Podcasts by Today in the Word Devotional

Naming and Identity from 2023-11-02T05:00

Who are you? If you were to answer that question, you might start with your name, your relationships, and your job. The roles we play, whether at work or home, help define our identity. In Genes...

Created and Called from 2023-11-01T05:00

What comes to mind when you hear the word “calling”? Your vocation? Your mission? The particular work God has given you to do?

Certainly, we can use “calling” to refer to our primary occu...

Remember Me with Favor from 2023-10-31T05:00

What a journey we have taken this month! We traveled with Nehemiah from the Persian capital all the way to Jerusalem. We mourned over the devastation of Jerusalem and rejoiced when God’s favor f...

Forbidden Marriage from 2023-10-30T05:00

Contemporary readers may be shocked by Nehemiah’s behavior in today’s passage, especially in this age that celebrates inclusivity and diversity (v. 23). Nehemiah, however, offers two explanation...

Selling on the Sabbath from 2023-10-29T05:00

Growing up, I believed that Christians “don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or go with girls who do.” Never once did someone tell me that stopping by the grocery store on the way home from church was a...

Neglecting the House of God from 2023-10-28T05:00

Many churches, especially small congregations with very few full- time staff, will host a workday. On that day, members come together to complete much needed fix-it projects and generally clean ...

A Need to Repent from 2023-10-27T05:00

What does it mean to repent? It is one thing to feel sorry that you did wrong, it is another thing to truly repent. As Martin Luther said, “To do so [to sin] no more is the truest repentance.” Listen

Providing for Temple Service from 2023-10-26T05:00

Pastor and author A. W. Tozer once observed, “As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for...

The Walls Dedicated from 2023-10-25T05:00

Think about your favorite book or movie or television show. What was the best part? What do you remember most fondly? Every good story moves up, up, up, with building tension, action, and confli...

Repopulating the Holy City from 2023-10-24T05:00

My wife and I have lived in four different States during our marriage, and each move became increasingly complex. The most recent, from central Louisiana to northern Idaho, was the most difficul...

Covenanting to Obey from 2023-10-23T05:00

Growing up Southern Baptist, I was presented with several options at the altar call each week. The speaker called those who did not know Jesus to repent and trust in Him; those who knew Jesus bu...

God’s Faithfulness from 2023-10-22T05:00

Sometimes the distressing situation we find ourselves in is a result of our own poor choices. Sin has consequences, and we live with the fall because of our disobedience. Nehemiah chapter 9 ends...

Rightly Remembering the Past from 2023-10-21T05:00

Have you ever been tempted to remember something a bit differently than it happened? I may be the only one, but I tend to remember my sin as not so bad and to spin what I did (or didn’t do) to m...

Read, Confess, Worship from 2023-10-20T05:00

Several years ago, my wife and I were part of a new church in Kansas City. One of my favorite parts of this fledgling community was that each Sunday included the basic format we see in Nehemiah ...

Returning to Obedience from 2023-10-19T05:00

Have you ever been on a camping trip? I’ve been on several such trips, spending the evenings around the campfire and sleeping on the ground in a tent. Well, today’s passage describes something s...

The Joy of Understanding from 2023-10-18T05:00

Have you ever attended a wedding reception? It’s one of my favorite events. I love the food, the cake, and the smiles plastered on everyone’s faces. Most of all I love that it makes me think of ...

Making Scripture Clear from 2023-10-17T05:00

Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture, one that always brings you comfort, or hope, or joy, or peace? Today’s reading is one of those passages for me. As a teacher of Scripture, my heart s...

Generation after Generation from 2023-10-16T05:00

I’ve been teaching Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute for ten years now, so I have it on good authority that the long genealogies are everyone’s favorite part of Scripture. How can you not l...

Beware of Corruption from 2023-10-15T05:00

We’ve all heard that “Bad company corrupts good morals” or “One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel”. Jesus gave a similar warning, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the ...

The Wall Is Finished! from 2023-10-14T05:00

Do you remember the last time you successfully finished something you thought could never be accomplished? I remember the moment my wife delivered our oldest son after 48 hours of labor. I held ...

Refusing to Cower from 2023-10-13T05:00

In 1895, a young woman named Amy Carmichael came to India where she made it her life’s mission to rescue orphaned temple children. Amy founded the Dohnavur Fellowship which included nurseries, c...

