“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, […]
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5 I read these words by Charles Spurgeon this morning: “What a mass of hideous sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus! Yet we read […]
“On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall not do any ordinary work, but you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish, and the grain offering and the drink offerings for […]
“But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed…For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:11,13 With this statement, the apostle […]
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 What love. What great, powerful love. To choose to die, so that your enemy can live forever. Jesus did not die for the righteous. For those who have it all together. For those who are […]
“Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.” Isaiah 61:7 Earlier this morning my mind was drawn back to the shame of certain points in my past. Sometimes when […]
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:17 Even in these very early days of the church, there was division as individuals chose to align themselves with certain teachers of […]
“But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26b The aim of the cross is to put away sin. Entirely. Not to merely forgive and therefore free us from consequences or punishment. No, the deliverance we know […]
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 There is a very personal element that needs to go into sharing the gospel. Because this isn’t just a nice […]
“And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus […]
In Pleasant Places 