Daily Thoughts From God's Word

The thing that strikes me from these chapters is the constant jockeying for position and approval and prestige among men, even among the disciples. The Pharisees sought to put themselves above Jesus by asking their trick questions (ch. 19), the rich young man sought self-justification (ch. 19), the laborers in the vineyard wanted more money (ch. 20), and even the mother of James and John wanted them placed at the right and left of Jesus in heaven (ch. 20). Jesus, on the oth

The disciples sometimes just seemed slow, slow of learning. Jesus had taught them that a man is defiled from within, not from without. But they did not understand. He asked them, “Are even you still lacking in understanding?” (15:16) On another occasion, Jesus had just finished feeding around 12,000 people (4,000 men plus women and children) with only seven loaves and a few small fish. Almost immediately, after reaching the other shore of the Sea of Galilee, the disciple

The story returns to John the Baptist in prison: “When Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given” (14:6-9). This story reminds me of the story of Jepthah and his foolish vo

John was in prison, and it would not be long until his head would be taken from him by Herod. Now, John was the one prophesied by Isaiah, almost 800 years previously: “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3). He is the one who himself told of the coming of Messiah: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (3:11). And now, from prison, he

“And he called to him his twelve disciples . . . These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go . . . proclaim . . . Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” (10:1-8). In yesterday’s thoughts, I referenced the many ways in which Jesus ministered to and served others. Now, he instructs his disciples to do the same. As they go, Jesus instructs them further: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and i

Immediately after preaching, Jesus came down from the mountain and large crowds followed him. They were always following him. A leper said to him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (8:2). “Reaching out his hand he touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be made clean’” (8:3). Of course! Jesus is always willing to show mercy and grace to those who come asking. Always! Really, really, really good news! Then, “a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him

Four hundred and fifty or so years passed between Malachi’s ministry and the birth of Immanuel. Even so, the story does not miss a beat. Matthew tells the story of the birth of Jesus and writes, “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet . . .” (1:22). After all, it is one story, and now it just continues. Matthew quickly moves into the Sermon on the Mount. It’s good to read that entire sermon and be reminded that it’s not simply

And so, once again, another year, and I come to the end of the Old Testament. What an amazing story is the story of God’s response to the sin of our first parents in the Garden of Eden! The announcement of one who will come and defeat Satan (Gen. 3:15), the covenant with Abram (Gen. 12), the giving of a son and a people and a land, the kingdom, God’s long-suffering with his people, his sending of prophets, etc., etc., and all this in preparation for the coming of the Messia

How about this for a prophetic word! “On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea, in summer and winter alike. On that day Yahweh will become king over all the earth—Yahweh alone, and His name alone” (14:8,9). So many failures on the part of Israel! So many travails endured! So many enemies against her! Yet, how do we put it, sometimes, as we think about our own failures and travails

What penetrating questions! The people were languishing, so they came to the priests and asked, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years?” (7:3) The Lord’s response to Zechariah: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these 70 years, did you really fast for Me? When you eat and drink, don’t you eat and drink simply for yourselves?” (7:5,6) It’s a heart

The Lord was not happy with his people during the time of Zechariah. They had disobeyed and had turned from him. Yet, the Lord’s grace comes through once again: “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst” (2:4,5). Also, this thought. The people had begun the temple, had laid its foundation, but bec

The prophet Haggai preached and encouraged the people to do what they should do, i.e., to rebuild the temple. They had begun the project, but became discouraged. And when completing the work, the people were promised by the Lord: “And in this place I will give peace” (2:9). A couple thoughts. One, Israel had received so much from God, she was so blessed, what a small thing for her simply to give back and to build God’s temple. Two, when we are obedient to the Lord, we c

The prophet Zephaniah’s ministry was contemporary with King Josiah’s reforms in the 7th century B.C. Those reforms followed the godless reigns of Manasseh and Anon. The temple had fallen into disrepair and, since Hezekiah’s reign, the people had practiced paganism and idolatry. The southern kingdom of Judah had seen the fall of her northern companion, Israel. She should have known better. Now, Zephaniah announced God’s judgment against both Judah and her enemies. He sp

Inflation is up. The questions surrounding immigrants remain. The education system is an absolute mess. Political fighting is raging. War is about. At least, the global warming fear mongering has receded. What a mess! Yet, in the midst of all that mess, stands the One who has seen it all and who rules providentially over it all. Habakkuk faced much worse circumstances as he watched the city of Jerusalem fall at the hands of the Babylonians. And, yet, he continued to

Nahum announces God’s wrath against Nineveh, Judah’s enemy, who has persecuted her so. A simple lesson here: God will stand up for his people against their enemies. And even if our deliverance does not come on a timetable pleasing to us, that deliverance WILL come. Our God is faithful to save us and to deal with those who fight against us. Anne Steele’s hymn reminds us of God’s goodness toward us as his people and shows him as a dear refuge when the storms swirl around u