Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the … More Costly cleanup
J. C. Ryle shares some wisdom from the parable of the weeds and the wheat in Matthew 13: Are we inclined to look for the conversion of the whole world by the labors of missionaries and ministers? Let us place this parable before us, and beware of such an idea. We shall never see all … More Wheat and Weeds
In our reading today, Psalm 31, we read a phrase that sounds very much like one in Psalm 23: For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead and guide me (Psalm 31:3) He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3) Charles H Spurgeon … More Appealing to God’s Name
Today we read Exodus 21-23. In a sermon on Exodus 23:10-19, J.Ligon Duncan shares these observations: In verses 10-12, we see how God has woven Himself into the very rhythm of weekly life in Israel and how trusting God for provision and sustenance is woven into the yearly calendar of Israel. In verses 10-12, we … More God in the weekly calendar
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began … More God’s work and God’s workers in process
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this … More Jesus: This is why I speak to them in parables
In the Treasury of David, Spurgeon encourages us from Psalm 30 to keep praying, to keep crying out to the Lord: Prayer is the unfailing resource of God’s people. If they are driven to their wit’s end, they may still go to the mercyseat. When an earthquake makes our mountain tremble, the throne of grace … More The unshakeable, unfailing resource of prayer
Pastor John Piper comments on Exodus 19-20, our Bible reading passage for today, where God makes a covenant with Israel and gives the 10 commandments. Piper asks, “what are the divine promises and human conditions of this covenant? What does God commit himself to do? And what does he require of his covenant partner?” Here … More Covenant Commitment
Bob Deffinbaugh wrote an article on our passage today, Acts 18:1-7 at Bible.org: It took a while to realize this, but it is noteworthy that Paul’s first significant success evangelizing among the Gentiles came at this point in time, a time when Paul was at his lowest. He was fearful, both of his safety, and … More God works through human weakness so that He receives the honor and the praise.
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at … More Sneering at the Old Testament?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 