Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4 WEB James begins his writing in chapter one with a greeting to the twelve tribes of Israel. In his first few lines, he encourages Christians to count the temptations they encounter as joy....
Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1 WEB The previous chapter of Paul’s letter emphasizes the importance of love. In it, he uses glowing terms to describe love and teaches that love is greater than hope and even greater...
Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” John 11:40 WEB Lazarus, the brother of Mary, the woman who poured perfume on the Lord’s feet and cleansed them with her hair, fell sick. Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus of Lazarus’ illness....
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 NIV Have you ever suffered the betrayal of a friend? If so, many biblical figures endured similar circumstances. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. David’s son Absalom opposed...
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 WEB Paul’s bold statement of faith is one of the most often quoted...
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5 KJV In scripture, the word wait indicates trust and anticipation. In conjunction with the word hope, to wait for the Lord suggests a feeling of great expectation and a desire to receive the good things of God. It is a...
Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14 WEB Life is short. As James writes of each of us, “you are a vapor.” It is important to place value on the time God...
I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you. Psalm 22:22 WEB To begin Psalm 22, David writes a phrase that Jesus quotes while on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words of anguish indicate great suffering and a deep feeling of...
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 WEB With this benediction, Paul offers a blessing to close chapter two of his...
This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end, we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:9-10 WEB With these words, the apostle Paul instructs Timothy to...
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. Luke 2:46 WEB In chapter two of his gospel, Luke describes the yearly custom of Mary and Joseph going to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. Through his...
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:3-4 NIV With these two verses, the psalmist directs the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to glory in the holy name of God and seek his face always....
