Open the Bible UK Daily
Colin Smith 1 086 episodes Nov 11, 2026
3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.
Episodes
How Suffering Exposes the Foundation of Your Life
Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith.1 Thessalonians 3:6Jesus told a story about two men who built houses—one on rock, the other on sand (Mat. 7:24-27). Then a storm came. One house stood; the other collapsed. Suffering is the storm that reveals the foundation of your life. When you suffer, the idol of comfort is cast down.When your faith is under fire, y
How to Minister to a Person Whose Faith Is Under Fire
We sent Timothy… to establish and exhort you in your faith.1 Thessalonians 3:2Our faith is always under fire. It is always being pounded. This can happen in a couple of different ways.We can be under fire through trials. “We sent Timothy… to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions” (3:2-3).We can also be under fire from the tempter. “I sent to learn about
Our Calling Is to More Than Good Intentions
Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.1 Thessalonians 2:8It is easy to get into a routine of living on good intentions. You intend to be a better Christian one day. You expect to get right with God one day. You intend to share the gospel with a friend one day. But somehow that day never comes.1 Thessalonians confron
Don’t Be Driven by Approval
We speak, not to please man… We never came with words of flattery… Nor did we seek glory from people.1 Thessalonians 2:4, 5, 6There was a second accusation against Paul—that he was motivated by a desire for the approval of others. You can see this from his answer in verses 4-6.If Paul’s definition of success had been that everybody should think well of him, he could not have been faithful as an ap
Don’t Be Driven by Comfort
For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed… though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.1 Thessalonians 2:5, 6The first accusation against Paul by the church in Thessalonica was that he was using the people to his own advantage. In Paul’s response, he is talking about money. As an apostle, he could have called on the Thessalonians to support him
A Gospel Definition of Success
You remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.1 Thessalonians 2:9The Apostle Paul’s definition of success is very different than the world’s definition. His definition of success is: to advance the gospel and to live under the approval of God.We had boldness in our God to declare to yo
What Is Your Definition of Success?
Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.1 Thessalonians 1:8The church in Thessalonica was a bridgehead for the gospel. It was the most exciting church in the New Testament, and yet some of the believers there didn’t know it. Some thought Paul’s ministry was a failure. That’s clear from how Paul answers them:
How Are We to Speak About Jesus?
Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.1 Thessalonians 1:5Deep conviction does not fit well with our culture today. The prevailing spirit is one of uncertainty. We have more questions than answers.The person who speaks with certainty is quickly accused of being arrogant. None of us want to be thought of as proud, so it has become
Don’t Marginalise the Gospel with Good Things
You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.1 Thessalonians 1:9-10The church exists to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, that through The church exists to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, that through His death He bore the wrath of God, and that our risen Ki
The Gospel, Jesus, and the Wrath of God
You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.1 Thessalonians 1:9-10The gospel message is about a person Paul has come to know and wants to introduce to others. This person is unlike any other person who has ever lived. He is God’s Son from heaven. The gospel is about Hi
Living Like There’s No Tomorrow
You know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.1 Thessalonians 2:11-12The apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica pulsates with a sense of urgency. He regularly uses words like: exhort, encourage, urge, and admonish. For example:We ask and
Are You Looking to Yourself for Salvation?
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”John 5:39-40As long as you are looking to yourself for salvation, there is absolutely no hope for you. Salvation does not come from within you. It cannot. The life you need is found in Christ and your hope lies in Him.If yo
What Do We Need Jesus to Do for Us?
“An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”John 5:25The first thing we learn about God in the Bible is that when He speaks, things are created that did not exist before. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Gen. 1:3).Now here is God the Son, God in the flesh, and when He comes to people who are dead in the
What Does “Grace” Mean?
By grace you have been saved.Ephesians 2:5Grace is more than God making salvation possible. It’s more than God opening a door and then standing back to see who will come through. By nature nobody would come through. An open door is no different from a closed door to a dead man.Grace means more than God making your salvation possible. Grace is God saving you. Here’s what has happened to you if you
What Is Your View of Sin and Salvation?
