Found in the Word

Greater value than the treasures of Egypt

2012-03-12T07:49:00.000-04:00

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
Hebrews 11:24-26

No Ordinary Child

2012-03-11T07:46:00.000-04:00

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
Hebrews 11:23

By faith Joseph spoke

2012-03-10T06:15:00.000-05:00

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
Hebrews 11:22

God has Prepared a City

2012-03-09T06:14:00.000-05:00

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:16

Looking Forward to the City

2012-03-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:10

We fix our eyes on what is unseen

2012-03-07T07:26:00.000-05:00

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

Romans 8:24; Hebrews 11:1

Not of those who shrink back

2012-03-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:39

Better and Lasting Possessions

2012-03-05T06:29:00.000-05:00

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
Hebrews 10:32-35

Hold Unswervingly

2012-03-04T06:13:00.000-05:00

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25

Planned Obsolesence

2012-03-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Hebrews 8:13

Taught by the LORD

2012-03-02T09:12:00.000-05:00

All your sons will be taught by the LORD,
and great will be your children's peace.
Isaiah 54:13

We Do Have

2012-03-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Hebrews 8:1-2

One Need

2012-02-28T09:01:00.000-05:00

Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Hebrews 7:26

He always lives to intercede for them

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:25

Because Jesus Lives Forever

2012-02-26T08:58:00.000-05:00

Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
Hebrews 7:24

An Indestructible Life

2012-02-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:15-16

Still in the Body

2012-02-24T08:50:00.000-05:00

One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Hebrews 7:9-10

An Anchor for the Soul

2012-02-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20

Fled to the Hope

2012-02-22T08:44:00.000-05:00

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
Hebrews 6:18

Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18

Puts an end to all argument

2012-02-21T08:41:00.000-05:00

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
Hebrews 6:16

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:14

J. Vernon McGee note on : "Perhaps when we get to heaven, we will find it true that there are three sides to every question: your side, my side, and the right side."

Constant Use

2012-02-20T08:33:00.000-05:00

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14

Do you see the Day approaching?

2012-02-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:7

Rejoice in the Work of Your Hands

2012-02-18T10:22:00.000-05:00

And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:7

He learned obedience from what he suffered

2012-02-17T08:31:00.000-05:00

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:8-10

With Loud Cries and Tears

2012-02-16T08:29:00.000-05:00

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Hebrews 5:7

It has not yet been revealed what we shall be

2012-02-15T23:43:00.000-05:00

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2

1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 3:2

Boldly for Mercy

2012-02-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

Passed Through the Heavens

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:14

Dividing Soul and Spirit

2012-02-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Make Every Effort

2012-02-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:8-11

His Work Has Been Finished

2012-02-10T09:35:00.000-05:00

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.
Hebrews 4:3

Psalm 95:11; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:3

Combine It With Faith

2012-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
Hebrews 4:2

Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:2

Encourage One Another Daily

2012-02-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13

See To It

2012-02-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12

We Are His House

2012-02-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Hebrews 3:6

John 14:2; John 14:23; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 3:6

The Builder of Everything

2012-02-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 3:4

Fix Your Thoughts

2012-02-04T09:12:00.000-05:00

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1

Suffered When Tempted

2012-02-03T09:11:00.000-05:00

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

Made Like His Brothers

2012-02-02T10:55:00.000-05:00

For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:16-18

Copies

2012-02-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world;

but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:22-28

Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers

2012-01-31T10:35:00.000-05:00

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Hebrews 2:11

The Author of Their Salvation

2012-01-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 2:10

The Word of God is not chained

2012-01-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
2 Timothy 2:8-9

A Righteous Thing

2012-01-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

What Thanks

2012-01-27T09:52:00.000-05:00

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

Philippians 2:25-30

The Earnest Expectation of the Creation

2012-01-26T09:47:00.000-05:00

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19

We See Jesus

2012-01-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9

Signs, Wonders, Miracles, Gifts

2012-01-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:4

First Announced

2012-01-23T08:46:00.000-05:00

This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
Hebrews 2:3

The message spoken by angels was binding

2012-01-22T08:44:00.000-05:00

For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
Hebrews 2:2-3

There remains a sabbath

2012-01-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.
Hebrews 4:9

God saw all that he had made

2012-01-20T18:45:00.000-05:00

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31

Vigorous Public Debate

2012-01-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:27-28

Restored to You

2012-01-18T08:50:00.000-05:00

And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Philemon 22

Refresh My Heart

2012-01-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Philemon 20

Better Than a Slave

2012-01-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Philemon 15-16

The Task

2012-01-15T07:29:00.000-05:00

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3

Many Teeth

2012-01-14T11:24:00.000-05:00

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you, declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.

