Having been separated from his slave owner and eventually put into prison, Onesimus encountered Paul, a believer in Jesus. During the course of his time in prison, Onesimus comes to faith in Jesus, thus becoming an entirely different man. Paul writes a letter to his slave owner and asks Onesimus to deliver it himself upon his release. Paul declares that Onesimus is now a follower of Jesus with a new heart, direction, and standing before God and man. Paul asks his slave owner to accept him back, not as a slave but as a brother. If you are in a prison cell of some kind today, will you consider that the Lord may use it to transform your life and eternity?

PHILEMON 1:10-18

PHILEMON 1:11-12

PHILEMON 1:12

PHILEMON 1:15-18ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:EPHESIANS 2:3

COLOSSIANS 1:21

EZEKIAL 36:26

EPHESIANS 4:22-23

EPHESIANS 2:12-13

EPHESIANS 5:8

1 PETER 2:10

1 PETER 2:25

Despite betrayal and enslavement by his brothers, Joseph maintained unwavering faithfulness amidst suffering. He served his master diligently, earning favor. When confronted with temptation, Joseph clung to righteousness, not for earthly gain, but out of devotion to the Lord. Even when he possessed the power to seek revenge for the wrongs committed against him, Joseph chose to extend mercy and grace instead. In your current circumstances, whatever they may be, is God worthy of your faithfulness? 

GENESIS 39:1-6

JOB 2:7-10

GENESIS 39:7-10, 19-20

GENESIS 50:15-21

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:

1 PETER 2:21, 23

HEBREWS 4:15

EPHESIANS 1:13

1 SAMUEL 24:6

ROMANS 12:19

PROVERBS 24:17-18

Peter's powerful testimony for Jesus led to his imprisonment. While faithfulness often encounters resistance, believers can find encouragement in sharing the sufferings of Christ and our global brethren. Despite being chained in prison, Peter experienced profound peace, sleeping soundly—a peace unlike any the world offers. The Lord intervened, sending an angel to awaken and free him. God sees us in our own "prisons" and possesses all the power needed to break our chains. Are you resting in God's peace today?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

ACTS 12:1-6

ACTS 5:17-25

ACTS 12:6

ACTS 12:7-11

The Bible promises joy for all who know the Lord. The joy that anchors the soul is given by God to those who put their faith in Jesus for salvation. There is no other source of true joy. The joy that God gives is an eternal joy, unmoved by trial or storm and without end. True joy is a light and a witness in the life of the believer. Do you have true joy?

PSALM 5:1-3, 11-12

ISAIAH 35:8-10

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-2

To know God is to stand in awe of Him. His knowledge, wisdom, judgments, and ways far surpass our human comprehension. God has made Himself knowable through His creation, His Word, and ultimately, through His Son Jesus. Do you know God through Jesus Christ? Do you know Him well enough to stand in awe of Him? 

Romans 11:33-36

Every person has either hurt someone in their life or has been hurt by someone. For true reconciliation to occur, we must look to the example Christ set on the cross, exemplifying forgiveness and humility. In the parable of the two sons, the younger son greatly disrespects his father and runs off into reckless living. Even though this is a great offence, it ends in a great reconciliation because of true repentance and forgiveness.

Verses:

Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:17-19

Proverbs 21:2

Luke 15:20-24

Matthew 5:38

Matthew 5:39-41

Ephesians 4:31-32

Haggai promised Zerubbabel that God would endorse his leadership against all future enemies. The Lord declared He would shake the heavens and overthrow opposing kingdoms and install Zerubbabel like a signet ring. The unredeemed world will always resist God. As God shook the heavens in defense of Zerubbabel, He will do once more in a day yet to come. When Jesus comes as Judge of the world, every mountain and island will be moved out of their place. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. All will do this unto Him as their Savior or as their Judge. Which will it be for you?

HAGGAI 2:20-23

PSALM 2:1-3

PSALM 2:4-6

HAGGAI 2:21

HAGGAI 2:6

HEBREWS 12:25-29

REVELATION 6:12-17

HAGGAI 2:23

PSALM 2:10-12

During the time of Haggai, the priests told the people that they could not be made holy by association, yet they could be made unclean by association. This is still true now. A person cannot be made holy by knowing a righteous person, being inside a building, or abiding by a ritual. One can only be made holy by coming to Jesus all on one's own. However, anyone can be made unclean by associating with evil things and people. God will smite us to awaken us and bring us to the only place of blessing, which is obedience.

HAGGAI 2:10-14

MATTHEW 25:6-9

HAGGAI 2:13-14

HAGGAI 2:15-17

2 CHRONICLES 33:10-13

HAGGAI 2:18-19

When the people began to build the new temple, the older generation wept in memory of the glory of the old temple. The past can be the idol that robs us of God’s blessing in the future. The Lord encouraged the people to continue the work and reminded them that He would be with them. God does not call us to a task based upon our own qualification, rather He promises to be with us in our obedience. The Lord declared that once finished, the glory of the latter temple would be greater than the first. The Bible says that the end of a matter is greater than the beginning. Are you living in the past or the present? Is your life resting in the Lord or your own capability?

EZRA 3:10-12

HAGGAI 2:1-3

HAGGAI 2:4-5

EXODUS 3:10-12

HAGGAI 2:6-8

After many years of only having a dormant foundation for the temple of the Lord, Haggai the prophet is sent to God’s people. The Lord calls His people to account for having given full attention to their own houses while the Lord’s temple lay desolate. Though the people sought to accumulate earthly success, the hand of God had been working against them. When their spirit was stirred up, they once again showed reverence for the Lord and began work on His house above their own. Many people today are unsatisfied as they are working on the wrong house. There is no other eternal foundation other than Jesus Christ. The quality of what is built on this foundation will one day be revealed. Whose house are you building?

HAGGAI 1:1-5

EZRA 3:10-11

EZRA 4:4

EZRA 4;24

HAGGAI 1:6-11

HAGGAI 1:12-15

1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-16