J.C. Ryle on Jesus’ gracious words of intercession from the cross: (Luke 23:32-37) We read that when He was crucified, His first words were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His own racking agony of body did not make Him forget others. The first of His seven sayings on the cross was … More Our gracious Intercessor
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…” How many times did we hear that as a kids? In our American culture, sarcasm and jesting are common. Ever had someone make fun of you, only later to say, “Just kidding!!” According to Proverbs, words DO indeed have the power to hurt. … More Use your words to heal instead of hurt.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. —Isaiah 44:3-4 John Piper, in a sermon from Isaiah 44:1-5, “A Precious Promise: The Outpouring … More Piper: Pour the Word of the Spirit into your mind and heart every day
Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence … More Why does the heavenly holy place need to be cleansed?
Today we read Luke 23:26-31. In my research on Luke 23, I came across this wonderful sermon by Pastor Steven Cole, of Flagstaff, AZ. He tells of Simon of Cyrene through the eyes of his son, Rufus. The Roman soldiers in our day got a sadistic kick out of making a condemned man carry his … More Learning from the son of Simon of Cyrene
Today we read Proverbs 26:1-16 in our Bible reading plan. Here are verses 4-5: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Hmm…which is it? When we come to confusing passages, we can approach … More A fool: answer him or not?
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and … More The Importance of God’s Sovereignty
….how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. —Hebrews 9:14 (read verses 1-10 in our Bible reading plan.) John Piper on Hebrews 9: So here we are in the modern age, the age … More The only answer to a guilty conscience
But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to … More Just like Barabbas?
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. —Proverbs 25:21-22, in our Bible reading plan today From the ESV Study Bible: Although interpreters differ about the meaning of … More Heap burning coals?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 