Jesus’ strongest condemnation was reserved for religious leaders and teachers. This is a reminder that if those who teach others are leading them away from Jesus Christ rather than to Him, they are actively engaging in evil. They should be exposed and sternly rebuked.
Simply put, what God requires of us as we live in this world is to love God and love others. We can do neither until we first settle the question of who Jesus Christ is.
Jesus never allowed Himself to become distracted from His mission and message. Even as He neared His arrest and crucifixion and was warding off attempts to discredit Him, He kept the focus on the call to follow Him and submit to God’s Word.
Beliefs have consequences, and so does unbelief. The persistent rejection of God’s message, God's messengers, and Israel's Messiah would have devastating effects on both the nation of Israel and all those who continued in unbelief.
To those who love themselves and hate God, the truth is an uncomfortable obstacle they would like to destroy. And this means they must attempt to destroy Jesus Christ, who embodies the truth.
As Jesus' time on earth is growing short, He is intent on alerting people that their time is short. Now is the time to believe in Him; and now is the time for those who do believe in Him to openly confess Him and follow Him.
Prayer was central to Jesus' life and ministry, so it is certainly a need in our lives. In the last week before His crucifixion, Jesus devoted a unique miracle to teaching, not only a sobering truth about Israel, but also a critical truth about prayer.
As we see Jesus entering Jerusalem for the final time, He is greeted by the religious leaders of the Jews, who hate Him, and the throngs, who praise Him but have false expectations. We do well to remember that religion and even worship are not sure signs of faith.
Most things we might be remembered for in this world will probably fade quickly from the memory of society and eventually even from the memories of family members. But we can be sure that our love for Christ will be forever remembered and honored by the Lord.
Jesus' earthly mission was to seek and to save the lost. That is still His mission today, and we are a part of it, called to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ with the world.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
In Psalm 56, Stephen Davey portrays David as “flying in the dark,” surrounded by danger and fear but learning to trust God’s Word as his instrument panel. Hiding in Gath—the hometown of Goliath—David faced overwhelming threats, yet confessed, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Davey emphasizes that faith and fear often coexist; trusting God doesn’t remove fear but steadies the heart in it. He draws three principles from the psalm: God’s Word is always relevant and reliable in trouble, God Himself is fully aware of every step and sleepless night, and God is compassionate, collecting every tear in His bottle. Davey explains that just as ancient people kept tear bottles to express sorrow, God lovingly keeps record of every believer’s tears—proof that no pain is unnoticed. He concludes that one day, God will empty those bottles forever, wiping away every tear. Until then, believers can rest in His presence, knowing He sees, cares, and sustains them through every trial.