You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the LORD
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:13-16

To Which of the Angels?

2012-01-13T07:36:00.000-05:00

To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?

Hebrews 1:13

You, Descendants of My Friend

2012-01-12T23:21:00.000-05:00

“But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:8-10

Provide for Daily Necessities

2012-01-11T11:01:00.000-05:00

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
Titus 3:14

The Kindness and Love of God our Savior Appeared

2012-01-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

There is Liberty

2012-01-09T16:40:00.000-05:00

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17

The Time of God's Favor

2012-01-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

We live by faith, not by sight.

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:5-6:2

Loyal Yokefellow

2012-01-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Philippians 4:3

Proclaim it Clearly

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4

What he has seen

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Colossians 2:18-19

Blazing Fire from Heaven

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Spread Rapidly

2012-01-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:1

Some Are Obvious

2012-01-02T16:15:00.000-05:00

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
1 Timothy 5:24-25

You may be sure that your sin will find you out.
Numbers 32:23

Church in the Wild

2012-01-01T18:36:00.001-05:00

No Church in the Wild

Church in the Wild

Keep Your Feet

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14

In that day

2011-12-03T09:31:00.001-05:00

And in that day you will say:

O Lord, I will praise You;

Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;

'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'

Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

And in that day you will say:

Praise the Lord, call upon His name;

Declare His deeds among the peoples,

Make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,

For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!

Isaiah 12

Reading and Studying the Originals

2011-02-26T00:48:00.005-05:00

There are a couple accessible methods for studying the original texts of the Bible that do not require learning the original languages.

The first I learned years ago from a book by Howard Hendricks called Living by the Book.

He teaches a very easy hands on way of how to use an exhaustive concordance and Greek and Hebrew lexicons. It's the first and only external reference to the Bible he really recommends.

And exhaustive concordance (a large book much bigger than the Bible itself) lists every single word in the Bible in context in alphabetical order, and then gives the Strong's number that is the alphabetical number of the Greek or Hebrew word in the corresponding lexicon. Mr. James Strong dedicated his life to this project before technology made this more attainable in shorter time spans.

In the lexicons, you can find the original word, a definition, and how its translated (enough to track down all uses of the word).

Mr. Strong did this with the King James Version. It only makes sense to do this with a literal word-for-word translation of the Bible (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, etc.), and the only other translation for which an exhaustive concordance has been produced so far is the NASB.

(ESV side note: Crossway has published a "Comprehensive Concordance" which is "half the size of an exhaustive concordance" though still "For the nearly 14,000 words listed, every biblical occurrence is included--a total of more than 300,000 concordance entries." Not being "exhaustive" (only "comprehensive") it does not include every single word, may not include a lexicon, and that may explain why electronic publishers have not picked it up.)

That an exhaustive concordance is only available for two translations (KJV, NASB) is an important point. While online tools now make this kind of research much easier, this particular method on one Web site I use has become somewhat more difficult to use, especially for making direct links. But let's give it a shot on our text here.

See the three checkbox items above the verse and under the translation option dropdown box? Check the one on the far right for Strong's numbers and watch what happens to the words in the text. (Note: try any other translation and you'll see that Strong's number option disappear. That goes back to there being no exhaustive concordance for any other translation. Due to the nature of what it does and how it works, by definition an exhaustive concordance is very translation-specific.) The words become linked to the Strong's number references in their online lexicon!

Now, on this lexicon page you can see the original word (with original letters, hence the font question), the transliterated word (Phonecian/English letters), pronunciation, definitions, and ways translated in the left column.

In the right column is the verse count. This is very handy for being able to search the original text of the Bible by original words! Many times I look up a verse by an English word, find an original word close to my intended meaning, and then search by that original word from the lexicon page and that right column. Very very useful, especially for searching for certain books for words, and seeing which books tend to hit certain topics/names more.