Live Generously from 2023-10-12T05:00

If you’ve watched shows such as Downton Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs, you know that in England, the nobility lived in an entirely different world than the serving class. The s...

Defending the Weak from 2023-10-11T05:00

When asked about the most important law in the Old Testament, Jesus famously responded that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Matt. 22:37). No...

Weapons at the Ready from 2023-10-10T05:00

I love basketball and underdog movies. That’s why Glory Road is one of my favorite films. It tells the story of Texas Western College, the first team in NCAA history with an all-black s...

Facing Down Opposition from 2023-10-09T05:00

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when it felt like everyone and everything was against you? Everywhere you turned, you faced the enemy’s fiery darts. Such times call us to trust in ...

Too Good to Serve? from 2023-10-08T05:00

Have you ever seen Undercover Boss, the reality TV show? In it, a company’s CEO, owner, or other high-ranking employees go undercover to work at an entry-level position in their company...

Mocking and Ridicule from 2023-10-07T05:00

I was mocked a lot as a kid. I was dorky, into video games, bad at sports, short, and weighed more than most kids my age. Mocking and ridicule hurt. Although the people in today’s passage weren’...

The Courage to Begin from 2023-10-06T05:00

Have you ever been faced with a huge task, afraid to take the first step even when you knew God had called you to it? Perhaps you had everything planned out, knew God was with you, and all that ...

Enemies of God’s Work from 2023-10-05T05:00

Like many people, I typically interpret opposition as a sign that I am doing something wrong, while a smooth road ahead makes me think I’m on the right path. We learned yesterday that God made t...

God’s Gracious Hand from 2023-10-04T05:00

Have you ever been afraid to ask your boss for something, such as a raise or maybe some time off? I know I have! I’ve been anxious that the answer would be no, or—even worse—that I’d be fired fo...

A Prayer God Hears from 2023-10-03T05:00

I’ve never read Judy Blume’s book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, but time and again I’ve thought of that title as I poured out prayers that felt like they got no further than the...

Times of Trouble from 2023-10-02T05:00

Going against the wave of technology, I exchanged my smartphone for a “dumb” phone several years ago. But before then, I remember texting with friends and seeing those little three dots come up ...

The Lord Comforts from 2023-10-01T05:00

Do you know what your name means? There are websites and books dedicated to explaining the meaning behind names. Maybe you were given a family name—I’m named after my paternal grandfather—or may...

Pain and Suffering from 2022-04-21T06:03

“I am not a theologian or a scholar,” Elisabeth Elliot once said,“but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say t...

A Horrifying Act from 2022-04-20T06:03

Who is the bestselling novelist in history? Agatha Christie, the mystery writer! Her novels have sold more than one billion copies in English and another one billion in more than 100 other language...

Freedom to Fall from 2022-04-19T06:03

African Americans who want to learn more about their ancestry have, as of 2016, a new database they can consult. The Freedman’s Bureau Project digitized post-Civil War historical records in o...

A Field, a Jar, and a Prayer from 2022-04-18T06:03

When we“closed” on the sale of our house, it was a tedious affair. My wife and I, as well as our realtor, the seller, and a title expert, sat at a conference table stacked with papers. ...

Promise of Restoration from 2022-04-17T06:03

Does God always give us what we deserve? Thankfully, no! Jeremiah chapters 30 to 33 are often called“the Book of Consolation.” Pastor and author Dane Ortlund explains this is“beca...

An Important Letter from 2022-04-16T06:03

I served for two years as a Christian English teacher in China. In those days before email and Skype, handwritten letters meant a lot. Each letter took about three weeks one way, so even if the rec...

Success in God's Eyes from 2022-04-15T06:03

Most people place a high value on success. We judge ourselves and others by the things we have achieved, the house we live in, or the clothes we wear. If we’ve done well, we feel our lives sh...

The Righteous Branch from 2022-04-14T06:03

In 2013, Pakistan set a world record by planting 847,275 trees in a single day. In 2016, India broke that record by planting an astounding 49.3 million trees in one day. In 2019, Ethiopia shattered...

False Faith from 2022-04-13T06:03

In the early church, believers shared whatever they had to meet one another’s needs. Barnabas sold some property and gave the money to the apostles to distribute. Noticing the praise he recei...

Facing Discouragement from 2022-04-12T06:03

The famous artist Donatello completed a life-size marble sculpture of the prophet Jeremiah in 1427. If you visited the museum in Florence, Italy, you’d note that Jeremiah looks fatigued, even...

