Joe Barnett

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.              —Deuteronomy 32:7 In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer reels off a memory-jogging list of names whose work on earth had ended. Chapter 12 begins, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses .

Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.                                        —John 19:16 Pontius Pilate was impaled on the horns of a dilemma, torn between integrity and political heat. On the one hand, he knew Jesus was innocent

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.                              —Matthew 6:33 Matthew 6:25–34 is Jesus’ brief homily about worry. He says don’t do it. His prohibition of worry about material things is not a forbiddance of forethought, but of anxious thought. Don’t misunderstand

First I prayed to the God of heaven.                     —Nehemiah 2:4 Nehemiah was an exile in Babylon when visitors from Judah arrived and told him that Jerusalem was in shambles and the people were in disgrace. In despair over the condition of his nation, he wept,

We have come to worship him.              —Matthew 2:2 The birth of Jesus drew worshipers from near and far. The shepherds came from nearby fields, just a hop, skip, and jump from Bethlehem. The Magi came from Persia (present-day Iran), a thousand-mile jaunt. Their differences were vast: Racially, the shepherds

How good is a timely word.           —Proverbs 15:23 Kind words heal. Harsh words hurt. “Their words bite deep like the poisonous fangs of a snake” (Ps 140:3 CEV). Have you ever been on the receiving end of stinging words? Sure you have. Let it go. Repeatedly replaying spiteful, hurtful words

Those who walk in pride [God] is able to humble.         —Daniel 4:37 No generation has escaped the reproof of Lord Acton’s epigram: “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Nebuchadnezzar was a notorious example, erecting a ninety-foot statue in his own honor and strutting about his palace crowing, “Is not this great

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.                —Romans 8:1 Minister Ken Stegall says that he would like the two words “But Now” etched on his gravestone. Strange epitaph? Not if you’re acquainted with Stegall’s life-changing teaching about faith and grace. His desired eulogy

We have this treasure in jars of clay.                  —2 Corinthians 4:7 In my view, one of the most attractive things about Paul is the view he had of himself. He had to defend his apostleship, but did so reluctantly, saying that he refrained from boasting because he

[We are being transformed] from one degree of glory to another.             —2 Corinthians 3:18 For the Christian, there is a change that is instantaneous and a change that is gradual. Salvation is a change of a moment: the change from lost to saved is instantaneous: “Whoever believes and is