It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. Hebrews 11:30 "What are you going to do this summer?" is the never-ending question that students are asked each year as summer approaches. When I was a college junior, I knew...
Continue ReadingIt was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:31 Rahab is such an interesting Bible character to study. This woman with a sordid past quickly became someone of great...
Continue ReadingIt was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:24-25 Do you like being comfortable? Maybe comfortable clothes and a comfortable...
Continue ReadingIt was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 I will never forget my first time wearing prescription glasses. I experienced the world in a...
Continue ReadingIt was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—"he disappeared, because God took him." For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and...
Continue ReadingThere was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 2 Samuel 23:20 I was on a hike the other day with a friend when, out of...
Continue ReadingI will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!'" Ezekiel 37:14 The other day I noticed that flowers in my apartment were looking dead. I thought that...
Continue Reading"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel...
Continue Reading"Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is—the name...
Continue Reading"Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let's go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!' So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have...
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