Rest in the Bible

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did no t giv e us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” ( 2 Timothy 1:5–7 ) Timothy was the third generation in his family to possess this sincere faith, passing from his grandmother and his mother down to him. He was deeply rooted in a faith handed down through the generations.  Lord, thank you for giving me so many spiritual mothers and fathers who have entrusted their faith to me. Lord, help me to hand over my faith to both my biological and spiritual children. May they be rooted in a faith characterized by power, love, and self-discipline.

By Rembrandt   Joseph of Arimathea, though a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus.” — John 19:38 “Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes… They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices.” — John 19:39–40 “Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate…” — Mark 15:43 People described Joseph of Arimathea in many ways. “ A respected leader. A member of the council. A rich man. A secret disciple. A man who was waiting for the kingdom of God.” The Bible records what others saw in him. But we do not fully know how he saw himself. Yet his actions speak clearly. At the moment when no one dared to stand near the cross, he stepped forward. He could have lost everything—his honor, his position, his safety. Still, he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus,...