A Balm of Healing
A Balm of Healing Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?Jeremiah 8:22 A balm is an aromatic, medicinal substance derived from plants. Gilead was an area east of the Jordan River, well known for its spices […]
Pouring Out Your Heart
Pouring Out Your Heart Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him.Psalm 62:8 Our Father wants His children to call to Him with the burdens of their heart. Have you cried out to God in faith? Be assured that He is listening! Psalm 55:22 encourages us to, “Cast your […]
Digging Into The Word Of God
Digging Into The Word Of God Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16 What is God performing when […]
Whom are you seeking?
Whom are you seeking? Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and […]
A Smoking Flax Reignited
A Smoking Flax Reignited A … smoking flax He will not quench. Isaiah 42:3 When a lamp burned down to the end of the wick, it would only sputter and smoke without making any light. Since such a smoldering wick was useless, it was put out and thrown away. The smoking flax represents people whose […]
The Song Of A Bruised Reed
The Song Of A Bruised Reed A bruised reed He will not break. Isaiah 42:3 Shepherds used to make sweet music with reeds, but they were useless when broken because the air could not go through, and when one became too bruised the shepherd would just throw it away. Are you a broken reed? Are […]
Waiting Upon God by Faith
Waiting Upon God by Faith When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”Genesis 17:1 This is the fifth time we read that the Lord appeared to Abram, but the last recorded time God spoke to Abram was thirteen […]
What Else Do You Need
What Else Do You Need After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1 In chapter 14, Abraham had just had two great victories. First he rescued Lot, and then he resisted the temptation […]
Salvation Even In Judgment
Salvation Even In Judgment “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”Nahum 1:7 This wonderful verse sits in the middle of three chapters of fierce judgment against Nineveh. Nahum is called of the Lord to prophesy judgment on the very people who repented when […]
How Good Is Your Vision?
How Good Is Your Vision? Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:2 How we view things in life affects the way we live […]
In Spirit And Truth
In Spirit And Truth “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”John 4:23 In John 4 we have Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are many lessons that can be […]
Witnesses To The World
Witnesses To The World “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”Philippians 2:15 As we witness what appears to be the slow collapse of the culture around us, it is time for the […]
Eleazar The Son Of Dodo
Eleazar The Son Of Dodo “And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his […]
Be A Bold Witness
Be A Bold Witness “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,”2 Timothy 1:8 Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ, but to proclaim Him boldly. […]
Peace in Perilous Times
Peace in Perilous Times “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”2 Timothy 3:1 Paul told Timothy that “in the last days perilous times would come” (2 Timothy 3:1). The word perilous is chalepos in the Greek. It has the thought of being difficult, dangerous, hard to deal with, or savage. […]
Free Indeed
Free Indeed If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.John 8:31-32 In John 8, the Lord Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth makes us free! Many of us have […]
Without Complaining
Without Complaining “Do all things without complaining and disputing,”Philippians 2:14 One of the easiest things to do is complain. It takes no talent or special gift to criticize others. Yet one word of complaint can have a significant impact on everyone around us. This was another lesson the people in Malachi’s day needed to learn. […]
The Mysterious Ways Of God
The Mysterious Ways Of God “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”Romans 11:33 How do we respond to the ways of God? Do we question the way He works in our lives? Malachi continued to challenge the […]
Honoring The Lord’s Name
Honoring The Lord’s Name ““A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised […]
The Lord’s Love For His Own
The Lord’s Love For His Own “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;”Malachi 1:2 Malachi’s message begins where every departure from God begins—in the heart. The people of Judah had lost their […]
Uprooting Bitterness
Uprooting Bitterness “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”Hebrews 12:15 When we hold bitterness in, we are actually behaving like the unsaved, and that is why Ephesians 4:31–32 exhorts us, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, […]
The Secret to Maintaining Unity
The Secret to Maintaining Unity “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”Ephesians 4:1-3 Lowliness is humility […]
Triumph Through The Word
Triumph Through The Word “I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.”1 John 2:14 The aged apostle John reminds us of […]
The Great Overcomer
The Great Overcomer “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””John 16:33 The Lord is saying to all who seek to follow Him: “Take courage! Be strong! I have overcome the world!” He was looking past all that lay ahead of Him and claimed the victory […]
Impartation Of Peace
Impartation Of Peace “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.”John 16:33 Notice the cause and effect here: the cause is “these things I have spoken to you,” and the effect is “that in Me you may have peace.” The root is His teaching, and the fruit is the […]
Walking With God
Walking With God “And Enoch walked with God;”Genesis 5:24 In Genesis, both Enoch and Noah (Genesis 6:9) are described as having walked with God while surrounded by an ungodly world. But what does it actually mean to walk with God? To walk with God means to develop an ongoing relationship with Him through prayer […]
Lessons Learned In The Cave
Lessons Learned In The Cave “I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”Psalms 142:5 The Lord is glorified when we trust Him in the darkest hours of our lives! It is often in these seasons of trial and pain that we begin […]
Be A Learner!
