Today's Verse: She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. ~Judges 5:26 Sometimes, when a person succeeds at something in an impressive manner, someone who witnessed this endeavor might compliment them by saying, “You nailed it.” This morning, we are encouraged by an impressive deed performed by a woman named Jael. Jael was a one-

Today's Verse: And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. ~Ezra 9:8 The word "little" describes something very small and possibly insignificant. When we use the word, we are referring to something small in quantity. However, we know that little is much when God is in it. Jesus blessed a few sm

Today's Verse: This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. ~Ezra 7:6 Ezra was one of God’s great men in the Old Testament. God used this man’s pen, personality, and persuasion to help with the finishing of the temple construction after the Jews returned from captivity. He was a tenderhearted man whom God use

Today's Verse: This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ~1 Timothy 3:1 God uses many recurring words and phrases to strongly emphasize a precept, principle, priority, or practice in the Christian life. These recurring words and phrases make for encouraging and enlightening Bible study that strengthens us in our convictions and walk with God. One of these phrases is “a good work.” This phrase emphasizes a practice that is highly

Today's Verse: In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. ~Proverbs 15:6 New housing developments will have model homes for potential buyers to survey and walk through. Model homes are designed to have the most up-to-date appliances, colors, furniture, and other amenities to appeal to a buyer's taste. Some people enjoy walking through model homes to get ideas for the current home they are living in. Everything about a model

Today's Verse: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ~1 Timothy 1:3 The book of 1 Timothy is one of the three pastoral epistles. Paul wrote this letter to a young pastor he trained and mentored. He starts off this letter to Timothy by telling him to stay at Ephesus where he was pastoring and to deal with issues that as a pastor he needed to address in the church. One of thes

Today's Verse: Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. ~Numbers 25:11 This morning, our attention and focus is on the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron. His name is Phinehas. His name means “the face of trust.” He is noteworthy for being righteous and doing the right thing at the right time.

Today's Verse: But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. ~Philippians 2:22 Yesterday we looked at John Mark and his mentoring by Peter. This morning we are looking at Paul and his mentoring of Timothy. The principle of spiritual mentoring is given to us in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Today's Verse: The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. ~1 Peter 5:13 When we introduce or refer to family members, we typically refer to their relationship to us with descriptions as “my wife,” “my husband,” “my daughter,” or “my son.” Peter referred to a special relationship that he had with a young man he took under his wings. John Mark, or Marcus, is referred to as Peter’s spiritual son in the faith. We se

Today's Verse: And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. ~Numbers 26:9-10 Are you good at reading the signs when d

Today's Verse: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ~James 1:8 Are you someone who has a hard time making decisions? Do you find yourself in turmoil because you have divided interests? James said that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. The idea of being double-minded means to be “two souled.” Let us see the importance of being able to make solid decisions and being concretely stable about our belief. There is the characteristic of a double-minde

Today's Verse: That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. ~Nehemiah 6:2 The reality of the Christian life is that we are challenged with many adversities and adversaries. Each of them tests our character and whether we will stand or wilt when the pressure is on. Nehemiah was being pressured by two men who were his avowed enemies. They did not welcome his prese

Today's Verse: Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. ~Psalm 112:4 Integrity refers to the character, honesty, truthfulness, and virtue of a man. A man of integrity is non-compromising when it comes to his affairs and relationship with others. He is a trusted and respected individual. Another word that describes a man of integrity is upright. Ps. 112 is about the upright man. Upright means he is straight u

Today's Verse: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ~Jeremiah 1:5 When I was in second grade, I remember a discussion my father had with me while he was driving me to elementary school. He embedded in my mind the importance of knowing what career path I should take for my life. From that point on, he encouraged me to think about where I saw myself as a wo

Today's Verse: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; ~Titus 1:7 A leader is someone who has been entrusted with the responsibility of directing, guiding, and influencing other people in an organization or mission. A spiritual leader must be godly, trustworthy, and transparent. He is someone who carries a large burden on his shoulder in his leadership capacity. Let us se

Today's Verse: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ~Revelation 2:2 Revelation 2:1-7 is the record of a letter that the Lord had the Apostle John write to the church at Ephesus. God loves His churches, and He wants every local church and its members to have a long-term and deeply rooted impact where it is planted. The L

Today's Verse: By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. ~Hebrews 11:29 According to Wikipedia, the Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. It borders six countries. This salty sea is just over 190 miles across at its widest point and about 1,200 miles in length. There's a measured maximum depth of 8,200 feet and an estimated average depth of 1,640 feet. Needless to say, i

Today's Verse: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: ~Proverbs 6:6 When someone is served a notice, it is a formal announcement of great importance that requires his attention. Typically, a notice is served formally with a specified period of time to respond. This morning, we see a notice that God serves upon the sluggard. We see the nature of the sluggard. “Thou sluggard....” Sluggard is someone who is careless, complacent, indifferent, lazy, pro

Today's Verse: And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ~Luke 1:17 A man of the hour is a man who has a special purpose and function. He is unique, influential, and one-of-a-kind. John the Baptist was God’s man for the hour. The prophets Isaiah and Malachi foretold of John and the unique ministry God had for him.

Today's Verse: For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. ~Proverbs 4:2 Proverbs 4 is the instruction of a father to his son. I believe it is a good pattern for parents to follow for the training and instruction of their children. As parents, we must have the conviction that we never cease from being teachers of good things to our children, grandchildren, and future descendants. A father’s instruction is classified as good doctrine. Doctrine is what we believe and