romans-12:9

Sit down with pencil and paper, and – verse by verse – let the Word of God search your heart. It will mean recognizing, admitting, even recording your sins as they’re revealed – yours, not your neighbor’s. It will mean Spirit-guided confession and restoration. It will mean obedience at any cost – in... Read More

By the mercy of God I have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ since my early youth. Over the years of my earthly pilgrimage I have known what it is like to climb great spiritual mountains and how it feels to fall into chasms of blackness. I have had long seasons of great Christian joy and inte... Read More

When we think of those we know who live holy lives, we generally don’t think of children. Perhaps it is because we have generally accepted the passage from Proverbs 22:15, which states: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” We naturally as... Read More

In Jeremiah 29:11, God makes a tremendous statement: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What a powerful legacy for any child--or for any Christian! Almighty God has told us that He has wonderful p... Read More

Abhor (655) (apostugeo from apo = from + stugeo = to hate) (used only in Ro 12:9 in NT and none in Lxx) expresses a strong feeling of horror or bitter hatred regarding evil and implies loathing, abhorrence and disgust. The preposition (apo) serves a twofold purpose emphasizing the idea of separation... Read More

Well pleasing (2101) (euarestos from eu = good, well + arestos = pleasing, desirable, proper, fit, agreeable from aresko = to please or be pleasing/acceptable to) means that which causes someone to be pleased. It is something which is well approved, eminently satisfactory, or extra-ordinarily pleasi... Read More

Admonishing (3560) (warning, cautioning, gently reproving, exhorting) (noutheteo from noús = mind + títhemi = place) (see also Nouthesia) literally means to place in the mind and so to warn or give notice to beforehand especially of danger or evil. The idea is to lay it on the mind or heart of the p... Read More

Answers back (470)(antapokrinomai from antí = against + apokrinomai = to give off a judgment, to answer <> apó = from + kríno = separate, discern, judge) means to reply to something, especially by making a declaratory and argumentative reply. To make unjustified accusations. Answer back, demand one'... Read More

Approved (1384) (dokimos from dokime = test, proof, trial = idea is that when you put metal through a fiery testing and it comes out on the other side enduring it "proven", "authentic" or "genuine" Click discussion of related word dokimazo and the antonym = adokimos) describes one who has stood the ... Read More

Bearing fruit (2592) (karpophoreo from karpos = fruit, produce + phero = bear, bring) literally means to bring forth fruit, to be fertile, productive. It is used figuratively to refer to bringing forth deeds or works (fruit), which depending on the context can be good fruit or bad fruit (see verses ... Read More