Abundant Life The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT) Abundance is the opposite of scarcity. Often, when we think of these words, we immediately associate them with having a lot of money—or the lack of it. But this…
Miraculous Signs A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. John 6:2 (NLT) Someone once said that miracles are the church’s bells. They are what draw people in—a living church, not a dead one. Today, as I read my Bible, I notice that…
Between Sowing and Harvest “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 (NLT) In this passage, Jesus takes a familiar agricultural saying to teach us two vital lessons. On one hand, He acknowledges the natural process…
Christmas Characters and Life Lessons They were both righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. Luke 1:6 (NLT) In the story of Jesus’ birth, we find different characters who leave us with profound teachings for our daily lives. Each of them faced unique situations that revealed spiritual principles…
Guard the Joy at Christmas But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Luke 2:10 (NLT) Christmas is not just lights, gifts, or gatherings. It is a time when we are reminded that Jesus came to bring true joy, even…
Steps, Altar, Nakedness Do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness. Exodus 20:26 (NLT) This passage appears right after God gives the commandments to Israel. In the midst of sacred instructions, God adds this warning about the altar, the steps,…
Let Us Keep Being Slaves Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, “Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” Exodus 14:12 (NLT) This passage reflects the moment when Israel, facing…
The Winds At the blast of Your breath, the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the heart of the sea the waters became hard. Exodus 15:8 (NLT) In this passage, God shows His power over creation as He opens the sea so Israel can cross on dry ground while…
His Faith Grew Even Stronger Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. Romans 4:20–22 (NLT) This passage shows…
No Flies Because if you refuse to let my people go… the houses of the Egyptians will be filled with all kinds of flies… But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people live, so that no swarms of flies will be there… Exodus 8:21–22 (NLT) In this passage…