J.C. Ryle begins his commentary on Matthew 1: 1-17 this way- The Gospel of Matthew begins with a long list of names. Sixteen verses are taken up with tracing a pedigree from Abraham to David, and from David to the family in which Jesus was born. Let no one think that these verses are useless. … More Ryle: Nothing is useless in the Bible
Here are the opening words of the Bible: “In the beginning, God…” and then repeatedly, “And God said….” Here we are at the beginning of another year….. We are blessed with another year of God’s grace! God is at the beginning of it all. He is at the beginning of this year, too. And He speaks! He is … More Learning about a God who speaks
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (verses 1-14 in our reading plan today) One year, we had a Chinese couple in our outreach Bible study group who were intrigued with the Christian message and especially with … More One way: Jesus and Jiaozi
Reading Daniel 6 today I recalled an old hymn from my childhood days: Standing by a purpose true, Heeding God’s command, Honor them, the faithful few! All hail to Daniel’s band! Refrain: Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known. John Piper, in … More Dare to be a Daniel
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12, in our Bible reading plan today. John Piper gives this illustration to help us understand: In the film, Passage to India, there was a young Indian doctor who had been arrested for allegedly assaulting a … More Whoever has the Son has life
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13, part of our Bible reading plan today. John Piper with a Lesson in Greek and Hebrew (from March 1983) Read to … More Understanding “Hosanna!”
Today we wrap up our reading of Ezekiel (chapter 48) where a name for the Lord is used, Jehovah-Shammah, “The Lord is There.” And the name of the city from that time on shall be, “The Lord Is There.” Ezekiel 48:35 C. H. Spurgeon, in a sermon preached in 1891:”Jehovah-Shammah: A Glorious Name for the New … More Spurgeon: “The Lord Is There.”
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 17, our Bible reading passage today: Because of his glimmer of hope and because he has faith in the God of the promise (however, weak that faith may be), Job knows his friends cannot help him. This is why his hope is in God. As Job’s mood swings widely, even to … More Glimmer of hope and faith
J.C. Ryle on John 12:1-11, our Bible passage today. We read of a supper at Bethany, where Lazarus “sat at the table” among the guests–Lazarus, who had been publicly raised from the dead, after lying four days in the grave. No one could pretend to say that his resurrection was a mere optical delusion, and … More NOT an optical delusion!
When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he … More Leave the same way you came in?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 