When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. Now Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. And in those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the … More God intended deliverance…for the king and for us
How prone are we to self-deception? Are we really able to be honest with ourselves as we talk with God? Do we remember daily the true source of our righteousness? Here is a devotional (on Nehemiah 13, our reading for today) by Elaine Stedman, inspired by one of Ray Stedman’s sermons: Remember me with favor, … More Remember me with favor, O my God
Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said … More Standing Guard
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18, in our Bible reading plan today. Ray Stedman, in a … More Elders and Oxen
Ray Stedman, in a 1965 sermon, “Ezra:The Way Back” comments on the events of Ezra 6, in our reading plan today: The minute the people began to turn back to God, he also turned the hearts of the kings, Darius and Artaxerxes, and they issued the decree that started the temple work again. Finally the … More Celebrating fellowship with God
Ray Stedman helps us as we read Ezra 4-5 today: (from a sermon “Ezra: The Way Back”) The third factor in this return under Zerubbabel is the opposition that immediately develops, as we read in chapters 4 through 6. A force is at work in every human heart, as in world affairs, that immediately rises … More Beware so-called friends
Welcome to 1 Kings in our Bible reading plan. Pastor Ray Stedman writes: First Kings is the gripping story of how to lose a kingdom. As we read these Old Testament books, the key to making them live and be vital in our lives is to see that they are visual aids by which God … More How to lose a kingdom
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
This is a long quote, but will help understand our readings in Hosea this month- Ray Stedman comments on the first 3 chapters of Hosea: So Hosea is rather discouraged and in the opening chapter of this little book of prophecy we read a personal note about him. He went to God and God told … More An object lesson in redeeming love
One dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure, his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.” (Job 21:22-26, part of our Bible reading plan today) … More Where to file “God-in-a-box” theology
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 