How did He do it? ∙

How did He do it? ∙

I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly. – Psalms 139:14

Psalms 139:13-18

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous– how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Have you ever looked back at something you once imagined and brought to life, only to wonder, “How did I ever do that?” Psalms 139 asks a similar question, offering a profound answer about how God intricately designed and created each of us.

When we reflect on ourselves, it’s easy to question our value or feel like we don’t measure up. For some, this self-doubt runs deep—fed by comparisons to others, unattainable ideals, or the lasting sting of negative words spoken in our past. But these judgments barely scratch the surface of who we truly are.

The truth is that our very existence is stunningly complex. Our bodies are works of art. The discovery of DNA in the 20th century unveiled a detailed blueprint for every person, showing just how uniquely we are made. Modern advancements in science and medicine only continue to uncover astonishing details about how we function. Today, terms like “stem cells” and “cannabinoids” dominate discussions of groundbreaking medical progress, yet these concepts were unknown not so long ago. We now stand on the brink of remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and regenerative science, gaining insight into the vast potential inherent within us.

This reminds me of a memorable moment in the 1974 movie “Young Frankenstein.” Gene Wilder’s character, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, is about to take on his infamous science project. Searching for guidance, he reads from his grandfather’s notebook, revealing the title, “How I Did It.”

The Father, too, has a “notebook,” but it’s woven into creation itself. Scientists, mathematicians, and thinkers across many disciplines are only beginning to skim the pages of this divine manuscript. With every discovery in biology, physics, and medicine, we uncover more pieces of His brilliant design. We’re learning how He crafted humanity with precision and care, leveraging these understandings to improve lives. Yet, even with all our advances, we’re merely scratching the surface of His magnificent, intelligent design and creation.

Take a moment to reflect on this. Every part of you—every cell, every thread of DNA—was assembled with love and intention. You’re a masterpiece, wonderfully and uniquely made in the Father’s eyes. No comparison or criticism could capture the extraordinary truth of who you are. You are precious, and your design is nothing short of extraordinary.

REFLECT & PRAY

The more I learn about the incredible intricacy and mind-boggling complexity of the human mind and body, the more I am left in absolute awe of my magnificent, intelligent Creator. How could I choose to live in defiance of such a glorious, creative genius?

Father, Your thoughts and abilities are beyond anything I could ever comprehend. They rise far above anything I could even dream of. I kneel in humble adoration before You. Teach me, Lord, to live in reverence of Who You are. Guide my steps, and help me choose a path that honors You.

INSIGHT

Isaiah 55 so beautifully illustrates this truth: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

It’s a humbling reminder of just how vast and unsearchable God truly is. Psalms 139 adds to this picture, showcasing the Father’s infinite wisdom and care as the all-knowing, all-present creator of wonders beyond our understanding. Every verse of this psalm declares who He is, what He has done, and what He actively continues to do in and beyond the confines of time and space.

Psalms 139:13-18 celebrates the breathtaking intricacy with which God made us. Verse 14 is particularly compelling, captured uniquely across translations: “For all these mysteries I thank you: for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of your works” (Kidner). “I thank you because you have so wondrously and mysteriously made me and because all your works are so wonderful; you know me completely” (USB).
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (NLT).

David, who penned these words, didn’t have access to modern science. He had no microscopes and no knowledge of DNA or cellular processes. Yet through keen reflection and a deep sense of awe, he recognized the Father’s unmatched brilliance. He stood amazed at the Creator’s intricate design of human life.

Consider the human mind—a marvel in itself. Think of the brain’s ability to record sights, sounds, smells, and textures; its power to recall memories and emotions; its capacity to solve problems and make decisions. It operates with a level of intelligence and precision that we are only beginning to scratch the surface of understanding. McDonald’s observations summarize it well: The brain alone is a masterpiece of engineering that defies coincidence or randomness—it speaks of divine intention and skill.

The excellence of His Creator moved David so much that he couldn’t help but erupt in praise and worship. He saw God’s handiwork in every fiber of his being, and his response was gratitude and humility.

