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and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. Whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle...

Too often, we find ourselves playing it safe, staying on the sidelines, and hesitating to fully trust God with our lives. Maybe we choose comfort over stepping out to serve or avoid difficult conversations where we could share our faith. This approach can leave us with a watered-down faith - bland, colorless, and without the power that makes Christianity truly alive and compelling. It's the kind...

He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called "The Place of a Skull", which is called in Hebrew, "Golgotha", where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:17–19 WEB. We read these familiar words but often fail to see their...

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:3-5 WEB. When sharks sense blood in the water, they go into a feeding frenzy. They will attack the wounded and devour them, even if it is another shark. They get so caught up in this frenzy that...

For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 WEB. It's easy for us, who are used to having positions, titles, and seniority in the workplace, to carry those ideas into the church. After we've been around the church for a while, we can feel we have earned our position,...

Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. Many there are who say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah. But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. Psalms 3:1-3 WEB. David wrote these words while on the run from his son Absalom who plotted to kill David and become king in his place. Almost everyone David...

The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19 WEB. I grew up as the least of my family, who happened to be the least of another family. I was the youngest of thirteen children...

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10 WEB. One night, we watched a movie where the people made a sacrifice every day so the sun would come up the following morning....

Moses had been tending sheep for forty years in the land of Midian when the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. The bush was on fire but never burned up. The Lord told Moses that He had heard the cries of the Israelites who were suffering as slaves in Egypt. Then He said, "Come now, and I will send you." (Exodus 3:10). Then, an interesting conversation unfolded. Moses knew how powerful the...

Yahweh says, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me." So they listened to Yahweh's words, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:4 WEB. When Solomon, the son of King David, passed away, his son Rehoboam became the king of Israel. Soon afterward, a servant of Solomon named Jeroboam led a rebellion that divided...

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John. Jesus summoned them, and said to them, "You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall...

Ruth said, "Don't urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." Ruth 1:16–17 WEB. Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi walked along the bumpy road...

To provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 WEB. Have you ever felt so down, so sluggish, that you begin to ask yourself, "What is the point of it all?" There are many things in...

Come now, and let's reason together, says Yahweh: Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land Isaiah 1:18 WEB. I grew up in the country and have always loved ATVs, four-wheel drives, dirt bikes, off-roading, and mud bogging. For a while, a group of us would...

Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24 WEB. The Lord sent Saul, the king of Israel, on a quest, but he failed because of his fear of man. He told Saul through the prophet Samuel to completely wipe out the Amalekites. Yet, Saul conveniently "overlooked" the command of...

Jesus was only hours away from being arrested. He had poured His life into the twelve Apostles, teaching them all things. Yet, on their way to their last supper together, the Apostles argued over who was the greatest among them. Add in a little pride and a little knowledge, and young men tend to puff up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It reminds me of seminary all over again. During their last supper together,...

Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it. Joshua 23:14 WEB. When I was young, the Lord spoke to my heart and told me that I would be in the ministry one day and for me to prepare myself...

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 WEB. We have a large oak tree in our yard, and each year, a fresh batch of caterpillars is born into the world. For...

Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city. Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine. But God prepared a worm at...

They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it. Exodus 25:10-11 WEB. The Ark of the Covenant was about the size of a small seaman's chest, built from acacia wood and overlaid with...

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia...

Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and Yahweh's glory filled the house. 2 Chronicles 7:1 WEB. When the Israelites completed the tabernacle and altar as Moses instructed, God lit the fire (Leviticus 9:23). Then, the priests were ordered never to let the flame die out. They were to add more wood each morning (Leviticus...

In the first chapter of the Bible, we see God, our loving Awesome Creator, bringing the universe into existence with His words. Every part of His creation is not just good but perfect—full of purpose, harmony, and life. From the stars in the sky to the ground beneath our feet, every living thing was crafted with intention. And when He created us, humanity, He declared that it was very good. (Genesis...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:39–40 WEB. Three men were crucified outside Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha. Which means "Place of a Skull." The Man on the center cross was Jesus Christ of Nazareth,...

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, "Didn't we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He answered, "Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:24-25 WEB. Shadrach, Meshach,...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. When the ship was caught and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Acts 27:13-15 WEB. The Apostle Paul was a Roman prisoner scheduled to stand trial before...

The men sampled their provisions, and didn't ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth. Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them. At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them. Joshua 9:14–16 WEB. Strangers came into the Israelite...

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely." When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, "Rabbi! Rabbi!" and kissed him. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. Mark 14:44–46 WEB. The evening light had faded, and it was now dark. Jesus and the unknowing disciples had finished their last supper on...

Much like a newborn infant cannot compare in wisdom to a seasoned elder, so too is our understanding of God if we neglect the lessons of the Old Testament. Their experiences and overcoming faith are examples for us today. The Old Testament is not just ancient history - it's God's story for us, full of lessons that shape our faith today. Once, when I was studying the book of Revelation and end-time...