Join The Underlines // The Best Of What I Read

A batch of the best highlights from what Joshua's read, .

Jesus is more than an example to be followed; he’s a Savior to be trusted. This is why we miss the point if we see Jesus’ wilderness temptation as only how to overcome temptation, with advice like “Jesus used Scripture, so you should too.” This focuses on a flea and misses the elephant in the room. The point is not, “He did it; you can too!” The point is, “You don’t do it; so Jesus did it for you.”

The Pursuing God

Joshua Ryan Butler

Knowing about God is different than knowing God. You see, if the Galatian believers really knew God as their Father then they would be free just as Jesus has promised absolute freedom, but they were not free. Paul stuck in this disclaimer as a teaching jab: they were certainly known by God who loved them as his own sons, but they were living as slaves because they did not know and believe the father heart of God for them as sons.

Orphan Slave Son

Ben Pasley

Moses in Deuteronomy says to rest: Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (5:15) Remember the exodus! Remember that the coercive system of Pharaoh was disrupted. Remember that the brick quota was declared null and void. Moses warned the Israelites: if you forget this, you will give your life over to coercive competition. But if you remember, you will know that Pharaoh and all like agents of coercion have been defeated. You do not need to meet expectations of your mother or your work or your boss or your broker or anybody else. You are free from the quota . . . if you remember, if you situate yourself in the covenant memory.

Sabbath as Resistance, New Edition With Study Guide

Walter Brueggemann

...catch up on these, and many more highlights