You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.Ephesians 2:1Many church people have bought into a view of sin that goes like this: We all mess up in various ways, and nobody is perfect. But God is gracious and kind. If we are sorry and want to do better, God will forgive us and help us, and it was Jesus who made all this possible.If this is the size and the scale of the problem,
How Does God Describe Our Ability to Do What He Commands?
You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.Ephesians 2:1We must take the Bible seriously here. It doesn’t say, “You were trapped in your sins.” It says, “You were dead in your sins”! If a man falls into a pit, you can throw him a rope. But if he is dead in the pit, the rope is of no use to him.Imagine a full-size mannequin standing next to you. Let’s call him “Manny.” Manny
Do You Need a Good Reason to Begin a Journey of Faith with Jesus?
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.Ephesians 2:12There are so many barriers, so many reasons that can keep us from God. There are so many reasons to put off the decision. It is only by God’s grace that any of us come to Him.If you have never come,
Is It Really Possible to Know That God Loves You?
Note then the kindness and the severity of God.Romans 11:22No generation has been so often told that God loves us, and no generation has struggled more to experience God’s love.One reason for this is that our ideas about God’s love have become sentimental. We have failed to take God’s wrath seriously, and losing touch with God’s wrath, we’ve lost touch with His love.When you grasp this truth of th
Why Did Jesus Come into the World? Why Did He Have to Die? And What Was the Cross All About?
Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.Isaiah 53:5Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). On the cross, He became the sin bearer: “He himself bore our sins in the body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24).“He… bore our sins” means that Jesus came under all the consequences that sin brings. On the cross, He absorbed the Divine wrath. He entered into all that he
Why Is It So Important to Believe the Right Things about God?
We were by nature children of wrath.Ephesians 2:3This does not mean that if we do some bad things, the wrath of God will come on us. We are children of wrath by nature. That means, by nature, we are absorbed with self and drawn to sin. By nature, we want to be our own gods. By nature, we were under the wrath of God.Some people say, “I cannot believe that if a person doesn’t believe the right thing
Is the World Getting Better?
We… were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.Ephesians 2:3One of the greatest problems with evolutionary theory is that if it were true, the world should be a better place by now.If we are getting better, surely by now, war should have ended, children should be safe, and women should be treated with dignity and respect. Surely by now, we should have achieved world peace, and wise
Have You Completely Missed Your Biggest Problem?
We… were by nature children of wrath.Ephesians 2:3This verse is disturbing, but its meaning is clear—the default position of every human life is that we are under the wrath of God. To help us grasp the importance of this, here is a parable...Imagine a beautiful church with stained-glass windows, hundreds of years old, located in the center of town.Pastor John, a wise, kind, and godly man—the kind
What Do You Believe About Your Heart?
We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind.Ephesians 2:3In the 1990s, filmmaker Woody Allen left the woman he had been in a long-term relationship with to be with her adopted daughter. When asked why he would do such a thing, he responded by saying, “The heart wants what it wants.”That is exactly the teaching of Ephesians 2:3. So, all of us h
What Role Does Imagination Play in Our Sin?
Carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind.Ephesians 2:3If the fires have burned low in your marriage, expect your sinful nature to produce thoughts about divorce. Something within you will say, “You deserve better than this. There’s another person out there for you.” If you are discouraged in ministry, expect the sinful nature to produce thoughts about quitting. The sinful nature will say
What Does Sin Look Like in Us?
The desires of the flesh and the mind…Ephesians 2:3The Keto diet is the one where you can eat high fat foods but no carbs. This appeals to some people—a diet in which you can eat steak and bacon. But it doesn’t usually last long, because after a few days your body starts craving bread.What are the desires of the mind? What are the cravings of the flesh? Here are ten examples. You will recognise th
Where Does God Draw the Line Between Good and Bad People?
