TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 21-22 & Mark 8
Old Testament: Exodus 21- Bondservant

Exodus 21:5-6
“But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve… Read More

Exodus 22- Pray For Our Leaders

Exodus 22:28
“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”

The purpose of Israel’s time at Mount Sinai was to develop as a nation upon the foundation stone of the Word of God. Moses went up the mountain alone, … Read More

New Testament: Mark 8-  Giving Up To Gain

Mark 8:35
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense, but is true. The statement Jesus reveals is one of life’s greatest paradoxes. Man was created to know God. Jesus said that He came to “give us life and that more abundantly.” When our lives are lived in complete obedience to the Lord, we experience the height of living. When we hold back, unwilling to give ourselves, our time, or some sinful activity; we think we… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 19-20 & Mark 7
Old Testament: Exodus 19- Where Are You Going?

Exodus 19:4
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”

I imagine if any of the people in this massive caravan were asked where they were headed, they all would have given the same answer, “We are going to the Promised Land.” They had grown up… Read More

Exodus 20- No Idols

Exodus 20:4
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;”

On the top of a mountain covered in smoke, Moses met with God, and… Read More

New Testament: Mark 7- Far Hearts

Mark 7:3
“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.”

Man was created with a need to know God. In fact, we only experience the fullness of life when we are in right relationship… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 17-18 & Mark 6
Old Testament: Exodus 17- Hitting Rock Bottom

Exodus 17:7
“So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”

When the sojourning camp of Israel reached Rephidim, they were horrified to discover there was no water. There are many… Read More

Exodus 18- Next Generation

Exodus 18:17
“So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good.’”

As the leader of the congregation of Israel, Moses was sought out for advice for the issues of everyday life. Whenever people had a dispute with a neighbor, or a family crisis, they would set up an appointment with Moses, … Read More

New Testament: Mark 6- Limited Work

Mark 6:5
“Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

The phrase “He could do no mighty work there…” has always fascinated me. Think about it. The one who healed the sick, calmed the seas, rebuked the demons, raised the dead, created all… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 15-16 & Mark 5
Old Testament: Exodus 15- New Song

Exodus 15:1
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: . . .”

After experiencing the work of the Lord, Moses led Israel in a song of praise. This song is a beautiful example of worship. Moses begins by giving God praise for the thing … Read More

Exodus 16-Curiosity

Exodus 16:27
“Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none.”

Have you ever heard the proverb, “curiosity killed the cat?” It speaks to that part of our nature that wants to look into things that we shouldn’t. Not all curiosity is bad, in fact it can often lead to some pretty amazing opportunities. However, when … Read More

New Testament: Mark 5- They Could Not Tame Him

Mark 4:36
“When they had left the multitude”

Mark 4 ends with the story of a dangerous journey on which Jesus took His disciples. Knowing all things, He knew they would face a storm on the sea. He knew this storm would be so great that those who had grown up fishing those waters, and experiencing rough conditions, would fear for their very lives. But… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 13-14 & Mark 4
Old Testament: Exodus 13- Set Free

Exodus 13:3
“And Moses said to the people: ‘Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.’”

The day of Israel’s… Read More

Exodus 14- Boxed In

Exodus 14:13
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…’”

There can be little question… Read More

New Testament: Mark 4- Mysteries Of God

Mark 4:11
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God”

Paul wrote in1 Corinthians 2:14,

“But the natural man does… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 11-12 & Mark 3
Old Testament: Exodus 11- Stand Out

Exodus 11:7
“…that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.”

Many of the plagues that fell upon Egypt did not affect the children of Israel. God, by His grace, made a distinction between those who were… Read More

Exodus 12- Free Pass

Exodus 12:13
“…when I see the blood, I will pass over you…”

There are many pictures of Christ portrayed in the Old Testament narrative. We see Him as the offering of Abraham on Mount Moriah, the Angel wrestling with Jacob, the Captain of the Lord’s armies in Joshua, and on… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 3- Impossible

Mark 3:5
“Stretch forth your hand.”

When Jesus entered the Synagogue, it seemed everyone in the room knew He would address the man with the withered hand. His disciples were watching carefully. This event would be seared into… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 9-10 & Mark 2
Old Testament: Exodus 9- Free To Serve

Exodus 9:1
“Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

Upon being set free from Egypt, Israel was called to serve the Lord. We get some keen insight about true service as the story continues to unfold. First off, Pharaoh suggests that Moses and the men go, but they leave their families behind. This … Read More

Exodus 10- A Snare To Us

Exodus 10:7
“Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?’”

Pharaoh thought the problem with his nation was the believers, and as a result, he attempted to suppress … Read More

New Testament: Mark 2- Evangelism

Mark 2:3
“Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.”

There are so many fascinating aspects to this story: the crowd… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 7-8 & Mark 1
Old Testament: Exodus 7-8- One More Night

Exodus 7:23
“And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.”

Have you ever wondered how different the story of Exodus would read if Pharaoh had only listened to the Lord? Instead, Pharaoh is an example of what we should not do, when we hear the Word of the Lord. We read, Pharaoh refused to allow his heart to be moved. Before ever hearing… Read More

New Testament: Mark 1- Famous

Mark 1:28
“And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

In the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus encountered a man with an unclean spirit. While there is no… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 5-6 & Matthew 28
Old Testament: Exodus 5- Pharaoh’s Failure

Exodus 5:2
“And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.’”

All of Pharaoh’s foolish decisions can be traced back to this statement. The fact is, he did… Read More

Exodus 6- Flavor Enhancers

Exodus 6:9
“So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.”

Over the centuries, one of the most lucrative businesses was the spice trade. There were times when certain spices were worth their weight in gold. Names like… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 28- I Am With You

Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

As Matthew 28 opens, we find a few women on their way to Jesus’ grave-site. Filled with… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 3-4 & Matthew 27
Old Testament: Exodus 3- He Heard My Cry

Exodus 3:7
“And the Lord said, ‘ I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.’”

Since the incarnation, this is all… Read More

Exodus 4- What’s In Your Hand?

Exodus 4:2
“So the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’  He said, ‘A rod.’”

This passage has always encouraged me. We find Moses wanting some evidence that God had truly called him, and God chooses … Read More

New Testament: Matthew 27- Dealing With Remorse

Matthew 27:5
“Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

While I do not want to tackle the subject of the eternal destiny of Judas, I do see in him an illustration of how the Christian… Read More