Be A Learner! “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…”Matthew 11:29 The word disciple means learner—someone who follows and imitates his Master. In Luke 6:40, we read, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” The Lord Jesus Christ not only taught spiritual […]
Christ Our Substitute
Christ Our Substitute “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,”1 Peter 3:18 Salvation was not an afterthought. It was in the heart and mind of God in eternity past. Before […]
What is God like?
What Is God Like? “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”Isaiah 40:30-31 However, what often […]
I Am The Life
I Am The Life “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John 14:6 The Lord Jesus had just been telling His disciples about His death, and now He was declaring Himself to be the source of all life. In John 10:17–18, He announced that He […]
I Am The Truth
I Am The Truth “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John 14:6 Again, the Lord Jesus used the definite article to emphasize Himself as “the only truth.”Pilate once asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), but he wasn’t willing to surrender to the One […]
I Am The Way
I Am The Way “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John 14:6 The Lord used the definite article to distinguish Himself as “the only way.” A way is a path or means of access, and the disciples had expressed confusion about where He was […]
The Way. The Truth. The Life.
The Way. The Truth. The Life. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John 14:6 This statement is one of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. On the night before the Lord Jesus went to Calvary, He prepared His disciples for the days ahead. […]
Peace For A Troubled Heart
Peace For A Troubled Heart “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”2 Thessalonians 3:16 Peace has been defined as “a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.”Through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on […]
The Goodness of God
The Goodness of God “Taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8 There is great encouragement in looking at who our God is—not only to consider the things about Him that we’ll never fully understand, but also to reflect on what He has revealed to us in His Word. In our world today, […]
A Substitute
A Substitute “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.”Genesis 22:13 In Genesis 22, we read the familiar account of Abraham taking his […]
Evidence of Sanctification
Evidence of Sanctification “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”Ephesians 5:26 True sanctification, when lived out, affects our walk—not just our talk. By walk, we mean our conduct and behavior. This is what the apostle John had in mind when writing 1 John. He writes as one […]
Be Constant In Prayer
Be Constant In Prayer “…continuing steadfastly in prayer;”Romans 12:12 It has been said, “What oxygen is to our human survival, prayer is to the life of the believer!” An old-time preacher once remarked, “A sinning man will stop praying, and a praying man will stop sinning.” This emphasizes the inseparable link between fervent prayer and […]
The Precious Name of Jesus
The Precious Name of Jesus “so that at the name of Jesus…”Philippians 2:10 Precious Name – Given from Heaven This name is precious because it was not given by Mary or Joseph. It was not a family name passed down through generations. The name Jesus was given to Him from Heaven! The angel first gave […]
Be Patient
Be Patient You also, be patient.James 5:8 We have all experienced the patience of God. Sometimes we even joke, “Be patient with me—God’s not finished with me yet!” But while we want others to be patient with us, we’re not always willing to extend that same patience to them. However, if we are filled with […]
Mercy On Display
Mercy On Display “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”Luke 6:36 Mercy is to be evident in the life of every believer! A great example of such mercy is found in Luke 10, in the story of the Good Samaritan. When the Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man who had […]
I Have Overcome The World
I Have Overcome The World “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”John 16:33 Here, He is speaking to all who seek to follow Him: “Take courage! Be strong! I have overcome […]
Enoch Walked With God
Enoch Walked With God “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”Genesis 5:24 I am reminded of Enoch in Genesis 5:24. There we read that Enoch walked with God. There are only about seven or eight verses in the entire Bible that speak of Enoch, but when we examine them, […]
