"the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon". This personification of our enemy can represent three kinds of trouble. The lion coming at us with a bound: we can see him coming. And we can see many of our troubles coming. The adder or cobra comes on us silently and unexpectedly until ... Read more

"Put this fellow in the prison". Micaiah the prophet was not the last man to be interned at the whim of a ruling despot. He did not prophesy favourably according to the king's desire and lost his freedom as a result. But putting Micaiah in prison did not silence the voice of truth, or King ... Read more

"What I have written I have written". Pilate meant that the wording of the superscription above the cross of Jesus was not going to be changed. How little did he realise the import of his words! The enemies of the cross, urged on by the devil himself, would have had these words removed. They would ... Read more

"Better … a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city". Lose your temper and we fear you cannot be trusted with anything. The most wonderful and at the same time the most fearful thing you have is yourself. This is why we need to place our emotions into the hand of ... Read more

"Peter followed him afar off". No one was willing to identify with Jesus at this time. The crowds had turned tail and those that did not openly oppose Him became mute or stayed away. His disciples forsook Him and fled and though John obtained admission to the courtroom, he contributed nothing to Jesus' defence and ... Read more

"the wisdom of God … which none of the princes of this world knew". The Apostle Paul is here arguing that it was because the leaders of the nation were unaware of the plan of God that they allowed Jesus to be crucified. The earthly wisdom of princes did not extend to the heavenly wisdom ... Read more

"Michal loved David". Michal was Saul's younger daughter and this must be counted as one of the outstanding love matches of the Old Testament. Saul really wanted to do away with David but two things stood in his way. First, the obvious way the Lord was with David and secondly the genuine love that Michal ... Read more

"Great are the works of the Lord". Great because of their magnitude - His handiwork extends from the universe to beyond. There is no knowing how great the Lord is. Great because He provides for you - there is not a need He cannot meet or a prayer He will not hear. He knows what ... Read more

"Euodias, and … Syntyche". Two respected and influential ladies in the church in Philippi. Talented and with much to give, they had apparently clashed over a certain issue and what should have been a combined ministry of care and hospitality for the saints became a running conflict and divided the assembly. Things like this happen ... Read more

"like a tree planted by the water". This is a description of the person who trusts in the Lord. This tree is not burned by the heat or withered by drought. The water supply is always there and the green leaves indicate a fruitful tree. So it can be for all whose trust is in ... Read more