Matthew 28 tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene and Mary visited the tomb only to be greeted by a literally ground-shaking sight. The massive stone sealing the entrance had been rolled back, exposing Jesus’s empty cave. For many of us who’ve been entombed by the travails of daily living, we pine for the day our doors will open. We long for light to come into our graves, for relief from darkness, for newness, healing, and breakthroughs. If you desire for God to roll back the stone that blocks your progress, learn first why He’s hidden you away in your metaphorical cave.
A brand new year gives us permission to hope. It’s as if the failures of the past are reset and we can try a different approach to make life better going forward. But it doesn’t take long for the freshness of the New Year to disappear. Reality kicks in. Breakthroughs are still elusive. Old afflictions still infect us. In spite of these, God reminds us in Deuteronomy 31:6 to take courage. We are not alone. He hasn’t failed yet. And He never will.
When manna first appeared in the wilderness story in Exodus 16, the Israelites’ initial reaction was, “What is it?” Dumbfounded by the surprise, they didn’t know it was heavenly favor in a time of uncertainty. Many times, life slaps us cold with setbacks. But with the bad news comes the good. There are miracles of grace even in moments when we get kicked in the gut. We only need eyes of faith to perceive them.
It’s not the first time a full double rainbow showed up. But it’s the first time it arched over my home. God decorated the sky. He bragged about His creative genius. But I was too buried in distraction to care.
Miracles are counter-intuitive. They defy the laws of science and challenge what we know is true. Often, we question their credibility because miracles are often out of sync with common human experience. We know miracles to be rare events and instantaneous answers to crisis situations. But what if miracles don’t happen instantly? In the healing of the blind man in Bethsaida, Jesus’ miracle came slowly. The healing was, at first, incomplete. And Jesus used an unorthodox, offensive method— spitting on a man’s face—which was as disgraceful as receiving a slap.
When you’re in the thick of waiting for answers to your toughest problems, believe that your miracle is in motion. Sometimes, God uses what the world considers repulsive and turns it into a channel of blessing. There are tons of lessons to gather from this bible study on Mark 8:22-25. Because in many respects, we too are blind, just like the man of Bethsaida.
God made you unique. There's a task only you can do. You have talents that can impact the world for good. So quit the negative self-talk. Let your light shine.
The seven "I Am" statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John were metaphors picked from the daily lives of the disciples. To deliver His core message, Jesus used objects common to the culture and traditions in biblical times. What did Jesus mean when He said, "I am the Good Shepherd" or "I am the Light of the World" or "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"? Let's revisit these I Am Statements and discover how timely and appropriate the lessons are to us.
"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." Psalm 71:20, NIV
That which is within your power to do, do it well. This is the theme of our Exodus 2 bible study on the birth of Moses and the challenges his mother, Jochebed, overcame to avoid the murderous Egyptian Pharaoh. Are you a Jochebed, contending with a conflict so huge, you feel there’s no way out? Are you stuck at the epicenter of a problem of cyclonic intensity? Desperate measures are needed, but you don’t know what to do or how to even start. Trust the God who planted you in a crisis. He is stretching your faith.
Life throws curveballs. Sometimes, it forces us to face challenges without help from anyone. Resources are low. Busy friends turn their backs. And we battle with nothing but faith and a prayer. Such was the predicament of a lesser-known Bible figure, Shammah. In this 2 Samuel 23 bible study, let’s learn to be fearless like this mighty warrior, and believe God’s victory is forthcoming to those who endure.