Direction For Life
Direction For Life “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”Psalms 119:105 We all have to make hundreds of decisions that determine the outcome of our lives. Some are minor, some are major, but together they shape the direction of our lives. In the complex world in which we […]
Sweeter Than Honey
Sweeter Than Honey “More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”Psalms 19:10 Each time we open this Book, we must approach it with reverence and respect—it is the very Word of God! You and I cannot grow as Christians without being in this […]
The Everlasting God
The Everlasting God Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.Psalm 90:1-2 As we step into a new year, our hearts naturally wonder what lies ahead. Will this year bring joy or sorrow? Success […]
You Crown The Year With Your Goodness
You Crown The Year With Your Goodness “You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.”Psalms 65:11 How beautiful that is. This idea of crowning the year—surrounding the year with God’s goodness—and that His path drips with abundance is so powerful. A friend of mine once wrote a calendar devotional and […]
The Glorious Appearing
The Glorious Appearing For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for […]
The Blessed Hope
The Blessed Hope “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for […]
Grace Has Appeared
Grace Has Appeared For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for […]
The Right Gift at the Right Time
The Right Gift at the Right Time But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the […]
The Greatest Gift
The Greatest GIft For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.John 3:16 This time of year, shopping centers are busy with people buying gifts for their loved ones. In all the hustle and bustle, it is good to […]
Life Manifested
Life Manifested The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. 1 John 1:2 In 1 John, the apostle uses the word manifested quite a few times. It means “to reveal that which was hidden or […]
A Mediator
A Mediator For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.1 Timothy 2:5–6 One of the most fundamental teachings in the Word of God is that there is one God. It is also clear from […]
The Purpose of the Birth of Christ
The Purpose of the Birth of Christ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.1 Timothy 1:15 There is more to this verse than meets the eye. In this section of 1 Timothy, Paul is speaking about the […]
Our Finest Gifts We Bring
Our Finest Gifts We Bring The wise men came from the East, seeking the Lord Jesus in order to worship Him. This purpose is mentioned three times in Matthew 2 (vv. 2, 8, 11). They brought Him gifts befitting a King, for “they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented […]
Hearts Of Worship
Hearts Of Worship When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Matthew 2:11 Matthew chapter two opens by telling us, “Now after Jesus was born in […]
My Peace I Give To You
My Peace I Give To You “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27 In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for “peace” is eirēnē, and it […]
Peace
Peace And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”Luke 2:14 We hear a lot about “peace on earth” this time of year. We hear it in songs and see it on greeting cards, […]
Peace On Earth
Peace On Earth “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”Luke 2:14 The multitude of the heavenly host praised God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill […]
Glory To God
Glory To God And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14 When the angel announced to the shepherds in the field that the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, we read […]
Christ The Lord
Christ The Lord “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”Luke 2:10–11 There is one more aspect […]
Joy To The World
Joy To The World “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”Luke 2:10–11 The good news the […]
Good Tidings Of Great Joy
Good Tidings Of Great Joy “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”Luke 2:10–11 The angel appeared […]
Fear Not
Fear Not “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”Luke 2:10–11 While the Lord Jesus was being born in the city of Bethlehem, outside the city shepherds […]
A Sign Of Hope
A Sign Of Hope Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 I recently read that “Man can live forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one […]
Unexpected News
Unexpected News Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 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 […]
The Great Announcement