The Sovereign Potter from 2022-04-11T06:03

My youngest child and I recently went on a“daddy-daughter date” to a pottery shop. As we chatted, she painted a round trinket box in a rainbow of bright colors. Two weeks later, we pick...

Keeping the Sabbath from 2022-04-10T06:03

Disaster movies such as Independence Day, Deep Impact, and The Day After Tomorrow like to use special effects to show the Statue of Liberty being destroyed. It’s a shorthand way of symbolizin...

The Weeping Prophet from 2022-04-09T06:03

Jeremiah was called“the weeping prophet.” He was not just sad in an emotional sense. His tears expressed deep grief for sin and its consequences. At the same time Jeremiah’s grief...

A Useless Linen Belt from 2022-04-08T06:03

I have a vivid childhood memory of attending Good News Club. The teacher held up a candy bar and offered it to whomever would receive it. I sprinted to the front and grabbed my gift! Then she told ...

Why Do the Wicked Prosper? from 2022-04-07T06:03

Just prior to today’s reading, enemies in Jeremiah’s hometown of Anathoth had plotted to kill him, but God had revealed their plot (Jer. 11:18–23). Without this revelation, the pr...

Worthless Idols from 2022-04-06T06:03

In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow dreams of getting a brain. On the road, he sings,“I would not be just a nothin’ / My head all full of stuffin’...If I only had a brain.” D...

Call to Repent from 2022-04-05T06:03

When Jesus cleansed the Temple, he angrily drove out the moneychangers and overturned the tables of those exploiting the poor by selling doves for offerings.“‘My house will be called a ...

Deep in Sin from 2022-04-04T06:03

Digging into our sin is like peeling an onion. We’re never done—there always seems to be another layer. And the more layers are revealed, the more we recognize the depths of our sinfuln...

The Calling of a Prophet from 2022-04-02T06:03

How were Old Testament prophets appointed? When Isaiah was called, he“saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne.” Angels called to one another,“Holy, holy, holy is the LO...

Meet Jeremiah from 2022-04-01T06:03

Jeremiah has been called“the weeping prophet.” Why? Because he brought mostly bad news. It grieved him even more that God’s people did not respond with repentance. They continued ...

A Worthy Woman from 2022-03-31T06:03

What a wide variety of women we have studied this month! These Old Testament women have made courageous decisions by faith, stepped up to lead, struggled with bitterness, loved with kindness, worsh...

Job's Wife: The Path Through Pain from 2022-03-30T06:03

There are many different ways we can think about our spiritual growth. We can focus on the disciplines needed to deepen our understanding of and connection to God. We can consider the journey by st...

Huldah: Revival Comes! from 2022-03-29T06:03

Imagine how it must have felt to experience the Great Awakening, a series of 18th-century revivals that spread through the American colonies under the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George White...

Jezebel: Victory and Defeat from 2022-03-28T06:03

We would be hard pressed to find two more different women than the widow who gave the prophet Elijah her last meal and the wicked Queen Jezebel. Here, we are shown the contrast between them. Elija...

Widow of Zarephath: Now I Know from 2022-03-27T06:03

Imagine that your pantry is empty...even the shelves of your refrigerator are bare. You have no idea where you will get your next meal. That is what happened to the widow of Zarephath. She lived du...

Queen of Sheba: Boundless Riches from 2022-03-26T06:03

It’s impossible to know what King Solomon would be worth by current standards. Some estimate his wealth as equivalent to $100 billion to $2 trillion in today’s economy. Solomon was famo...

Bathsheba: Who Shall Be King? from 2022-03-25T06:03

History is full of epic stories of kings and queens fighting to obtain or retain the throne. Not surprisingly, 1 Kings begins with such a tale. King David was old and very ill. The throne was vulne...

Bathsheba: Sin and Consequences from 2022-03-24T06:03

How does a person correct a king? The best way, perhaps, is to get him to convict himself. In 2 Samuel 12:1, the prophet Nathan appears before David with little introduction. The Lord had sent him,...

Bathsheba: Desires of the Flesh from 2022-03-23T06:03

If we are tempted to think we are exempt from the seduction of sin, this story serves as a cautionary tale. Up until now, David had been an exemplary king. Today’s reading reveals that even D...

Abigail: The Will of the Lord from 2022-03-22T06:03

Today, God often chooses to speak to us through His Word, His Spirit, and the wisdom of other people. But when David was faced with tragedy, God spoke through an ephod, a prayer, and a priest. In ...

