In the tabernacle, oil was used for anointing furniture and utensils and people, and for giving light by being burned in the lampstand. These two benefits were symbolic of what Paul said was the presence of the Rock – the Christ – with Israel as they traveled in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). By His Spirit, He is still wanting […]
When Naaman was instructed by Elisha that he could be healed of leprosy by washing his body 7 times in the Jordan River, he was offended (2 Kings 5:1-14). He thought that he was being told that the Jordan River water could heal him. He was actually being informed that the word of the Lord, once obeyed, would heal him. […]
“I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this […]
Protect me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble. Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will live in Your presence. (Psalm 140:4,13 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) Your character is more valuable than your reputation.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate […]
Fencing is a sport using swords. The words defense and offense are related to the same type of activities: fending off a foe or being fended off by a foe. Every sin is against Jesus on the cross, because He paid for all of it there. Mine against Him, and mine against you. To allow my failures to offend you […]
Jesus told some Pharisees that two laws summed up all the Law given to Moses and all that the Prophets had to say about that Law. Being conscious of those two laws under the influence of the Holy Spirit will lead us in greater righteousness than full obedience to the Law and the Prophets could. When the Pharisees heard that […]
We are blessed to have found the mercy of Yahweh through the cross of Jesus His Son. He has received us and shown us Love that we still cannot understand. Even though we can’t understand it, we are still responsible for giving the same Love to the people we encounter. The good ones, the bad ones, the nice ones and […]
One thing that slows the process of growing in the knowledge of our God is the resistance we offer to the process of allowing Him to come to know us. We hide our feelings and our failures like Adam and Eve hid in the garden after becoming aware of good and evil. Our shame and fear of failure make us […]
Look to the Father’s heart and desires and intentions for revelation about what to do next, not at the needs around you or the abundance or limits of your resources. Spend time resting in Him and listening to Him so that you can serve well with Him in you. As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon […]