For Such a Time as This

Today’s Bible reading* is a familiar story to many of us who grew up in church. It concerns a young Jewish woman who became queen and found herself in a position to intercede on behalf of her people “for such a time as this”. Hadassah (Esther’s real name) didn’t seek the position of queen. But…

How to Respond to Demands Against Your Faith Convictions

How should you respond when someone demands something that goes against your faith convictions? What if those making those demands are your government leaders who have been established by God? We begin reading Daniel with today’s Bible reading*. As I read it, I saw a powerful application for today. In Daniel Chapter One, we see…

The Purpose of the Exile

We’ve looked at the reasons for the Exile before. But let’s use today’s Bible reading* to look at the purpose of the Exile. Again, the reasons were that God’s people had turned from God to follow the gods of the nations around them. From the kings to the common people — except for a few…

Isaiah Encourages His Audience

Admittedly, there is a lot of doom-and-gloom in Isaiah’s prophecy. But in today’s Bible reading*, Isaiah encourages his audience with these words: Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,…