The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. Joshua 5:12, NIV. The sun rose over the plains of Canaan, casting golden light over fields Israel had only dreamed of for generations. This was not just any day—it was the first day in forty years that no manna fell from the sky. The people stepped outside their tents, expecting to gather the thin, flaky bread that had sustained them through every trial in the wilderness. But the ground…
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13. We live in a world where government, the workplace, and even your favorite coffee shop is constantly pushing against spiritual truths. People are not afraid to display what their beliefs are and demand it, but somehow we feel like we need to be silent with our faith. With new bills being passed in senate and the courts legalizing things that use to be against the law, it creates a quandary of what is right and wrong. Is the government the measuring stick of morality and justice? Or, is there a higher power that requires our obedience? Exodus 2:1–3 explains the story of an incredible mother. “Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, And she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and…
Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Think with me for a minute—What would the world (Christianity, the Church, the Bible, your life) be like without the story of Job? The book of Job has made an impact on so many lives throughout the generations. It is a celebrated story of an incredible man who did not forsake God in the highest and lowest parts of his life. Even though I may not go through the exact same things Job endured (and pray I never do), I find comfort and strength in his reaction to the calamity the he and his wife suffered. The Paradox of Suffering Suffering is not always the repercussions of sin, mistakes, and bad decisions. The elaborate nature of suffering finds its way into the complexities of everyday life, causing us to question our purpose and God’s love toward us. When I suffer, I sometimes feel like God is disciplining me for something I have done wrong. But, God never punishes His children, although, He corrects them like a good parent disciplines their children. Your pain is not a punishment. Our view…
Life is full of invariables. There are so many things that are in our control, and at the same time, so many things completely outside our control. Life can be overwhelming, and the unknowns of certain outcomes can keep you up through the night. Not even a double dose of melatonin is helping you sleep, as you toss back and forth trying to lull yourself to sleep. No position will cure an overwhelmed mind. Are you suffering from the anxiety of unmet expectations? Is your breathing shallow when it should be deep and peaceful? Maybe the trajectory of your life…
“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” (Romans 6:9, ESV) What a strange week this had been in Jerusalem. The Passover celebration. The crucifixion. The pause for the Sabbath. Now, as the first rays of the sun began to pierce the darkness of this first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome made their way to the tomb. These loyal followers of the Lord carried anointing spices for His body. As the women walked, they discussed a problem. Who could remove the heavy stone that sealed the tomb? How would they get to the body of Jesus? the empty tomb Nearing the place where He had been buried, they were astonished. The guards placed there to secure the tomb were missing, their post abandoned. The seal was broken, and the heavy stone was rolled away. Even more puzzling, the tomb was empty! The body of Jesus was gone. Yes, the grave clothes were still there, and the napkin that had covered His face lay in a separate place. As the women tried to take all this in, an angel greeted them…
“That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:54-56, New King James Version) Yesterday in our devotion we visited Calvary and met some of those who stood near the cross. But what about the next day? Let’s walk around Jerusalem and revisit some we met yesterday. On Saturday, the Sabbath, it felt as though someone had muted the sound. Yesterday afternoon, Jesus died on the cross and was hastily placed in a tomb before the Sabbath began. But today . . . the turmoil of yesterday’s events have quietened. Soon life will return to its usual rhythm, and memories of that tragic day will fade. Or will they? Scripture gives us few details about the day between crucifixion Friday and resurrection Sunday. None who were present at Calvary could have walked away unchanged by what they witnessed. What were they thinking and feeling now? Simon, the man who carried Jesus’ cross, had much to ponder.…