“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances, instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but…
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 The words “lift up my eyes” dramatically picture an approaching traveler looking up to the hills of Jerusalem as he approaches for one of the…
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 “Old age … gray hairs” indicates the Lord’s never-ceasing care. “I am He” is a description that…
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” Titus 2:2 “Older men”, by virtue of age and experience, serve as natural role models for younger men. People who reached age 80 were regarded as remarkable. The median age of death, according to inscriptions…
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground” Psalm 143:10 “Your good Spirit” is a rather unusual statement of praise to the person of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. “Lead me” … an early writer described it like this, “The Spirit…
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28 Paul was not content to see people born again. He took the responsibility of leading them on to maturity. He moved them from infancy to infantry. Spiritual babies have great…
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And…
“What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Alone in prison and abandoned by many of his friends, Paul fondly…
“This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17 The Hebrew for “Redeemer” is also thought of as “arbiter” and “witness”. In light of the…
“The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.” Psalm 119:64 God’s Word of love is like the sun, filling and brightening everything it touches. In light of God’s mercy, the world might still hear an echo of God’s description of Eden (“God saw all that he had made, and it was…