DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Insight  Paul loves Timothy like a son ( 2 Timothy 1:2 ) and wants him to grow strong in love and, faith worth living and dying for ( 2:1–3 ). But while referring often in his letter to themes of suffering and harassment ( 1:8–9, 11–12, 15; 2:8–10; 3:10–12; 4:17–18 ), the apostle didn’t have a persecution complex. In fact, when he tells Timothy that all who want to live in the spirit and reverence of Jesus will experience opposition ( 2 Timothy 3:12 ), he does so in the context of warning that those who live only for themselves will be doing greater harm to themselves and one another in the long run ( vv. 1–9, 13 ). Paul reminded Timothy that those who opposed them weren’t the real enemy. Without realizing it, such persons had been snared by the devil to distract from the goodness and grace of Christ ( 2:22–26;   Ephesians 6:12 ). By:  Mart DeHaan

Insight  Balaam was a prophet for hire ( Numbers 22:7 ;  Deuteronomy 23:4 ;  Joshua 13:22 )—a sin that remains prevalent even today. Peter warns of false teachers who “followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong” ( 2 Peter 2:15–16   NLT ). Jude likewise warns of ungodly people who abuse their positions and misuse their giftedness for monetary gain ( Jude 1:11 ). And John warns of greedy leaders, who, like Balaam, entice people to commit spiritual adultery and sexual immorality ( Revelation 2:14 ).

Insight  Psalm 146   doesn’t include a superscription, which means we don’t have information about the author’s identity or the circumstances surrounding the song’s composition. What we do know, however, is how  Psalm 146  was viewed by the religious community. While many scholars believe  Psalm 1  was intentionally written to open the book of Psalms,   Psalms 145–150   were praise songs selected to close the Hebrew hymnal. This closing flourish of praise has been called by one writer “the endless hallelujah .”   The Bible Knowledge Commentary  agrees, stating that these songs are “the grand doxology of the entire collection, for praise plays a greater part of  Psalms 145–150  than in most of the others. The word ‘ praise’ occurs 46 times in these six psalms .” By:  Bill Crowder

Insight  At the time Jesus spoke these words, most homes used small oil lamps for lighting, which were most effective placed on a lampstand. Covering a small lamp under a bowl ( Matthew 5:14–16 ) would extinguish it. In describing His disciples as the “light of the world” ( v. 14 ), Jesus emphasizes that it’s  impossible  to genuinely be a disciple of His kingdom without living according to the kingdom values described in  Matthew 5 . To live in opposition to these values is as useless and illogical as being tasteless, ineffective salt or invisible light ( vv. 13, 15 ). By:  Monica La Rose

Insight  The book of James has been compared to the book of Proverbs because both contain practical advice for living out a life of faith in God .  James 2:14–26  is foundational for understanding the relationship between our faith and works. James introduces this topic early in his letter ( 1:27 ) and continues to tell his readers that true faith is demonstrated by actions.

Insight  A believer’s life is a father-child relationship, the most basic and embryonic of all love relationships. God loves us not because we’re worthy of His love , but simply because it’s His nature to love ( Exodus 34:6–7 ). The apostle John simply puts it, “God is love” ( 1 John 4:8 ,  16 ). Jesus taught us to talk with God who is “our Father in heaven” ( Matthew 6:9 ). We’re privileged and empowered by the Holy Spirit to call Him “Abba, Father” ( Romans 8:15–16 ;  Galatians 4:6 ). This term is a name of endearment and intimacy. One writer says that God has many names but  Abba Father  is his favorite name for God . Calling Him “Abba, Father” authenticates our salvation, for we become children of God through Jesus ( John 1:12 ;  Galatians 3:26 ). Our status as His children entitles us to a spiritual inheritance as God’s heirs ( Ro mans 8:17 ;  Galatians 4:7 ).

Insight  Ever since the days of the prophets, Israel had looked forward to a messianic age when renewing waters of spiritual life would flow from the temple of Jerusalem ( Ezekiel 47:1–12 ;  Joel 3:18 ;  Zechariah 14:6–9 ). In anticipation of that day, at the annual Feast of Tabernacles the high priest of Israel drew water from the pool of Siloam outside of Jerusalem and led a procession into the city where he poured out the water at the temple altar. Jesus claimed not only to be the source of living water but also the temple of the living God ( John 2:18–21 ;  4:10-14 ). By:  Mart DeHaan

Insight  In Romans 8 , three things jump from the page to fill God’s child with assurance and hope . Verses 1–4 remind us that “there is now no condemnation” for believers in Christ . This affirmation gives us confidence that in Jesus we’re brought into right relationship with God and are safe from judgment for our sins. The bulk of the chapter ( vv. 5–27 ) confirms the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering us in living out our faith . The final segment ( vv. 28–39 ) assures us that God’s love for us will never die or diminish . After seven chapters that speak to our failings and our need of a Savior, chapter 8 builds a case for spiritual confidence in Christ . His protection, Spirit , and love have come to us through the cross, reminding us that we’re loved and cared for by the Father. By:  Bill Crowder

