“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3, ESV) Many people find storms frightening, and rightly so. They can exert tremendous force, resulting in great damage. Those living in coastal areas soon learn the dangers of hurricane season, while those in “tornado alley” keep an eye on the sky. Residents of storm-prone areas learn how to prepare and when to seek safety. Sometimes, however, the storm strikes unexpectedly, catching those in its path unawares. Mark 4:37-39 recounts a time when the disciples were caught in a life-threatening storm. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves…
And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:51-52, ESV) The beggar’s story The beggar sitting in the roadside dust was blind, but he heard the noise of a crowd approaching. When he asked what was happening, someone nearby told him, “It’s Jesus of Nazareth,” That was a name Bartimaeus recognized and he desperately began calling out for mercy. Perhaps more than others in the crowd, Bartimaeus possessed a spiritual insight of who Jesus was. Addressing Him as the “Son of David” shows he recognized Jesus was more than just a traveling preacher. He understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah. When Jesus heard Bartimaeus calling out, the Lord asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied, “Let me recover my sight.” He didn’t want pity. He didn’t ask for money. He was desperate for his sight to be restored, and that is what Jesus did. He healed his vision. Verse 52…
“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.” (Numbers 2:2, NLT) In my Bible reading, one of the things I have noticed is the precision, the attention to detail, in everything God does. The pieces all fit together in a well-designed and orderly plan. Every element matters. We see an example of this in Numbers 2. There is nothing haphazard or random in the way God instructed the Israelites to set up their camp in the wilderness. There was absolute order. ORDER IN THE CAMP The Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting, was always placed in the center of the camp. This strange-looking structure, made of skins and without outward beauty, contained wonderfully fashioned items of pure gold on the inside. Each tribe of Israel had an assigned place to pitch their tents around the Tabernacle. There were three tribes on each side. On the east were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The three tribes on the south side were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. On the west were Ephraim and Manasseh (the two sons of…
“Behold, the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Each year millions die from hunger and malnutrition. While most of us are not personally affected by it, we have seen photos and heard stories of extreme conditions in many parts of the world. There are numerous causes including poverty, war, natural disasters, and political instability. It’s difficult for those of us who have ample food to comprehend these extreme conditions. The statistics…
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV) How much of our lives are controlled by habits? Probably more than we think. Whether we admit it or not, most of us are creatures of habit. A habit is a pattern of behavior that we develop by repetition. We have certain things we do each day or at certain times. Some of these are good habits, while others may not be so good. HEALTHY HABITS Because it is important to take care of my body, I have developed some habits that I feel are healthy. I brush and floss my teeth. I start my day with breakfast, take a multi-vitamin, and fasten my seatbelt. Yes, I will admit some habits are not as healthy, but let’s not talk about skipping exercise and eating junk food. You have your own routines and habits as well. Perhaps you rise early for a morning jog, drink a healthy smoothie for breakfast, or treat yourself to a fancy coffee on the way to work. The word habit is not found in the King James Bible, although some versions do use it.…
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. (Acts 8:5-6, NKJV) Sounds of revival filled Samaria. As Philip preached, souls were saved. Miracles, healings, and deliverance from unclean spirits happened. Multitudes turned to the Lord in this time of spiritual awakening. Acts 8:8 says there was great joy in the city. With so much happening, it seems strange that an angel instructed Philip to leave the Samaritan revival and head south toward the desert. And yet, that is what Philip was told to do. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. (Acts 8:26, NKJV) The Search for Understanding What did Philip find along that desert road? An Ethiopian man sitting in a chariot. Philip was prompted to go near and join the man in the chariot. As Philip approached, he heard the man reading from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip inquired. The man admitted…