We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind.Ephesians 2:3The first two words of Ephesians 2:3 are crucial to our understanding of the pervasiveness of sin in all human beings, “We all…”Notice how Paul moves from you in verse 1 to us in verse 3: “You were dead in the trespasses and sins… among whom we all once lived [that is, among the sins men
Why Do We Sin?
We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.Ephesians 2:3Notice that sin is in the thoughts, it’s in the desires, and it’s in the cravings of the human heart. Sin pervades the mind, the will, and the heart. Our thoughts, desires, and affections are all corrupted by sin.Sin corrupt
When Will Suffering Ever End?
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”Revelation 21:4God cuts back the weed of sin, but the day is coming when He will pull sin up altogether and cast it into the fire. Sin will be no more. And there will be a new heaven and earth, the home of righteousness.Su
How Does God Restrain Sin in the World Today?
None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside... Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their
What Caused People to Pray for the Very First Time?
At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.Genesis 4:26This is the first mention of prayer in the Bible. What was happening that caused people to pray for the first time?When the destructive effects of sin became obvious in the world—broken families, violence, and murder—people began to pray. They saw evil in all its ugly colours, and they began to ask God for help.Notice, it doesn’
Are You Taking the Bible’s Teaching About Sin Seriously?
“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.”Genesis 4:7Sin is like a wild animal, a predator, crouching at the door. God said to Cain, “Its desire is for you.” Sin is a destructive power. It is an active enemy.Suppose you paint a wall in your house, and a child draws all over it with a crayo
How Did You Become a Christian?
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ... You must be born again."John 3: 6-7Imagine a young man named “Jack” who begins attending a new church. He comes in one day to talk to his new pastor. After some small talk, the conversation goes something like this…Pastor: “Tell me, Junior, how did you become a Christian?”Junior: “Oh, it’s pretty simple,
How Does Sin Get in Us?
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.Psalm 51:5Adam came out of the hand of God upright, but Seth came out of the womb. He was born in the likeness of his father, a sinner. Poor Seth—sin was in his father and mother by their own choice. Sin was in him by nature and by birth.Not only was sin in Seth, but its effects were all around him. God placed Adam in a
Do You Know This Double Truth about Yourself?
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.Genesis 5:3Do you see the difference between Adam and Seth? Adam was created in the image of God, and his son still bears that image, but Adam’s son also bears the image of his father, who is a sinner.God made Adam upright, but Adam became a sinner and his son was born in the father’s likeness
Is There Such a Thing as Good and Evil?
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.Genesis 6:5For some years now, secular education has been teaching our children and young people the postmodern myth that there is no such thing as good or evil—everything is relative.But sometimes we see the face of evil—things that are too awful for a so
How Do We Know What Sin Is?
I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”Romans 7:7In all the generations that came from Adam, not one person has been born who was truly upright, until God became man in Jesus Christ. The upright one did not arise from the human race. He came to the human race. The Holy Son of God was born of a virgin.In all human history, Jesus is the only one who
Can You Name One Sin in Your Life Right Now?
“All these I have kept from my youth,” he [the rich young ruler] said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack …”Luke 18:21–22Try to imagine Jesus saying these words to you. Whatever words He said to you next would make you aware of at least one undeniable, verifiable sin in your life.And when you can see one sin in your life (and you’re really convinced that it is a sin,
How Can We Cultivate a Greater Hatred for Sin in Our Lives?
God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.Ecclesiastes 7:29Every time you see the wretched destructive power of evil breaking out in the world, use this verse to cultivate a greater hatred toward sin in your life. Say to yourself, “The root of this thing lies in me!” Use this as an incentive to holiness.You can also use this verse with someone you know who is not yet a believer.E
Why Do We Shake Our Fist at God?
God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.Ecclesiastes 7:29God did not burden Adam with sin. God made him upright. Adam was the one who used his freedom to forfeit his righteousness.If you are shaking your fist at God today perhaps it is because, somewhere deep inside, you feel that the problems in your life and the evils in the world came from the hand of God.If that’s the case,
Why Did God Allow the Possibility of Sin?
