Anna is widowed after only seven years of marriage. A devout woman, she dedicates her life to God, spending as much time as possible in the temple fasting, praying, and worshiping him. Anna is at least eighty-four years old when Mary and Joseph show up to consecrate Jesus. First, she recognizes him as the savior […]
Consider What the Law and Jesus Say About This Phrase The phrase “an eye for an eye” occurs four times in the Bible. The first three are in the Old Testament, in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 24:17-22, Exodus 21:22-25, and Deuteronomy 19:16-21). In these verses, it seems that Moses grants us permission to seek […]
The Harvest Today’s passage: Revelation 14 Focus verse: “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” (Revelation 14:15) A heading later added to Revelation 14:6 in some Bibles says, “The Three Angels.” Yet a careful reading of this chapter reveals seven. The first angel […]
We Must Honor God with Our Bodies Paul tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This confirms that the Holy Spirit lives in each one of us. It’s a joint cohabitation, a partnership with the Holy Spirit—with God. We are God’s temple. In this way, we don’t belong […]
Saying Happy Valentine’s Day to God is a great way to spend this Sunday When I read the New Testament I see a God of love. God sends Jesus to earth out of his love for us. Jesus dies for us because he loves us. In fact the only reason we even know what love […]
A Speculative Fiction Novella Emma isn’t a typical teenager. Who in their right mind would spend hours studying the Holy Text? Who has the audacity to presume they can connect with the Sovereign? Yet she must try. She will implore the Almighty to send them the High Priest her people so desperately need, the one […]
Influencing Your Spouse Pharaoh later gives the-now-freed Joseph a wife. Her name is Asenath, and she’s the daughter of the priest of On. The priest’s name is Potiphera. (Don’t confuse Potiphera with Potiphar.) This is likely a strategic move on Pharaoh’s part, hoping that Asenath will influence Joseph to accept Egyptian perspectives and beliefs. In […]
Childless, Elizabeth and husband Zechariah are getting old; their chance for kids is slim. Still they pray for the improbable. Despite not receiving what they yearn for, their faith remains strong. They are a righteous couple who honor God. One day at work, an angel shows up and tells Zechariah that he and his barren […]
Offer a Male Without Defect Leviticus is a book that most people tend to skip. At best, they skim it. Leviticus gives meticulous details about how God expects his people to worship him. It involves a lot of animal sacrifices—blood, guts, and death—something we find off-putting and foreign. Yet Leviticus also offers us much insight […]
Whoever Has Ears Today’s passage: Revelation 13 Focus verse: Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Revelation 13:9) After the expulsion of the dragon (that is, Satan, the devil) from heaven, he comes to earth and waits at the seashore. A beast emerges and the dragon gives him power. The beast blasphemes God, slandering God’s name, heaven, and […]