The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 NIV In this verse, King David associates the strength God gives to his people with the blessing of peace. This is an important concept to grasp. David’s words reveal that strength and peace are derived from...
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV God is the source of all of creation. He is the supreme intelligence of the universe. When we put our trust in him...
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14 WEB The first part of this chapter in Luke’s gospel account is often read around Christmas time. Luke describes the...
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, Galatians 4:4 WEB When Paul preached the gospel message to the Galatians, many received it with enthusiasm. However, after Paul left them, some confusion arose concerning the circumstances of...
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 WEB In truth, we cannot conceal our sins from God. He already knows our thoughts and misdeeds. It is neither likely that we conceal our sins from ourselves as our conscience intervenes to...
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” Acts 23:1 NIV After leaving Ephesus, Paul returned to Jerusalem. While attending the temple in Jerusalem, Paul is assaulted and beaten mercilessly for spreading the...
He isn’t here but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee, Luke 24:6 WEB After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples and Christ’s faithful were grieving and disheartened. In their grief, the gospels teach that two separate groups of Jesus’ female followers went the...
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 NIV Jesus experienced a great deal of difficulty when dealing with the religious leaders of his day. Many Pharisees sought to discredit Christ and undermine his ministry. Nicodemus was a...
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12 WEB Love is the centerpiece of Godly ethics. In both the Old Testament and the New, love is commanded to promote peace and an orderly life. Leviticus 19:18 forbids grudges and revenge saying, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any...
Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 WEB Although selected by the church elders to lead and probably in his early thirties at the time, Timothy experienced challenges in his...
“In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:8 NIV In the previous chapter, Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Lord Jesus and God’s will to offer him as a sacrifice for...
May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, 1 Thessalonians 3:12 WEB Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica holds a special place in canonical scripture. Many scholars agree that it is the first letter of...
