Matt 12-15 Why multitudes followed Jesus Over and over, Matthew reminds his readers that the multitudes followed Jesus because they saw in him the traits of God. He also shows us the response of the multitudes to King Herod, which was one of fear. They knew how he raged against his enemies and even went […]
Matt 5-7 Jesus had a to-do list, and it included teaching, preaching, and healing. His sermon on the mount gave the people clear principles of how to walk and talk in the world around them. He reminded the listeners that if they wanted to be blessed by God, they needed several character qualities because “God […]
Matt 1-4 It has been 400 yrs. of silence since Malachi closed the OT. It was as if God rolled up the heavens like men roll up a scroll. What was He doing? What was He saying? What took place in those years? Today just as long ago, people were born, lived, and died. Rulers […]
Malachi 1-4 The Three “R’s”Today if you speak to people about church attendance and Bible reading, they often turn up their noses and say, like the Israelites of old, it is useless, and besides that, there are hypocrites in the church. [Mal 3:14] They have a warped view and, like Asaph in Ps 73, see […]
Zechariah 14 The Feast of BoothsWhat celebration brings joy to your heart and mind? Is it Thanksgiving or Christmas, or another? For Israel, it was and is the Feast of Booths/Sukkah to commemorate the release from Egyptian slavery thousands of years ago. It is a celebration of rejoicing over God’s provision. Long ago, God’s command […]
Zechariah 7-8 God and People NoticeWhen others hear my voice or see my actions, what does it tell them about my Christian walk and talk? The leaders in Bethel came to inquire about their practices of fasting. They expected to hear that all they were doing was righteous and pleasing to God, but they were […]
Zechariah 3-6 Saved, Sanctified, ServiceSatan is the accuser of the brethren, but we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. He was the Advocate for Joshua, the high priest in Zechariah’s time, and he is our Advocate now. Why do we need an advocate? We need one because we are just like Joshua, blackened with sin, […]
Zechariah 1-2 As one of three post-exilic prophets, Zechariah quizzes God about what he sees, and God answers. These people, the Jews, even as undisciplined as they are, are the apple of my eye. [Zech 2:8] I will send heaven and earth to reclaim them for My own. I will send 4 horses, 4 winds […]
Haggai 1-2 God had sent the Israelites into captivity for their sin, but graciously God raised up Cyrus the Persian to release them and not just release them but provided them with all they would need to rebuild the Temple. He also asked them to pray for him as he leads. [Ezra 6:10] Jesus said […]
Zephaniah 1-3 The rich and famous dress, talk and move accordingly to the ways of that circle. Zephaniah was in that circle because of his lineage but not of that circle. He could have used that to gain introductions to the movers and shakers, but instead, he listened to God and spoke His message about […]
