The Resurrection of Jesus was an essential part of God’s redemptive plan and work, occurring on “the first day of the week”, Matthew 28:1-8. The first day of the week is the eighth day of the weekly cycle, and the number eight in the Scripture is associated with new beginning. The Old Testament era of […]
During the time of year we call the Passion season our attention is drawn to the sufferings of Jesus after the “Last Supper”, which leads us to focus on His blood that was shed for us. Peter writes, in 1:18-19 of his first epistle that we were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ.” In […]
In Colossians 1:23 the apostle is speaking about the importance of the followers of Christ continuing in the faith and not being “moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven.” We understand these last words to be a Hebraism meaning the whole human race, […]
In a world filled with suffering, disappointments, broken promises, abuse, terrorism, addictions, bullying, immorality, bloodshed, and every other vice and evil, when life’s storms are raging high and it appears that all hope is gone, and we like Paul and those on board a ship with him in a violent storm at sea in Acts […]
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a meditation on God’s word using more than half a dozen expressions to describe it; how many of these can you find in its verses? This Psalm is the inspiration behind Rose’s poetry for today, which focuses largely on the impact the word of God should […]
In John 10:3-4, Jesus, portraying Himself as a shepherd leading his sheep, says, “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And … he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” We are like sheep that when left to wonder on their own become disoriented, scattered, […]
The coming of Jesus into the world was the full manifestation of God’s love for us, and the introduction of light and life into a world filled with darkness and death, insomuch that “in Him is no darkness at all” 1 John 1:5. Light surrounded His birth; it was in the darkness of night that […]
“What! Giving again?” I asked in dismay, “And must I keep giving and giving away?” “Oh, no, said the angel, piercing me through, Just give till the Father stops giving to you.” Author unknown The Bible speaks a lot about giving. Come to think about it God was the original giver. Remember when He […]
The Bible points us to a path of praise and thanksgiving even when going through dark and difficult places, even before we see the answer to our cry and prayers for deliverance! The Bible says He is “enthroned in the praises of Israel” (extended His people) Psalm 22:3; the original Greek here means He sits […]
Praise, the Bible says, is beautiful coming from the upright; yes, it is suitable and proper for the righteous to rejoice and offer praise. In fact Isaiah 61:3 says the anointing upon Jesus gives us “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” When we think of praise probably the first thing we think […]