Modern worship offers us hymns that beautifully capture the awe and reverence we feel for our Creator. One such timeless hymn is “How Great Thou Art.” Ranked second only to “Amazing Grace” in a 2001 Christianity Today survey of all-time favorite hymns, its words resonate deeply with hearts longing to honor the Father’s greatness:

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

But there is more! He who made us is there for us! The One who formed the galaxies, who shaped the mountains and called the stars into being, doesn’t just leave us to marvel at His creation. He is present with us, available to us in every moment. The Creator of all things cares deeply for His creation.

Psalms 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Our Father, who molded us with intricate care, knows us thoroughly. He understands the details of our being in a way no one else can. He isn’t a distant Creator, observing from afar. He sees every struggle, every tear, every hope, and every failure. The same hands that formed us are always ready to comfort us, guide us, and carry us through life’s challenges.

Psalms 139 offers a profound glimpse into the depth of His knowledge and love for us. He knows every part of who we are. He knows our strengths and celebrates them. He knows our weaknesses and sinful desires—nothing is hidden from Him. He sees the wounds we carry and the fears we bury. And yet, despite knowing us fully, He desires intimacy with us. He longs for a close and personal relationship with each one of us.

As Charles Stanley observes, our heavenly Father is uniquely positioned to care for us. He knows every detail of our being because He made us. He understands our struggles better than we do. And with that perfect knowledge, He offers His unending love and care.

What a miracle it is to be known so deeply by the One who holds the cosmos in His hands yet takes the time to hold us, too. May we respond as the psalmist did—with awe, gratitude, and a deep desire to draw nearer to our Creator God, our Father.

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© Dr. H 2025

What was God doing before creation?

What was God doing before creation? ∙

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. – Psalms 33:6,9

Psalms 90:2-12

2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.

10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon, they disappear, and we fly away.

12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom.

Throughout history, humanity has wrestled with understanding the origin of the universe. Ancient civilizations crafted creation myths, such as those of the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese. Despite their cultural differences, these stories shared a common factor—there were no human witnesses. These myths were not the products of human observation. There were no eyewitnesses, so they were the result of “guesswork” and imagination. They often involve gods or mythical beings engaged in cosmic struggles from which order emerged out of chaos.

With the rise of rationalism and modern science, these ancient tales were dismissed as mere folklore. They were replaced by theories rooted in science, mathematics, physics, and the use of advanced tools for observation and analysis. But once again, like the myths of old, there were no human observers, no eyewitnesses. Despite being based on rigorous study and evidence, they still ultimately rely on creative speculation and hypothesis. They also were the result of educated “guesswork” and creative imagination.

The best guess that science came up with is quite simple. In the beginning, there was nothing. Then there was something. Then, there was a monumental event known as the Big Bang, marking the birth of our universe.

The formula looks like this: nothing + no one = everything

Really! How can nothing ever become something? Isn’t nothing always just nothing? Before I am willing to accept a theory, no matter how scientific, I want to know how nothing becomes something.

Whether through clay tablets or powerful telescopes, all human efforts to understand the universe’s beginning rely on speculative reasoning rather than firsthand observation. Like the legends of old, scientific models require a leap of faith, as neither can produce definitive proof of how it all began.

The Bible offers a strikingly different explanation. Its account starts not with nothing but with Someone. Was anyone present at the time of the creation of all things? The Scriptures provide an unequivocal answer. “In the beginning, God created. . ..” This changes the equation entirely.

The formula here is also quite simple: nothing + God = everything.

The God of the Bible is eternal, without beginning or end. He exists outside of time, creation, and the physical universe itself. Psalms 90:2 reflects this truth, stating, “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.”

Unlike the speculative nature of human theories, the biblical account roots the origin of all things in the existence and action of an eternal Creator. Yet, even here, questions arise.

What was God doing before creation? The Bible does not fully answer this question but provides glimpses into His eternal purposes, reminding us that His ways and actions are beyond human comprehension.

