Scripture Snippets

Hebrews 7-23-28 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Earlier in the week, I gave a small Facebook devotional on the beauty of Christ being our High Priest.  When we read about the garments of the high priest in Scripture, it’s a beautiful image

  In Matthew 23, Jesus had just concluded his woes to the scribes and the Pharisees.  It was a stark condemnation against their teachings and a call for repentance.  While Jesus preached with authority and the firmness of a just king, this still took a toll on the Savior’s heart.  In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus cries out in heartbreak saying how He wants to save those of Jerusalem.  These same vultures who killed the prophets and elevated themselves above God.  Again, our Savior’s heart is indeed that none should perish but that all come to repentance. We begin chapter 24 with Jesus leaving the temple with the disciples and going up to the Mount of Olives which overlooks the city.  The disciples, being Jewish was in awe of the architecture of the city and the beauty of the temple.  Christ shocks the disciples by prophesying that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left upon another.  This prophecy became true in 70 A.D. when Titus and his legions would destroy the temp

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. One of the most exciting and compelling prophetic events described in the Bible is the rapture of the church. It will occur instantaneously and without warning. Suddenly, millions of people wi

  James 1:2-4 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Are you wasting your troubles? Anytime God allows trials in your life, He has a purpose for them. We often won’t know His specific aim at the time; nevertheless, we should squeeze out every possible ounce of spiritual growth instead of falling into despair and discouragement. With a shift in perspective, the trial that looks as if it might destroy you could become an instrument of blessing. The most natural response to adversity is to plead with the Lord to remove it. If that doesn’t work, we might be tempted to look for our own way out or blame whoever caused the problem. But no matter where affliction originates, by the time it reaches you, it’s been shaped according to the Father’s good purposes. The question is, Will you cooperate with Him or resi

  Proverbs 18:17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. Any person can sound reasonable, when he or she speaks first and personally presses for their own cause. The absence of contrary facts or counter opinions, and their emotional and fervent appeals, can give credence to most any claim. Anything sounds good in a vacuum.  Anything can sound good and reasonable when spoken of fervertenly enough.  Look at the past.  Look at people like Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, and don’t forget, Satan himself.  They all spoke beautifully and were wonderful orators.  They sounded reasonable not just to a few, but to many and were able to fool even reasonable men and women. Why?  Due to their beautiful tones, conviction, and what seemed to be reasonable propositions, they were blindly followed with the idea of selfish hopes. But all propositions must be tried by opposing arguments to prove their validity. We must remember wh

  Galatians 6:7 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Taken from the Life Principle from the Charles Stanley Life Principle Bible: Today is the father of tomorrow. What we are today is the result of what we have been thinking and the way we have lived in the past. Those who act wisely today will have wisdom in the future to make wise decisions. The same is true when we come to the subject of finances. Those who save wisely today will have plenty tomorrow. Those who spend everything they have today will have little or nothing in the future. It is a shortsighted person who thinks only of the now, doing as little as possible, for on payday he will have no way to avoid the poor quality and small quantity of his rewards. The nation of Israel had to learn this in a very personal way. Their waywardness and failure to do what God instructed them to do often placed them in a position where they would not have His blessings. The Lord gives prin

  Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. This is a really encouraging verse.  This is one that many turn to in order to perk them up in times of trials and heartbreak.  However, how often do we go to it with a self centered heart and not realize the ultimate beauty in such few words? Read that again with this question in your heart.  Who heals the brokenhearted?  God does.  It is through Him and Him alone.  We can do nothing on our own.  We cannot even pick ourselves back up.  We must rely on Him.  Will He use other people around us to accomplish this?  Yes, in fact He uses us a lot and that’s a beautiful thing about our God.   Even in all of His sovereignty, He allows us to be part of the work.  He allows us to just say, “I love you” to friends and family and perhaps change their whole outlook on their day. He allows us to share His Word with them and then He works in the hearts of men, women, and children.    We need to take ourselves out of the question.