When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to...
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 5:24 Jesus completed his sermon on the mount with the promise that everyone who follows Him and His teaching...
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14 When we...
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. John 2:23-4 Following His first miracle in Cana and...
The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These...
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for...
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well...
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel...
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 The Son of God came into the world He had made and lived with us...
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin? I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled...
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus...
Nehemiah said, Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Ezra and Nehemiah called God’s...
You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi 2:17 God gets tired of people...
When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands? says the Lord. Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished...
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Nehemiah 4:9 Nehemiah was faced with opposition to God’s plan to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. His response was to both pray and post a guard day and night. Great...
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep...
For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other...
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even...
Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great...
Now give careful thought to this from this day on consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple… from this day on I will bless you. Haggai 2:15, 20 God spoke to His people of His ability to bless them in...
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. Ezra 9:13 God is a gracious God. Though He is righteous and...
For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel. Ezra...
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands...
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites — everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:5 God moves hearts. The proverb says that He moves the heart of the...
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy...
Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I...
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18 I live my life with a white-hot compelling vision. All of us need that or we drift. Every church and organization needs it...
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Psalm 27:2 Some animals fluff their fur, or puff themselves up when they are frightened or confronted. People do it too. There are few things as unattractive as...
If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not...
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:13,25 I love Hawaiian shave ice. The...
Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. Proverbs 19:!8 I see lots of young people with huge character flaws. They are self-willed, self-centered, and spoiled. As a result, they feel entitled to...
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 There are friends who come through in your moment of need. They are “there for you”, when it matters. Of course...
Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. Proverbs 17:5 How I treat the poor and respond to disasters reveals some important things about my relationship with God. Contempt and...
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32 Solomon recognized the power of patience. He said its better to be a patient and self controlled person than a warrior or leader who could attack...
Proverbs 15 has a lot to say about ‘what I say…’ 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 4 The soothing tongue is a...
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31 All people are made by God. They have intrinsic value. So whether they possess riches or not, our kindness to every person honors...
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 The Bible says who we spend time with defines us. Walk with the wise, and guess what? You will become wise. Hang out with fools and you will pay for it. Who...
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. Proverbs 12:1-2 One time I was corrected by a fourth grader. “Mr. Husen...
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for...
What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. Proverbs 10:24 This truth could be tweeted today. Its pithy and haven’t we all felt when things are going well, that ‘the other shoe will drop’...
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you...
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud. Proverbs 8:1-3 In life there...
Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and...
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 6:9-11...
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Proverbs 5:3-4 Solomon warned his sons about the wayward woman. It never ends well. So it is...
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19 The morning sunlight warms everything up...
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” — when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28 Wisdom rewards immediate obedience...
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are...
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. Proverbs 1:1, 33 Solomon wrote down the benefits of wisdom for all people...
“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your...