The Easter season is a time of celebration and reflection for Christians around the world. As we approach the end of our Easter reading plan, let’s take some time to go deeper into the meaning behind this important holiday and what the Bible teaches us about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion. This miraculous event is at the very heart of the Christian faith, as the Apostle Paul explains: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
The Easter season is a time of reflection, rebirth, and renewal in the Christian faith. As we approach Easter Sunday, reading through select passages of Scripture can help us focus our hearts and minds on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the 20th day of an Easter reading plan, here are some key Scriptures worth meditating upon: Jesus Prophesies His Death and Resurrection In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly tells His disciples that He will suffer, die, and rise again. For example: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer…
The Easter season is a time of celebration and reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As part of an Easter reading plan, Day 11 falls right in the midst of the season and offers rich content for meditation. Here are some key Scriptures and themes to reflect upon for Easter reading on Day 11: Jesus Predicts His Death A key theme for Easter is Jesus’ willing submission to death on the cross. The Gospels record multiple instances where Jesus predicted and explained this to His disciples ahead of time (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23; Mark 8:31, 9:30-32; Luke 9:22,…
The book of Proverbs contains many wise sayings and teachings about how to live a godly life. One verse that stands out is Proverbs 26:12, which states: “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” This verse warns against the dangers of pride and self-reliance. When someone is “wise in their own eyes,” it means they rely only on their own understanding and insight. They do not look to God for wisdom or guidance. Instead, they lean on their own cleverness and belief in their own…
The phrase “return to me” is found in Jeremiah 3, where God calls out to His people, pleading for them to turn back to Him after they had strayed into idolatry and sin. This powerful invitation from God has profound implications for how we relate to Him. God Desires a Relationship with Us First and foremost, God telling His people to “return to me” reveals His deep desire to be in relationship with us. Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as a loving Father longing for His children to come home (Luke 15:11-32). Though we have rebelled against Him, He continuously…
To sanctify the Lord God in your hearts means to set Him apart as holy, to regard Him with reverence and awe, and to make Him the absolute focus and priority of your life. This phrase comes from 1 Peter 3:15, which says “But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord” (ESV). Let’s break down what this means. Sanctify Means to Make Holy The word “sanctify” means to make holy, to set apart. To sanctify something is to devote it to a sacred purpose, to purify it and make it holy (Exodus 28:41, Leviticus 8:10-30, Ezekiel 37:28). When Peter says…
In Genesis 3:21, after Adam and Eve had sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, the Bible says that “the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” This verse raises the question: what is the significance of these garments of skin? Here are a few key points about the meaning and importance of the garments of skin: 1. The garments covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness Prior to the Fall, Adam and Eve were naked but felt no shame (Genesis 2:25). After they sinned, their eyes were opened, they realized their nakedness, and they felt…
Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” This verse comes from a psalm of David, who longs to be in God’s presence and is seeking the Lord wholeheartedly. Here are 9000 words exploring what David meant when he said “one thing I have asked of the Lord”: This statement reveals David’s deepest desire – to dwell with God continually. The “one…
Being lacking nothing is a concept that comes from James 1:4 in the Bible, which says “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” This verse is teaching us that as Christians, when we patiently endure trials and temptations, God will mold us and shape us to become more like Christ. The end result is that we will mature in our faith and become “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So what does it mean to be lacking nothing? Let’s explore this idea further. 1. Lacking No Spiritual Maturity To be…
Is the concept of choosing the “lesser of two evils” biblical? The phrase “lesser of two evils” refers to the idea that when faced with selecting between two undesirable options, the morally correct choice is to select the option that minimizes harm. This concept arises in many practical situations – for example, voting for a political candidate that one dislikes but finds less objectionable than the alternative. But does the Bible support or reject the notion of choosing the “lesser evil”? Let’s explore what Scripture says. Old Testament Examples Several stories in the Old Testament illustrate situations where a person…