Saul’s birthplace was in the city of Tarsus which is in the southeastern part of Turkey. But at the time this was a Roman province and a Hellenistic culture. However, Saul was born a Jew and his lineage was of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin. His Jewish training from boyhood was in Jerusalem where he was schooled in both Greek and Jewish traditions. At the time of his training, the ranking rabbi was Gamaliel, his teacher.
After the crucifixion of Jesus, Saul, supposedly a part of the Sanhedrin council, cast his vote against the Christ follower Stephen after he was questioned by the council. He was also present at the stoning. It was at this stoning (Acts 8:1-3) that launched the zeal of Saul to hunt men and women who were following “the Way.”

God scattered these Christ followers throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who had been scattered preached the good news that the Messiah they were looking for had come and now there was a new way. Salvation by the Grace of God through the blood sacrifice of Jesus, The High Priest, and Son of the Most High God. Saul was not content to just look for these people in Jerusalem, he went to the council in Jerusalem to ask for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any men or women there, he might bring them back to Jerusalem for jail and prosecution.

As he and the soldiers were traveling the road to Damascus, a sudden and blinding light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” When Saul asked him who he was, the Lord spoke to him and told him that He was the Jesus Saul was persecuting. Jesus also told him to rise and go to the city where he would get instructions. The men traveling with him were speechless, they heard the voice but saw no one. Even though Saul’s eyes were open, the Bible records that he could not see. The men led him into the city where for three days he neither ate nor drank and was without sight.

A disciple in Damascus named Ananias heard his name called in a vision. It was the Lord. Ananias answered, “here I am Lord.” He was told to go to a street in Damascus named Straight Street and at the house of Judas, he would find a man named Saul of Tarsus. This man is praying and has seen a vision whereby a man named Ananias will come to him, lay hands on him, and restore his sight. However, Ananias questioned the Lord because he had heard rumors about this man who had permission from the chief priests to bind all those who followed the teachings of Christ. But the Lord told him that He had chosen Saul to be an instrument to carry His name to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. “I will show him how much he will suffer for the sake of my name.” Acts 9:16

Ananias went to the house where Saul was and laid hands on him so that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible records that scales fell from his eyes, then he rose up and was baptized and then ate food to regain his strength. He had been praying and fasting for three days.
He spent several days with the disciples in Damascus and then he, himself began to proclaim the name of Jesus and to discuss with others the proof that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Meanwhile, the non-believing Jews having received word of this began to plot how they could kill Saul. They were looking everywhere, but disciples were able to sneak him out of the city by night and lower him in a basket over the city wall.

When he returned to Jerusalem, those disciples were afraid of him. They thought it was a trick to trap them, except a man named Barnabas took him to the disciples and told them about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. He told them of the boldness of Saul to preach about Jesus. After some time with the disciples, they sent him to Tarsus where he began to spread the gospel.

Now as time passed, many began to believe in Jesus. Peter was now preaching to Gentiles as well as the Jews. Many were converted because the persecution had stopped, and the power of the Lord was being seen in every place the gospel was being preached. In the city of Antioch, there were so many being converted that Barnabas went to Tarsus looking for Saul to come and help teach and instruct the new believers. It is at Antioch that the Bible records believers were first identified as Christians.

Saul stayed at Antioch and preached for about a year before he went out of the Jerusalem church on his first missionary journey. During this time, he began using the name Paul which is his Roman name. This proved to be helpful as he traveled through the Roman provinces. From then on, he was identified in all of the letters of guidelines and encouragement he wrote back to the established work.

During his ministry, Paul wrote letters to churches and individuals which are a part of the Bible today: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. I personally add Hebrews to the list, which is debated. I lean towards the author being Paul because of the way the sentences are constructed. They are packed with so much information that you almost have to diagram the sentences to understand the fullness and meaning as in all the other listed letters.

