“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23, Christian Standard Bible) Do you have bumper stickers on…
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1) It’s Sunday—the day we come together to worship God. Recent events have affected our weekly time together, or at least altered the way in which we typically gather, but still we…
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. (Proverbs 15:6, English Standard Version) Sometimes while reading the Bible a particular word or phrase will catch my attention and cause me to pause and reflect. Many times, it’s just what I…
“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1, English Standard Version) Imagine the crowds, and the curiosity, that day on Mount Carmel. Why has everyone been summoned to gather here? Is that Elijah standing beside King Ahab?…
“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently…
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6, ESV) The day was much like any other for the man. He positioned himself as best he could among the large…
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20, ESV) Temper tantrums are not cute, but toddlers and young children use them when they can’t get their…
For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13, NKJV) Living for God brings us many blessings and benefits. While the Christian life does not mean a problem-free life (think the apostle Paul, for example), it does…
“So the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.” (Psalm 78:6-7, New Living Translation) We often joke about forgetfulness, but…