“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.” Proverbs 23:24 Good parents rejoice when they see their children growing wisely. This brings them more joy than if their children become rich or successful in school or work. But when those parents have faith in…
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Philippians 3:20 “Our citizenship is in heaven” means believers are born from above by God’s Word and Spirit. We belong to heaven as children of our heavenly Father. We also live with a consciousness of belonging to…
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 Here Jesus is talking about the importance of “children of God” (believers) praying, and specifically praying for His grace and…
“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.” Psalm 19:1-2 All of creation including the heavens reveals God’s glory and majesty. The vast expanse we see is testimony to the craftsmanship of God. From the…
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 This section of the Psalm provides a picture of final judgment. “Be still” is a call for stillness to a restless, raging world that must obey, just as wind…
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 “Bearing with each other” means that as we each struggle with our own temptations, we understand the struggles of others. “Forgive one another” echoes the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s…
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 “Wide … broad” indicates the vast majority of people in…
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:19 “The Sovereign Lord” … here the divine name Yahweh is tied to the term Adonai, which means “Lord.” “Strength” is…
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:2,4 The phrase “mountains … world” is a description using repetition to emphasize…
“…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you…