Joe Barnett

These were all commended for their faith. —Hebrews 11:39 After eulogizing the faith of Noah, Abraham, and Moses, in the this-is-what-faith-looks-like chapter 11 of Hebrews, the writer turns to the names, but not the details, of some other worthies. “I do not have time,” he writes, “to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel […]

To one he gave five talents . . . to another two . . . to another one . . . each according to his ability.                                  —Matthew 25:15 Do you look at others, whose successes you see and whose

[I] will remember their sins no more.                       —Hebrews 8:12 Contrast these two statements: “Those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins” (Heb 10:3). “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Heb 10:17). Under the old law, there was an annual reminder

You will call, and the Lord will answer.                              —Isaiah 58:9 The advent of email blew me away. I was used to posting a letter with USPS and waiting weeks for delivery and response. Now, I could post from my keyboard instantly.

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.                       —Luke 15:10 You may not know much about angels, but angels know a lot about you. Remember the day you decided that doing-it-my-way wasn’t working and decided to

His incomparably great power for us who believe.   —Ephesians 1:19 You don’t have to live in the dark. Power is available to light up your life. Paul writes of the awesome power you have, which may have escaped your attention. He prays “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that

You shall name him Jesus.            —Matthew 1:21 Parents-to-be give serious thought to the name of their baby-to-be. The baby’s name isn’t a trivial tag. It establishes an identity that will follow the child from the cradle to the grave—and beyond. Mary and Joseph weren’t asked what their baby’s name would

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.                               —Luke 2:11 In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. In 1753, Wesley’s friend, George Whitefield, altered

We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.              —Matthew 2:2 Charles Schulz’s A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut on December 9, 1965. Fearing that quoting the Bible would offend some viewers, network officials asked Schulz to omit the “Christmas story.” Schulz

On earth peace, goodwill toward men.                          —Luke 2:14 Edmund Sears was depressed. The United States and Mexico were struggling in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). And Europe was staggering under the weight of the numerous revolutions of 1848. It seemed to