IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US, SURROUNDING US Psalm 125 is one of the 15 “psalms of ascent,” written to prepare the hearts of worshipers as they climbed up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Entourages of pilgrims like the one that traveled from Nazareth with young, 12-year-old Jesus, would have sung these songs as they came
THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN CHRIST Because we are in Christ we now have confidence that the Father will hear and answer our prayers. For this reason Hebrews teaches us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). And
WHAT WAY ARE YOU FOLLOWING? This is the last verse of the last chapter of Daniel’s prophetic book. It is the final word given to Daniel by the “man clothed in linen,” who appears to be the preincarnate Christ. He had revealed many things to come in the last days, even the time of tribulation.
TRUE LOVE ACTS When we receive Christ, we receive the love of Christ. This is the love that moved Christ to die in our place, so that we might have eternal life. True love takes action. The evidence that we have received Christ is that the love that goes beyond mere words and takes action
ARE YOU GROWING MORE LIKE JESUS? Do you ever ask questions of God like, “Why is this happening to me?” The apostle John answers saying not everything has been “revealed” yet, but one thing we can be sure of is that “we are children of God” and we shall “be like” Jesus. That’s God’s goal
WHAT DID GABRIEL EXPLAIN TO DANIEL? It is interesting to see the angel Gabriel mentioned in our Old Testament reading on this first day of December. For he will also be of great interest to us as we read the gospel accounts of Christ’s birth during this Christmas season. There are only two angels named
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS Moving from Daniel 6 to Daniel 7, is like turning the TV from the History Channel to the SYFY Network–– one has to adjust to understanding images and concepts that are out of this world! Because in this chapter, God pulled back the veil on the world’s kingdoms and
ARE YOU GROWING IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS? The apostle Peter closed his second epistle, encouraging believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus. He warned against being led away by the error of the wicked, advising its alternative, namely, to grow in Christ. He understood that in spiritual life, as
IS IT TIME FOR THE LORD TO ACT? The psalmist saw the people of the world becoming more and more rebellious, ignoring the law of God. He called on the Lord to take action. This call was made especially acute by the fact that Psalm 119 was written as an ode to God’s Word. Usually
UNTIL WE LAY ASIDE THIS BODILY TENT Peter referred to his mortal body as a “tent,” recognizing its temporal nature and the promised hope of exchanging it for an eternal one at the Lord’s return. In the meantime, he was determined to continue stirring up the faith of those the Lord had entrusted to him.