Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Read the context Driving somewhere new, you find yourself going 20 MPH over the limit. "I didn't know I had to slow down." ... You're still getting a ticket... God makes himself more obvious than a speed limit sign — nature screams out "God exists." There's no such thing as not...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 44:6 “This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Read the context A forger needs you to trust the source. Don't dig deeper or follow the paper trail. An idol works the same way: your job, your image, your future plans. The idol looks trustworthy until life proves it worthless. God doesn't need your trust to be legitimate. He's the first and the last. He verified himself by redeeming you. You...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands.Day after day they pour forth speech;night after night they reveal knowledge. The precepts of the Lord are right,giving joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are radiant, — giving light to the eyes. Read the context How do you know God? There's the way everyone knows there is a god: Look out at nature! It's telling you there is a creator! But that message isn't enough. It isn't a message that saves....
3 days ago • 1 min read
Jer. 23:28–29 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Read the context The prophets in Jeremiah's were rounding off the sharp corners of God's Word. Why? Because the truth hurt — God's people had sinned! Scripture is powerful. There are times when what it says will hurt. Don't...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Hebrews 4:12–13 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Read the context The doctor's scalpel is a strange tool — it hurts someone in order to heal. Sword... scalpel... you don't always like the way...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 119 How sweet are your words to my taste, — sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; — therefore I hate every wrong path. Read the context Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. The whole song sings the praise of God's Word. Why? The Bible is more than just a book to tell you what to do, it's the story of God's love for you. Nothing tastes sweeter to the believer than knowing that the God of the universe loves you. Find your delight in the Word of...
6 days ago • 1 min read
1 Cor 3:5–11 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 55:10–11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earthand making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Read the context "Pastor... will you pray for rain?" The earnest farmer makes his request because he can't create rain... that his crops...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Matthew 13:23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Read the context I'm currently working on developing my green thumb. Up til now, most things I plant die. I conveniently blame the elements. God has a plan for the seed of your faith. He's an expert gardener. He plants you in his word and strengthens you. Grow your roots deeper in his promises of...
9 days ago • 1 min read