READ: Isaiah 58.4 NLT “What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarrelling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.” Nothing is more unattractive than hypocrisy. When I have talked to people who don’t go to church, time a...
READ: Isaiah 57.20-21 NLT “Those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God. It was Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in his famous Confessions...
READ: Isaiah 56.9-11 NLT Come, wild animals of the field! Come, wild animals of the forest! Come and devour my people! For the leaders of my people—the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds— are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give n...
READ: Isaiah 56.6 NLT “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant.” In the Old Testament, God’s p...
READ: Isaiah 56.1-2 NLT 'Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this.' Justice is a major theme throughout t...
READ: Isaiah 55.10-11 NLT 'The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, a...
READ: Isaiah 55.8-9 NLT “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thought...
READ: Isaiah 55.1-2 NLT 'Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk – it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? ...
READ: Acts 7.59-60 NLT As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Stephen was one of the seven people who were appointed...
READ: Acts 6.1 NLT 'But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily d...
READ: Acts 5.38-39 NLT Gamaliel said, “My advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them...
READ: Acts 5.1-2 NLT 'But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.' This is a...
READ: Acts 4.29-30 NLT “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy se...
READ: Acts 4.18-20 NLT The council of the Jews called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop t...
READ: Acts 3.4-6 NLT Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In th...
