Category: Bible Study

“Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne.” –Micah 5:2 Even though it’s Mother Mary’s birthday and not yours, the Lord wants to give you a birthday present. He will bring to birth in your life something you have given up on (Mi 5:2), something you can’t even imagine working together for the good (Rm 8:28). This miraculous birthday gift will come in a small package. Look at the “little town of Bethlehem” (see Mi 5:1), the teenage virgin mother from Nazareth (Mt 1:23), and the Baby born in...

“Continue, therefore, to live in Christ Jesus the Lord, in the spirit in which you received Him.” –Colossians 2:6 No matter how long and how deep our relationship with Christ has been, we always face the danger of falling away from our “sincere and complete devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:3). We can be deceived through an “empty, seductive philosophy” (Col 2:8) and “blinded by the god of the present age” (2 Cor 4:4). We can “have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God” (Heb 3:12). “Our desire is that each of you show the...

“There was a man whose right hand was withered.” –Luke 6:6 In the ancient world, a person’s right hand carried a special dignity. It was used to confer a permanent blessing (Gn 48:13-18). A king held his staff in his right hand (see Mt 27:29), and a priest’s right hand was consecrated (Ex 29:20). A thief’s right hand was cut off, thus perpetually reducing his status in society. People shook their right hands to complete a transaction, thereby giving their right hand the power to uphold their word. The right hand of God also carries a special dignity and power...

“Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” —Isaiah 35:4 When you see a frightened child, your heart goes out to him or her with compassion. This is a shadow of our heavenly Father’s love poured out on those struggling and fearful. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves” (Ps 34:19). He wants to free you from the slavery of fear (Heb 2:14-15) and give you a peace beyond understanding (Phil 4:7). “Is it possible that He Who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over...

“You nourished hostility in your hearts because of your evil deeds.” —Colossians 1:21 Very few people admit they have hatred in their hearts. Even fewer admit they actually nourish hatred. Hatred is widespread, even epidemic, yet we refuse to admit our hatred. Only in Jesus can the barrier of hostility be broken down (Eph 2:14). It’s natural for us to be angry and unforgiving and resentful. “To err is human, to forgive divine,” and we’re not divine. We can never love one another by “human good will,” but only in Christ and by His power. Let’s admit we can’t save...