Category: Verse for the day

“The last shall come first.” –Matthew 19:30 The Israelites were oppressed externally by the nation of Midian, and internally by their own idolatry. Joash the Abiezrite, father of Gideon, had built an altar to an idol (Jgs 6:25), as well as a sacred pole used in idol worship. God called the fearful Gideon to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression (Jgs 6:14). When Gideon assembled a large army, God told him, “You have too many soldiers with you for Me to deliver Midian into [your] power” (Jgs 7:2). So, God told Gideon to send the fearful men home, which reduced the...

“This stone shall be our witness.” –Joshua 24:27 One of the most important words in the Bible is “witness.” Joshua said to the people: “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord” (Jos 24:22). Joshua even set up a large stone as a witness. We have the custom of attaching little stones to rings, putting these rings and stones on our fingers, and using them as witnesses to our marriage vows. Isaiah prophesied that we are called to be God’s witnesses (Is 43:10). Shortly before His Ascension, Jesus commanded: “You will receive power when the...

“A man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become as one.” –Matthew 19:5 This “is the case between man and wife” (Mt 19:10): A husband loves his wife sacrificially, as Jesus loves us (Eph 5:25). He must give up his life for his wife (Eph 5:25). In imitation of Jesus, he tells his wife: “This is my body to be given for you” (see Lk 22:19). Thus, he gives up his schedule, interests, and availability for the good of his wife. He is “occupied with pleasing his wife” (1 Cor 7:33)....