(REFLECTIONS ON Nehemiah 6:1-14) Nehemiah and the Jews endured great opposition in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. However, this was nothing new for this post-exilic community. The rebuilding of the temple of the Lord also came with great opposition. The challenging thing about this opposition was that it didn’t just come once, and then just disappear. […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Nehemiah 1:1-11) What is in your heart? What do you feel? What do you have a burden for? What should we do about these emotions, these burdens, and even these tears? The answer from today’s Scripture is pray for what is in your heart. Nehemiah was living in Persia as a descendant of one of the exiles […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Ezra 7:1-10) For such a time as this is a quote from the Book of Esther. Esther was a Jew that became queen of Persia during the time of King Xerxes. During a time when the Jews faced great persecution, Esther was challenged by her relative Mordecai to use her position in the Persian Empire […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Titus 3:9-15) How much time do we spend thinking and talking about what we believe rather than moving forward and translating that into how we live out what we believe? In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Galatians 6:7-10) 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Sowing and reaping is a concept that our actions have consequences. What we do now perhaps has no immediate impact, but in the long run positive and negative consequences can be traced back to either the good […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Galatians 2:11-21) We are reminded today as Paul opposes Peter that it isn’t enough that Peter was a disciple of Jesus, a friend of Jesus, by Jesus’ side during His ministry on earth, if he doesn’t live out the Gospel in his daily life. Gospel living isn’t just about the content we share, or […]
(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 46:1-24) As we read Old Testament Scripture, we must remember that it represents both a physical reality and hope for Israel, a remembrance of their past and vision for the future, but is also symbolic of the hope we have as the church that goes beyond physical structures, land, and life, and crosses […]
(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 39:1-29) There will be a final battle, a battle for the ages, and although Israel looks to be weak and defenseless, the Lord will come to the rescue of His people. Yes, Israel once a people of shame because of their unfaithfulness, will be restored, and no one will be able to take […]
(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 33:21-33) 30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your […]
(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 27:1-36) We can tell a lot about a person by how they react to the failure and downfall of those around them. For example, if someone fails miserably during a presentation, will they receive comfort and encouragement from their co-workers, or will their co-workers think to themselves that this gives them a […]