The Great Announcement “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”Genesis 3:15 When we think of the birth of the Lord Jesus we often think of Luke 2 when the angels announce the birth of […]
He Is Coming Again
He Is Coming Again “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:11 The first appearance of Jesus was a mission of humility and sacrifice. “but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put […]
Enter Into His Gates
Enter Into His Gates “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”Psalms 100:4-5 Thankfulness to God is a recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has […]
Thinking Thankfully
Thinking Thankfully “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”I Chronicles 16:34 Everything good in our lives comes from our Father in heaven (James 1:17), and you and I should make it a habit to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. When things become difficult, it is easy to […]
Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving (Part 2)
Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving (Part 2) “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.”Psalms 116:17 The sacrifice of thanksgiving (Leviticus 7) was to be offered with the sprinkling of the blood of the peace offering (v. 14). This shows that all of our thanksgiving is based […]
The Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving
The Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.”Psalms 107:22 The sacrifice of thanksgiving is mentioned at least eight times in scripture. Three times in Leviticus 7:11-15. The sacrifice of thanksgiving was not a separate offering but was connected to the peace offering (v. 12). The peace […]
In Everything Give Thanks
In Everything Give Thanks “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Ephesians 5:20 Paul had passed through many deep waters—beatings, shipwrecks, mocking, persecution, hunger, thirst, nakedness, and even character assassination (2 Corinthians 11:25–28)—and yet he could later write, “In everything give thanks; for this is […]
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1 Scripture instructs us to give thanks to the Lord for many things. We are to thank Him for who He is. Psalm 30:4 says, “Sing praise to the Lord, you saints […]
Thankfulness
Thankfulness “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Ephesians 5:20 It is so easy to get caught up in what we don’t have that we forget to be thankful for what we do have—and then we can become discouraged. I once heard a story about […]
Count Your Blessings
Count Your Blessings “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”I Thessalonians 5:18 Do you remember the hymn “Count Your Blessings”? Many of us might remember the chorus, but the entire hymn is very encouraging and challenging. It was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897 and […]
Duty Or Devotion
Duty Or Devotion But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one […]
He Knows The Heart
He Knows The Heart Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what […]
A Woman Of Faith
A Woman Of Faith Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.Mark […]
Deliverance
Deliverance Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even […]
Faith Comes By Hearing
Faith Comes By Hearing For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” […]
Responding To Success
Responding To Success And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.Luke 5:6–7 Looking at Peter’s encounter […]
Full Nets, Full Boats, Full Hearts
Full Nets, Full Boats, Full Hearts Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let […]
Keeping The Nets Clean
Keeping The Nets Clean So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.Luke 5:1–2 There are many lessons for us to […]
Living Water For A Thirsty Soul
Living Water For A Thirsty Soul He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph… A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said […]
Born From Above
Born From Above There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”John 3:1–2 […]
The Guest Becomes The Host
The Guest Becomes The Host On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said […]
Doing The Father’s Business
Doing The Father’s Business And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”Luke 2:49 This is no doubt one of the earliest accounts of anyone encountering the Lord Jesus. He was just a young boy, twelve years of age. This is the […]
“But God” Moments
“But God” Moments “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…”Galatians 1:15–16 As we have seen throughout the Word of God, the “But God” moments in Scripture make all the difference […]
God Intervenes!
