Amos 4:1-6:14; Revelation 2:18-3:6; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 29:21-22 Sometimes families and friends out of love for an individual caught in sin and addiction will hold an intervention. They will confront the person with their behavior and challenge them to repent and seek help. The goal is to force the person into a changed life. God often has to do the same thing with us.In Amos 4 God showed how ...  Read More

Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 29:19-20 As God speaks through Amos, presenting His judgments against nations, several familiar “bad guys” show up. We read that the Philistines will be wiped out and the Edomites’ fortresses “consumed.” These judgments for continued wrongdoing seem, at first, only against enemies of God.And then, suddenly, we see Judah’s name. Following th...  Read More

Joel 1:1-3:21; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 29:18 Two major themes throughout the Bible are salvation and judgment. Judgment is the consequence for those who have not found salvation in Christ. These ideas are essentially two sides of the same coin. When Christ comes back what will face all of humanity is either judgment or salvation.Joel describes God’s judgment coming upon the nati...  Read More

Hosea 10:1-14:9; Jude 1:1-25; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 29:15-17 A baseball game is not over until the final out and football games are not over until time has expired. Similarly, until someone dies there is always the opportunity for them to receive eternal life. It is never too late until their life is over.Hosea has consistently pointed out the sins of Israel. The immensity of their sin seems so ...  Read More

Hosea 6:1-9:17; 3 John 1:1-14; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 29:12-14 In a world that values tolerance (an affirmation of nearly everything), we must learn to speak the truth. We are especially called to encourage, rebuke, build up, and sharpen those within the church. At times this may make for difficult conversations, but it is God’s calling for us.Hosea continually called out the Israelites for their...  Read More

Hosea 4:1-5:15; 2 John 1:1-13; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 29:9-11 All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This truth that all of humanity is sinful spares no one. Whether rich or poor, young or old, regardless of ethnicity or country of origin, every single person is sinful and in need of God’s grace.As God continues to speak to the sinfulness of the Israelites in Hosea, he confronts ev...  Read More

Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8 Many of us have experienced the pain of unrequited love. Often this was when we were young and had a crush on someone who didn’t feel the same about us, but loving someone who doesn’t love us back is always difficult.Hosea is a tale of this kind of love. Hosea is called by God to love a woman who will constantly cheat on him. He is calle...  Read More

Daniel 11:36-12:13; 1 John 4:1-21; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 29:2-4 The future should impact today. Our hope in Christ’s return and the new creation should transform the way we live right now. We are freed up to love because of all that Christ has done for us.Daniel’s description of the future may sound frightening. He speaks of “a time of distress as has not happened from the beginning of nations u...  Read More

Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 3:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1 Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You have probably heard this phrase many times before, and on the surface, it may cause us to resist power, but should this be our response?Daniel’s visions throughout his book have described various powers. Kings fighting kings, kingdoms replacing other kingdoms, and opposition again...  Read More

Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28 The biggest division in the world is between the creator and his creation. There is an infinite divide between our eternal God and that which his hands have made. We must understand who God is and who we are.Daniel acknowledges God as great, awesome, keeper of his covenants, righteous, merciful, forgiving, and merciful. In contrast...  Read More

Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26 We are in a spiritual battle. We may look around and think that everything is fine, but behind the comforts we find solace in, there is a war. We are participants in a war that has been going on since the beginning of human history.Daniel’s vision allowed him to see a glimpse of the spiritual realities around him. His vision of a ram a...  Read More

Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176; Daniel relates the vision that caused him to turn “pale with fear” and keep it all to himself (Daniel 7:28, CEV). Four winds (indicating uncontrollable forces) each from the four compass directions were stirring up the great sea (signifying chaos and rebellion against God). Four great beasts (symbolizing four great kings or kingdoms) came up out of ...  Read More