“A gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4 ESV). In our One Year Bible reading today I was looking for something to say to bless and encourage mothers. This passage from Proverbs seemed appropriate. I often remember the gentle words of my mother. She always sought to encourage her children and grandchildren with
“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66 ESV). In John 6:66, the shocking statement that Jesus made concerning His body and blood as spiritual food, made many so-called disciples desert Him. Just as Moses had led a “mixed multitude” into the wilderness from Egypt (Ex. 12:38),
‘And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them”‘ (1 Samuel 8:7 ESV). Samuel had led Israel well his whole life, but now he was old and his sons
“And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2 ESV). The apostle John reported that large crowds began to follow Jesus in the Galilee region because of the “signs” he was doing. John called the miracles of Jesus “signs” for they were given
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40 ESV). Jesus acknowledged that the Jews were a people of the Book, yet He challenged them to see
‘But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord”‘ (1 Samuel 1:15 ESV). Hannah was childless. At her family’s annual visit to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and bring offerings, she
“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (Ruth 3:9 ESV). The little books of Ruth and Jonah have much in common. Four chapters, literary works of art, easily seen as 4-act plays, and more… But more profound is that they both foreshadow great doctrines of our
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29 ESV). The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone,
“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27 ESV). John the Baptist’s followers worried that more people were following Jesus than John. When John heard them saying this, he rebuked them. He recognized that God determined spiritual results. He also understood that his ministry was called to
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night” (John 3:1-2 ESV). Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus at night. Perhaps he wanted a private conference and night time was the only time Jesus wasn’t surrounded by crowds. Or perhaps it was