Many people believe that Christians should never take up arms, even in self-defense. But today’s Bible reading* gives a Biblical case against pacifism. When Nehemiah sees that his enemies are threatening to attack his builders, he prayed for God’s protection. But not only did he pray for God’s intervention, he also placed a watchman on…
Today’s Bible reading* gives us an example of someone who was deeply committed to study, obey, and teach 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…
If you’ve been around church for very long, you’ve probably heard a message from today’s Bible reading* about robbing God. In fact, Malachi 3:10 is probably one of the most-used verses when it comes to encouraging God’s people to give a “tithe”. Many preachers preach against people robbing God by withholding the tithe. Under the…
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…
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…
Today’s Bible reading* tells us about a day that people would seek out God’s people asking to follow them because they had heard that, “God is with you.” On that day, people would be hungry to know God, and the only way to know Him would be to be with God’s people. The LORD of…