But they [men] have gone in search of many schemes.Ecclesiastes 7:29Doing good and right was instinctive to Adam, but it was not inevitable. Adam’s righteousness was natural, but it was also changeable.So, why did God allow the possibility of sin? If Adam and Eve had remained upright, the whole human race would have been born in paradise. We would all be living in fellowship with God and in harmon
What Was the First Human Being Like?
God made man upright.Ecclesiastes 7:29The word that is translated “man” here is the word “adam,” like the name—Adam. “God made adam upright, but they have sought out many schemes” (7:29). So, there is a contrast here between Adam and men and women today.What does it mean to be upright? Adam was good and right in himself. That is how God made him. Doing what is good and right came naturally to him.
Why Is the World as It Is Today?
This alone I found...Ecclesiastes 7:29What is your explanation of evil? People will tell you that it is social, educational, or economic. But acts of great evil are committed by the rich as well as the poor. Evils abound under capitalism as well as under communism. Some of the most wicked acts in all human history have been conceived by the most brilliant minds.To bring the question down to a more
Four Responses to the Good News of Jesus Christ
“This day is a day of good news.”2 Kings 7:9Among us today there will be four responses to the good news of Jesus Christ.1. Some will be like the captain: We hear the good news, and we refuse to believe itJesus gave us a picture of the last day. Many will come to share in a great feast. But outside will be people who heard the good news and refused to believe. If you hear His voice, do not harden
The God Who Has Opened the Windows of Heaven
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”2 Kings 7:2There is a big difference between the king and his captain. The king did not believe, but he was open to investigating. “Go and see” (7:14). But the captain’s mind
The King Who Doubted God’s Word
The king rose in the night and said…“The Syrians… know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide… thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive.’”2 Kings 7:12Just one day earlier, the king had heard the Word of God from the prophet Elisha: “Tomorrow… a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel” (7:1). But when the king hears the news that the Sy
The Lepers Who Thought Only of Themselves
Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die?"2 Kings 7:3The city was under siege, and outside the gates were four lepers. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place! Behind them was a city where they were not wanted. In front of them was a vast enemy army.So, they evaluated their options: “If we stay
The Captain Who Refused to Believe
Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria.2 Kings 6:24We take up our last story from the life of Elisha in Samaria. The tactic of a siege was to form a camp around the entire city. No one could go in, and no one could come out. So, it wasn’t long before food was in short supply.And when supplies are low, prices go up. We are told: “a donkey’s head
God Is Merciful to Us
“He prepared for them a great feast…2 Kings 6:23The Syrian army wanted to kill the king of Israel, and when they were delivered into his hand, he could have destroyed them, but instead, he prepared a feast for them. Don’t miss how this story points us to Jesus Christ and the mercy we find in Him.The king of Syria sent “a great army” to arrest one man. That’s how it was in Gethsemane. Judas had “pr
God Works for Us
When the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.2 Kings 6:18You might be thinking, “I know that God is with me, but…” And you go back to all that is against you, and you end up as fearful as the servant before God opened his eyes. If that’s where you are,
Walking by Faith Leads to Peace
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man… and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.2 Kings 6:17The servant did not see the full picture. He saw what was against him, but he did not see Who was for him. Elisha wants him to have peace, so he prays, “O LORD, please open his eyes”
Walking by Sight Leads to Fear
The king of Syria… called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said… “Elisha, the prophet… tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”2 Kings 6:11–12God’s perfect knowledge is a wonderful comfort to His friends. But it infuriates His enemies. When the king of Syria heard that Elisha was revealing
Our Words Are Never Hidden from God
Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”2 Kings 6:8Here is another remarkable story from the life of Elisha, and this story is especially for all who are fearful. If you feel that darkness is closing in. If you are saying, “What am I going to do?” If you find it difficult to sleep at night, this
Our Greed, Lies, and Deception Are Never Hidden from God
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”2 Kings 5:20After being healed, Naaman wanted to show his gratitude. He brought a boatload of money, and so he said to Elisha, “Accept now a present from your servant” (5:15). But E
Maybe You Are Offended by God’s Command, but Have You Heard His Promise?
