July 2 Paul could never be called a fly-by-night apostle. We have already seen how on multiple occasions, Paul and the other Apostles spent extended periods of time with new converts. They also frequently returned to established churches in order to spend more time with them. Here, in 1 Corinthians 4, Paul tells the church…
June 22 Having prayed for the Thessalonians, Paul asks them to pray for him: that God’s Word would spread rapidly and be honored, as it was with them. He asked them to pray that he and his companions would be delivered from wicked and evil people. Then he reminds this church that God is faithful…
June 14 Paul begins 1 Thessalonians 2 talking about how he and his companions ministered to the church with such care for the people. He talks about how he and his partners conducted themselves when they ministered there in 1 Thessalonians 2:7–12. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13–14, Paul repeats what he said in yesterday’s Bible readings…
January 24 John has much to say to us about authority and truth in this eighteenth chapter, and how we as humans can handle or mishandle it. Judas has now betrayed Jesus, selling his friendship for a mere thirty pieces of silver—the cost of a common slave. Think about the message in that… everything Judas…
Today’s Bible reading* provides an example of someone who was deeply committed to studying, obeying, and teaching God’s Word, Ezra the Priest and Scribe. Ezra traveled for four months to return home from his captivity in Babylon. (Ezra 7:9) The Christian Standard Study Bible gives us a little insight into Ezra’s journey: “Ezra’s journey toward…
In today’s Bible reading*, we read about Haman being hanged on the seventy-five-foot-high gallows he had built for hanging Mordecai. You will remember from yesterday’s reading and devotional, that Haman had tricked King Ahasuerus into enacting a law to exterminate all of the Jews and to entrap Mordecai, giving Haman a way to hang him….
