1 Kings 12:13-14 New International Version The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” For Meditation Why … Continue reading A Tale of Two Counselors
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Discerning Against Deception
1 Kings 13:18 New King James Version He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (He was lying to him.) For Meditation His mission was very … Continue reading Discerning Against Deception
Dangerous Tradeoff
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com Haggai 1:9 New International Version (NIV) “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. For meditation Haggai is a book that … Continue reading Dangerous Tradeoff
Fruit-bearing Christian
Matthew 21:19 New King James Version And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. For Encouragement What a joyful celebration it was! The crowd, the palm branches and … Continue reading Fruit-bearing Christian
When They Misunderstand You
Photo by Summer Stock on Pexels.com Matthew 26:60-61 New International Version (NIV) But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” For MeditationThe High Court of the land sat in high … Continue reading When They Misunderstand You
Called by Faith to Active Duty
Photo by Mathias Reding on Pexels.com Esther 4:8 New International Version He [Mordecai] also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence … Continue reading Called by Faith to Active Duty
Guarding Against Spiritual Hypocrisy
Galatians 2:11-12 New International Version When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision … Continue reading Guarding Against Spiritual Hypocrisy
Because of Him, We Live
2 Samuel 9:1 New Living Translation (NLT) One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” For Meditation Imagine the day Ziba broke the news of King David’s invitation to Mephibosheth in Lo Debar (2 Samuel 9:1-8). The city’s name signified a rebellious place … Continue reading Because of Him, We Live
The Paradox of Abuse
1 Samuel 25:13 New International Version David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. For Meditation It is interesting how our experience affects our thinking and actions. … Continue reading The Paradox of Abuse