Imagine being there, hearing these words come out of the fire (Dt. 10:4), accompanied by thunder and These words, just like the gospel, are the power of God, and necessary for you to know well and follow ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 15

Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 127 Q. is using quite restrained language here, compared to the vivid war scene John reports in Revelation 12 Deeper Certainly we'd all be much more alert if we could actually see the devil prowling around us like the devil; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Revelation 19

:11). Everything will not automatically start looking like this in its completion in this life, which is why all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (3:16 the right hand of God; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 12

In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul states that we are adopted through Jesus Christ. We are not God, like Jesus is God, but we are God’s children through adoption. There is no formal legal process that we go through, like filling out adoption papers.

Imagine what the 'rattling' sounded like as bones reconnected to each other in exactly the right sequence , and what it looked like as they were then suddenly yet incrementally fleshed out into full bodies!

The Old Testament book of 1 Samuel accounts how the Israelites wanted a king and asked the Prophet Samuel Spend time praying and reading scripture, even if it feels like a struggle to do so.

As the Father powerfully called things into being that were not (Rom. 4:17), the Son was right there, But just like in the work of creation, the Father doesn't work alone, rather it is "in the Son that all We know this because of several passages in the Bible like Colossians 1:16.

Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 117 Q. Dig Deeper Certainly it can often seem like the prayers you pray simply float up into the ether and never Let passages like this one here in 1 John build your confidence that "God will surely listen to your according to His will; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 19

We may not worship that item like we worship God, but it may have become sacred.

Easter has come & gone, but continue to be grateful for your Savior's suffering. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 37 Q. What do you understand by the word “suffered”? A. That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, Summary The book of Isaiah has many prophecies concerning the Messiah (Christ). Many of them focus on the birth of Jesus and his life. Isaiah 53 focuses on his suffering and death. There is no way to make this less extreme: Jesus suffered mightily on our behalf. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of what Jesus would endure for us: Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (v4-5) Through his death, Jesus bore our suffering. Through his crucifixion he took our punishment. Jesus was nailed to the cross so that all who call him Lord would not have to be. Our sin put Jesus on that cross. Why? The last part of verse five tells us, By his wounds we are healed. Dig Deeper Our only hope for salvation is through Jesus. This has been the focus of our worship, reflection and celebration, especially these last few days, and also our primary focus as we've read through the Bible this year. Today we are going to focus on Jesus’ suffering. Here is what the gospel of Matthew says Jesus went through on our behalf: Jesus was betrayed by one is his disciples, Judas and deserted by the others. Matthew 26:47-9 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. He was beaten and mocked. Matthew 26:67 Then [members of the Sanhedrin] spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” He was flogged, mocked again, and mistreated. Matthew 27:26-30 But [Pilate] had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. [The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After all of that, they crucified him. Jesus went through all of that to save God’s elect. While we should feel sorrow over what Jesus went through to save us from our sins, we can also feel gratitude. Jesus was betrayed, deserted, beaten, spit on, mocked, flogged, and crucified to save God’s children. Jesus knew exactly what he had to do and he did it to save the lost. Thank you, Jesus. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Jesus, you are our Savior who suffered on our behalf; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: May I be grateful for your suffering ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 3