It is hard to comprehend all the suffering Paul includes in his letter to the Corinthian church:

“Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger in the sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am no indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-33

In spite of all the beatings, shipwrecks, jail time, and just plain suffering, these scriptures came from his writings. May you be encouraged by them today.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” Colossians 1:11

I want to give you a little background to the story of David and Goliath. Just helping you to connect some facts and timeline. Hannah was very dedicated to the Lord and went with her husband to Shiloh for sacrifice and offerings each year. This one particular time was very hard on her, she had no children and began to pray earnestly to the Lord for a baby. God granted that late-in-life baby and Samuel was dedicated to the service of the Lord as soon as he was old enough to be weaned from his mother’s milk. His service was first to Eli the high priest at Shiloh and then he went on to be a prophet and judge throughout Israel’s territory.

As Samuel began his older years, his sons would have taken his position as judge and prophet but because they had done evil and also had taken bribes, the people protested and demanded Samuel appoint a king to rule over them as other nations had.

Per God’s instructions, Samuel appointed Saul to be the first King. Many battles were fought during this time mostly with the Philistines. However, King Saul went into battle against the Amalekites and the Lord gave specific instructions not to leave anyone or anything alive. They won the battle, but they took the king of the Amalekites alive as well as pilfering the land for treasures, and also brought back livestock. Because of King Saul’s disobedience to the Lord and because he turned away from serving the Lord, Samuel had to tell him that he would no longer be king because he had turned from God and had rejected His word.

Under God’s leadership, Samuel was told to go to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem and there he would find the next king for Israel. For fear of King Saul’s anger, he asked the Lord what he should do so that he didn’t arouse the suspicions of King Saul and be killed. The Lord told him to take a heifer for a sacrifice and invite Jesse and his sons to consecrate themselves and then come to the sacrifice.

Seven of Jesse’s sons passed by Samuel, but Samuel said that none of these were who he was looking for. Did Jesse have any other sons? He had the youngest son in the field tending to the sheep whose name was David. Samuel asked that he be brought to him and when he was before him, the Lord told Samuel to anoint him. When he anointed him with oil, the Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David.

The Lord withdrew his Spirit from King Saul and because of that, he was very disturbed and troubled. He learned there was a young man who was good with the lyre and songs, had a good appearance, and the Lord was with him. King Saul sent for him to come to be in his service to play and sing whenever the evil spirits disturbed him.

David was going back and forth between the king and tending his father’s sheep when he received word that his father wanted him to take provisions to his older brothers on the battlefield fighting against the Philistines. When David met up with his brothers, he heard a loud, boisterous Philistine with a challenge to the king and his soldiers. “Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”

David said to the men around him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” The answer was that the king would reward him with treasures, give his daughter in marriage and his father’s family would be free.

King Saul received word that David was going to fight the giant. The king questioned his youthfulness against Goliath, a man of war for years. David’s response to the king was that he had tended his father’s sheep many times when they had been attacked by bears and lions and God had protected him.

King Saul clothed him with his own armor and helmet and coat of mail and sword. But David decided this way was untested and he wasn’t comfortable in all of the battle garments. He removed everything, picked up his shepherd’s staff, put five smooth stones in his shepherd’s pouch, and carried his sling in his hand. He approached the Philistine who made fun of him for coming to face so great a man with sticks. He cursed David’s god.

Look at this description of Goliath “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits (a cubit is measured from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger) and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail (metal scales), and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels (125 lbs.) of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels (15 lbs.) of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.” I Samuel 17:4-7

David answered him back. “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” I Samuel 17:4-7

I wonder when I go in to do battle with this evil world, am I suiting up with the tools of the world or am I arming myself with the armor of God?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18

Arm yourselves with God’s provisions.

Sometimes, we read scriptures and are convicted that something in our lives doesn’t fit the picture of a Christian. God does have the right to expect us to conform to the image of His Son since He bought us with His blood and saving power. We should be a testimony and a witness to others that Jesus is truth and life everlasting. Sometimes it is easier to get the point if we look at the actions of someone else.