But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”2 Kings 5:13Naaman took offence at the command to go and wash. But did he hear the promise? Elisha said, “Wash, and be clean.”Perhaps this is your position. There is something that God calls you to do and you don’t want to
Don’t Let Pride Hold You Back
“When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”2 Kings 5:6Things didn’t go so well when Naaman met with Israel’s king: “When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, ‘Am I God… that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?’” (5:7).Elisha heard what was happening, and he sent a message to t
You Can Be a Shining Light in a Dark Place
Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.2 Kings 5:2Naaman did not know God, but God brought someone who did know Him into Naaman’s life. She was a little girl, whose name we don’t even know.This girl had learned in her early years about the God of the Bible. She knew that when God’s people sinned ag
Here Is a Picture of What Sin Does in Our Lives
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favour; because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.2 Kings 5:1The story of Naaman is another story from the life of Elisha. Naaman was known for his strength and courage in battle. With that reputation, he would have risen through the ranks unti
God Can Work Through You
God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak… to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised… even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.1 Corinthians 1:27-29In the miracles of Elisha, we see two truths: God’s work continues despite our foolish mistakes, and God’s work advance
God’s Work Advances Despite Our Inadequacies
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits.2 Kings 4:42A farmer arrived with food for the sons of the prophets. These students are living through a famine, and this farmer says that he has brought “the firstfruits” of his harvest.The students hope he has a really big farm! But the cart is almost empty. There’s just one sack with only 20 loaves of bread and som
Two Ways God Protects Us from Our Own Folly
They cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” ... He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot… And there was no harm in the pot.2 Kings 4:40–41How can God’s work continue when His people make so many mistakes? God protects us from the worst effects of our own folly. How does He do this? Here are two ways.1. Sometimes God protects us by His direct interventionFlour does n
God’s Work Continues Despite Our Foolish Mistakes
One of them… found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were.2 Kings 4:39The Bible is full of foolish mistakes: James and John wanting to call down fire on a Samaritan village. Peter drawing his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples rebuking little children for coming to Jesus.The amazing thing
God’s Work Includes Saving Us from Foolish Mistakes
As the sons of the prophets were sitting before [Elisha], he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”2 Kings 4:38We are introduced here to a group of men known as “the sons of the prophets.” They lived in community and gave themselves to study and prayer. They brought the Word of God to the people.It’s likely that Elisha was there often, teaching, me
God’s Servants Have a Glorious Future
[Elisha] prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth… and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child… opened his eyes.2 Kings 4:33–35There is a marvellous picture here of
God’s Servants Depend on Him
Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”2 Kings 4:27Elisha was a great man of God. God worked through him in extraordinary ways. But the emphasis here is not on Elisha’s strength and power but on his limitations and weakness.Notice what Elisha doesn’t know: “She is in bitter dist
God’s Servants Endure Great Sorrow
When the child had grown… he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” …The child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.2 Kings 4:18-20Here we have every mother’s nightmare. The unimaginable sorrow of the death of a child. She laid the boy in Elisha’s room and told her husband that she was going to see the man of God. She said, “All
God’s Servants Are Greatly Blessed
One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.2 Kings 4:8The first thing we are told about this woman is that she had been blessed financially. God had blessed her, and she wanted to bring blessing to others.One way she could do this was to give hospitality to the prophet Elijah. Now
What God Has Done for Us in Jesus Christ
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:19The story of the widow’s oil points us very wonderfully to our Lord Jesus. Think about what God did for her sons. He paid their debt. He saved them from slavery. He gave them a future. This is what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.Jesus paid our debtWe owe it to God to love Him with all our h