Abigail: A Woman with Wisdom from 2022-03-21T06:03

Has God ever used someone else to speak truth straight into your life? Abigail was used by God to be a truth-bearer and to calm a hostile situation. After Samuel died, David moved into the Desert o...

Michal: A God Who Preserves from 2022-03-19T06:03

This chapter of the Saul–David saga feels a lot like those classic Tom and Jerry cartoons where the mouse repeatedly outwits and eludes the pursuing cat. Over and over again Saul tries to att...

Michal: More Wisely from 2022-03-18T06:03

Being born into royalty is a double-edged sword. Royal children enjoy the advantage of power and prestige, yet their lives are never entirely their own. Certainly, that was the case for Princess Mi...

Naomi and Ruth: For Generations to Come from 2022-03-17T06:03

Paul Harvey was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio known for his good humor, patriotism, and common sense. During his broadcasts he was known to present little-known facts on any give...

Naomi and Ruth: Just in Time! from 2022-03-16T06:03

There’s a point in most great stories when it seems like all hope is lost! Just as the main character is about to achieve success, things appear to fall apart. Often, this comes with an eleme...

Naomi and Ruth: A Key Reversal from 2022-03-15T06:03

Have you ever been so excited about what the next day would bring that you awoke quickly and eagerly for its start? That mood was in the air for Ruth and Boaz the morning following her visit. Ruth ...

Naomi and Ruth: Love upon Love from 2022-03-14T06:03

Imagine this dramatic scene. It had been a busy day in the fields, and Boaz was exhausted. He went to lie down in a quiet corner spot,“at the far end of the grain pile” (v. 7). Quietly,...

Naomi and Ruth: A Risky Plan from 2022-03-13T06:03

Are you a risk taker? Whether we realize it or not, we make choices every day, deciding what level of risk we are willing to take. What will be the consequences of our next steps? Ruth had been gl...

Naomi: Yes, But from 2022-03-12T06:03

Have you ever experienced an extended, difficult season in life—and, right in the middle of it, God provided a blessing that kept you going and trusting? That is exactly what happened to Ruth...

Naomi and Ruth: Extraordinary Provision from 2022-03-11T06:03

Jehovah Jireh is a beautiful name for God, meaning“the Lord will provide.” God’s abundant provision is exactly what we see in the lives of Naomi and Ruth. In Ruth chapter 2, we me...

Naomi and Ruth: Uncommon Kindness from 2022-03-10T06:03

Hesed is a beautiful Hebrew word that has no obvious English translation. It implies covenantal loyalty, kindness, faithfulness, and love. And this theme of hesed runs throughout the book of Ruth. ...

Naomi and Ruth: Logic vs. God's Ways from 2022-03-09T06:03

In chess, logic is a key ingredient. Before you make a move, you will study the board to anticipate the moves of your opponent. Then you make the most logical decision. Your victory depends on it! ...

Naomi and Ruth: In Those Days from 2022-03-08T06:03

In the opening paragraphs of a story, the author reveals the setting, the main character, and the problem. The first verses of the book of Ruth begin with the setting:“in the days when the ju...

Deborah: A Song of Victory from 2022-03-07T06:03

Poetry communicates in a unique way. Rather than simply detailing the facts, poetry communicates the emotion of an experience. By using rhythm and rhyme, sensory details and metaphor, poets not onl...

Deborah: The Lord Goes Before from 2022-03-06T06:03

The battle between the Israelites and the Canaanites happened exactly as Deborah prophesied it would. Barak and Deborah moved in with their army of 10,000. Their opponent Sisera gathered his 900 ir...

Deborah: God Who Delivers from 2022-03-05T06:03

Have you ever experienced this cycle? We sin, suffer, repent, and are reconciled, only to fall back into sin again. This pattern is played out again and again in the Old Testament. In Judges 4:1&n...

Rahab: By Faith from 2022-03-04T06:03

What does it mean to live by faith? The essence of faith is to take God at His word and trust in Him. In both Testaments, believers were called to rely upon God for forgiveness and salvation. Those...

Rahab: God's Providence from 2022-03-03T06:03

Biblical providence refers to God’s work of providing for the needs of His people. It is sometimes surprisingly miraculous and often seemingly simple. Always, it is deeply compassionate and a...

