“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NLT). Something extraordinary happens to ordinary people when they spend
‘But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!”‘ (Acts 3:6 NLT). Peter and John encountered a cripple asking for money on their way to afternoon prayers at the Temple. While many worshipers
‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD”’ (Psalm 122:1 NLT). This is one of David’s fifteen “Psalms of Ascent,” written to be sung while climbing up to the Temple Mount. It begins by expressing David’s gladness at the invitation to go up to the house
“I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT). Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen “Psalms of Ascent,” so named because they were written to be sung by pilgrims traveling up to Jerusalem to worship at the
‘A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you”‘ (John 21:17 NLT). The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just
“I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.” (Psalm 119:162 NLT). Some say that David wrote Psalm 119 to teach his son, Solomon, to love God’s Word, while at the same time, teaching him the Hebrew alphabet. For this beautiful ode to God’s Word is an acrostic poem, with each stanza
‘When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.’ (John 19:26-27 NLT). Reading the four gospels together, there are seven last
“David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning” (2 Samuel 15:30 NLT). When David heard that his son Absalom sought to overthrow him as king, he fled from Jerusalem going East up the slope of
“Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave” (John 18:10 NLT). All of the gospels tell the story of the high priest’s servant losing an ear to one of the disciple’s swords. Yet, only John names names. We are not surprised to learn that the
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20 NLT). Jesus prayed for those that would “ever believe” in Him. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but