Through the uncertainty of this world, God can be trusted completely, knowing that nothing, absolutely nothing, “will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord ” ( v. 39 ). By:   Estera Pirosca Escobar

Insight  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any other Old Testament book except the Psalms . When tempted in the wilderness, He rebuffed Satan three times with teachings from Deuteronomy ( Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, and 6:13 ). And when a teacher of the law asked Him which commandment was the greatest ( Matthew 22:34–40 ), Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 . That passage is repeated here in 11:13 , emphasizing its importance. If Israel obeyed God’s law by loving “the  Lord  [their] God and [serving] him with all [their] heart and with all [their] soul,” God’s blessing would follow . By:  Tim Gustafson

Insight  Hebrews 2:18 gives us great insight into the life of Jesus : “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted , he is able to help those who are being tempted.” When we think of Christ’s temptation , we think of His time in the wilderness (see Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4 ). When Satan attempts to turn Him away from His mission , Jesus combats the tempter with Scripture . This confrontation shows us that knowing Scripture and relying on God enables us to stand firm in the face of temptation. Jesus felt the allure of temptation in the same way we do, and because of that, He’s able to help us in our weakness.

Insight  When Uzzah took hold of the ark to ensure it didn’t fall, the Scriptures say God became angry because of his “irreverent act” ( 2 Samuel 6:7 ). This seems harsh because it appears that Uzzah was trying to help. The Hebrew word   hassal   appears only in this passage and is translated as  irreverent act , irreverence ,  or  error .  That it’s used only here suggests that what Uzzah did was a one of a kind event and therefore significant. God had given precise instructions regarding the handling of “holy things.” According to Numbers 4:15 , “[ the Kohathites ] must not touch the holy things or they will die .” The holy things of God were to be treated according to His instruction. To do differently—even to “help” —indicated lack of reverence toward His command .

Insight  The celebration of Pentecost on the Christ ian calendar occurs seven weeks (or fifty days) after Easter. This special recognition commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit (as promised by Jesus — Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5, 8 ), the subsequent birth of the church, and the ingathering of the first members of the family in Christ . But before Pentecost had significance for believers in Jesus , it was observed by God’s people in the Old Testament . The feast took place seven weeks after the Passover on the fiftieth day (see Leviticus 23:15–22 ). The event is also known as the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest . This great harvest festival was so special that work stopped and adult men traveled to the place of worship where loaves of bread baked from the new grain were offered to God ( vv. 17–22 ). Following Christ’s death and resurrection, it was on this significant day that God sent the Holy Spirit . By:  Arthur Jackson

Insight  Tax collectors were despised and hated by the Jews because they were regarded as mercenaries and traitors who worked for the hated Roman conquerors who subjugated them. They also collected more than what was legally mandated, pocketing the excess and dishonestly enriching themselves at the expense of their own people ( Luke 3:13–14 ). The term “sinners” was used to describe the notoriously wicked—reprobates who rejected God’s law . The Pharisees also used “sinners” to include anyone who didn’t meticulously maintain ceremonial purity or follow their rigid standards. Tax collectors were deliberately lumped together with sinners to show how degenerate and wicked the tax collectors were. Jesus was invited to dine with all sorts of people, even with the Pharisees ( Luke 7:36 ; 11:37 ; 14:1 ). But  He ate so often with social and religious outcasts—considered to be the scum of society—that He earned the reputation of being “a friend of tax collectors and sinners”...

Insight  In Paul’s letters, he shows his appreciation for his fellow workers in the gospel by naming them, which gives us a window into his pastoral heart. He wasn’t just a great theologian; he was also a mentor and dependable friend. As he concludes his letter to the Romans ( ch. 16 ), Paul specifically names those who tirelessly co-labored with him in the gospel. That many of these were women attests to the significant roles women played in the church. In Colossians , Paul warmly singled out ten associates—Jews and gentiles, slaves and free men, men and women ( 4:7–18 ). In the book of Acts and Paul’s New Testament letters combined, he expressed his appreciation and concern for some eighty fellow workers (see 2 Timothy 1:15–18 ; 4:9–22 ; Titus 3:12–13 ).

Insight  Easton’s Bible Dictionary  says: “(Thessalonica) was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia. . . . On his second missionary journey, Paul preached in the synagogue here, the chief synagogue of the Jews in that part of Macedonia, and laid the foundations of a church ( Acts 17:1–4 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ). The violence of the Jews drove him from the city, when he fled to Berea ( Acts 17:5–10 ). Paul visited the church here on a subsequent occasion ( 20:1–3 ).” The church at Thessalonica would become a key witness for the good news in northern Greece By:  Bill Crowder