In Matthew 5:11-12 Jesus spoke of those who would be reviled, persecuted, and falsely defamed because of following Him. He said when this happens you are blessed, indicating that you are fortunate and well off! He then went on to say, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so […]
Psalm 19 speaks of two specific ways in which God has revealed Himself to the world. First in verses 1-6 He gives us a general revelation of Himself, His Power, Might, and Goodness through what we call “nature”. Though incomplete, the Apostle says “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness…” Acts 14:17. No matter […]
Hebrews 1 shows clearly That Jesus is greater than angels, however angels have a vast role to play in our lives; verse 7 says He “makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” Ministers here comes from two Greek words meaning “people” and “work” hence whether applied to men or angelic spirits […]
We live in a broken world filled with sadness, suffering, pain, and uncertainty; Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10. So how do we coordinate the two and experience this abundance in the midst of the brokenness? First we must be confident […]
On more than one occasion the Apostle Paul had been imprisoned for the gospel he preached, but on no occasion do we find him sitting there in despair and gloom. Remember in Acts 17 he and Silas conducted a prayer and praise service in a jail cell at Philippi with their feet fastened in the […]
Winter is known as the coldest season of the year, the weather can become tempestuous, the nights are long and in many agricultural zones the earth seems mostly barren; all this can contribute to loneliness and despair. Winter in human life can express times of distress, loneliness, pain, suffering, lack, or hurt. Perhaps you are […]
When we see the beauty of the world all around us, the flowers that bloom, the grass that grows, the sun that shines, the stream that flows, the birds that sing, the animals that roam, the fruit of the ground, and the people that populate the earth, we remember that all are the handiwork of […]
Often the pathway of life is obscure in the distance to our vision. In Joshua 3:3-4 the Israelites have come to such a place having reached the border of Canaan, the land God had promised to give to Abraham and his descendants. The final hurdle was to get across the Jordan River, now in flood […]
In 2 Chronicles 15:2 Asa has inherited the throne of Judah, and Azariah is speaking in the power of prophetic voice, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him…” This absolute statement applies to every one of us throughout all ages as well, and is […]
If we consider Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, let us consider what His birth really means. We have a tendency to focus our attention on the humble surroundings of that magnificent occurrence, the heavenly annunciations of it, and the visitors that came in witness of it. His birth was not […]