Tag: friends
Why Mary of Bethany is My New Spiritual Hero
I imagine you are familiar with the phrase “heroes of faith.” People like Moses, Abraham, Daniel, Paul, Barnabas, John, and—of course—Jesus often come to mind when discussing this phrase. Within the past couple of months, I have gained a new spiritual hero—Mary of Bethany. For most of 2013, our house church was studying the New Testament…
Guard Your Heart (How to Keep Yourself from Sin)
The Bible is full of wisdom about man’s heart. Not the blood-pumping one, the one that controls our emotions, feelings, motivations and reason. Consider the instructions of Solomon: 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your…
November 8 – Jesus Raises Lazarus
Reading John 11:1-54 Devotional Jesus had three friends who were brothers and sisters, Mary, Martha and Lazarus who apparently lived in the town of Bethany, which is about 2 miles from Jerusalem. (Note: This is likely the same Mary and Martha referred to in Luke 10:38-42 where Martha wanted Mary to help her prepare the…
September 17 – GOD Corrects Job and His Friends
Reading Job 38:1-42:17 Devotional In an awesome conclusion to the book of Job, GOD speaks to Job out of the windstorm for the purpose of reminding Job of his proper place before GOD. GOD asks Job question after question, none of which Job is able to answer. Only GOD has the knowledge or power to…
September 12 – Effectively Comforting the Grieving
Reading Job 15:1-17:16 Devotional Now that all three of Job’s friends have had their say—each accusing Job of hiding some secret sin for which he is being punished—and Job has insisted that he is innocent, you would think that these friends would try and comfort him. But they don’t. Eliphaz starts back up with his…
September 9 – Only GOD Knows Why
Reading Job 4:1-7:21 Devotional Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar visited him in his turmoil. They sat with him 7 days and nights without saying a word. Finally, Eliphaz was the first to speak. He observed that only the wicked are destroyed and GOD punishes those who do evil and blesses the righteous. It…
April 24 – Seeing GOD in the Psalms (Part 6)
Reading Psalm 88; 91; 95; 108; 109 Devotional As we journey through the Psalms, our daily focus is upon what we learn of GOD. Today’s reading begins with Psalm 88, which is a song from a person who was dying and wondering if GOD hears him. It focuses upon the discipline of GOD, possibly for…
April 12 – Amnon, Tamar and Absalom
Reading 2 Sam. 12:24-25 1 Chron. 3:4c-9 2 Sam. 13:1-14:24 Devotional Recall that GOD told David through Nathan the prophet that “the sword will never depart from your house” (2 Sam. 12:1-12). In today’s reading we see the beginning of this prophecy unfold. David had a son named Amnon. David had another son named Absalom…