THE LORD BLESS YOU! May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. —Numbers 6:24-26 Yes, may you not only be blessed today, but may you also be a blessing to someone else today. May the Lord give you His protection today. Oh, that He would smile upon you today and be wonderfully gracious to you. May you experience His awesome favor today and have the peace that only He can give. Yes, may it be so! Dear Father, thank You for Your goodness toward us. Out of…

YOUR ARE CRAZY! One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. —Mark 3:20-21 Can you imagine? Jesus’ family tried to redirect Him from what He was doing, thinking He was “out of his mind.” Wow, think of it. They thought the One who created and sustains all things was going off the deep end. If that is how His own family felt about Him then don’t be surprised if people think that about you…

JESUS CAME TO PREACH THE TRUTH But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” —Mark 1:38 Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37) and He wanted to share that truth with many while He was on the Earth. That is why He went from town to town. He wanted people to hear His Word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zaaiFp4RSM It is His Word that people need to hear today as well! If Jesus went from town to town to share His Truth with others… am I? Am I concerned with people in other towns and…

GRASPING AT RIDICULOUS EXPLANATIONS As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.…

A DARK DAY At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. —Matthew 27:45 Bloody red sky Of night and morn Tis a witness His body torn And was for me Planned cross forlorn That I could be Once again born —tw A dark day indeed as Jesus took the penalty and punishment for the sins of the world— “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (I John 2:2). But the darkness of that day would flee from the light of His glorious resurrection three days later. Every day we are reminded of Jesus’…

THEY HATED JESUS Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands…

NOT ALONE! “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. —Matthew 26:35 They said they would not leave Jesus alone, but Jesus said they would— “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me” (John 16:32). Yes, even though everyone would leave Him as He went through much difficulty, His Father was still there. Yet, then in Matthew 27:46 we read “About three in the afternoon Jesus…

ENCOURAGE WITH GOD’S WORDS The words of the godly encourage many… —Proverbs 10:21 Dear fellow follower of Jesus, how will you and I be an encouragement to someone today? As we listen to Jesus He teaches us how to serve those we come into contact with who are weary (Isaiah 50:4). There are plenty of weary people around us. Let us me sensitive to those we come into contact with today. May we also be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in how to serve them. Dear Father, please give me the wisdom to encourage those who know You that they cling to You and for those who do not…

ETERNAL “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” —Matthew 25:46 Everyone will exist eternally. The wicked “will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Eternal punishment or eternal life are the options. Eternal is eternal and the same Greek word is used in describing the duration of punishment or life. May we encourage others to call “on the name of the Lord” and be saved to eternal life- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5GzOWkMiwI Dear Father, thank You for Your great love, compassion, patience, mercy and grace toward me. May I truly lift up Your Name in the power of…

WITNESS If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin. —Leviticus 5:1 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. —Acts 1:8 It is an interesting statement in Leviticus 5:1. If someone was a witness to something or new about something and refused to testify, then it was sin and they would be punished for refusal to bear witness. Think of…