Joe Barnett

We are the aroma of Christ. —2 Corinthians 2:15 Bread salesman. That was my first job. I was seven years old. I pulled my wagon to the bakery on Saturday mornings, loaded up, and went door-to-door in my neighborhood, selling freshly-baked bread for 7¢ per loaf. The Old Testament frequently speaks of sacrifices that sent […]

Life is not measured by how much one owns.     —Luke 12:15 Only once God called a man a fool. He was a rich man. Nothing wrong with that. So, what was wrong with him? At least three things: One, he was obtuse about God’s role in his wealth. His mantra was: “My hands

Who will get what you have stored up?                          —Luke 12:20 There’s a good chance that a self-storage building will soon be coming to a location near you. Before long they may outnumber McDonald’s. The largest building on my block is self-storage. I sometimes

Death has been swallowed up in victory.                —1 Corinthians 15:54 Surgeons at the Medical Center saved the life of a victim of a car crash on a Houston freeway but said he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Some victories are limited.

The guards shook with terror.         —Matthew 28:4 The guards at Jesus’ tomb were prepared to repel any attempt by his disciples to snatch the corpse and spread the rumor that he had risen from the dead. But they were not prepared to take on an angel who showed up and rolled

A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. —John 5:28 I wonder what Mary Magdalene was thinking that Sunday morning as she trudged the garden path in the predawn darkness to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. She didn’t have the slightest hope of seeing him alive

He is not here; he has risen.          —Matthew 28:6 Jesus began his ministry “to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah . . . the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Mt

Let God save him, if he wants to.            —Matthew 27:43 The religious leaders mocked Jesus as he hung on the cross (Mt. 27:41–43). “He trusted God,” they said, “so let God save him if he wants to.” Heaven stayed silent. Jesus said he could ask his Father, and he would

Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!     —Matthew 27:40 “Those who passed by hurled insults at [Jesus], shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son

Christ died for sins . . . the righteous for the unrighteous.                 —1 Peter 3:18 Turning his bruised and bloody face toward Jesus, the robber asked, “Are you doing this for me?” “Yes. And for that soldier with the club hanging from his belt—the club he’s going