Ultimately, whether one looks to ancient myths, modern science, or the biblical narrative, belief in any explanation requires faith. None of these accounts come with visible proof or eyewitness testimony. But the biblical claim is unique in presenting an eternal Creator who is not confined by the limitations of time or matter—a God who calls the universe into existence by His will and power.

REFLECT & PRAY

Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being. – Psalms 148:5

Father, thank You for having me in Your mind before the world began and for wanting my best in life and for all eternity.

INSIGHT

The eternal, everlasting Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit dwelt alone in perfect harmony and union. Nothing else had come into being. They dwelt outside what we perceive as time, for time itself was yet to be created. The Father is the high and lofty one Who dwells in timeless eternity (Isaiah 57:15).

Human thought and language are inherently limited. They fall short when it comes to adequately conceiving or describing the infinite mind of God—eternal, self-existent, and boundless. Though beyond our complete comprehension, we know that God, in His divine wisdom, conceived ideas and formed the plan of redemption. Through the sheer power of His word, everything He desired came into being.

Consider the elegant beauty of Psalms 33:6,9: “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.”

These verses teach us that God’s voice alone is the source of creation—His command brings forth existence.

The phrases “before the foundation of the world” and “before the world began” appear repeatedly in Scripture. They mark the farthest boundary of the past, the point where human history began. It is the starting point of time, the terminus ad quo, the beginning of human history. Yet, before this moment, God already existed, and He revealed glimpses of this eternal reality to us through His Word. There was an eyewitness to what happened before the foundation of the world. The Father himself was there.

W.J. Hocking spoke of this mystery, noting how God’s plans were shaped before creation itself. The phrase “before the foundation of the world” occurs a handful of times in the New Testament (John 17:5, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20). A corresponding phrase, “before the ages of time” or “before the world began” (KJV), occurs twice (2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2).

Ephesians 1 beautifully unfolds God’s sovereign love and plan: “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Long before the universe was set in motion, we were already on God’s mind. Out of love, He chose to redeem us through the Lord Jesus Christ and adopt us into His family. His desire was for us to be holy and blameless in His sight.

1 Peter 1:20-21 reminds us of Christ’s role in God’s eternal redemptive plan: “God chose Him [Jesus Christ] as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days. Through Christ, you have come to trust in God.”

Before time existed, God had ordained the death of the Lord Jesus Christ as the means to rescue humanity. Every detail of His plan worked toward calling His people to Himself, granting us salvation and enabling us to live holy lives.

Titus 1:2 reassures us of God’s promises: “This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.”

God, who cannot lie, made a promise before time itself to offer eternal life to His children. This eternal promise gives us confidence and hope, securing us through His unchanging word. Every promise He made, including the promise of eternal life, was set in motion before time began. His love is infinite, His Word is true, and His plans never fail.

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© Dr. H 2025

Preach the Word ∙∙

Preach the Word ∙∙

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. – 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 4:2-4

2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and instruction.
3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand, they will turn aside to myths.

Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924. Why begin another seminary? Its founders had a specific purpose in mind. They sought to preserve and propagate the art and science of expository preaching. They structured their curriculum to allow their students to study the Scriptures in their original languages. The goal was to equip and empower them with the skills to accurately interpret, explain, and apply the Old and New Testaments to others.

The Seminary’s seal has a Greek inscription: Kerusson ton logon. This motto translates to “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). It encapsulates the seminary’s mission – to comprehensively prepare to thoroughly equip children of the King to know, properly handle, interpret, and preach the Word of God. This mission is central to the Seminary’s raison d’etre. It has been rearticulated as “To glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.”

The Seminary’s steadfast commitment is to Preach the Word. They teach the Scriptures and equip their students to do likewise. In so doing, they pass on to the next generation the primary tool the Father has provided for spiritual growth and development: the Scriptures. Through the living Word of God, individuals are provided an understanding of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Apostle Paul approached the end of his life, he knew his service to the Father was concluding. What was of utmost importance to Paul? What was to be his legacy? The answer is found in his final instructions to his disciple and son in the faith, Timothy. He handed off the torch of biblical exposition. Think of it as Paul’s last words.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word of God.

