New Things And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 (NLT) How comforting it is to read today that the broken and imperfect things of this life will not…
A Thousand Years Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 (NLT) This morning I asked the Lord to speak something practical to…
Controlled After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food.” Genesis 43:31 (NLT) How important it is for a leader—and for every believer—to know how to maintain self-control in life. It is not about controlling or dominating others, but about controlling and mastering oneself. In…
Authority After all this, I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. Revelation 18:1 (NLT) As I read this passage today, the word “authority” caught my attention. It makes me think about the legitimate right someone has to establish laws, give instructions, and—most importantly—the…
Buying and Selling When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Genesis 39:1 (NLT) When the Ishmaelite merchants sold Joseph, they were only seeing a buying-and-selling transaction—a financial gain. But God was doing…
Every Morning, Early “The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.” Luke 21:38 (NLT) Every day he was teaching at the Temple, and the crowds gathered early each morning to hear Him. This verse shows us a fascinating detail from the final days of Jesus’ ministry. There was an urgency and…
Kedron and Olives After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. John 18:1 (NLT) In this passage, Jesus and His disciples make a transition that is deeply symbolic. First, they cross the Kidron Valley, a name related to the root Qeidár, which means “to…
The Power of the Blood and the Testimony And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Revelation 12:11 (NLT) Brothers and sisters, the book of Revelation shows us a constant spiritual battle. John…
He Was Wasting What Belonged to His Master Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.” Luke 16:1 (NLT) In this parable, Jesus introduces us to a manager who found…
Peace at All Times and in Every Situation Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT) The apostle Paul gives us one of the deepest and most necessary blessings in his letter. We live in…