Luke 6:27-38 ” Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone take takes away your goods, do not ask for them again” ( Luke 6:30) Transformed giving in a materialistic world Jesus walked the roads and footpaths of Galilee announcing the startling news that the long-expected kingdom of peace and righteousness was at … [Read more…]
2 Peter 3: 8-13 “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13) ‘Jesus is coming back. It can happen any time. Is it good news or bad news for you?’ In the second epistle, Peter emphasizes the need for … [Read more…]
Nehemiah 10:28-39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept. (Nehemiah 10:39) Nehemiah continues the history of the Jews after their homecoming … [Read more…]
1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:2 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy … (1 Thessalonians 3:12) 1 Thessalonians is an epistle, a public letter in the sense of being addressed … [Read more…]
Joshua 24:14-15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 The last chapter of the book of Joshua, chapter 24, concludes the life and reign of Joshua. In this … [Read more…]
Joshua 24:22-25 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord…”Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:22-23) In this passage from Joshua, he asks people to make … [Read more…]
Genesis 9:9-17 “I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life” (Genesis 9: 15) We live in an age where we engage in various short and long-term commitments. The vows that we make lack permanence and the … [Read more…]
Luke 10:1-11 “Go I am sending you out like lambs among wolves” ( Luke 10:3) In Luke chapter 9 we read about Jesus sending out his 12 apostles. In this chapter we read about sending another 72 apostles (70 in some manuscripts). Some theologians suggest that 70 represent the number of nations known … [Read more…]
Joshua 3:1-8 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5) Joshua the chosen leader: Joshua has become the leader of Israel after the death of Moses. In Joshua Chapter 1:1-9, we read Yahweh re-commissioning Joshua. The Lord asks him, to be strong and courageous … [Read more…]
Psalms 119:105-112 “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God gave us the Bible as a light to shine through darkness in the world. In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, the psalmist shows us his reasons for loving the Bible: it … [Read more…]