The Joshua Victor Theory

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father of lights, Jesus, His Word of Truth, and the Holy Spirit whom He makes to dwell in us. Amen. We’ll take today’s reading from James 1:16-21 verse by verse. James writes pithy, punchy statements that pack a lot of weight without rambling. To get the full depth of his letter, like any other book of the Bible, let the Bible be its own interpreter—connect the dots between James and the rest of the Bible—his rich theology draws heavily on the words of Jesus and other scripture. Some call his letter the Proverbs of the NT, or see parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount. Our reading begins abruptly “ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ” The “ do not be deceived” part comes right after explaining that temptation is not from God, but originates in our own sinful nature. So d...

In the Name of God, who is Love, of Jesus, who has come in the flesh, and of the Spirit of Truth, Amen. 1 John 4 talks to us about listening . It’s possible for us to be hearing or listening up here (point to ears), with sound waves bouncing off our eardrums, but not be hearing or listening down here (point to heart), because we’ve closed our heart to God’s Word. Being present and accounted for is important—but even more important is that our heart is open to and receiving God’s Word. That we are listening in here (point to heart). And in the reverse, as children of God, we will also confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Not merely sound waves reverberating off our vocal cords, but a confession that proceeds from our heart. This confession of faith from the heart and from the mouth is from the Holy Spirit living in us. From God’s Word...in through the ears…down to the heart…back out through the mouth—the confession of faith is “same-saying” or affirming what God has said is true ab...

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In all of the Old Testament, there is no one of greater glory and importance than Moses, who lead God’s people out of Egypt, who received God’s Law from Mt. Sinai, and taught it to God’s people. While Moses was far from perfect, he is commended by the Bible as being faithful as God’s servant, and having done mighty miracles and signs, besides knowing God face to face. But as great as Moses was, in today’s Old Testament reading, Moses tells of an even greater prophet than himself, who will come later. This Prophet is Jesus—who would be faithful in every way that Moses was—and more. The book of Hebrews compares them, saying Moses was faithful in God’s house as a servant, but Jesus is faithful as God’s Son, and is worthy of much greater glory (Heb. 3). The Gospel of John opens with a comparison of Moses and Jesus, saying, “ the law came through Moses, but grace and truth through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). A pr...

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The life of the prophet Samuel in the Bible has much to tell us still today, but today we see a major turning point in his young life. Who are Samuel and Eli in the passage? “Samuel” means “God has heard.” Samuel was God’s answer to the earnest prayers of a young Hebrew wife Hannah, living in Old Testament times, who was unable to have children. She earnestly prayed to God for a son, and God heard her prayer and blessed her with Samuel, who, from a young age, she dedicated Samuel to serve in the Lord’s house. Eli was the priest of the Lord at the tabernacle, the tent of worship for the Lord. Hannah had brought her young son to serve under Eli. While Hannah was a woman of great faith, Eli believed in God, but did nothing to stop the wickedness of his two sons, who were complete scoundrels. They committed brazen acts that dishonored God’s name and house—sexual immorality in God’s house; abusing their authorit...