Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him …
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Psalm 73:16-17 What was it about going into the sanctuary, the temple of God, that reoriented Asaph's thoughts in the right direction? Though the psalm itself doesn't say …
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. Psalm 72:18-19 We are told in the next and last verse of this psalm that this was the last recorded psalm and …
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Psalm 71:20-21 It ought to be an article of faith for every believer in the truth and authority of …
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph. 5:19 What does this verse teach us about the songs we sing in church? First of all, it teaches us something about the content of the music the church sings. Everyone of these …
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. Esther 8:17 I want to add something to the devotional I …
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 1 Peter 1:22 It is important to note that Peter is very interested here in how we exhibit the love of the brethren: we are to do …
And . . . Bathsheba his wife . . . bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord. 2 Sam. 12:24-25 As I read this passage, it hit me just how magnanimous the Lord is. Think about …
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry. Esther 4:1 Mordecai, Queen Esther's cousin and adopted father, was distressed because an unalterable law had been …
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2 Years ago, when I was in Mexico in Oaxaca near its southern border, I felt really far from home. In fact, it felt as if I …