Pain’s Purposes

Acts 7:57 “At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.” Observation: Stephen had been brought before the Sanhedrin under false charges of blasphemy against God and...

Practice Run

Revelation 7:15–16 “…and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them nor any scorching heat.” Observation: Rev. 7 movingly focuses on God’s ability to...

Standing on Tiptoe

Revelation 5:4 “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll.” Observation: In Revelation 4 John reported seeing someone sitting on the throne, but the chapter’s focus is on what was occurring in its vicinity. Swirls of light and booming...

From Ooze to You

Revelation 4:11 “…for You created all things and by Your will they were created and have their being.” Observation: This passage was written by John after God invited him to “come up here” (v. 1) to see heaven’s throne room. John reported seeing someone sitting on the...

Buyer’s Remorse

2 Chronicles 25:9 “Amaziah asked the man of God, ‘But what about the hundred talents I paid for those Israelite troops?’” Observation: Amaziah, king of Judah, was preparing to war against Edom. To augment his army he hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel...

African Field Hand

Hosea 4:7 “The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful.” Observation: Through the prophet Hosea, God condemns both the nation of Israel and their priests. They had rejected knowledge, so God had...