God Works for Our Freedom and Joy
Your servant my husband is dead, and... the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.2 Kings 4:1Let’s look at this story from the perspective of the two boys. It’s striking how often they are mentioned, and it is through their eyes that we see these two truths.1. God works for our freedomThese two boys had quite a story to tell. If one of them could tell us his story, he might sa
God Works Through Our Faith and Obedience
Then [Elisha] said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbours, empty vessels and not too few.”2 Kings 4:3Notice, there was something for this woman to do. God provided for her as she walked in faith and obedience. God is not limited by our faith or by our obedience, but He calls us to be actively engaged in the means by which He provides.Elisha was a prophet, and the word of the prophet
God Works with What He Has Already Provided
Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”2 Kings 4:2There is something important here about how to help a person in need. The first question is, “What do you have?” What do you have that you could sell to pay this debt? God works with what He has already provided.God is not limited
God’s Faithful Servants Are Sometimes Desperate
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”2 Kings 4:1This woman’s great loss opened a whole chapter of troubles. God’s law made provision for widows among God’s people, primarily through the extended family. But for whatever re
God’s Faithful Servants Sometimes Suffer Greatly
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha…2 Kings 4:1Many Christians are familiar with the story of Elijah the prophet, but fewer know the story of Elisha the prophet. Elijah is the better known of the two, but God’s people enjoyed more blessing in the days of Elisha than they ever did in the days of Elijah.Taken as a whole, the stories about Elisha say to us, “Look at who Go
God Is Patient with You
The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you.2 Peter 3:9What promise is Peter talking about here? God has promised to judge the earth with fire, just as He once judged the earth with water.You would expect the verse to say, “God is not slow in fulfilling his promise… He is patient with the unbelieving world.” But that’s not what he says. Instead, he
Life in Heaven Is Very Long
With the Lord… a thousand years [are] as one day.2 Peter 3:8If one day is like a thousand years with the Lord, then the average human life (70 years), would run 25 million years. That’s a long time!Maybe you’re feeling the pressure of all the stuff you have to get done next week. But, if you had 7,000 years to do that work, you could get it all done easily! Think how relaxed you could be if one da
Life on Earth Is Very Short
With the Lord... a thousand years [are] as one day.2 Peter 3:8Do the math—Abraham was born on Monday. King David was born on Tuesday. Jesus was born on Wednesday. The middle ages flashed by yesterday, and our generation will have passed before this morning is over. Another 30 generations will have passed by tomorrow morning.By God’s scale, 70 years pass by every 100 minutes. So, imagine a person w
When Cynicism Hits Close to Home
Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.2 Peter 3:3Over the last century, we have seen evolutionism, which said “There is no Creator!” We are seeing the decline of postmodernism, which said “There is no Truth!” And now we’re seeing the rise of a new atheism, which says “There is no God!”Perhaps you work with people who are cynical about your faith. The
The Default Position of the Human Heart
Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.2 Peter 3:3This is what the first Christians experienced; it’s what we experience today; and it will be the experience of the church until Christ comes.When the New Testament refers to the “last days,” it includes all the days between Jesus’ first and second coming (see Acts 2). So, don’t be surprised by antagoni
A Warning and a Promise
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement.2 Peter 2:9There is a great promise here for the Christian. You love the Lord and you grieve over sins—in you and around you. God knows how to rescue you from trials. And He will rescue you. You can count on that.We learn something else here: There is a punishment for sin tha
What Your Familiarity with the Gospel Is Doing to You
What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”2 Peter 2:22The dog goes back and sniffs around. It is intrigued; it loves the vomit. The pig goes back and wallows in the mud. Why? Pigs love mud. And the unrighteous love sin. That’s why they keep going back to it.The washed pig looks better, but
A Hidden Mark of a Genuine Believer
Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard).2 Peter 2:7-8Here is one “hidden” mark of a genuine believer. It cannot be known for sure in others, but you can be sure of it in yourself.Be careful not to make false judgements about others. Pe