How about a man called Jonah? He was a Jew by nationality and would have known the Jewish customs, the ten commandments, and the rituals of clean and unclean, and as it turns out he was arrogant and prideful. When God asked him to go to Nineveh to preach to an evil city of Assyrians so that they might repent from all their evil ways, he looked down on them as being unclean and not worthy of his time. They were not Jews, why should he associate with them? From his perspective, they didn’t deserve to know God. They were a sinful and unclean city.

What would have happened if Jonah had obeyed God and gone directly to the Ninevites? God would have given him the words to speak so that the Ninevites might turn from their wicked ways to know the true and living God. The bonus to Jonah would have been peace with God and blessings beyond measure. We forget sometimes that serving God always brings blessings and rewards.

The scriptures tell us that Jonah ran away from God as if that were possible. He chose the opposite direction God asked him to go and ended up on a ship on the way to Tarshish. He went to the bottom of the boat and fell fast asleep. Meantime, a storm was brewing and tossing the boat so much that the mariners threw many of the ship’s contents overboard to try and make the ship more manageable.

That didn’t seem to help, and the storm continued to get worse, so they called to their gods to save them. When nothing happened, they went to the bottom of the ship where Jonah was sleeping and asked him to wake up and pray to his God. They had concluded that Jonah’s God had caused this storm.

They inquired of him as to what they could do to appease his god so that the storm would stop. Even they realized that Jonah’s God had more power than their god. Jonah told them to throw him overboard. He didn’t seem to be willing to ask God or even repent even though he knew his God was in charge of the storm.

The men didn’t want to throw him overboard, so they rowed even harder to try and make it to shore. Finally, exhausted, they threw Jonah out into the ocean. The Bible records that immediately the storm ceased. The men were so amazed that they feared God, made a sacrifice and made a vow to Jonah’s God.

I think it is amazing that even in Jonah’s rebellious attitude, God used the situation to make people aware that He is God, and no other God has the power to calm a storm. God wasn’t finished with Jonah because He still had work for Jonah to do.

I find this story to be a great illustration of how God calls us to the task of reaching all people with the knowledge of God and His desire that all should be saved. He has the plan, the provisions, and the results but we put our foot down and walk in the other direction. His results will come about whether we walk in the direction or not. What happens to us if we don’t respond to God’s leading??? We miss the peace in our hearts, the oneness with God, and the blessings and rewards He has in store for us.

After Jonah was thrown into the sea and the storm calmed, God provided a large fish to swallow Jonah, thus saving him. Was God done with Jonah? No, He gave him another chance to follow His instructions. Did Jonah recognize this was God’s hand? Yes, Jonah prayed to God recognizing all of this was God’s doing. Jonah 2:7 “When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord and my prayer came to You into Your holy temple.”

For me, I pray God helps me recognize quicker His instructions and direction for my life and I respond before the big fish has to come!

The Bible says: “The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” Once again, the Lord tells Jonah to go to speak at Nineveh and even tells him that He, God, will tell him what to say. These are the words that Jonah spoke as he walked through the city: “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” That wasn’t much of a message to a large city of wicked and evil people. However, the people heard what he proclaimed as well as the king. The king even went so far as to make a proclamation to the people to cover with sackcloth, put ashes on their heads, and turn from their evil and violent ways. This is an old Hebrew custom to show humility, mourning, and penitence before God. The king must have known this Jewish custom because the king declared that if the people would do this that maybe God would turn and relent from His anger and that none would perish.

Now we are talking about a godless city. Don’t you wish that it was that simple? All we had to do was walk through a town and tell the people the eight words God gave Jonah. It is that simple. If God makes a way and asks us to walk that way, then He will bring about the result. It is up to you and me to be obedient to all we know about God and He will do all the rest.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Was Jonah happy and blessed with the results? No, he said that he knew God would accept the repentance of the people because God was a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster. Wow, look at the character of God as recognized by Jonah. He knew all of this about God and yet he was unhappy that God didn’t do away with the Ninevites. Do we ever express jealousy that God blesses someone else in our presence?

