Simeon's encounter with the infant Jesus: a moment of joy and recognition of the long-awaited Messiah.
“And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” (Matthew 26:39) I think the verse we read today is one of the most moving in the entire Bible. We see […]
“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.” (Matthew 26:3-4) Psalm 2 reads: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the […]
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). In the Bible, we find several examples of people who had the courage to start walking with God. Abram was such a person. He had the guts to […]
“After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired.” (Nehemiah 3:21-22) The people of Jerusalem wanted to rebuild the city walls. Chapter 3 of […]
Israel's suffering stemmed from their disobedience, illustrating a broader pattern of consequences for turning away from God, relevant even today.
“So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.” (Exodus 24:13) At Mount Sinai, something very special happened. The Lord God descended in a dense cloud and fire on the top of this mountain, visible to all the people of Israel. They could also hear what He said […]
Experience the revelation of the Lord God in this powerful blog post. Learn about His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” (Proverbs 8:33-34) In Proverbs 8, Wisdom is personified, appropriately, as a woman! After all, women tend to do better than men academically and have a lot more common […]
Jesus, thank You for Your real death on the cross. This truth is essential to my faith.
Jesus, thank You for Your Spirit interceding for me, filling my prayer gaps.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means, God with us).“ (Matthew 1:23) Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, had a hard time believing at first that his future wife had become pregnant without his involvement. (Matthew 1:18-25) But in a dream, an angel of God confirmed that […]
I see God's power in others' resilience, love, forgiveness, and acts of service, especially amidst hardship.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of new birth through water and the Spirit, enabling me to see Your kingdom.
“One of the young men answered, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.’ … And David came to Saul and entered his service.” (1 […]
“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4) Let us dwell for a moment on the word “repentance” that John was so eager to emphasize. The Lord Jesus also traveled around the country telling people, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God […]
Life is fleeting. How can we find wisdom in its brevity? Reflect on the passage of time and the desire for a life of meaning.
“But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, ‘Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.’” (Joshua 6:22) In preparation for the conquest of the land, Joshua had sent out spies. These men had […]
“Then Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.’” (Genesis 49:1) Jacob’s life had been eventful. We read yesterday that he fled from his relatives as a young man. In Paddan-Aram he founded a family that eventually numbered 12 sons. […]
“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” (Luke 9:14) Jesus’ story takes a moving turn. When the new king was on his way to receive his kingship, a delegation was sent after him to prevent his appointment. Again, Jesus was […]
