Just as God reclaimed Israel from Babylon, as recorded in Ezra chapter one, He wants to reclaim us. His process for reclamation is Redemption and Restoration.

Paul thanks Christ Jesus for saving him and all the sinners.

God always does what he says he will do. He is not like us, forgetting, overlooking, and ignoring his commitments. Nor is he, like us, sometimes willing to fulfill his commitments, but unable to do so. He never runs out of time. He never gets sick, or has an unexpected scheduling conflict. And he never lacks the strength to do what he says he will do—even if the task is as tall as giving a baby to a ninety-year-old woman or raising his Son from the dead! Nothing is too hard for the Lord!

There are several instances in the Old Testament where God commands a prophet to perform a symbolic act as a form of prophecy. In Ezekiel 4:9–12 Ezekiel is commanded to lay on his side for 390 days and to eat food cooked over dung, to symbolize the coming food shortage during a time of God’s judgment. In the same way God is using Hosea’s pursuit to restore his marriage as a symbol for how God will not give up on his adulterous people.

The main point of everything in Christianity is not the gifts, miracles, end times

prophecies, or anything else people can get distracted by in Scripture. Jesus is the

main point of everything in Christianity.

The virtuous woman poem that comprises Proverbs 31:10-31 is considered by many the description of a godly and industrious female, and the goal to which all women should strive! However, this is a quick and unfortunate interpretation of this great text which has its power reduced when limiting its target to women. This lesson is to show that this text is not to be so limited, but is actually what wisdom looks like in everyday application

“Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs. And Wisdom is an attribute of God. Jesus Christ is wisdom incarnate. Isaiah 11:2 says of the Messiah, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that He “became to us wisdom from God.” The emphasis of this message is to show that when Proverbs speaks of wisdom, Proverbs is speaking of Christ.”

“Father’s Day is a tradition in American families to honor Dads for their wisdom and contributions. “Dad Sayings” are the tidbits handed down to children, many of which stick with the child throughout their lifetime. Sometimes foolish things are passed down, but often Dads come up with short proverbs that set a course or give a perspective for their children. Solomon was no different. His sayings to his son form a godly perspective for his son to follow.”

Learning is a lifelong process, not one that is accomplished in a phase of life. In Solomon’s words we find the pleas to his son to never quit learning, and to tie true knowledge to the revelations from the Creator.

Being countercultural is no win in and of itself. The joy comes in knowing that our purposes lead to victory. We see a glimpse of that victory in John’s Revelation of Christ, our countercultural Messiah and King who for the joy set before Him, endured the uncomfortable.