Jonah was so jealous and disgusted that he went out of the city and sat down in the shade of a booth he made. God caused a large plant to grow to cover him in more shade for Jonah’s comfort. This made Jonah happy, but the next day a worm ate the plant and there was no more shade. Not only did the plant die, but God sent a scorching wind from the east which would have meant more heat from the desert. Jonah was so angry and mad that the plant had died that he wanted to die.

God said to Jonah: “So you have pity for the plant that you did not labor for or grow, which came to you one night and perished the next night, but you have no pity for the great city with more than 120,000 people who do not know their right hand from their left?

It is easy to see the mistakes and actions of Jonah because we have all been there at one time or another. I am grateful for this story because it gives me insight into the character of God. He is truly a merciful and loving God who bestows His love on us daily.

Paul said: “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:15

Are your feet beautiful and are they going towards the lost people who do not know their right and hand from their left?

The story of the five thousand men that were fed with five loaves and two fish is recorded in all four books of the Bible that were written by the apostles. John and Matthew were two of the twelve disciples of Jesus while Mark and Luke were of the extended group which may have been chosen later. Ref: Matt 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-14

Each of these four men recorded the miracle that took place when Jesus fed a crowd of followers. The disciples had been sent out two by two to spread the message: repent of your sins and turn to God. As it happened John, the Baptist, had just been beheaded by King Herod Antipas, Roman ruler over Galilee, because his wife Herodias commanded it. (It seems John the Baptist had voiced his disapproval of Herod marrying Herodias because he divorced his own wife to do so as well as the fact that she was his brother’s wife. His brother was also still alive.)

As they gathered and began walking, the crowd followed from all the villages where the healing of the sick had taken place. When they stopped, the crowd was there. It was late in the day and Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy bread. Phillip suggested to the Lord that even 200 denarii (eight months’ wages) worth of bread would not be enough to feed the crowd approaching. Andrew mentioned he had seen a lad who had five loaves and two fish. What was he thinking? Really? Did he think if 200 denarii worth of bread wouldn’t feed the crowd how would the lad’s basket? I would have been embarrassed to even mention it myself.

However, the Lord told him to bring the boy’s basket to him. Then he told the disciples to seat the people on the ground in groups of 100 and of 50. The basket was given to the Lord and before He passed it out, He thank God for the provisions, and the disciples passed out pieces of bread and fish. The Bible records that all the 5,000 men, as well as wives and children, were fed. Jesus told the disciples to pick up all of the leftovers which ended up being twelve baskets full.

I had a couple of questions: How big were the barley loaves and were the fish dried? Put into perspective that the boy was traveling by himself because none of the scriptures include his parents. His basket was probably packed for only one day. I am assuming that the bread was small flat type bread that was easy to carry, common in that time and that the fish were dried in order to carry it for the journey. None of this adds to the miracle, it is just my curiosity.

Because of the miracle, Jesus perceived the crowd was about to seize him and make him king, so he retreated back into the mountains and sent His disciples across the lake (Sea of Galilee) where He was going to meet them on the other side.

While the disciples were in the boat, a strong wind began blowing. They saw Jesus coming toward their boat walking on the water. They were afraid but He assured them that it was Him. The Bible says immediately they were at the land where they were going. Many of the crowd that had been following Jesus realized the disciples had crossed over the lake in a boat and so they also followed.

The crowd began to question when He got there. Jesus answered them back that they were seeking Him because they ate and were filled. But He wanted them to know that life was more than food that you work for. He wanted them to know that He was the bread of life.

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

Today, I’m putting an adult spin on the often-told children’s story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den recorded by Daniel himself in chapter six.

