Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-10“In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” — Isaiah 40:3The prophet Isaiah looks ahead, pointing to a prophet who would prepare the way fo

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:2; Ephesians 1:7-10Proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for. . . . — Isaiah 40:2God’s people had ignored his law and had closed their ears to the words of his prophe

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:1, 9-11, 28-31Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. — Isaiah 40:1The book of Isaiah is sometimes called “the gospel of the Old Testament” because it announces the good news (gospel) of the coming of God’s ser

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:21-48“You have heard that it was said. . . . But I tell you. . . .” — Matthew 5:21-22In this passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, our Lord cites several references from the Old Testament Law, such as “Do not m

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 4:1-6The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ. . . . — 2 Corinthians 4:4In this passage Paul speaks of people’

Scripture Reading — Romans 7:14-25I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin. . . . — Romans 7:22-23It is hard to overstate how much our minds a

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:5-11Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. — Romans 8:5There are two basic directions we can follow in life: our own desires or God’s desires. If we believe in