When Jesus walked the earth, God spoke from heaven several times, urging people to “listen to Him!” Although Jesus is no longer on earth, we can still hear Him speak through the four Gospels (biographies of Jesus). We can still choose (or refuse) to listen to Him. As Jesus-followers, we choose to believe that Jesus…
the universe declares
SCRIPTURE: Judges 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel. [Judges 5:4-5] I love the perspective in this song….
God goes ahead of us
SCRIPTURE: Judges 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?’ So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men. [Judges 4:14]. In this passage we see God working in the midst of human circumstances. We…
mercy me
SCRIPTURE: Judges 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. [Judges 3:9] When the people move away from God, they experience the misery of His absence; when they move towards God, they experience the blessing of His presence….
let the children know
SCRIPTURE: Judges 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. [Judges 2:10-11] Two points catch my attention: first, that the people disobey…
stronger than chariots
SCRIPTURE: Judges 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots. [Judges 1:19] In this opening chapter of Judges, we see that the Israelites did not obey the Lord’s command to totally remove…
the service of the saints
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. [1 Corinthians 16:18] In this reading we get a glimpse of how the churches can mutually bless and support each other as they serve the Lord in their respective areas: an offering taken in Corinth and Galatia for the church in Jerusalem…
death has lost, life has won!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 15 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. [1 Corinthians 15:58] Paul assures the Corinthians that life today matters for tomorrow. The work we do, the sacrifices made, the…
inspiring worship
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. [1 Corinthians 14:26] When the Corinthians met together, their focus was on…
all you need is love
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always…