Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Joseph, son of David, have no fear.” –Matthew 1:20 Shortly before Jesus was crucified, He prayed: “O Father most holy, protect them with Your name” (Jn 17:11). “Guard them from the evil one” (Jn 17:15). We need to be on guard, for our “opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pt 5:8). We are in such danger that the Lord has assigned guardian angels to us (Ps 91:11), and the Holy Spirit has assigned pastors to guard us as members of the Church (Acts 20:28). Possibly the greatest guardian of all is...

“In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you.” –Isaiah 49:8 We have been fasting for four weeks to prepare for Easter. What will the Lord do this Easter? Some who feel forsaken and forgotten will be assured of the Lord’s tender love (see Is 49:14-15). At first, this will not change the distressing circumstances of their lives, but will dramatically change their attitude toward them. Long-term desolation will be replaced by restoration (Is 49:8). Many people trapped in the prison and darkness of sin will come out and show themselves (Is 49:9)....

“No man ever spoke like that before.” –John 7:46 “The crowd was sharply divided over Him.” –John 7:43 The temple guards “forgot” to arrest Jesus, so impressed were they by His words. However, the Pharisees were unimpressed; they said the guards and the crowds that listened to Jesus had been taken in (Jn 7:46ff). This was not the first time Jesus received such contradictory reactions to His words. At His hometown of Nazareth, “they marveled at the appealing discourse which came from His lips” (Lk 4:22). Nevertheless, a few minutes later, “the whole audience in the synagogue was filled with...

“Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you.” –John 5:14 Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, preached often on healing. One of his frequent exhortations during healing services was: “God heals you for service in His Kingdom. He didn’t heal you so you could be the healthiest person in hell!” Father Al often referred to Peter’s mother-in-law as the model of one who received healing. She was suffering from a fever. Jesus healed her, and immediately she got up and began to wait on...

“He and his whole household thereupon became believers.” –John 4:53 Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would create new heavens and a new earth (Is 65:17), but he never dreamed of life eternal in heaven. He prophesied all would live to be well over a hundred years old (Is 65:20), but never imagined we would live forever. The Lord has promised more than we can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2:9)....