Repentance

…let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. Nehemiah 1:6   A key component of Nehemiah’s prayer was repentance. He identified with the sins of the people and repented, both for his own sins […]

The Lord’s Battle

Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “…The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me […]

Connection to Others

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13   We must be connected to Jesus, the Vine, if our lives are to be spiritually fruitful. He is our source of strength, sustenance, authority, […]

Fruit of Christian Living

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say of yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I […]

The Head and the Tail

The Lord is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter. Isaiah 34:2   Throughout the book of Isaiah, the prophet condemns the leadership of the people. In Isaiah 10, the lawmakers issued “oppressive decrees” and withheld justice. The elders […]

The Creative Godhead

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26   Elohim, Creator God, by His spoken […]

The Grace of God

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me […]

The Just Judge

God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, here will be wrath and anger. Romans 2:6-8   God’s judgment […]

Powerful Witnesses

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8   In the gospel of John, Jesus promises to send His Holy Spirit when He leaves earth to go back […]

Acknowledging God’s Greatness

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him this favor in the presence of this man. Nehemiah 1:11 Nehemiah models prayer for us in a compelling way. His prayer […]