The God of patience – Romans 15:5 In our enlightened, can-do age, patience is seen as more weakness than virtue: it is for those who can’t invent a solution or aren’t physically fit to climb the stairs when the elevator is slow. Patience is for those who can’t get their own way. But repeatedly the …
The LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? – Joel 2:11 Both in the Old and New Testaments, “the day of the Lord” refers to some obvious and initial …
When [Rhoda] knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so – Acts 12:14-15 It is no accident that Rhoda is mentioned by name in this exciting …
[Jesus] saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him – Luke 5:27-28 As we read the Bible, it seems that one of God’s attributes, along with being immutable and impeccable, is that he is unpredictable… and …
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory – Psalm 73:24 All of life is here summed up in one verse. While I am here on this earth, the psalmist gloats to the Lord, you will guide me. You will give me the direction I need for each step of the way. You will never leave …
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing – Psalm 34:10 Why do you think the psalmist specifies “young” lions? It is for the same reason that Isaiah writes, “ even the youths shall faint and be weary” (40:30). There is a vitality and …
And there they preached the gospel – Acts 14:7 “They” refers to Paul and Barnabas, who had been sent out by the Holy Spirit with the support of the church at Antioch. But what they were doing was not something that requires a special calling or gifting by the Holy Spirit: it is not the work only of …
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee – Isaiah 43:2 Perhaps you are experiencing the drowning, crushing, burning power of …
Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man – Luke 2:52 This statement is a summary of eighteen years in Jesus’ life, from the time he was twelve years old until the narrative picks back up at age thirty. This was a time of relative obscurity, but it was the majority of our …
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away – Luke 8:13 In Luke 8, Jesus relates the parable of the sower. A man goes out to sow seed on his land. The seed falls on different …