Psalm 112:7 He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. This scripture speaks of the person who fears (reverences) the Lord, who delights in His commandments. This individual is gracious (shows mercy) and lends. When he hears an evil report or a bad rumor, he is not shaken. He has a quiet confidence, a security in his Lord, who is the ever-existing One. As I grow older, I find my response when hearing bad…
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever. The same Jesus who was the Word with God in the beginning (John 1:1), who kept Noah’s boat from sinking Genesis (chapters 7-9), who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape the Egyptians on dry land (Exodus chapter 14), is the same Jesus who came to earth in a body like ours. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He cast out demons and cured…
John 6:33 (Jesus said)“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” In this passage, the 5,000 people who had shared the little boy’s five loaves and two fish, asked Jesus what they should do to work the works of God. Jesus told them that the work of God was to believe in Him, the One God sent to earth (John 6:28-29). He then told them He was the bread…
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. The old covenant was based on law; following rules in order to please God. It was meant to be a school teacher—a means to show us how far short we fall, and how we fail to measure up to God’s desire for our lives. In comparison, in the new…
Revelation 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His (Jesus) feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,” Can you imagine John’s astonishment when he turned to see Jesus whom he had not seen since He disappeared into the clouds many years before (Acts 1:9-11)? This time, He was in a long white robe, with gold across His chest and around…
Luke 24:44 Now He (Jesus)said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” On that first Easter Sunday, grieving disciples encountered the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13). That same evening they returned to Jerusalem and sought out other disciples to tell them they had seen…
Proverbs 3:26 The Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. I love the Hebrew language. It’s words draw pictures. This scripture is an example. The Lord, the existing One will be “at your side.” The English version says “confidence.” With Jesus at my side I am confident. But “at your side” speaks to me ten times more than “confidence.” The next phrase says “keep your foot.” The word “keep” is “guard, observe, give heed,…
John 3:16 (Jesus said) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” To adhere to the truth of this scripture is not a passing acknowledgement that Jesus lived. Our faith must go deeper than that. True faith in Jesus believes He willingly went to the cross for each one of us. He came back to life and He desires each of us to…
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. In the Greek, this scripture not only refers to the healing of individuals. It also includes healing of nations and involves restored favor. Do you know any person or nation that is brokenhearted (is a wreck; is crushed or ruptured)? Some come to mind immediately. They need more than a bandage and a couple of aspirin. They need a major overhaul. No amount of human effort is going to…
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” Today so many voices call for our attention and allegiance. There is only one true voice that echoes down through the ages—the voice of Jesus. He and only He came to execute God’s purposes. Only Jesus had sinless blood that satisfied God’s wrath. He was God’s man for God’s plan. No other fills the Old…