Paul’s words were riveting, solemn, and passion-filled. In Paul’s mind, the stakes could not have been higher in light of what lay ahead for both Paul and Timothy. They were united in their mission and objective. They had both been called by the Father into His spiritual work of service.

Paul created vivid images for Timothy to latch onto. It is as though Paul, in some marvelous unknown fashion, whisks Timothy away and transports him into the very presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Once in their presence, with the Father and the Son bearing witness, Paul passionately implored Timothy to preach the Word.

When Moses urged the nation of Israel to follow the righteous path, he employed a similar tactic. He invoked heaven and earth to bear witness to the decision made by the people (Deuteronomy 30:19). In American culture, it is similar to being sworn in to testify in court. Paul essentially says, “I have solemnly sworn to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God! Now Timothy, my son, I implore you to do the same!”

This same sense of responsibility and commitment to truth marks Paul’s charge to Timothy. Timothy is reminded that his mission is not to be taken lightly. Preaching the word is a sacred duty that requires unwavering devotion and faithfulness in the presence of God, who sees and judges all.

Being in the presence of the Father is an overwhelming experience, as seen in the lives of His prophets. It deeply pierced their hearts and shaped their calling. This is evident in the accounts of Isaiah and Ezekiel.

Isaiah’s vision is recorded in Isaiah 6:1-8. He saw the Sovereign Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, with mighty seraphim attending Him. The seraphim called out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Isaiah was struck by the enormity of his unworthiness, exclaiming, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

A seraph then flew to Isaiah with a burning coal, touching his lips and removing his guilt and sin. When the Lord asked, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” Isaiah responded, “Here I am, send me!”

Ezekiel’s calling, described in Ezekiel 1:28-2:5, was equally profound. After witnessing a remarkable vision, Ezekiel fell face down. He then heard a voice instructing him, “Stand up, son of man. I want to speak with you.” The Spirit entered him and set him on his feet as he listened carefully. Ezekiel was told, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel,” with the understanding that whether they listened or refused to listen, he was to deliver God’s message. One way or another, they would know that a prophet had been among them.

These encounters with God’s presence transformed Isaiah and Ezekiel into His prophets, equipping them to fulfill their missions with the knowledge of His holiness and their responsibility to serve.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father has given every child of the King an extraordinary mission—to share the good news of His redemptive plan, the message of salvation that brings hope and transformation to the world. This calling is a sacred privilege to carry forward the work of our Savior.

Father, strengthen my heart to carry out the assignments You have given me.

INSIGHT

The mission of sharing God’s truth finds its ultimate example in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, the Father entrusted Jesus with a purpose that was carefully foretold through messianic prophecy. Isaiah 61:1-2a gives a glimpse of this mission, describing a Messiah empowered by the Spirit to bring good news to the suffering, freedom to the captives, and sight to the blind.

Centuries later, this prophecy came alive in a remarkable moment recorded in Luke 4. During a Sabbath visit to the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus joined in the customary service, which often included reading and explaining passages from the Old Testament. This tradition, called targuming, involved offering insights and interpretations to the congregation. On this particular Sabbath, the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Jesus. He unrolled it and read aloud:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
(Luke 4:18-19)

The congregation sat spellbound as Jesus finished reading, rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. At that moment, all eyes were on Him, waiting for His commentary—His targum. What He said next left the room in stunned silence:

“The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
(Luke 4:21)

With those words, Jesus declared that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. No further explanation was required. He wasn’t just reading the text; He was the text brought to life. The Messiah had come, and His mission was clear—to proclaim God’s salvation and bring restoration to a broken world.

Jesus began His mission as the Messiah by preaching the good news and proclaiming liberty to all. He urged His disciples to take what He taught them and proclaim it openly (Matthew 10:27).

The term “herald” may sound outdated to modern ears, but it carries rich historical significance. Heralds were entrusted with important messages and tasked with delivering them publicly. The Greek term for herald is kerux, and its verbal form, kerusso, means to proclaim, announce, make known, or preach. This is the same word translated as “preach” in 2 Timothy 4:2.

