BLESSED ARE THE HUNGRY A wise observation by King Solomon: Hunger motivates work. In other words, hunger can act as an incentive for one to labor for himself. Self-employment is hard, but often the most rewarding, for both the stomach and for ones self-respect. Of course, the opposite must also be true: Full stomachs inspire

CHRISTS FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING Peter and some of the apostles were put in the common prison by the high priest for continuing to preach in the name of Jesus. That night, an angel set them free from the prison and instructed them to go and preach in the Temple courts. When the high priest brought

CAN PEOPLE TELL YOUVE BEEN WITH JESUS? Something extraordinary happens to ordinary people when they spend time with Jesus. When the former fisherman Peter stood to speak to the illustrious gathering of Jewish priests and rabbis they were shocked at his bold eloquence. So much so, that they asked Peter and John to leave the

GIVE THEM JESUS Peter and John encountered a cripple asking for money on their way to afternoon prayers at the Temple. While many worshipers passed by the invalid without looking at him, probably even avoiding eye contact, Peter and John looked at him intently, fixing their eyes on him. They werent afraid of his need.

LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD! One of Davids fifteen Psalms of Ascent, to be sung while climbing the steps up to the Temple Mount. It begins by expressing Davids gladness at the invitation to go up to the house of the Lord. Such joy for corporate worship should be on every

WRITTEN TO THOSE LOVED BY GOD The book called the Acts of the Apostles was the second New Testament work written by Luke. It picks up where Lukes gospel left off. Luke was a physician and a traveling companion of the apostle Paul. In his first narrative, he wrote an orderly account (Luke 1:3) of

THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the Rock, was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become

LOVE THAT WOULD DIE IN YOUR PLACE Davids grief at news of his sons death is perhaps the most vivid expression of mourning in the Bible. He was deeply moved when he heard the news. The Hebrew word here refers to a violent trembling of the body. David was wracked with grief. His weeping could

CHRISTS THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS Reading the four gospels together, there are seven last words of Jesus recorded. Anyones last words are considered important, so shouldnt our Lord Jesus words be even more so? This is the third of Jesus last words from the cross. It is a word of care for his mother

JESUS BORE GODS WRATH THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE HIS MERCY When David was betrayed by his son, Absalom, he fled from Jerusalem going East up the slope of the Mount of Olives. As he climbed the Mount, he wept and prayed that God would have mercy on him. God heard Davids prayer and ultimately restored