February 17, 2024
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22 ESV). The Pharisees questioned Jesus as to why he and his disciples did not fast as they did. He
February 16, 2024
“And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord’s” (Leviticus 3:16 ESV). The priests were to burn the fat off of the offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD. Although a portion of the offering belonged to the priests for their
February 15, 2024
‘And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him’ (Mark 1:17-18 ESV). As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw the brothers Simon Peter and Andrew casting their nets, for they were fishermen. He
February 14, 2024
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 ESV). Not everyone will receive a Valentine today. Some have a heart still hurting from a broken relationship. Other hearts have slowly been crushed by a lifetime of loneliness. Yet, everyone who comes to the Lord with a contrite and
February 13, 2024
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 ESV). David wrote this psalm while he was on the run from King Saul. He had even tried to gain favor with a foreign king named Abimelech, but became afraid and feigned insanity to escape him. So at
February 12, 2024
‘Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”’ (Matthew 27:22 ESV). The Roman Governor Pilate asked the crowd to answer this question for him. He sought to avoid making a decision about Jesus, but his plan backfired. The crowd’s surprising support of the criminal Barabbas left Pilate still
February 11, 2024
‘And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.”‘ (Exodus 33:21-22 ESV). The Lord hid Moses in
February 10, 2024
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53 ESV). When Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and was being arrested, the gospel of Matthew reported that one of those with Jesus drew his sword and cut off a
February 9, 2024
“But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:32 ESV). Jesus said this to His disciples to encourage them. For He had already warned them that they would all stumble and scatter that very night. Yet He wanted them to look past His coming betrayal, crucifixion and death, and
February 8, 2024
‘But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand’ (Psalms 31:15 ESV). David put his trust in the Lord, even in the timing of things. He trusted that the time of his birth, death, and every appointment in between was in God’s hands. Therefore, he