Transforming Trials into Triumph They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations. … They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.” Psalm 35:20–21 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One. …
Beginning Lent
Ash Wednesday I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25–27 But when the set time had …
The Victor over Sin and Death
The Promised Seed God said. “And I will put enmity between you (the Serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring [also translated seed] and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” Genesis 3:15 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid …
Prophecies Fulfilled in the Easter Story
God Keeps His Promises Somewhere on the road of my faith journey, I heard the adage, “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.” Most credit Augustine as the first to say it.[1] I, Denise, grew up in a home that valued both the Old and New Testaments. My dad taught home Bible studies …
Words That Will Last Forever
“It is Finished” Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.” Luke 18:31 Easter is over, and yet we can still learn about what happened over two thousand years ago. For example, have you ever wondered why Jesus …
Good Friday
At What Cost? He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24 Three hundred years before Mel Gibson produced The Passion of the Christ, Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The third stanza, in particular, graphically portrays the …
The Good Shepherd
Lay Down My Life? This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” He then defined a shepherd’s role by explaining, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the …
The Ascension of Jesus
Final Instructions When [Jesus] had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51 After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days, opening their minds to what the Scriptures said about …
Many Fish, One Mission
A New Assignment Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 1 Peter 5:2 (NLT) “I’m going out to fish,” Peter said to the six other disciples with him (John 21:3 NIV). “We’ll go with you,” …