As a child in Sunday school I was always encouraged to learn a Bible verse each week. As I remember some of those verses even today more than 70 years on, I realise that it was a good thing to do. Jesus encouraged His disciples to remember what He said.
If we read something silently, we take it in, just using our one sense – sight. But if we speak what we are reading, then we use a second sense, - hearing. The fact is that we remember much more what we have read if we use two senses instead of one.
The Old Testament is a recurring cycle of Israel turning to God, then as things improved, or the next generation grew up, forgetting Him, turning to their own ideas and failing once more, until He raised up a new prophet to turn the hearts of the people back to Him.
We start this month with the words of the prophet about the most famous baby ever born. Even people who do not follow Jesus will be celebrating His birth this month. It is sad that in many places, this month has become one when Santa is celebrated more than Jesus!
The best surprise for Adam was when he woke from sleep and SUDDENLY met Eve. Our verse today tells us that God decided that man would be lonely, so He put him to sleep and performed the first ever surgical operation by taking a rib from Adam and making Eve.
As we read the gospels, there seem at certain moments to be too many Marys! Three of them are mentioned in this verse. So we will attempt this month to decipher which Mary is which and look at the roles they played in and around the life of Jesus Christ.
We look this month at who God is according to The Bible. We will reflect on just a few of the different descriptions in some of the names that The Bible gives Him. As we go through, the month, take some time to ask yourself who God is for you.
As we look this month at the commandments of God and remind ourselves of the instructions He has given us, we start with this clear command from Jesus in His farewell speech to His followers. This command is repeated just 5 verses later. So it must be important for us!
A Call to Build the House of the Lord. Imagine you had a visitor to stay and showed them the guest room which would be theirs for the duration of their stay. How upset would you be if one day you found that visitor in another part of the building?
Employers have been dishonest with employees. People were lied to by parents, or other family members. Politicians are not honest about government discussions and decisions. Financiers are involved in wheelings and dealings of their clients affairs. Much of our media is giving us twisted truth. Truth will set you free.