Preaching is fundamentally an act of communication. Expository preaching, in particular, involves providing clear explanations and interpretations of Scripture. It centers on publicly proclaiming the Father’s redemptive plan to save the world. The role of a preacher is not to share personal opinions or ideas but to faithfully preach the Word—God’s enduring, authoritative truth.

Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples instructions that revealed what mattered most to Him. His parting words carried the same gravity as Paul’s final charge to Timothy.

The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples with these instructions, recorded in Matthew 28:18-20: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This command is not only for the original disciples; it is a mission entrusted to all children of the King. Each of us has a responsibility to carry out the Great Commission by sharing the good news of Christ. The question is not whether we are called—it’s how we will respond to that call. Every believer has been given this sacred task to make disciples and teach others, continuing the mission of proclaiming God’s truth to the world.

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© Dr. H 2025

Cut it straight ∙∙

Cut it straight ∙∙

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:14-17

14 Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
17 This kind of talk spreads like gangrene . . ..

Individuals who have spent years perfecting their sewing skills develop remarkable talent and expertise. The journey to successful sewing doesn’t start with the needle and thread, but rather, it commences with the selection of the fabric to be sewn.

Mastering the art of cutting fabric straight is crucial and cannot be stressed enough. A misstep in the initial cut can lead to a complete disaster. Fabric pieces that are supposed to align may end up being different lengths, leading to twisted or uneven seams.

To cut fabric “on the grain,” start by aligning the material correctly and locating the weft, which runs perpendicular to the selvage (the tightly woven edge). The warp runs at right angles to the weft. To create straight lines as guides, gently pull a thread from both the weft and the warp.

All you need to get started is the fabric of your choice, a blueprint or pattern to follow, and a cutting instrument such as scissors.

The apostle Paul was a tentmaker by profession (Acts 18:2-3). It was his “day job.” He had mastered the art and skills required. Tentmaking was not for the faint of heart. Neither is handling the word of God or being responsible for explaining it to others.

Paul admonished Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth. The Greek word translated as rightly divide is orthotomeo. Orthotomeo comes from orthos – straight and tomeo – cut. This is an old tentmaking term that literally means “to cut straight.” As a figure of speech, “it means to interpret, analyze properly, teach correctly, or expound rightly.” Much like fabric, the word of God also requires accurate and precise handling. This refers to correctly and accurately interpreting, teaching, or explaining the word of truth (UBS). There’s no room for incorrect cuts, shoddy work, personal views, opinions, or laziness.

The Greeks utilized orthotomeo in three distinct ways. It was employed to depict a straight road across uneven terrain, for plowing a straight, unswerving furrow in a field, and the meticulous work of a mason in cutting and positioning a stone so it flawlessly slots into a building’s framework. (Barclay).

Any child of the King who studies the Word of God with the intention of imparting or instructing others assumes a tremendous responsibility. It is not for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, it’s the responsibility of each of His children to share His truth with others.

Reflect for a moment on the teaching you offer others. Is it just “good enough?”

Paul is saying “Good enough” is simply not good enough.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well” (Philip Stanhope, 1746).

Father, thank You for the outstanding and excellent teachers You have provided me over my lifetime. May I do my best when I prepare and share the magnificent truths found in Your Word.

INSIGHT

The Father sets an exceedingly high bar for us. His standard is nothing short of excellence. Would He have established such a lofty benchmark if He didn’t believe we could achieve it? To ask the question is to answer it.

Regrettably, in modern culture, the importance of quality is often undermined and downplayed. There’s a pervasive attitude that paltry efforts are “good enough.” Yet the results are frequently haphazard and slipshod. The prevailing sentiment seems to be, “What does it really matter?” Against this backdrop, the children of the King should feel privileged to have a benchmark of excellence for which to strive.

Don’t be disheartened; instead, be encouraged. While achieving perfection is highly unlikely, excellence is doable. However, excellence requires focus, time, commitment, and practice. Ultimately, we stand or fall before the Father.

