The anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews challenged the Jewish Christians to “draw near... hold on... and consider one another” (Hebrews 10:22-24). But how is that possible in these turbulent times? The next chapter answers that question! Hebrews Eleven has been called the Great Hall of Faith, a forty-verse summary of the Old Testament’s great men and women; folks who lived by faith in a living and loving God. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others lived exhibiting

Did you know that there is a lettuce patch in the Bible? It’s true. There’s a lettuce patch in the tenth chapter of Hebrews. No kidding. “Let us draw near... Let us hold on... And let us consider one another” (Hebrews 10:22-24). “Let us... Let us... Let us...” The Jewish Christians to whom the Epistle of Hebrews was addressed were discouraged, downcast, demoralized. They were ready to give up on Christianity and return to Judaism with its familiar traditions. They were growin

Jesus set us an example by consistently, repeatedly, giving thanks. At the feeding of the five-thousand, “Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish” (John 6:11). In the graveyard where Lazarus was buried, Jesus commanded, “ ‘Remove the stone’ ... So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you heard me’ ” (John 11:39, 41). At the last Passover celebration, “He

The first Passover was celebrated on the “fourteenth day” (Exodus 12:6) of the first month. God reset the Hebrew calendar saying, “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year” (Exodus 12:2). Three months later, they arrived at Mount Sinai. “In the third month from the very day the Israelites left the land of Egypt, they came to the Sinai Wilderness. They traveled from Rephidim, came to the Sinai Wilderness, and camped in the wildern

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the da

Generations of Hebrew families looked back to Egypt, remembering the ominous ten plagues and the first Passover night. They recalled that Moses, at God’s direction, had entered Pharoah’s chambers and announced the tenth and most devastating plague. “This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at the

Psalm one-thirty-six is an antiphonal Psalm, prepared to be used by a worship leader and a choir, a worship leader and the congregation, or perhaps two choirs. The choir director might sing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” with the choir or congregation responding,“His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). Early Jewish Rabbis called this the Great Hallel, the Great Praise. The Great Hallel reviews the history of God’s dealing with His people and is thus, a c

“When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the Lord: For he

In the great Hall of Faith, the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, one reads of the faithful patriarchs, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and others. “Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions... They were stoned, they were sawed in two...” (Hebrews 11:32-33, 37). Sawed in two? Early tradition suggests that Isai

The three synoptic Gospels each record the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22). All three record the Father’s intimate proclamation, God’s booming voice from heaven directed to His Faithful Son, saying, “You are my beloved Son; with whom I am well-pleased.” And Matthew, Mark, and Luke each report that, following His baptism, “Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for fo