Another parable of Jesus is recorded in Luke 14:16-24 where He tells the story of a host that was giving a great banquet; the custom was that the invitations would be sent out in advance and when the feast was ready a notice would be sent out. His friends had received the invitation, apparently accepted […]
David, the man that was anointed to become Israel’s second king, was probably feeling rejected as he departed from king Abimelech (probably the same as Achish 1 Samuel 21-22) being hunted by king Saul as though he was a criminal, with seemingly no safe place dwell! So what was he to do? Which way should […]
The first of Peter was written by this Apostle to first century Christians living in various places of Asia Minor and suffering rejection by the world around them, they were grieved or distressed by various trials which likely included persecution, etc. because they were followers of Christ. Following Christ is not always an easy road […]
We read about this “living hope” in 1 Peter 1:3-5. What is living hope? It is hope with assurance that its object will come to pass without question; it is a confidence that its end is absolutely certain! It is God’s guarantee to us that He will give us “a future and a hope”, or […]
It is almost beyond our human comprehension that the Co-Creator of the entire universe would become an implanted seed, leaving the riches of heaven and be born of a woman into the poverty of fallen humanity; but “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor…” 2 Corinthians 8:9. He was born in […]
As we look at 2 Samuel 22:33 we find David praising God for deliverance and victory over enemies, and in his praise we are introduced to God as Elohei Mauzzi, our “strength and power”. Literally this means a fortified place, and figuratively a defense. In Psalm 18:2 he declared “The Lord is my rock and […]
Prior to His crucifixion Jesus had been teaching His disciples that He would be put to death, resurrected, and would return to the Father in heaven, and they had most likely heard His response to the Pharisees about the coming of the kingdom of God which presently it is not observable with ocular vision, but […]
In Luke 16:16 Jesus said “…the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” In another statement found in 17:21 He said “…the kingdom of God is within you.” Today the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom established within those who believe on Jesus as their personal Redeemer and Savior. […]
In Psalm 4:1 David’s prayer was “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!” Did God answer his prayer? Oh yes He did. In Psalm 40:1 he said, “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry” (He bowed down listening to my prayer). Interestingly, the words […]
“Blessed are those who mourn…” Matthew 5:3; the Greek here means to grieve or lament. Jesus is not necessarily or primarily speaking here of sharing the grief of someone that has experienced bereavement, although such sharing is taught in Scripture and definitely has its rewards. The mourning we see here is that of those who […]