Matthew 25:23 Well done, my good and faithful servant.

The Father presents numerous opportunities for personal growth and development. His challenges are not designed to condemn us. Instead, they pinpoint where we are and the necessary actions we need to take to improve. The ultimate objective is to gain His approval.

The Greek word dokimos, translated as approval or stands for the test, “pertains to things that have passed a test.” For instance, a clay pot must endure the test of fire. It’s placed in a kiln, fired, and then inspected. If it had no cracks, it was “approved for service” and was stamped dokimos. Dokimos “describes anything that has been tested and ready for use (Barclay).

How do we achieve this? Paul lays out clear guidelines, outlining both actions to take and behaviors to avoid.

Paul urges us to be zealous and diligent. The Greek word spoudazo, translated as be diligent or work hard, emphasizes the “effort required to attain excellence.” It means “being hardworking,” “sincere,” and “enthusiastic,” and “striving to achieve your best in every effort.”

We should avoid pointless disputes over words and refrain from engaging in worthless and foolish conversations.

There’s a peculiar characteristic of foolish and worthless words: they spread like gangrene. They’re akin to gossip, which many people relish hearing and sharing.

Proverbs 26:21-22 offers valuable insight: “21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person’s innermost being.”

For the Father, the proper handling of His word, extracting the correct interpretation, and explaining it accurately are of utmost importance. Each of the Father’s servants will be either approved or ashamed. Therefore, be diligent, work hard, and make every effort to interpret His word correctly and accurately.

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© Dr. H 2025

An eye for an eye ∙∙

An eye for an eye ∙∙

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth . . .. – Exodus 21:24

Exodus 21:23-25

23 But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,
24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,
25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

In June 2017, Kieran Healy, a resident of Orange County in central North Carolina, got the shock of his life one summer afternoon. Kieran couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened his water bill for the month. The total water usage cost was $189.92, which is pretty standard for June. But the service charge was totally absurd, just under $100 million. That’s right, one hundred million dollars.

Staring at the figure, Kieran couldn’t help but laugh at its sheer impossibility. Maybe the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) thought he was secretly operating an ocean inside his backyard. Fully aware of the error but unwilling to miss an opportunity to inject some humor, Kieran proposed to pay off the mammoth bill from OWASA in “installments.” After all, what’s a hundred million between utilities and the people they serve?

Thankfully, sanity prevailed. Stephen Winters, a representative from the utility company, assured Kieran it was all a giant clerical mistake. He would never owe OWASA that astonishing amount of money. The error would be corrected, and his “debt” would be completely forgiven. Relieved and perhaps a little amused, Kieran’s account was adjusted, and life continued onward.

For most of us, a $100 million debt is not just excessive—it’s unthinkable. But while fiscal debts like Kieran’s are rare, other kinds of debts—moral, emotional, and relational—are far more common. And much like an out-of-control water bill, they must be addressed before they overwhelm us.

This brings us to a well-known phrase from Scripture found in Exodus 21:24: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” While familiar, this phrase is often misunderstood. Many interpret it as a call for revenge, a green light to “get even.” But that couldn’t be further from its true meaning. If we all followed that interpretation literally, society would crumble into chaos—a land where everyone is blind or toothless. The confusion stems from taking the phrase out of its biblical context.

Exodus 21:23-25 provides the clarity we need: 23 But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, 24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

This principle, often called the Law of Retaliation, is better described as the Law of Limited Retaliation. Its purpose wasn’t to encourage vengeance but to ensure justice remained proportional. It placed firm boundaries around punishment to prevent excessive and unjust retribution. The guiding rule? The punishment should fit the crime—no more, no less.

This law was particularly significant in ancient times when the rich and powerful frequently retaliated with brutal overreach. A minor offense could provoke a wildly disproportionate response, as extreme as using a cannon to kill a mosquito. God’s Law, handed down through Moses, counteracted this societal imbalance by enforcing fairness and moderation.

