The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in…
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, ESV) We are now into the second month of the new year. By this time each year, about eighty percent have fallen behind on their resolutions and slipped back into…
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him . . . And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (I Samuel 3:7 and 10, ESV) I…
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, ESV) Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet with the longest book, won no popularity awards during his forty years of ministry. Few, if…
“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.” (Psalm 112:7, ESV) Recently, a family in my church lost everything in a tragic house fire. Thankfully, all escaped unharmed. I’ve known others who have experienced tornadoes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. These victims often…
“The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.” (II Samuel 6:11, NKJV) While reading II Samuel 6, I became caught up in the story of Obed-Edom and his family who unexpectedly found themselves as keepers of…
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have in tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, ESV) We do not live in a peaceful world—far from it. At this very moment, numerous places are…
Focus Verse: “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah.” (Psalm 77:9, NKJV) Do the words from Psalms sound familiar—perhaps because you’ve said something similar to this yourself? When troubles come and we struggle to understand, it’s easy to ask, “Where are…
“And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.” (II Chronicles 32:18, ESV) Once again Jerusalem was surrounded by her enemies. An emissary…