Daily Readings – Articles – Devotions
Posts tagged bible studies.adults
I’m Ready (Matthew 25
How do you describe something that is indescribable? We generally default into word pictures … we use phrases like “Well, it is sort of like …”. We use similarities. We use the familiar in hopes of getting a glimpse into the unfamiliar. Jesus does the same. Chapter 25 of Matthew begins with two stories … told by Jesus … stories that attempt to describe what is indescribable with our human limitations. So Jesus begins with … “the kingdom of heaven will be like …” We will read the first one today.
- a shooter walks into a school
- an explosion happens at More >
The Meaning of Trust – Habakkuk 3 (Week 6
Read Habakkuk 3 today. If it has been several days since you were in Habakkuk, it would be advantageous to begin at the beginning of the book to refresh your mind on the flow of the dialogue. Then come back …
In chapter 1 of this book, we observe Habakkuk wondering and questioning. He doesn’t doubt God, he just doesn’t understand.
In chapter 2, we observe the prophet watching and waiting for God’s response and activity. He knows that the righteous live by faith and he is willing to watch and wait – to live by faith.
Then we come to chapter 3 More >
Faithfulness – Habakkuk 2 (Week 6
As we continue our reflections on the book Habakkuk … today read Habakkuk 2.
There are two familiar phrases in this chapter. And in the midst of the “woes” against Babylon, they are like a fresh breeze of clean air blowing through. Let’s consider them both today …
Habakkuk’s second complaint to God (1:12 – 2:1) is all about why God would use the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to discipline Judah. They were a blood-thirsty and violent, idolatrous people. Couldn’t God find someone else – someone less wicked? God’s response is to tell Habakkuk that he is just to wait … and to remain More >
Faithful and Wise (Matthew 24
We are in Matthew 24 … and are listening to Jesus prepare his disciples what what is to come. As Matthew records the words, there seems to be movement between the coming destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 AD and the second coming of our Lord which will signal the end of this era of time as we know it. Deciphering which verses apply to which event is difficult for me! Let’s keep listening … and see what God’s Spirit speaks into you as you as you read …
“Faithful” … In Strong’s Lexicon we learn that this word More >
Jesus’ Foretelling (Matthew 24
After entering Jerusalem at Passover time, we observed Jesus as he engaged in heated exchanges with the religious leaders. All of that took place in and around the temple. All of that took place in front of the Passover crowds. Jesus terminates the interchange with the scathing words of chapter 23. Jesus now leaves the temple area accompanied by his disciples. And another interesting and challenging conversation ensues.
Any lessons for you and I? Remember – God raises countries and governments, and God takes them down. The size of the temple stones and buildings that so wowed the disciples (24:1) More >
Habakkuk (Lesson 5
We will spend 2 weeks studying the Minor Prophet, Habakkuk. Three chapters only … but so rich in foundational truth for each and every one of us.
Kay Arthur tells us that it was the truth of this little book that influenced Martin Luther and fueled the reformation. Luther was tormented by the idea that he served a righteous God who could not be satisfied.
And it was the truth of this little book that influenced a single woman, Hannah Hurnard, who was a missionary in Israel. This book is what inspired her to write “Hinds’ Feet on High Places” – More >
Getting to Know God… Lesson 3: Understanding Genesis 1 and 2 and God’s Work of Creation
What does the Bible reveal about how, when and why God created the universe?
The following story from Revelation 4 is part of the vision that God gave the apostle John of God’s temple in heaven. It emphasizes how God deserves our utmost reverence and worship for being the Creator of all things.
John wrote, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One [God] sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:2).
“In the Spirit” means receiving divinely inspired visions by which John was transported in his mind’s eye. John saw a vision of God in all More >
Jesus’ Anger (Matthew 23
Have you ever known someone who was very even-keeled? Didn’t get angry often? Was patient and kind to all around them? Things just didn’t seem to throw them out of balance … they could go with the flow in any and all circumstances? If you have … when that person DID get angry … you paid attention!
Jesus was such a person. We stay amazed at his patience with the crowds … with his own disciples … with the complexities of life and people. We stay amazed at how he did not get angry … when you and I would More >
First Law (Matthew 22
In Matthew 22 we are in the midst of a very confrontational encounter between Jesus and the leaders of His day. The Pharisees, Sadducees, the Herodians, the scribes … all have joined forces to discredit Jesus in front of the Passover crowds, and to manipulate some way to eliminate Him. Our reading today continues the interchange …
By Jesus’ day, the scribes and Pharisees remained in continual discussion and debate over how to prioritize the laws of God from the Pentateuch. They had boiled them down to 613 laws … 248 were positive commands and 365 were negative. But still More >
