Today's Verse: When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ~Luke 7:9 God expects us to exercise faith. Paul said, “The just shall live by faith.” He also said, “For we walk by faith, and not by sight.” Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. However, the question this morning is, ho

Today's Verse: Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. ~Ezra 8:31 Years ago, Allstate Insurance Company branded the slogan, “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” When it comes to insurance, this is an important statement. When we say someone is in good hands, we are referring to the fact that

Today's Verse: They have spread a net by the wayside; ~Psalm 140:5b The word wayside describes the side of a road. It is not the beaten path that is commonly traveled. In driving this could be considered the shoulder of the road where cars pull off after a mechanical failure, accident, or for a road violation. To every day travelers, the wayside had the idea of a location that was not preferred or prominent. It is farm land to the side that was not broken up and ready for so

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: And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. ~Luke 5:6 Commercial fishing is perhaps one of the hardest and most demanding occupations in the world. This kind of fishing is done mainly at night, when it is dark and cold. It is rewarding work when the evening catch is very good, with nets full of fish, and very disappointing when the catch is dismal. Cleaning the nets and the boat is a daily necessity to be ready

Today's Verse: They were as fed horses in the morning: ~Jeremiah 5:8a As we read the Word of God, we find the Lord using many colorful images to describe a situation. Since the people who lived during the time the Bible was written lived in an agrarian society, the Lord used real-life examples to more powerfully convey the message He was trying to get across. An example of this is the frequent usage of sowing and reaping, or sheep and a shepherd. In our study this morning, t

Today's Verse: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. ~Proverbs 15:1 Publius once wisely said, “I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.” I think all of us can think of one or more instances when we answered or reacted too quickly to something said to us, and later regretted that we spoke too soon. Solomon said in a later proverb, “a fool uttereth all his mind.” This morning, let us examine the virtue of a soft answer. We see a

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: Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. ~Daniel 3:29 What does the term “no other” bring to your mind? It is a term of comparison that demonstrates the greatness and superiority of one object over another. It is a way of sayi