And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him, and gave … More Graciously freed
You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break … More He chooses and uses the hammers He pleases.
Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you … More God will not withhold the discipline needed
Long ago, a Jewish king (Jehoiakim) was handed a scroll with a message from God (written by Jeremiah). As the words were read aloud, the king was offended, and with a small knife he cut out a part of the scroll and threw it into the fire. Whenever he heard things that angered him, he cut it off … More Cutting up your Bible?
The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. —Ecclesiastes 10:12 We probably all know foolish people who use many words. I know a few wise people who use many words and are discerning and articulate. Using many words is not necessarily an indicator of one’s … More Using many words is not necessarily an indicator of one’s wisdom.
Are you ever struck by how God seems to speak directly to us through multiple Bible passages, saying the same things and reinforcing the message? Today, a unifying theme seems to run throughout our readings: God’s purposes and plans in our lives may not be clear, but we can trust in His grace and mercy. … More A unifying theme: God’s purposes
Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said … More Intentional grace
Ecclesiastes 8:12, in our Bible reading passage for today, reminds us: Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. Carrollton, Kentucky, was the site of one of the most deadly bus disasters in United … More I know that it will be well with those who fear God
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. … More “If God wills…”
Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? We don’t think of God making things crooked. Instead, we usually think of it being a mistake. But God doesn’t make mistakes. And God is sovereign. And the Bible tells us that He makes some paths crooked. When we … More The designer of crooked paths
