In Acts 16, we learn that Timothy’s mom was a Jewish believer and his dad was a Greek. Timothy is circumcised before he goes with Paul. I wondered about that, since the previous chapter was pretty clear on those requirements. My study Bible and BibleRef state that Paul believed Timothy would play a major role…
In Genesis 35, God tells Jacob get ready to move to Bethel to settle. In verse 2, Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothes. He takes the idols and earrings, buries them under a tree, and moves on out of the area….
In Acts 14, the original P.B. and J. are stirring things up again. Paul, Barnabas, and Jesus. They are in the town of Iconium. Iconium sounds like something you take for an upset stomach. But it was a town, and the Holy Spirit, working through Paul and Barnabas, gave them power to work miracles. We…
I find the lives of the early Christians fascinating. In Acts 13, the prophets and teachers of the church in Antioch were fasting and worshiping the Lord. I wonder what our world would look like if members of the church gathered more often to worship, fast, and pray. It seems like we usually go to…
In studying Genesis 29, we learn that Jacob, on the run from his brother Esau, finds himself in the land of his Uncle Laban. He makes it to a well, and bam, Rachel shows up; we see God’s perfect timing again. It was customary in those days for a man to work to earn a…
Can you imagine overhearing a conversation that would change the course of history? There’s a lot of plotting, scheming, and deceit in Genesis 27. First, Isaac is old and blind, so he sends Esau out to hunt and bring him his favorite food. He wants to bless him as the firstborn son. I can’t imagine…
We see a pattern passed down from Abraham to his son Isaac in Genesis 26. Abraham lied about Sara being his sister, not his wife, to save his own life in Genesis 12:10-20 and 20:1-8. Then in Genesis 26, Isaac does the same thing; he’s afraid that the people in this foreign land he’s found…
In Acts 9, we learn that Saul (remember him, he was there when they stoned Stephen) was eager to imprison and punish any disciples of the Lord Jesus. He went on his way to Damascus, where he was to bring the disciples back and punish them. But a light from heaven fell on him, and…
Reading Genesis 22, we learn of Abraham’s extraordinary faith and obedience; The story challenges us to trust God in the most difficult circumstances. God tells Abraham to take his son, his only son, Isaac, up a mountain and sacrifice him. He loads the wood onto Isaac’s back; he’s carrying his knife and the fire, and…
In today’s reading from Genesis 21, Sarah, who was barren and struggled with infertility her entire life. Back then, there was a heavy social shame that came with having no kids; people often thought it was divine judgment. Suddenly, in her old age, she gives birth to Isaac at the very time God said it…