Category: Scripture

“Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God so a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfecct those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For He says, ‘This is the new covenant I will make with My people on that day,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’. Then He says,’I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’

And when sins have been forgiven, their is no more need to offer any more sacrifices.” (vv. 15-18, NLT)

“Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.” (2 Corinthians 10:7, NLT)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1:5-8, NLT)

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So, then let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” (Romans 14:7-9, NLT)

“Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, let them serve as deacons.” (1 Timothy 3:10, NLT)

“Then God looked over all that He had made, and He saw it was good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31, NLT)

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26, NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new life-giving way through the curtain of the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting in Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.: (vv. 19-25, NLT)

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shown like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him and they fell into a dead faint.

Than the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid! he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.’

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”(vv. 1-10, NLT)

“Darius, the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a hight officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the hight officers and to protect the king’s interest. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.” (vv. 1-3, NLT)

“So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, ‘ Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement – we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors – that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to you, Your Majesty – will be thrown into the den of lions.'” (vv. 6-7, NLT)

“So they (the officials) went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. ‘Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to you, Your Majesty – will be thrown in the den of lions?’

‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘ that decision stands, it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.’

Then they told the king,’That man, Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.’

Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.”(vv. 12-14,NLT)

“So at last, the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, ‘May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.’

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king immediately returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called in anguish, ‘ Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue your from the lions? ‘

Daniel, answered, ‘Long live the king! My God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in His sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.'(vv. 17-22, NLT)

Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:

“Peace and prosperity to you! I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never end. He rescues and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (vv. 25-28, NLT)

“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the One who lives forever.

His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal.
All the people of the earth are nothing compared to Him.
He does as He pleases among the angels of heaven
and among the people of the earth.

No one can stop Him or say to Him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’

When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All His acts are just and true, and He is able to humble the proud.” (vv. 34-37, NLT)

“Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach,and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fulled dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because of the king, in his anger, he had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, ‘Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,’ they replied.

‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted,’I see four men, unbound, walking around the fire unharmed! And the fourth one looks like a god!’

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! come here!’

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads were singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (vv. 19-27, NLT)

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn incense before him. The king said of Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.’

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Sadrach, Meshach, and Abendego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.” (vv. 46-49, NLT)