‘When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless”‘ (Genesis 17:1 ESV). The Bible is a book for us, but not really about us. It is primarily a book about God. The Lord chooses to reveal Himself to Abram.
“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42 ESV). In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He taught that citizens of His Kingdom will respond generously to those who ask for help. Of course we might think of many reasons why the one
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3 ESV). This is the first of the Beatitudes in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Each one begins with the word, “Blessed,” which comes from the Greek word, “makarios,” which might also be translated “happy” or “completely satisfied.” This is not
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matthew 4:23 ESV). The apostle Matthew recorded that Jesus began His ministry by going all about Galilee preaching “the gospel of the kingdom.” Indeed, this seems to be
“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:5 ESV). Anyone who has experienced a sleepless night filled with worry and fear knows what a gift it is to be able to lay down and sleep. David understood this. For he had spent many a sleepless night as a
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate”
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 ESV). It’s a new year and it can be a new “beginning” for us too. For the God that “created the heavens and the earth” is the same God today as He was yesterday. Just as He created all things in the beginning,
“For I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6 ESV). “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13 ESV). “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:2 ESV). “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a
‘“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob”‘ (Malachi 1:2 ESV). Do you ever question God’s love? The exiled Jews that had returned to Jerusalem did. They were happy to be home again, yet they
“On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter” (Zechariah 14:8 ESV). God gave the prophet Zechariah a word concerning the coming Day of the LORD when Christ shall return. Among