To be humble is to follow the example of our Lord and Savior. That means putting aside self-interest and petty jealousies. It also means seeing faithful believers as coworkers, not competitors, and rejoicing in their service for the Lord.
At times we see great potential in Jesus' disciples, but we also frequently see a lack of understanding, faith, and power. God’s work in us has given us great potential too, but the disciples' example gives us fair warning against self-assurance.
God's Word assures us that Christ's kingdom will one day be established on earth. The transfiguration is a brief but glorious preview of that kingdom, when we will serve alongside saints of all the ages in the presence of Jesus Christ.
Being a faithful disciple of Jesus is not about making Him a part of your life; it is about giving Him your life. As Jesus Himself puts it, you are to deny yourself and take up your cross daily.
Who is Jesus? This is the one question we must answer and answer correctly. Who He is defines who we are as Christians. To consider Him anything less than the Messiah, the sovereign Lord, God in the flesh, and our Savior is to dishonor Him and call our own faith into question.
The obstacles we see to God's work are opportunities for us to trust Him, conform our attitudes to His, and witness the fulfillment of His will. This is Jesus' lesson for the disciples as Jesus ministers in two Gentile areas.
The world always emphasizes externals--what people see and what impresses them. But Jesus teaches that no matter how perfect we might appear to others, if our lives are centered on the external and physical, we are nothing but empty hypocrites.
It is easy to become so consumed with the daily, physical necessities of life that we overlook our greatest needs, which are spiritual. The Lord knows our deepest needs better than we do, and only He can fully satisfy them. He is the true, life-giving Bread of Life.
The challenges--and the failures--we face in life are not obstacles to faith but stepping stones to greater faith. On the stormy Sea of Galilee one night, Jesus taught Peter a lesson in faith from his own failure.
Jesus' miracles often addressed physical needs, but their ultimate purpose was spiritual. The feeding of the multitude is a prime example of this. Jesus’ focus is on making, equipping, and sending out disciples.
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.