God Intervenes! “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by […]
God Knows The Heart
God Knows The Heart “And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.’”Luke 16:15 Our verse appears in the context of a very interesting story the Lord Jesus told His disciples. The […]
God Gives The Increase
God Gives The Increase “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who […]
There Is A God In Heaven
There Is A God In Heaven “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:”Daniel 2:28 Daniel 2 is a wonderful chapter; it is really the […]
An Eternal Perspective
An Eternal Perspective “Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive […]
Wandering That Brought A Windstorm
Wandering That Brought A Windstorm “But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.”Jonah 1:4 We are all familiar with the story of Jonah and the big fish, but there are many lessons we […]
Preserved Through Perils
Preserved Through Perils And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”1 Samuel 23:14 Saul and David had a tumultuous relationship, to say the least. Saul became jealous and lived in constant […]
God’s Firm Foundation Stands
God’s Firm Foundation Stands But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”2 Timothy 2:19 Paul tells us to “shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” He goes on in 2 […]
The Infinite Love Of God
The Infinite Love Of God But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8 We have already looked at these verses (vv. 6–11) in our study, but I would like to focus our attention on verse 8 once more. When we quote this verse, […]
A Body Prepared
A Body Prepared “In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do Your will, O my God; […]
Faithful To Forgive
Faithful To Forgive “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and […]
Divine Direction
Divine Direction But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.Exodus 13:18 God delivered His chosen earthly people out of the bondage of Egypt. We have always been taught that the shortest […]
But The Father…
But The Father… “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him… But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and […]
Love On Full Display
Love On Full Display “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”Romans 5:8 This wonderful verse shows us the extent of our God’s amazing love toward us. The thought that the apostle Paul was emphasizing really begins at verse 6, “For when we were […]
But God!
But God! “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, […]
God Raised Him Up
God Raised Him Up “When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead.”Acts 13:29–30 Earlier in Acts, Peter said, “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to […]
Who Gets The Glory?
Who Gets The Glory? “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to […]
God Had Mercy On Him
God Had Mercy On Him “Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was […]
God Meant It For Good
God Meant It For Good “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”Genesis 50:20 For years, the guilt of selling Joseph into slavery ate away at his brothers. That guilt grew into […]
God Is Sovereign
God Is Sovereign “Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.”Genesis 31:7 The road of life has many twists and turns. At times, it may even feel like a roller coaster. This was certainly Jacob’s experience. Much of his “ups and downs” […]
The Divine Difference Maker
The Divine Difference Maker “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”Psalm 73:26 A few months ago, I was with a family going through a deep valley. As they shared their situation, my heart felt their pain. Then the wife and mother said something that […]
Let Him Go!
Let Him Go! “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.””John 11:44 At the end of John 11, Lazarus is a beautiful picture of one raised from the dead and set free […]
Fear Not
Fear Not “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”Isaiah 41:10 Fear distorts our vision, magnifying molehills into mountains. This stumbling block from Satan can even lead us to foolishness, […]
Saved To Worship
Saved To Worship For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Luke 19:10 “For the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”John 4:23 In the first verse, we see that the Lord Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. In the second verse, we see […]
Safe In His Hands
Safe In His Hands “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”John 10:28 God’s ultimate control of our lives, His dealings with us, and our eternal security are entirely in His hands—the hands of our Lord and Savior, our mighty, everlasting Friend. He […]
God Uses Broken Things
God Uses Broken Things “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.”Psalm 51:17 When my children were little, they often brought me their broken toys. Most of the ones I couldn’t repair ended up being thrown away—because that’s what you do with broken things. But God does not throw away […]
The Faithful Love of God
The Faithful Love of God “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;”Malachi 1:2 Malachi’s message begins where every departure from God begins – in the heart. The people of Judah lost appreciation […]
Assurance Of Salvation
Assurance Of Salvation “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”I John 5:13 Man’s imagination sees salvation this way: “These happy feelings […]
The Perfect Servant
The Perfect Servant “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””Mark 10:45 The Gospel of Mark presents the Lord Jesus as the perfect Servant. He came not to be served, but to serve, and His service would take Him […]
Devoted Discipleship
Devoted Discipleship “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”Matthew 10:37 People in Christ’s day were looking for the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 72). They did not realize that first the Lord […]
Are You A Titus
Are You A Titus “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.” 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Why was […]
A Living Hope
A Living Hope “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”2 Corinthians 12:9 There are times in our lives when we pray earnestly for a […]
Magnify The Lord
Magnify The Lord Our lives ought to magnify God as well! Scripture teaches that our entire being—spirit, soul, and body—should magnify Him. Think of what Mary said in Luke 1:46: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” The soul is the seat of our emotions, and in her innermost being, she wanted to magnify her God. John the Baptist […]