SCRIPTURE: Exodus 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ [Luke 22:31] The wilderness symbolizes times when our faith is tested. Our spiritual enemy uses these times to turn us against…
seek wisdom, blessing to follow
SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. [1 Kings 4:20] This describes the blessing God promised Abraham: I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand…
our daily bread
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Give us today our daily bread. [Matthew 6:11] For many people, their relationship with God is a fair-weather one. When the weather is fair, their faith is strong. When the weather is foul, their faith is weak. Prayer amounts to asking for things, and expecting God to take care of it. There seems…
go and tell
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 15 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ [Mark 5:18-19] When people…
pray for the persecuted
God has laid it on my heart that we need to continue to pray for people who suffer for their hope in Jesus. Can we imagine what it would be like to live in a place where believing in Jesus meant that we would be ridiculed, harassed, beaten or even killed. Imagine if believing in…
be still and know
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ [Mark 4:40] The Israelites have seen amazing signs of God’s power. They have witnessed miracles. They excitedly left Egypt, hoping for a new life, but when they see pharaoh’s armies chasing after them, they panic. ‘Moses, don’t…
will I follow where He leads?
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [Matthew 6:13] God wants to lead me, but do I want to follow? Am I prepared to choose God’s way, and to trust that His way is the best way? The Israelites had to trust God and Moses to follow, because…
no king but Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, ‘Look, here is your king!’ ‘Away with him,’ they yelled. ‘Away with him! Crucify him!’ ‘What? Crucify your king?’ Pilate asked. ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the leading priests shouted back. [John 19:14-15]…
rescuing christmas carols
I am not a big fan of christmas carols, especially after singing them so much. But my friend Kevin found a great version of the 12 days of christmas on YoutTube. A reminder that even christmas carols can be redeemed.
firstborn
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). In biblical times, the firstborn son symbolized the father’s strength and authority [Deuteronomy 21:17], and was the one to carry on the father’s…