Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen – Genesis 22:14 Jehovahjireh means “the Lord will provide” or, literally, “the Lord will see to it.” By the time Abraham used this name for God he had learned from personal …
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray – James 5:13 As James writes, from his pastor’s heart, to the people of God, his entire letter is full of practical instruction and direct admonition. He does not have a flowery style or a theoretical bent; he is interested only in getting clear, candid …
The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart – Hebrews 4:12 Notice first that the Word of God is quick, or alive. It …
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit – Romans 8:1 Here we find two descriptions of the same person — the person that is in Christ Jesus. Those that are in Christ Jesus are described first by their position and …
Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5 How was the earth formed out of nothing? It was the power of God (Jeremiah 51:15). How does God have his way in the hurricane or the tsunami? By his great power (Nahum 1:3). What holds our …
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel – Mark 1:15 Repentance involves a change of heart that leads to a change in action. It means forsaking sinful and rebellious ways in order to please our Creator God. But Jesus here takes it yet a step …
Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die – Genesis 2:17 The scene of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden provides a nutshell perspective of many vital truths that are further explored and expanded …
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain – Psalm 76:10 The psalmist here not only affirms the sovereignty of God, but also clearly delineates the boundaries (or rather boundlessness ) of God’s rule. A math equation, of sorts, is set before us. Of all the …
From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God – Psalm 90:2 Because we are such self-centered and existentially focused creatures, it is hard for us to take in the fact that our parents were once teenagers or newlyweds, that there was a time when we did not even exist, or especially that there have …
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise’ – Luke 23:43 The second lesson we learn as we look to Jesus on the cross is this: think of others in the midst of your own suffering. Here, in the darkest hour in human history, we find the One who is suffering …