Exhaustive concordances and lexicons, as I've pointed out, are primarily based on an English translation.

The second method of looking up original texts is called an Interlinear translation. Only recently have I discovered this method thanks to a friend who has studied (and is studying) the original languages in seminary.

This is a method that is primarily based on the original text. It's the original Greek or the Hebrew text that controls word order in an interlinear translation. It would actually count as having an original text.

My friend recommended I buy a hard copy NT interlinear translation, which is done in the ESV actually, and I recommend that as well.

Come to find out, BibleStudyTools.com also has an interlinear translation mode. This is very new to me and very cool.

As you can see from the dropdown there, it only can look up verses in KJV and NASB for the exhaustive concordance (the printed ESV interlinear I have doesn't have the lexicons, just the text, original words, and corresponding numbers).

What's so cool about this is, beyond what you can find from an exhaustive concordance, an interlinear translation shows you the original text alongside the English translation, and both have the words linked to the corresponding concordance references.

1 John 3:8 (NASB Interlinear)

In a printed interlinear translation, the correspondence of original to translated words is even more obvious, but due to the constraints of HTML publishing, I can see why that's hard to attain online. Still, a very useful tool this can be!

That's a crash course in personal Bible study with the original languages and how you can read them and look them up for yourself. It can change your life and how you read the Bible.

Pursuit and Admiration

2010-03-09T10:08:00.002-05:00

Ezekiel 34:11

The Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Shine in This

2010-01-16T08:10:00.003-05:00

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the LORD:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising

lovingkindness,
judgment, and
righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

The world's value system says:

The strong rule the weak.
The smart rule the strong.
And everyone is trying to get rich.

All three of those are nothing compared to understanding and knowing God and who He is, and in what he delights!

Literally, that word chaphets means to bend.

Do we shine in the things that make God lean over and take a look?
Do we lean over and take a look at the things God is doing?

A Pastor's Heart - Chef or Shepherd?

2010-01-10T07:09:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah 3:15

I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A pastor is someone who feeds his flock.

Did you notice that "pastors" and "feed" in that verse are the same Hebrew word? There's a connection there.

How did shepherds feed their flocks?

When I remember a verse like "Taste and see that the Lord is good," an analogy of a delicious gourmet meal comes to mind with lots of flavors to savor.

But shepherds didn't prepare and serve meals for their sheep. Instead, they led their sheep to green pastures and let them eat.

He wouldn't try and fill their stomachs. He would create the environment (or take them to an environment) where they could fill their own.

Food tastes better when you're hungry!

How many pastors spend 20 hours in a week unearthing and polishing a beautiful gem for their sermon on Sunday, and then get frustrated because their congregation treats it as if it's only worth the five minutes it took them to hear the point?

A pastor needs to know two things:

Your people will get hungry.
You will not need to make them eat.

Shepherding is about:

Identifying fresh pastures in which to eat.
Leading your people to them.
Letting them eat.

Let them chew on a question. Let them taste all the flavors that are the richness of the knowledge and understanding of God. Teach them how to prepare a nutritious meal.

People need to know God, Who He is, how He thinks, how He operates, what makes Him tick. When they taste that for themselves, then they will see.

Teach the culinary arts of rightly dividing the word of truth.

John 21:12-17

“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said.

But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?”

He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”

Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”

Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”

Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.”

Serve appetizers. Teach cooking.

Not in any way terrified

2010-01-09T10:01:00.003-05:00

Philippians 1:27-30

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

When we have no fear of suffering, those who persecute us know that they are the ones whose end is destruction, not us. That's the "proof of perdition." We know we are saved and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

It is a privilege for us to suffer on behalf of Christ. It is the means by which we obtain a better resurrection.

Through Your Prayer

2010-01-03T09:57:00.001-05:00

Philippians 1:19

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

Paul's deliverance was dependent, in part, on the prayers of the Philippians.

Do we think of our prayers as having that kind of effect? As in making a real difference?

All Boldness

2010-01-02T09:42:00.001-05:00

Philippians 1:19-20

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

What is included in "all boldness"?

