He was a member of a church but not a Christian. Sad to say, the drink habit had gotten the best of him. Naturally his wife remonstrated but seemingly to no avail. He became tired of her nagging, as he called it.
He stood upon the front porch of their home with his grip packed. “Good-bye,” said he, “you are saying good-bye to this man for the last time.”
His wife replied, “Good-bye, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
The latter remark clearly indicated that when sober he was a very kind person but when intoxicated, like multitudes of others, he …
Today's Reading: Mark 14:32-34 Today's Reference: Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Here in Gethsemane, we have the gift of seeing Jesus’ humanity most clearly. He was “greatly distressed and troubled,” going through emotional turbulence so painful He couldn’t even stand up under it. He knew He was about to have the full wrath of God unleashed upon Him because of your sin and mine. Completely sinless Himself, …
Today's Reading: Mark 14:35-36 Today's Reference: Hebrews 12:1b-2 “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Jews and Romans crucified Jesus. He laid down His life for our sin. But ultimately, God was responsible for the death of Jesus. God could have sent legions of angels to “remove the cup” and rescue Jesus—but both Father and Son knew …
“And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”—Revelation 20:15
“And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”—Revelation 22:5
The contrast between an eternal hell and an eternal heaven could not be more vivid, more motivating and above all, more frightening. When I read these passages, I ask myself: where are the people who are too good to go to hell, but not good …
“Thenthe seventh angel blew his trumpet, andthere were loud voices in heaven, saying,“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and ofhis Christ, andhe shall reign forever and ever.”And the twenty-four elderswho sit on their thrones before Godfell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,
‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to …
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”—Revelation 1:7
“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, andthe heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”—2 Peter 3:11,12
“Therefore, brothers,since we have confidence to enterthe holy places by the blood of Jesus,bythe new and living way that he opened for us throughthe curtain, that is, through his flesh,and since we havea great priest over the house of God,let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our heartssprinkled cleanfrom an evil conscience...”—Hebrews 10:19-22
When Old Testament High Priests entered the Holy Place and went behind the curtain into the Holy …
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”—Hebrews 4:12-13
We should not be surprised that the Word of God is compared to a sword. A Roman sword had two edges; it cut both ways. God does not use the sword of the Word to destroy His people, but rather …
“God is ourrefuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”—Psalm 46:1-3
“‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”—Psalm 46:10-11
Katrina, Irene, and Sandy—just three of the mighty hurricanes that have hit our shores here in America recently. …
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in theLord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in theLord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to theLord; trust in him, and he will act… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”—Psalm 37:1-5, 7
There are several commands in these verses that, if we were to obey them, we would …
