Today’s Verse: And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. ~Mark 2:4 Sometimes when our back is against the wall, we find that we go to whatever measures necessary to be overcomers. If it were not for extreme situations, we would not realize the power of God at work through us. This morning, we see how some men went through the roof to g

Today’s Verse: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ~Colossians 2:10 The word complete implies everything you need has been provided. The word as used in Colossians 2:10 means fulfilled; filled to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim. Another way of expressing being complete is by saying, “I am liberally supplied.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is perfectly God: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the

Today’s Verse: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Acts 15:26 What do you consider to be hazardous work? Being a firefighter can be hazardous work. Being a scientist who works with chemicals and radioactive material is hazardous work. Working on an oil rig in the ocean is hazardous. There are many hazardous types of work. James said in Acts 15:26 that serving the Lord Jesus Christ is hazardous. That might frighten us at first glance, but

Today’s Verse: Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ~2 Corinthians 3:17 Today, the USA celebrates its independence from the tyranny of political and religious oppression of England. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by our founding fathers. In the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there is a bell that is aptly called "the Liberty Bell” that symbolizes the freedom and liberty that we attained. There is

Today’s Verse: And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; ~Judges 16:16 Are you someone under pressure? Are you experiencing great stress in your job, your health, your family, or another important area of your life? There is the pressure of a trial, when the outcome of something is not in your control. There is the pressure from your peers to conform to them. There is the pressure from the world to ca

Today’s Verse: But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. ~Hebrews 6:9 A really good coach teaches, disciplines, and inspires. He patiently takes the time to help an individual achieve and excel in academics, artistry, sports, or a vocation. He is persuaded that his protégé can do more, go further, and attain new breakthroughs. Paul told believers who were struggling in their faith, “We are persuaded better

Today’s Verse: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ~1 Peter 1:7 Peter was writing to fellow believers whose lives and families were turned upside down by opposition to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christian faith had become hated and considered to be an enemy of Rome. These believers had to forsake their h

Today’s Verse: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20 Galatians 2:20 could be called the purpose statement of the Christian life. Many Christians struggle to find balance, joy, and peace, and they fail because of the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul found the victory by recognizing

Today’s Verse: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ~Hebrews 3:12 Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in 1 in 4 deaths. Cardiomyopathy is the hardening and weakening of the heart muscles. If we have heart trouble, we might describe our condition as a bad heart. Paul wrote to the Hebrew believers about the importance of having a spiritually healthy heart. In this pa

Today’s Verse: Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. ~Daniel 5:12 King Belshazzar saw the fingers of a man’s hand writing on a wall. The sight of this greatly shook him up. The Bible says, "The king's countenance was changed, and his thought

Today’s Verse: Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. ~John 21:11 Commercial fishermen use nets in order to maximize their opportunities for a good day of fishing. On a very good day, they could have a substantial catch that would test the strength of the net. If the net was not sturdy and broke, a great deal of profitability would be lost. Our passage toda

Today’s Verse: And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. ~Isaiah 8:8 The Bible gives us the real accounts of people like us who felt like they were near drowning in problems. Job said, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” They experience what “when it rains, it pours” means. Another description we use to descr

Today’s Verse: In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. ~Psalm 56:11 Psalm 56 through Psalm 60 are called Michtam, or teaching, psalms. They are also referred to as “the Golden Psalms.” The superscription to this psalm tells us when the event occurred. The background setting is 1 Samuel 21, when David fled to find refuge at Gath with the Philistines. This morning, we see how David went from being afraid to having complete trust in the Lord. Da

Today’s Verse: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. ~1 Kings 18:21 It was Edwin Markham that said, “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” Life is about the choices we make. We must choose between right and wrong. We must choose to live for God or live for self. Our choices are the results of our opinion about the matter that we a

Today’s Verse: For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. ~Psalm 48:14 The sons of Korah sang Psalm 48 as a testimony of God’s lovingkindness and greatness. The psalm starts off with “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised....” It is a call to God’s people to behold, witness, and experience the delight that it is to have a personal relationship with the God Who is our Creator and most high. The psalm sums up the delight that God’s p

Today’s Verse: Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. ~Genesis 18:14 While growing up, children can sometimes get exasperated with new responsibilities or projects. If something poses challenges in making them think and keep working away, they might react by saying, “This is too hard.” Something “too hard’ might be a perception on our part. On the other hand, something too h

Today’s Verse: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~2 Timothy 1:7 Recently, while I was witnessing to a young person about putting her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for her salvation, she said that she was open to being saved but was very afraid of the persecution she would receive. She was fearful of being rejected by her peers and being made fun of, and she was concerned that some would physically assault her. As be

Today’s Verse: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. ~Genesis 15:1 The Bible has many wonderful lessons for us about the faith of Abraham. He was strong in faith, not doubting the promises. The greatness of Abraham’s faith was because it was in the most high God. What made Abraham a great believer, great in faith, great in prayer, and great in his testimony was the simple

Today’s Verse: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ~1 Timothy 1:18 The Bible pictures us as soldiers in an ongoing war against Satan, the flesh, and the devil. It is a spiritual war that is ongoing. We are called to be good soldiers in the grace of our Lord. Paul encouraged Timothy to “war a good warfare.” We must be ready to fight. We must fight with the idea that w

Today’s Verse: Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! ~Psalm 31:19 There are two ways by which we are most appreciative of the goodness of God. The first is by having a spirit of thankfulness at all times. It is the will of God that we give thanks always in all things. The second is seeing His goodness in our life during times of great difficulty, misery, trial,