Theologikarl

 A YouTube Devotional for 16 March 2021. ~~~ A verse I mentioned on Sunday was Romans 12:28, which in the New Living Translation says: “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” The same verse in the New King James Version says: “Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The wording of the second translation has really struck me, particularly the idea that we need grace in order to serve God acceptably. In Greek, the phrase translated as “grace” or “thankful” (or in other versions “gratitude”) is echo charis . Echo means either to have, hold or keep something, or to be something. And that something that we are to have, hold, keep or be is charis . Charis means “grace, the state of kindness and favour toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object. By extension it a...

Another YouTube devotional I did, for 12th January 2021. ~~~ There is a lesser known parable in Matthew 21:28-32 that has always greatly challenged me. Jesus is talking to the chief priests and elders and says: “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe in him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” This parable has always challenged me because I am quick to say I will lis...