The verse Psalm 115:1 says “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” This verse teaches an important principle – that glory should be given to God alone and not to ourselves. Here are some key reasons why glory should not be unto us but only to God: 1. Everything good comes from God The Bible teaches that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). We have nothing that we did not first receive from God. All our talents, resources, wisdom and abilities…
Author: Nicole Sands
The Easter season is a time of reflection, celebration, and anticipation of Christ’s resurrection. As we approach Easter Sunday, it’s important that we take time to meditate on the significance of this holiday and prepare our hearts to receive the joy and hope of the resurrection. Today’s reading focuses on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, which provides the context for the miracle of the resurrection. Though difficult to read, these passages remind us of the immense sacrifice Jesus made to reconcile us to God. As we read, may we be filled with gratitude and marvel at Christ’s love that compelled Him…
The Easter story is central to the Christian faith. It recounts Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection – the pivotal events that brought salvation to mankind. As we approach Easter, let’s take some time to reflect on the biblical accounts surrounding these world-changing events. On Easter Reading Plan Day 2, we’ll explore the events leading up to the crucifixion. This includes Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his final teachings in the temple courts, the plot against him, the Last Supper with his disciples, and his prayers in Gethsemane. By walking through these passages, we gain insight into Jesus’ purpose, character, and…
The quote “What have we not known or heard” comes from Isaiah 40:28 in the Bible, which says “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” This verse points to the vastness of God’s knowledge and wisdom compared to our limited human understanding. There are several key reasons why recognizing the limits of our knowledge matters: 1. It humbles us Admitting that there are things we do not and cannot know humbles us before God.…
Paul’s exhortation to “stand fast in the faith” in 1 Corinthians 16:13 encourages believers to be steadfast, immovable, and persistent in holding to the core truths of the Christian faith. This verse comes at the end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, where he addresses many issues the church was facing and calls them to unity, holiness, and faithfulness. The Context of 1 Corinthians 16:13 In chapter 16, Paul is giving his final instructions to the Corinthian church. He discusses his travel plans (verses 5-9), asks them to respect Timothy when he visits (verses 10-11), explains that he wanted…
Romans 13:1 states, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” This verse has been interpreted in different ways throughout history, but ultimately points to an important biblical principle regarding a Christian’s relationship with human governments. The Context of Romans 13:1 Romans 13 comes after 12 chapters of dense theological arguments by the Apostle Paul regarding sin, salvation, and righteousness. In chapter 12, Paul begins to shift into practical instruction for how Christians ought to live in light of the gospel. Romans…
The Apocalypse of Paul is an ancient Christian text dating to the 4th century AD that purports to record the apostle Paul’s visionary journey through heaven and hell. It is an example of apocalyptic literature, a genre of revelatory writing popular in ancient Judaism and early Christianity. Though attributed to Paul, the Apocalypse was not authored by him but rather by an unknown Christian writer seeking to expand on Paul’s brief reference in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 to being “caught up to the third heaven.” The Apocalypse of Paul depicts the apostle being guided by an angel on a visionary tour…
The phrase “God’s hand is stretched out still” appears twice in Isaiah chapter 9, verses 12 and 17. This chapter comes in the midst of Isaiah’s prophecies to the northern kingdom of Israel regarding coming judgment for their sin and unfaithfulness to God. The specific context is God’s warning of impending invasion and exile by the Assyrians if they do not repent and turn back to Him. In verse 12, the prophet says, “The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.” This refers to the defeats they had already experienced at…
Stewardship is an important concept in the Bible that refers to the responsibility of managing and caring for God’s creation and gifts. Here are some key Bible verses about stewardship: Genesis 1:26-28 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and…
The story of David eating the showbread is found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. Here is a summary of the passage: David was fleeing from Saul and came to Nob, where the tabernacle was located at that time. He went to Ahimelech the priest and asked for food. Ahimelech did not have any ordinary bread on hand, only the consecrated bread that had been set out before the Lord. This bread was replaced with fresh loaves every Sabbath and only the priests were allowed to eat it. However, Ahimelech gave David the consecrated bread, since David told him his men were…