Daniel was one of the captives taken to Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem in 597 BC. You may remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of the fiery furnace story were also taken captive.

During the time Daniel was captive in Babylon, he was given the interpretation by God of a dream the king had that none of his magicians or counselors could interpret. Because of this as well as his honesty and responsible character, he was appointed to serve in the royal court.

Years later when the Babylonian region was taken over by the Persians, he was still given positions of great responsibility. So much so that during the reign of King Darius, he was appointed one of three commissioners over all of the satraps (governors that were over all the Persian territory). They had to report revenues imposed by King Darius as well as other administrative projects to one of these commissioners. However, the king was so impressed with his trustworthiness that he was appointed the top commissioner over all governors and commissioners.

Apparently, this honesty was a problem for the other administrators, and they wanted him out. They could find no fault with which to accuse him or figure a way to legally remove him from office. So, they devised a plan to trap him. Since it was well known to all that Daniel prayed to his God every day, three times a day, they devised a plan to approach the king with a decree that no one could pray to a god or human for 30 days. If they were found guilty, they would be thrown into the pit of lions as punishment. Because they all agreed, the king made it into a decree. His ego, their persuasion? Nevertheless, it happened.

Daniel’s reaction was to go to his rooftop chamber and pray. Of course, the men knew that he would and so they brought it to the attention of the king with the added warning that the king had put it into a law of the Medes and the Persians.

“Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, ‘Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” Daniel 6:16

A stone was placed over the top of the pit and sealed with the king’s signet ring. With a troubling night of no sleep and fasting, the king went at dawn to the pit to see if indeed Daniel’s God had saved him. His inquiry brought a response from the pit.

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” V.22

Now, I find it interesting to note that the seal had not been broken and no injury at all was found on him. Proving that whatever happened was not of man. King Darius was so overwhelmed with the protection Daniel’s God gave him that he gave orders that all the men who had accused Daniel were to be thrown into the lion’s pit as well as their wives and children.

I love the next few verses that give the impact of Daniel’s steadfast faithfulness to God and that witness to others. Look at what King Darius did as a result of Daniel’s witness of the saving power of his God:

“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27

Gain strength and encouragement and assurance of God’s love and protection for those who serve Him!

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16

These words have become a ‘peace in my heart’ standby and a confidence in God’s scripture when I am faced with the loss of a friend or family member or uncontrollable situations. I can tell you that was so true this past weekend as I learned that a grandson had totaled his car.

It was no small miracle to see my grandson and the picture of the car to know that God still had days left for his life. The car was split in half and the top completely removed. He actually stood up and walked away from the car with only glass, cuts and a broken jaw tooth. Apparently, an 18-wheeler swerved and pushed him towards the shoulder and as he moved to the edge the tires got in the grass and spun out. He ended up wiping out a few trees and came to a stop when the bumper wrapped around a tree trunk.

It just so happened a car behind him saw the whole situation and called 911. The witness’s name was Christian. Neither my grandson nor the witness was able to get any information on the truck because it was unmarked.

Now, you can imagine our family’s desire to be in God’s house the next day on Easter Sunday as we gratefully thanked Him for His death on the cross for the gift of salvation for our souls and we gratefully thanked Him for sparing my grandson’s life.

I went to my ‘peace in my heart’ scripture that the Lord made me aware of many years ago when my late husband Willis Hinkson was undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Each morning we would read from the book of Psalms and he would pick out one scripture for me to write on the statistics board in his room. (It was surprising to us how many doctors and nurses read the verse each morning.)

During that time, one scripture, Psalm 139:16, became a personal scripture for me to comfort myself in knowing that I had done everything I could to assist Willis as he went through cancer and that God was in charge of the date of death. It helped me to realize that God is the one in charge of life from before the beginning to the end and that no matter the circumstances it is still His charge. The day is set. When my husband died a few months later, that scripture reminded me that God had written his name in His book; the number of days set for Willis Hinkson.

