppy dog. It hounds us, chases us down, stays hot on our heels, until it radafs us all the way into our Father's waiting arms.
Responding to Judgment - Revelation 18. Dive into the Bible in One year series at https://t.co/Yrg5F0EFv5 for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts. #BibleInOneYear#BibleStudy
Brain cells die. Skin cells die and even hair cells die. But the fat cells in my stomach must have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior since they seem to have eternal life.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel Vision - Isaiah 22.
Head to https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts from the Bible in One Year series.
Happy Studying! #BibleinOneYear#Biblestudy
God's Deafening Silence - Genesis 46. Head to https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts from the Bible in One Year series.
Happy Studying! #BibleinOneYear#Biblestudy
Promises Made & Kept - Malachi 4. Dive into the Bible in One year series at https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts. #BibleinOneYear#Biblestudy
Unto US a Son Is Given - Isaiah 9. Head to https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts from the Bible in One Year series. Happy Studying! #BibleinOneYear#Biblestudy
Riches to Rags Christmas - Micah 7. Dive into the Bible in One year series at https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts. #BibleinOneYear#Biblestudy