As the time of the judges came to an end, the people of Israel asked God to give them an earthly king like the heathen nations that surrounded them. God answered their request by raising up Saul to be their king. Saul’s reign, however, was marred by disobedience and rebellion against God. After Saul’s sin […]
Job had the perfect life. He was a godly man who was rich and successful. He had a loving family consisting of a wife and ten children. But in the blink of an eye his perfect life fell completely apart. In one day, he lost all his livestock and servants, and all his children were […]
As we ended our study of the book of Luke last month, Jesus had just ascended into heaven and left his disciples behind (empowered by his Spirit) to continue the work of establishing the early church. Now we fast-forward about thirty years to consider the two epistles that Paul wrote to Timothy. Churches had been […]
“Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord” was the cry of the multitude as Jesus completed his journey to Jerusalem and made his triumphal entry into the city (Luke 19:38). How is it possible that only five days later he would be executed just outside this same city? Sadly, for […]
As we continue our study of Luke’s gospel account, you will notice a shift in Jesus’ ministry. Prior to this, he had been teaching and performing miracles in the region of Galilee. But now, as his time on this earth is coming to an end, he begins a journey to Jerusalem that would eventually culminate […]
The great Messiah whom God had promised to his people had finally arrived! But he was not at all the type of savior that most people were expecting. Where were the great displays of power and majesty that one would expect from the King of kings? Where was the mighty warrior who was going to […]
Although it is likely early in November when you are reading this, signs that Christmas is on its way are already all around you. Retail stores that you enter are probably decked out in Christmas decor and holiday sale signs. Advertisements everywhere encourage you to hurry up and start your Christmas shopping before it is […]
Do you love God’s law? The Psalms (especially Psalm 119) are full of expressions of love and delight for the law of God. The psalmist in Psalm 119:97 writes, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” David writes in Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my […]
Every nation or kingdom has a set of rules for its citizens to live by. So too does the kingdom of heaven. Citizens who desire to honor their heavenly Lord will seek to follow these rules in his service. Our passage for devotions this month, Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5–7, provides an […]
Habakkuk is the eighth book of the minor prophets and is mostly written as a conversation between God and his servant Habakkuk. The book begins immediately with the prophet’s sad and angry evaluation of the state of Judah around him. He sees God’s chosen people behaving in wicked ways. He sees violence, greed, and injustice […]
