“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.” ~ Genesis 30:22 REFERENCE: Genesis 30:14-24 Although Rachael was a loved wife, she remained barren for many years while her rival sister, Lear, bore children like it was going out of fashion. I can imagine the shame, taunting, suspicion, misunderstanding, etc., that Rachael endured from Leah and her neighbors. We serve a God who sees, hears, and cares. As our text reveals, God listened to Rachael’s prayers. Rachel tried everything possible to have a child, to the extent of giving her maid to Jacob. Yet,...
"And the Chaldeans who fight against this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger." ~ Jeremiah 32:29 REFERENCE: Jeremiah 32:26-42 Fire purifies and refines. In scripture, it speaks of the refining judgment of God. Israel provoked God to anger by their many idolatries, and He decided to judge them by sending the Chaldeans to ravage the land and take them into captivity. In addition to their imprisonment, Jerusalem would...
“That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” ~ Esther 6:1 REFERENCE: Esther 6:1-10 Imagine if everyone you ever showed kindness to remembered you and paid you back. Well, it doesn’t always work like that. Men forget, but only God remembers. The reward of kindness often comes from unexpected sources and, sometimes, from the same person to whom kindness was done. When God is set to remember and reward you, He will give kings sleepless nights. Mordecai gave...
“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.” ~ Philippians 2:3 (MSG) REFERENCE: Philippians 2:1-4 (MSG) In this world of competition and intense rivalry between people, businesses, and companies, there is a rising tendency for selfishness and lack of empathy. It is a dog-eat-dog world, and people don’t care how or who they hurt to get to the top. That is contrary to the spirit of Christianity. As Christians, we are lifted when we lift others and help others get ahead. Paul, in this...
“Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.” ~ Jeremiah 29:6 REFERENCE: Jeremiah 29:1-7 Life doesn’t always mimic storybooks; life can be tough. If we had our way, we would rather things were easier, better, and more meaningful. However, plans don’t always go as planned, purposes are disappointed, and life often surprises us. The enemy’s cruelty comes at us as bitter as lemons, but we must learn to turn lemons into lemonades....
“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” ~ Matthew 25:15 REFERENCE: Matthew 25:14-30 Each man has received something from God; He cheats no one and sends no one empty. As in the parable, it may seem unfair that one has five, another two, and another one, but God gives each according to His ability. The good thing is that He will not also judge or require from each one more than He gave them. The difference is what...
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ~Philippians 4:12-13 REFERENCE: Philippians 4:12-19 God did not make you from leftover material. He made you in His image and of the finest stock. You are fearfully and perfectly made – a unique work of God’s genius, created specially by God for a special purpose. You are a partaker of God’s nature, full of...
“God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity…” ~ Psalm 68:6 REFERENCE: Psalm 68:3-6 There is a myth about a particular warrior Grecian tribe who killed children born with deformity or inability because they could not stand having a weakling among their tribe. The law of natural selection also shows that weaker species of animals will die because they cannot adapt to their environment, while the stronger ones will reproduce. However, God cares for the weak. The Psalmist in our text exhorts the saints to be glad and to rejoice exceedingly....
“When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.” II Kings 4:32&33 REFERENCE: II Kings 4:32-43 “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants, the prophets .” (Amos 3:7). God places great value on His prophets (ministers) and often uses them as vessels through which He communicates His mind, teaches His word, and manifests His works amongst men. All through scripture, God speaks glowingly about them, save in cases where they...
“So, he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. Then he said, “About this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” ~ II Kings 4:15-16 REFERENCE: II Kings 4:8-17 The woman at Shunem dared to identify with Elisha in his needs and supplied his needs the best way she could. While she did this, she had her personal needs – she had been married for many years without a child. Her culture and times considered this a curse or displeasure of God. She pled with her husband that they should be a...