“For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” Psalm 37: 23-24

“look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day…” Psalm 91:1-16

Scripture verses give us the peace in our hearts and the confidence we need to make it through any circumstances that might be presented on any given day. But is this a comfort to everyone? No, many people do not know the forgiveness of sin nor the peace in their heart nor do they know where they will go when they die. So, for those of you who may be reading this article and do not know the rest and peace that Jesus offers, I have given you a few scriptures to contemplate.

“ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Everyone is born into a sinful life because of the curse of Adam and Eve but we do not have to remain in that state because Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for that sin of disobedience. This is the acceptable will of God the Heavenly Father that Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby, lived among men as an example, died a cruel death on the cross for all of our sins, and then became alive to reign in heaven on our behalf.

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

My family and I were on a Bible study trip to the Holy Lands and as I stepped off the tour bus at St Peter’s church, a flying sea gull gave a splat of white that landed on my forehead. The tour guide didn’t know whether to laugh or apologize so he gave me his handkerchief.

The story didn’t end there. The bus soon traveled on to the next sight on the agenda which was Mt. Carmel. As we began the journey up to the top, the tour guide began to give information about the mountain. He made a long, drawn-out story about how pristine, clean, and white this city was. He said you wouldn’t even find a cigarette butt on the grown, but the clincher came when he looked at me and said, “And Charlotte, it is so clean even the sea gulls fly upside down when they fly over Mt. Carmel!”

That was my experience with Mt. Carmel and sure enough, it was white and clean and the rocks looked like white chalk. Being there I could just see the prophet Elijah as he called down fire from heaven. Did you ever hear the story about his willingness to stand for God against all the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah? He wanted to bring God’s people back to God because King Ahab, the most evil king of Israel in the sight of the Lord, and his queen, Jezebel, had turned all the people to worship Baal and had killed most of the prophets of God.

After some time had passed and a great drought of three and a half years had come upon Israel, God told Elijah to meet with King Ahab. When they met, the king called him a troublemaker of all of Israel. Elijah answered him that the king was the one that had forsaken the commandments of God and followed Baal. (Baal and Asherah were mythological idols mostly worshipped by the Canaanites)

“…how long will your falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people did not answer him a word.” Verse 21

That is such a sad verse. They, God’s people, couldn’t give an answer.

Elijah called for the other prophets to cut up an ox and place it on top of a prepared wood pile but put no fire under it. Then he told those same prophets to call upon their god to provide the fire. Well, those prophets of Baal and Asherah, all 850 of them, began chanting and cutting themselves and calling with a loud voice most all of the day. Nothing happened. I can’t even imagine the noise they must have been making.

As it became the time of day for evening sacrifice, Elijah repaired the damaged altar of God and he placed 12 stones representing each tribe of Israel in the repair. (reminding the onlookers of just who they were to identify with) Then he prepared the wood and cut up the ox and place it on the wood and altar. Next a trench was dug around the altar. He requested that four pitchers of water be placed in the trench and again a second time. His prayer to the Lord:

“Oh Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Answer me , that this people may know that Thou, O Lord, art God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.”

“THEN THE FIRE OF THE LORD FELL and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

It took a Godly man who was tuned in to God with the strength and courage God provided him to prove to the people that He, God of the Universe, was the one true God and worthy to be worshipped.

As if this calling fire down from heaven wasn’t enough, Elijah told king Ahab to get ready for the rain, because God would provide relief from the draught for His people. Sure enough, Elijah once again went to Mt. Carmel to wait for the Lord to send rain. Seven times he sent his servant to see if he saw any clouds because he was crouched with his face towards the grown. The seventh time there was a cloud rising from the sea and THERE WAS RAIN!

“O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me.
Thou doest know when I sit down and when I rise up;
Thou doest understand my thought from afar.
Thou doest scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, Thou doest know it all.
Thou hast enclosed me behind and before and laid Thy hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high; I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Thy Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Thy presence?
If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Thy hand will lead me,
and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
and the light around me will be night,’
even the darkness is not dark to Thee,
and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to Thee.

