The 12-year old daughter of the synagogue ruler (in the passage below) received a command from Jesus, “Arise.”

Peter, James and John witnessed this miracle of healing and were amazed.

In Romans, Paul quoted the following:

Romans 15:12 (ESV)

[12] And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Paul goes on to explain his life’s calling:

Romans 15:18-19 (ESV)

[18] For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, [19] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Not only did Jesus come to serve the Jewish people but to offer this great hope of deliverance to the Gentiles as well, through Paul the apostle.

The gospel of God’s deliverance and salvation through the power of His Son is worthy of amazement. The fact that it’s offered for both Jew and Gentile brings hope to the whole world.

Help us, Father, to call your Son, LORD of our lives. #ChristJesus

Arise, shine, for your light has come! -Teresa

Mark 5:35-43 (ESV)

³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”³⁶ But overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus^[b] saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.⁴¹ Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. ⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Mark 5:36 Or ignoring; some manuscripts hearing
2. Mark 5:38 Greek he

I love Valentines Day! The history of St. Valentine inspires many to give selflessly to glorify the Savior.

This passage describes the care and beauty of the craftsmanship surrounding the ark of the covenant, with the solid gold mercy seat being the focus. It represented the precious life, death and resurrection of our Savior, Christ Jesus the LORD. The two cherubim “hide” the mercy seat under their wings and watchful gaze.

We may not be under Cupid’s gaze this Valentine’s Day but be sure that God’s care of our hearts is no less impactful.

The question is whether or not we are willing to see the beauty. Being transformed by God’s love is His intention for us. #control of the tongue means changed hearts 💕

If we are not dull, then we too can be changed for His glory. 🌹 (check out the additional passage in Matthew below- bold/ pictures added for emphasis)! -Teresa

Exodus 37:1-9 (ESV)

Making the Ark

37 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits^[a] and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.² And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.³ And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. ⁴ And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold ⁵ and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. ⁶ And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. ⁷ And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, ⁸ one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. ⁹ The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

Matthew 15:15-20 (NIV)

15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”

16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

When Jesus said these final words (while in His earthly body), He entrusted Himself fully to the will of the Father:

Luke 23:46 (ESV)

[46] Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Even David spoke these words as a prayer to his strong “rock of refuge”. He fully trusted that God would “take me out of the net”, which was placed by tricky evildoers.

Have you noticed that those in positions of power and influence will at times do anything to get their way (i.e. King Saul)? The same can be true even in “religious circles” (i.e. when Christ was crucified because of being rejected by the religious leaders).

When we are trusting the ONE who scoffs at mere kings/rulers of the earth (Psalm 2), then we too can be assured that His kingdom will come. #heavensent

Our feet can also be set in a broad place because of the spiritual deliverance brought about through our Savior and Redeemer, God’s Son. May we always remember to cry out for God’s help in our times of need. See the Bible Hub’s explanation

Lord, please help me to purely trust YOU and not those who merely appear trustworthy. You are my rock and fortress, providing safety and strength to those who are yours. -Teresa #bornagain

Psalm 31:1-8English Standard Version

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. (Bold added)

31 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
² Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

³ For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
⁴ you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

⁶ I hate^[a] those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
⁸ and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 31:6 Masoretic Text; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome You hate