Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily.” –Habakkuk 2:2 The Lord has a great plan for all people, and each one of us has been given a glorious part in that plan (see Heb 11:40). When we recognize our part in God’s plan, we have “the vision” (Hab 2:2). We should write down this vision as accurately as possible and discern the various circumstances of our lives accordingly. Many Christians have difficulties in getting the vision. They are ignorant of God’s Word and therefore of God’s plan and their part in that...

“You are not judging by God’s standards but by man’s.” –Matthew 16:23 Peter’s mouth spoke the words of heaven, revealed directly from the Father above (Mt 16:16-17). Shortly thereafter, Peter’s mouth spoke the words of the kingdom of darkness (Mt 16:22-23). “Blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. This ought not to be” (Jas 3:10). “Does a spring gush forth fresh water and foul from the same outlet?” (Jas 3:11) We have a civil war raging in our hearts (Jas 4:1ff), and so we are prone to shift between behavior obedient to the Lord and behavior obedient to...

“All your lovers have forgotten you.” –Jeremiah 30:14 If you’ve ever watched a lover walk out of your life, you understand grievous bruising and incurable wounds (Jer 30:12). “Your pain is without relief” (Jer 30:15). Jesus is the great Lover Who “will never forget you” (Is 49:15) and “will not leave you” (Jn 14:18). Jesus is Love incarnate (1 Jn 4:8, 16). He loves you “with age-old love” (Jer 31:3). He never rejects you (Jn 6:37). He loved you first (1 Jn 4:19). When you were at your most sinful and rebellious state of life (Jer 30:15), Jesus loved you...

“Listen to Him.” –Mark 9:7 After Pentecost until the end of the Church year, we begin six months of intensive work in evangelizing the world and building God’s kingdom. As we enter the third month of working, we may be bogged down. We can blame it on the “summertime blues” or the heat of the day. We often blame other people for our problems; especially we like to blame the Church. Maybe, however, “the trouble is in our set,” that is, on our end, and has nothing to do with the temperature or the season of the year. Maybe we’re...

“He gave them bread from the heavens to eat.” –John 6:31 Today’s Gospel reading from the sixth chapter of John begins Jesus’ famous Bread of Life discourse, which we read for four consecutive Sundays. There is a distinct, intentional progression in the words of Jesus regarding our response to this heavenly bread. During the first part of the discourse, Jesus emphasizes that we must believe He is the Bread of Life. The word believe is used four times from verses 29 through 47. Jesus teaches that we must believe in Him, and accordingly, believe the truths He is revealing. “I...