MSI Press Blog

  Melchizedek appears suddenly in the Bible, like a figure stepping out of mist. He is mentioned only briefly in Genesis, yet his presence echoes through Psalms and the New Testament, carrying a mystery that has fascinated believers for centuries. The First Appearance In Genesis 14, Melchizedek meets Abraham after a battle. He is described as “king of Salem” and “priest of God Most High.” He blesses Abraham with bread and wine — symbols that later take on deep sacramental meaning — and Abraham, in turn, gives him a tenth of all he has. This moment is striking because Melchizedek predates the Levitical priesthood. He is a priest not by lineage or law, but by divine appointment. The Psalm and the Promise Centuries later, Psalm 110 speaks of a coming king who will be “a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” The phrase suggests a priesthood that transcends time and ancestry — one rooted in eternal relationship rather than ritual. This “order” is not an institution ...

  “Worship the Lord.” What does that even mean? In Scripture, worship isn’t about mood or music or trying to feel holy. Worship is orientation. To worship is to place God in God’s rightful place, and to place ourselves in ours. It is the turning of the whole self—body, voice, mind, and will—toward the One who made us. Psalm 95 uses a verb that means to bow down, to bend low, to fall on one’s face . Not because God needs theatrics, but because we need truth. We worship when we let our bodies tell the truth: I am not the center. God is. We worship when we let our voices speak the truth: God is Creator. God is Shepherd. God is faithful. We worship when we give God our attention before anything else. When we soften our hearts instead of hardening them. When we trust instead of grasping for control. When we live the day in obedience, not self‑reliance. Worship is not a feeling we chase. It is a posture we choose. So, this morning, we bow—not because we are small, but because God is goo...

    Recently released: audiobook edition of  God Speaks into Darkness   by J Bennett Easterling. Book description: These brief devotionals speak to the enormous challenges facing our world today. So many of you are grieving loss of loved ones, or risking your life daily to help others, or facing loss of your livelihood, financial ruin or uncertainty. The Psalms and teachings of Jesus offer treasures of hope for today and promises us a brighter tomorrow. You will find in these meditations that God wants to comfort his own and then use us to help and bless one another. Keywords: Christian devotionals for hard times; hope in darkness devotional; Psalms for grief and loss; Jesus teachings for troubled times; Bible encouragement for crisis; Christian comfort in suffering; God’s promises in uncertainty; daily devotionals for grief; spiritual healing after loss; finding hope in scripture; Christian inspiration for caregivers; devotionals for frontline workers; trusting...