John 5:36-38 (Deep Down)

But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his…

John 5:8 (Rise)

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” (John 5:8) Read: 1 Samuel 1:9 – 4:11 Relate: I’ve been mentally going through a list of people Jesus healed in the gospel. One after another it seems there is a common thread. Each and every time, the person being healed, or the one interceding for the healing,…

John 4:46-50 (Believe)

As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was…

John 4:7-8 (Position of Need)

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. (John 4:7-8) Read: Deuteronomy 6:1 – 9:29 Relate: I don’t like being needy. Maybe it’s an American thing with our idealization of…

John 3:35 (The Big Brother)

The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. (John 3:35) Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 32:1 – 33:56 Relate: I remember reading a short while back a story a man shared about his childhood. When he was about eight years old, one day he returned home from school embarrassed and in tears. On his walk home…

Unquestioning Obedience

Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. (John 2:7-8) Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 22:16 – 24:18 Relate: It is one thing for Mary to tell the servants to do whatever Jesus commands. She…

Confidence Men (12/27/13)

Read: Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. (Psalm 146:3-4) Relate: There is only one reason a person would purchase a magazine like National Enquirer. Their headlines are…

Trust (11/22/13)

Read: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12. 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9) Relate: “You’re right. You…

The Promise of a Pony (11/14/13)

Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26, Hebrews 11:32-12:13, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. (Hebrews 11:39) Relate: For the first time this season, I woke up this morning to snow on the ground. It’s winter time. First thing I wanted to do was crawl…

Authority (11/13/13)

Read: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16 All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity. (Psalm 111:7-8) Relate: For the past couple weeks I’ve been reading a little bit from the book of Ezekiel. If you have been reading the link at…