Later, the Romans developed their own version of this concept, and it became known as lex talionis, meaning “law of retaliation” in Latin. The Latin word talis translates to “of like kind,” giving us the English term “retaliate.” The law formalized the idea of “paying back in kind,” ensuring justice was rooted in equity, not excess or personal vendettas.

But it’s important to recognize that the Father’s heart has always been about redemption, not revenge. The law wasn’t designed to satisfy our desire for payback—it was a protective mechanism to maintain harmony and prevent a spiraling cycle of violence.

Scripture reiterates this in Romans 12:19: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will repay,’ says the LORD.”

This verse reminds us that the Father is the only one qualified to settle ultimate accounts. If revenge is necessary, He will handle it in His perfect way, but His overarching intent is always to redeem, restore, and renew. The Father is not in the revenge business. He is in the redemption business. But if revenge is required, He takes responsibility for settling accounts.

Just as Kieran’s absurd $100 million water bill was forgiven in full, the Father offers the same kind of grace. He wipes away our debts—whether moral, emotional, or relational—offering us relief, redemption, and a fresh start. And that’s a gift beyond any measurement, far greater than we could owe or repay.

REFLECT & PRAY

Regret and shame are universal human emotions. We often find ourselves carrying the heavy burdens of anxiety, sadness, depression, and guilt. These emotions can weigh us down, what can we do?

Father, thank You for forgiving us. Encourage our hearts to forgive and not seek our own revenge.

INSIGHT

What occurs when the injury or debt resulting from sin is so extensive that no one on earth can make amends for it?

The Father God, in His holiness, righteousness, and goodness, finds sin utterly repugnant. Sin is not just a mistake—it creates a sin debt between us and the Father. Every wrong thought, word, or deed adds to this negative balance, like a snowball rolling downhill, growing larger and heavier over time. Throughout a lifetime, this spiritual debt becomes unpayable, a burden too great for anyone to shoulder. Imagine owing $100 million to the water company—a crushing, impossible debt. But unlike an accounting error, our sin debt is no mistake. It’s real, and it demands resolution. It cannot simply be ignored or left unpaid.

It weighs us down spiritually, erodes our sense of worth, and leaves us drowning in guilt, shame, and frustration. It nags us with a persistent feeling of failure and hopelessness. Eventually, we realize that such a humongous debt can never be paid through anything we do. No amount of effort or personal sacrifice can pay it off. The question remains—how could such a debt be forgiven?

There is Good News: the Father, in His infinite love, devised a plan alongside the Son to cancel this towering debt forever. They conceived a way to erase it completely, to wipe the slate clean for each individual. The logic behind their divine solution is both simple and profound. Someone with no sin debt of their own—someone blameless and pure—could step forward to pay the debt for someone else.

This is where the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, comes in. He lived a perfect, righteous life, free of any spiritual debt. With no debt of His own to settle, He was uniquely qualified to take on the debt of others. And not just one person’s debt, but the collective weight of sin from all of humanity, spanning all of time. It was a transaction not bound by earthly limitations and standards. It was carried out by the infinitely creative and eternal mind of God.

Through His sacrificial death on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ bore the full penalty for our sins. Every ounce of sin debt—past, present, and future—was laid upon Him. He endured the unimaginable weight of this burden so that we wouldn’t have to. In doing so, He paid in full the collective sin debt of all humanity throughout all the ages. At a moment in time, He paid the price for all sins simultaneously.

The apostle Peter captures this incredible act of love and sacrifice in 1 Peter 2:24: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed.”

The Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself the burden of our sin debt. The debt was paid through His death, and forgiveness was available for all who received it. All who accept Him as their Savior and Lord can live for what is right and die to sin. The Father’s gift of forgiveness for our sins and debts is life-changing. Rather than retaliation for our wrongdoing, we were offered forgiveness and the gift of life.

1 Peter 2:21-23

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

Retaliation and revenge should be removed from our vocabulary once and for all. We have a higher calling. The Lord Jesus Christ refused to return evil for evil.

Instead, He prayed for His tormentors.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the model. Are you willing to follow in His steps? Is it time for you to cancel all the accrued sin debts of others owed to you?

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© Dr. H 2025