At this point large crowds are following Jesus and He wants to make it clear that they need to examine why they are following Him (v. 25). When it comes to personal discipleship He is more interested in quality than quantity. He is looking for followers who will be willing …
Isaiah described Babylon’s fall to the Persians more than 150 years before the event took place. The prophet saw a time when the imposing conqueror, Babylon, would be defeated and he pictured her as one who could do no more than sit in the dust (v. 1) This is an interesting statement as …
Noah obeyed even when he experienced rejection from others around him (v. 7). Although it seemed foolish to the people, God commanded Noah to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land. Since no one at that time had ever seen a flood, Noah’s actions must have generated a great …
This last of the seven churches, Laodicea, is located about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and about 90 miles east of Ephesus the city in the first letter. It was a large city specializing in the manufacture of wool and a center for making medicines. Pride and self-satisfaction characterized …
Walking in liberty is not the freedom to do as we please but to do as we ought to. This liberty can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not a liberty to do what we want to do but a freedom to serve and obey the Lord. If we are going to walk in liberty, we must be…
Jesus had been with the disciples for a period of training and now they were ready to go out and preach. He sent them out in pairs so they could encourage one another (v. 7). He gave them power over unclean spirits and with this He gave them instructions for their journey (vv. 8- …
God’s work has been done by men and women who stood steadfast while suffering trials. Timothy was in a time of transition. He had been Paul’s right hand man but soon he would be on his own as leader of a church in a difficult environment. He was responsible to preserve sound te …
Just as Moses received the directions for building the tabernacle the directions for consecrating the priests are given in this chapter. The ones chose to begin the priesthood could not enter into the office without Moses conducting a solemn, seven day time of initiation (vv. 1-18). …
In response to David’s urgent prayer, the angel of the Lord orders the prophet Gad to tell David to “Go up†to Araunah’s threshing floor. There David is to build an altar to the Lord (v. 18). He obeys as the Lord has commanded (v. 19). Araunah sees t …
After passing through Samaria, Jesus returns to Cana in Galilee (v. 46). Perhaps He wanted to follow up on the ones He had witnessed to during the wedding feast. While there, a nobleman (royal officer) from Capernaum, some twenty miles away, came to see if Jesus would come and …