For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from Thee when I was made in secret,
and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance.
and in Thy book they were all written,
the days that were ordained for me,
when as yet there was not one of them.

I wonder how many people have read Psalm 139 with an understanding of verses `13-16? The thoughts of abortion cannot enter your head if you break these verses apart and realize that before you were born, God knew your frame, your name, He knew every part of you and your life and the time of your death.

This may be hard to comprehend on this side of heaven, but if God is truth and the Bible says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, then we must believe that our life is totally in God’s hands.

If we are in God’s hands, why do we suffer, have pain or feel like everything in the world is wrong and crazy? I believe there are many reasons:

There was no pain or sorrow until sin came into the world through disobedience of Adam and Eve.

We refuse what God is offering
“They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction.” Jeremiah 32:23

We do not acknowledge that there are consequences for our own personal sins
“So this I say and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”

We don’t view ourselves as a sinner in need of a savior
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Many teach there is no God
“The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’”

“Unto thee it was shown that thou might know that the Lord He is God’ there is none else beside Him.” Deuteronomy 4:35

Our bodies are decaying daily in a world with decay.
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Matt 6:19-20

“How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with Thee.

…Search me, O God, and know my heart;
try me and know my anxious thoughts;
and see if there be any hurtful way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalm 139

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have

everlasting life.” John 3:16

Matthew 3:15 records the baptism of Jesus:
“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him. Saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

So, who is this John recorded in writings by Matthew?

In the Old Testament, about 700 years before Christ’s birth, the prophet Isaiah spoke of one coming before the Messiah.
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.” Isaiah 40:3-5

Several hundred years after Isaiah prophesied, it is recorded that the prophet Malachi repeated to the people what the Lord said to him of a messenger being sent to clear the way before the Lord appeared. Malachi 3:1-5

How do we know this was the same one spoken of in the Old Testament?Matthew, referred to Isaiah’s words when he wrote about the baptism of Jesus.
“For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” Matt. 3:3

More information about John the Baptist is recorded in Luke. In the first couple of verses Luke says these stories were handed down by eyewitnesses but that he investigated them thoroughly. He tells more about the miraculous birth of this son to Zacharias and Elizabeth, both older adults without children. Zacharias, a priest in the temple, was considered righteous in the sight of God, blameless and keeping the commandments as well as his wife. One day while Zacharias was attending to his duties, the angel Gabriel, appeared to tell him that he would have a son and to name the child John, and that the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb. Fear gripped Zacharias, but the angel told him not to be afraid that his son would be a forerunner to make ready a people for the coming of the Lord. But because he questioned the angel and the message, Gabriel told him he wouldn’t be able to speak until the child was born.

When Elizabeth was about 6 months with child, Gabriel appeared to Mary with a message from God. That she would be with child and she was to name him Jesus.
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:32-33

Gabriel also told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was also to bear a son. Mary hurried to the place where Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. Anxious to visit and to see that Elizabeth was with child even in her old age. It is recorded that when the baby in Elizabeth’s womb heard Mary’s voice, the baby leaped for joy and was filled with the Holy Spirit. What a blessing and encouragement it must have been to Mary as truths began to unfold to her. The first chapter of Luke very meticulously describes this event.

Fast forward to the baptism. Matthew records the conversation between John the Baptist, and Jesus at the Jordan River where Jesus had come to be baptized.
“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordon to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’” Matt 3:13-14

What did HE say?

“Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Matt 3:15

What did HIS Father say?

“And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’.” Matt 3:16-17

This study can be used to prove that Jesus is who He claimed to be:

Prophesied 700 years prior to the incident.
John witnessed it as well as all those gathered at the baptism
They heard God speak
They testified to the facts
Apostles recorded it.
Especially Luke who states he investigated the handed-down story
and God said it!