And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22, KJV) The scripture records above the event that led to the crumbling of the dynasty Read More
The Flourishing Christian Life
Fruit Meet for Repentance
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8, KJV) John the Baptist exhorted his converts to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”. His baptism was a baptism of repentance, which essentially means a change of mind. For example, someone might have fixed his or her mind to do what God has commanded us Read More
They Shall Mount Up with Wings as Eagles
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31, KJV) The prophet Isaiah gives us a remarkable picture of the life of those who trust in the Lord. He Read More
Who Hath Despised the Day of Small Things?
For who hath despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10, KJV) There is nothing too small in the hands of our God. The Jews who were rebuilding the Temple could have been discouraged when they compared what they were building with the magnificent Temple that was destroyed. It was as though what they were Read More
Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of Earth’s Abominations
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations” (Revelation 17:5, ESV) The Bible uses Babylon both literally and figuratively. Babylon was a real city in Mesopotamia and was the fascinating city of ancient times. The most important historical aspect for us is that Read More
The Word of God is a Living Thing
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, KJV) God’s Word is a living thing. This phrase might Read More
An Excellent Spirit
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar.. (Daniel 5:12, KJV) Daniel had an excellent spirit. The term “spirit” here is not referring to an angel or the Holy Spirit. It Read More
Joy Cometh in the Morning
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5, KJV) The verse above brings out a remarkable interplay of related words in scripture. The Psalmist here is talking about the relationship between light and day, as well as Read More