“The key to being more intimate with Christ isn’t to try harder. Rather, it’s to abide in Christ in such a way that his sap flows into you and causes a profound change in you as he fills you with his Holy Spirit.” — Pastor R, 2017 His source: I Am the True Vine 15 “I…
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. By which god do you swear? In whom, or what, do you trust?
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The Lord’s Triumph and Reign 14 Look, a day belonging to the Lord is coming when the plunder taken from you will be divided in your presence. 2 I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) God’s People Cleansed 13 “On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity. 2 On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will remove the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Judah’s Security 12 A pronouncement: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. 2 “Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against…
Said a breastfeeding mom and milk donor: “My little one gets gassy when I have dairy products, so I have cut them out of my diet. If your baby has the same issue, this milk is perfect for you.” Her statement suggests humans were meant to have only one type of milk — the most…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Israel’s Shepherds: Good and Bad 11 Open your gates, Lebanon, and fire will consume your cedars. 2 Wail, cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the glorious trees are destroyed! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the stately forest has fallen! 3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds, for their glory is destroyed. Listen to the roar…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The Lord Restores His People 10 Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds, and he will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone. 2 For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Judgment of Zion’s Enemies 9 A pronouncement: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place— for the eyes of humanity and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord[a]— 2 and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd.…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Obedience and Feasting 8 The word of the Lord of Armies came: 2 The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.” 3 The Lord says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the…
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. — Luke 12:7 (NLT) God’s love is overwhelming. He cares even about our sexual desires and tastes. So much so, He included Couples Nursing in His word, for those…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Disobedience and Fasting 7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. 2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to plead for the Lord’s favor 3 by asking the priests who were at the house of…
John 1:18: Berean Literal Bible No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. New American Standard Bible No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. New King James…
“Why should the woman submit…? We must reject the traditionalist answer, namely that women are not decisive enough. The fact is that many wives are more decisive than their husbands. So why are women called to this position? … the answer to that question is another question. Why did Christ become the one to give…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Eighth Vision: Four Chariots 6 Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. The mountains were made of bronze. 2 The first chariot had chestnut[a] horses, the second chariot black horses, 3 the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all strong horses. 4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with…
It’s deep in the heart of every human being. It wanders around in your soul, waiting to be satisfied. The way you pursue it will set the trajectory of your life story. It is everyone’s quest but, in this world, no one’s destination. I’m talking about your desire to be happy. Whether people know it…
But God (1 Corinthians 1:27)
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Sixth Vision: Flying Scroll 5 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll. 2 “What do you see?” he asked me. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “thirty feet[a] long and fifteen feet[b] wide.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for everyone who is…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Fifth Vision: Gold Lampstand 4 The angel who was speaking with me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top. The lampstand also has seven lamps at the top…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Fourth Vision: High Priest and Branch 3 Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan[a] standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord[b] said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Third Vision: Surveyor 2 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to determine its width and length.” 3 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel went out to meet…
But God (Psalm 9:18)
“For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.” — Proverbs 6:34-35 God is a jealous God. He’s particularly infuriated by sexual infidelity because it parallels spiritual adultery. These sins tell God He…
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) A Plea for Repentance 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: 2 “The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors. 3 So tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: Return to me—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—and I will…
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. (Psalm 103) When lonely and struggling with temptation, trust that your Maker won’t let you suffer. He’s the one who gave you these desires, and…
For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24 (KJV) “The Genesis text calls what happens ‘cleaving.’ This archaic English term, which you can find in the King James Version, conveys the strength of the Hebrew word which…
When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and[fn] bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. Deuteronomy 24:5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.24.5.NKJV Footnote: Proverbs 5:18
God takes no pains whatsoever to prove Himself to us in His word. The Bible always presupposes our knowledge of His existence, because every human being knows God exists, and is without excuse. ¹, ² Similarly, ANRs between married couples are taken for granted in Scripture. When God designed the institution of marriage, along with…
“Drink heavily from her breasts.” That’s one of God’s prescriptions for a strong, faithful marriage. Of course, hinging your marriage on the gospel of His Son is His main prescription, but physical and sexual intimacy definitely matter to Him. Proverbs 5-7 almost function as a unit, warning us to avoid adulterous people, by prescribing, among…
But God (Genesis 50:20)