I find it most helpful to think of this as a spectrum. Anything above holding your peace qualifies as boldness to some degree. Perhaps in some mixed order of increasing boldness:

Leaving a Gospel tract for someone to find.
Handing someone a Gospel tract.
Posting a Bible verse on Twitter.
Using a Gospel tract to start a conversation.
Using a Gospel tract to finish a conversation.
Teaching a Sunday School class of children.
Teaching a Sunday School class of high school students.
Teaching a class of non-believers.
Proclaim the Word to civic leaders.
Street preaching.
Going to a closed country.
Street preaching in a closed country.
Proclaiming the Word to hostile leaders.
Proclaiming the Word when it could cost you your life.
Proclaiming the Word when you know it will cost you your life.

You ready for this?

All boldness includes the whole spectrum.

All boldness means "whether by life or by death."
All boldness means in friendly and in hostile territory. (You never know where objections may arise--all too often it's friendly fire.)
All boldness could mean inadvertently "in pretense or in truth" (1:18). (Some may misinterpret a presentation as pretense.)
All boldness includes the simple, humble presentations as well.

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort.

I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

The Things That Are Excellent

2009-12-27T10:53:00.006-05:00

Philippians 1:9-11

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Romans 2:17-20

Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

Proverbs 22:17-21

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?

Proverbs 8:4-11

“To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

Isaiah 12:4-6

And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

He Thought, She Pondered

2009-12-26T10:10:00.003-05:00

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 2:19

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Both Joseph and Mary were thinkers.

Perhaps that's why they made a good couple.

To the End of the World

2009-09-05T15:09:00.000-04:00

Psalm 19:1-6

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Sing for Judgment

2009-08-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Psalm 98

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

The Lord Awoke!

2009-08-22T17:57:00.001-04:00

Psalm 78:65

Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

Evil Angels

2009-08-22T15:55:00.000-04:00

Psalm 78:49

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

Slew -> Sought

2009-08-22T11:51:00.001-04:00

Psalm 78:34

When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.

A Few Days

2009-07-13T08:52:00.001-04:00

Genesis 27:42-45

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

"A few days" turned into 20 years!

Launch into the deep

2009-07-12T07:57:00.003-04:00

Luke 5:4-11

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Peter said, "Depart from me."

He didn't say, "Let me go," nor did he leave. Jesus was in his personal space. He had nowhere to go.

Even more interesting, Jesus didn't leave him to his fishing; rather, he left his fishing for Jesus.

Do we need Jesus to get into our personal space and to beat us at our own game in expert mode before we can give it all up and follow him?

Worthy to Escape

2009-07-11T07:36:00.000-04:00

Luke 21:7-38

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Plenty of Increase and Expulsion

2009-07-10T08:26:00.001-04:00

Genesis 27:28

Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine

A Grief of Mind

2009-07-09T07:09:00.001-04:00

Genesis 26:34-35

And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

The Well of Seven

2009-07-08T10:11:00.000-04:00

Genesis 26:26-33

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.

We Shall Be Fruitful

2009-07-07T16:09:00.004-04:00

Genesis 26:12-22

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants:

and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

Another Famine, Another Fair "Sister"

2009-07-06T16:03:00.003-04:00

Genesis 26:1-11

And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister?

And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Confirm Your Love

2009-07-05T09:08:00.002-04:00

2 Corinthians 2:8

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

In the movie Expelled Richard Dawkins quotes Bertrand Russell as asking the same question he asks, "God, why did you take such pains to hide yourself?"

This is an answer to that question.

Martha: I know, I believe

2009-07-04T08:56:00.004-04:00

John 11:18-54

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him?

They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.

And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin.

Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Martha, the detail person with great faith

A Man of the Field

2009-07-03T16:03:00.004-04:00

Genesis 25:27-34

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

60 Years Old: Boys

2009-07-02T16:08:00.000-04:00

Genesis 25:24-26

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and

Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Entreated

2009-07-01T16:08:00.003-04:00

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

There are three things here.

Isaac asks
The LORD is asked
Rebekah conceives

It's interesting that those first two are different.

How often do we ask God for something, and then wait for Him to be moved?

How often do others ask something of us, and are we then moved to action?