trust in Jesus – Be Still…

Isaiah 35:4 – What Are Your Fears?

“Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)

For me, one fear I can’t shake is my fear of heights. I’ve gotten past my fear of spiders by living in Mexico. That’s a good thing – they’re giants down here! But this verse isn’t limited to fears of that nature, but to our overall dread of the testing and temptation we will face in life.

Context (Isaiah 35:1-10): As a remedy for fear, Isaiah was given such a beautiful prophecy picturing the day of the Lord when all will be restored. We don’t have to fear when we remember what God’s victory looks like. For the Israelites also hearing of the coming doom, words of hope and everlasting joy would sound great. Isaiah’s own heart would be rejoicing from the promise. Continue reading “Isaiah 35:4 – What Are Your Fears?”

Hebrews 10:24-25 – Motivating Others

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

How creative are you? Some people are masters at being imaginative and memorable. Being a children’s ministry leader, I’ve gotten pretty good at accomplishing that, but this verse doesn’t have that requirement at all. There are plenty of ways we can motivate others without being cutesy and fun. The main idea is to be in community.

Context: In general, the book of Hebrews reminds us of Jesus’ supremacy and how to remain faithful. Jesus is all we need, but sometimes we get mixed signals from the world. The section in which this verse falls is all about how to persevere in our faith when life throws those curveballs. Continue reading “Hebrews 10:24-25 – Motivating Others”

Galatians 2:20 – To Die with Christ

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

This verse is not morbid but beautiful. The image of being crucified with Christ doesn’t put us on the cross beside him like the criminals. We are reminded that when we are Christ- followers we have the assurance that we can have salvation from our faith and not being bound by the law. This is a good verse to have memorized because of it’s implications on our salvation.

Context: This verse comes during a conversation between the apostle Paul and Peter, the disciple. Their conversation may have been a bit “heated” as their topic involved Gentile vs. Jew and the importance of following or not following the law of Moses. Those were big issues for the early believers to work out. Gentiles did not know all those laws, and Paul had been preaching that it didn’t matter because faith and trust in Jesus is what counts. Continue reading “Galatians 2:20 – To Die with Christ”

Leviticus 5:14-6:7 – Guilty!

Read Leviticus 5:14-6:7

My years as a paralegal taught me a couple things. People will claim they are “not guilty” or say, “it’s not my fault,” even when the opposite is completely true. Why do people want to avoid taking responsibility for their actions and blame other people? I think it’s part of the human condition.

This text dives into what the LORD prescribed for those “guilty” of sins against God, God’s commands, or harming other people. Not only are guilty supposed to present their own spotless ram, restitution and a penalty must be paid. These guilt offerings were serious business. Continue reading “Leviticus 5:14-6:7 – Guilty!”

Zephaniah 1:14-18 – This Day

Read Zephaniah 1:14-18

Zephaniah’s oracle now shifts focus to “all” people, not just rebellious Judah. Churches today have coupled this passage with New Testament passages speaking of the final judgment. You may even recognize some of these images have become the lyrics in hymns and worship songs.

This day will be a day of bitter tears, men crying out, all while the Lord’s anger is poured out on all people. It’s not a pleasant picture at all. Yet, it is destruction we can anticipate will happen when the Lord’s Day finally arrives. Will we see it in our lifetime? Only God knows.