Hearing

November 1, 2015

Absorbing the Truth “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:43,47). Regis Liberda Jesus delivered this hard-hitting rebuke to the Pharisees by using the metaphor of their physical sense of hearing to point to their lack of understanding. They were spiritually deaf to the word of Jesus because they were not in tune with God. Jesus also used this metaphor earlier in […]

Smell

November 1, 2015

Appreciation “The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of men’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done’ ” (Genesis 8:21, NASB). Len Griehs  Noah’s thanksgiving sacrifice following the drying up of the flood pleased God as a “soothing aroma.” Was God actually calmed by Noah’s sacrifice? The word for soothing in the text is the Hebrew nihoah, a clear […]

Today in Prophecy – Syrian Migrant Crisis

November 1, 2015

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Some 4.1 million Syrians have now fled their homeland, according to the United Nations, victims of more than four years of civil war in their homeland. This is the latest war to redistribute people from ravaged countries. Following World War I (1914-1918), when millions of people fled their ravaged homelands in search of refuge, governments responded by signing international agreements to provide travel documents for these first refugees of the 20th […]

Taste

November 1, 2015

Deeply Imbibing “O taste and see that the LORD is good, Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:8). Benjamin Stein Imagine holding a freshly rinsed strawberry in your hands.  Notice how plump and juicy it is and its deep red color. You see a bead of water running slowly down its side. You hold it closer to your lips and take a bite. Instantly the rush of flavor and sweetness envelops your palate and compels you to take a second bite, and a third, until it is all gone! If […]

Touch

November 1, 2015

Closeness “You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him” (Deuteronomy 13:4 NAS). Matt Kerry  How do we cling to God? Moses gave us a clue when he admonished the Israelites. He told them to follow Him, to fear Him, to keep His commandments, to listen to His voice and to serve Him. With these instructions, Moses implored the Israelites to develop an unbreakable mental connection with God. He told them to […]