chosen ⁽⁴⁵⁾

Psalm 51:1-12; Exodus 30:1-10; Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (read online ⧉) Incense was used as part of the priests' daily worship of God. It was a prescribed practice. Priests had a number of prescribed practices that they were regularly responsible for. They were constantly doing their tasks…

Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Genesis 9:8–17; Ephesians 1:3–6 (read online ⧉) Destined to be a child of God. This is such a comforting phrase. As in all comfortable things, there is a danger. This comforting phrase is often, and understandably, taken as being directed toward individuals.

Psalm 19; Exodus 19:16–25; Mark 9:2–8 (read online ⧉) Spend enough time in (at least) Christian circles, and you will likely hear the phrase, "mountain-top experience." This is usually described as a deeply powerful encounter with God that emotionally and spiritually separates someone from the…

Exodus 3:1–12, 1 John 2:28–29, 1 John 4:7 (read online ⧉) Moses was not a shining example of humanity. He was…human. He had a temper. He certainly had a confused identity. He was a child of the court of Egypt. How he fit (or didn’t…

Nehemiah 8:1–6; Luke 24:18–27; Acts 17:10–15 (read online ⧉) The Israelite Exiles have returned home, sort of. As Ezra reads the Scriptures, the remnant of Israel learns what it means to be God’s chosen people. Generations had already wandered away emotionally and spiritually. Then they…