As we read Judges 1-3 today, a little help from Kim Riddlebarger’s sermon series on Judges: And then there are the judges themselves–men whom God raises up to rescue Israel from some military or political crisis, but who can do nothing about the nation’s spiritual condition. Remember that Israel’s judges are not jurists presiding over … More Broken People-Faithful God
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, … More One God and the “so-called gods”
J.C. Ryle comments on “The Parable of the Seed Growing” in Mark 4:26-28 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the … More The workings of grace in the heart in like manner, are utterly mysterious and unsearchable.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. —Psalm 81: 10 Rejoice as you read Psalm 81 in the reading plan today! Do you see the connections with Joshua 24? You may easily over expect the creature, but you cannot over expect God: “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it”; widen and … More We cannot “over expect” God
We come to the end of Joshua today. In Joshua 24:16-18, we read, “Then the people answered, `Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house … More We will serve the LORD, Jesus, for He is our God
Paul steps on a few Corinthian toes. John Piper comments: [1 Corinthians 7] Verse 19 says literally, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God (is everything).” That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. And if we understand its broad cultural … More Stepping on a few toes…
Today we come to Mark 4:1-20, where Jesus told the parable of the sower. In the conclusion, he says that Satan takes away the Word of God from people’s minds and hearts so that they cannot believe and be saved. Here is some encouragement from John Piper, who suggests “three ways to resist Satan’s efforts to … More John Piper: Three ways to resist Satan’s efforts to defeat the Word of God as you hear it
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! —Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 Restore us, O God. Turn us back to You. Change us. Change our character, if not our circumstances. We need YOU, O God. Let Your face shine… we want to see You. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine … More Restore us, O God
We are nearing the end of Joshua this week, by reading Joshua 22-23 today. Kim Riddlebarger, Senior Pastor at Christ Reformed Church, opened and closed his sermon on Joshua 23 with these comments: When Moses died, the people of Israel surely thought he could never be replaced. Years later when Joshua says farewell to his people, there can … More A warning not to turn away
Paul steps on a few Corinthian toes in today’s reading in 1 Corinthians 7:17-40. John Piper comments: [1 Corinthians 7] Verse 19 says literally, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God (is everything).” That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. … More Stepping on a few toes…
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 