Rahab: Your God Is God from 2022-03-02T06:03

Since World War II, the Force RECON branch of United States Marine Corps has completed information-gathering missions that can only be accomplished by soldiers on the ground. In today’s passa...

Rahab: Courage and Obedience from 2022-03-01T06:03

Have you ever experienced the call of God in your life? We know that God calls His people in at least two ways: generally, we are called into a redemptive and obedient relationship with Him, and so...

The Power of Greeting from 2022-02-28T06:03

What do airlines, big-box retail stores, restaurants, and churches have in common? Many of them have greeters. Greeters stand at the entrance and welcome you. They are such a common feature these d...

True Riches from 2022-02-27T06:03

We’ve all heard the saying that money does not bring happiness. But do we actually believe it? Do we live like it? Following Jesus should have a direct impact on how we view wealth. We are ca...

God's Supply Line from 2022-02-26T06:03

Some Christians shy away from the mission field because they fear they will need to raise support. They either worry that they will be unsuccessful or feel uncomfortable about the perception that t...

Do It Yourself from 2022-02-25T06:03

If you need to rewire a thermostat or replace the J-trap in your sink, you can find an online video showing you how to do it all by yourself. With all the training material available on the interne...

The Art of Contentment from 2022-02-24T06:03

When my son Jarred was little, he liked to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. The commercials were mostly aimed at children and usually promoted a new toy. After each one, he would say,“I&r...

Peace and Practice from 2022-02-23T06:03

In 1826 a French lawyer named Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote,“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” Some years later, the anthropologist and philosopher Ludwig Andreas...

Asking God from 2022-02-22T06:03

Prayer is not rocket science. You just talk to God. What could be easier? But in practice, we may find praying to be more challenging than we expected. It is not like an ordinary conversation, wher...

Getting Along from 2022-02-21T06:03

When we were kids, my brother and sister and I sometimes fought with one another. When my mother saw us, she would shake her head and say,“This is why there will never be world peace.” ...

Citizens of Heaven from 2022-02-20T06:03

Those who become naturalized citizens in the United States are not required to give up their citizenship in their country of origin. They enjoy the privilege and corresponding responsibilities of d...

On the Lookout from 2022-02-19T06:03

According to a popular saying, life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. But this isn’t really true when it comes to the Christian life. The Bible is full of instructions that show ...

Practicing Perseverance from 2022-02-18T06:03

Marathon runners sometimes speak of“hitting the wall” in the later stages of the race. They lose energy and question whether they will finish due to the depletion of stored glycogen, a ...

Knowing Christ from 2022-02-17T06:03

Scientists think they’ve identified the part of our brains that responds to familiar faces. An area known as the temporal region may be connected to the way we recognize faces. Perhaps this i...

Learning to Lose from 2022-02-16T06:03

When my wife and I moved to a smaller home, we had to get rid of many things. It was hard to sort through what to keep and what to throw or give away. Some items were sentimental to us, like the to...

Serve God by the Spirit from 2022-02-15T06:03

In today’s world, confidence is a positive trait. We want our children to be confident adults, so we tell them they are unique, above average, and destined for greatness. But Paul’s vie...

Helpers in Our Faith from 2022-02-14T06:03

What makes a perfect pastor? Churches searching for a pastor today will often develop a profile of the kind of person they are hoping to find. They might want someone with an advanced theology degr...

Working Out Salvation from 2022-02-11T06:03

Many who love to ride choose pedal-assist bicycles. These electric bikes are powered by a motor that makes it easier for the rider to pedal. The rider still exerts force, but the energy that produc...

The Exaltation of Christ from 2022-02-10T06:03

Writing a story is like climbing a mountain. The author takes the reader on a journey up the mountain, adding one detail on top of another. But the most pivotal action happens at the very peak, wha...

The Death of Christ from 2022-02-09T06:03

English Reformer Miles Coverdale described the essence of Christ’s humility in this couplet:“For our sake made he himself small/That reigns Lord and king over all.” The order is i...

The Mind of Christ from 2022-02-08T06:03

Sometimes when I am sitting quietly, my wife will smile and tell me what I am thinking. She is almost always right. We truly know someone when we understand the way they think. In today’s pas...

Spiritual Ambition from 2022-02-07T06:03

William Carey, pioneer missionary to India, said:“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” The key phrase in the second half of this saying is“for God.” ...

Worthy of the Gospel from 2022-02-06T06:03

When Martha’s pastor visited her in the hospital, she assured him that she wasn’t afraid.“I’m ready to die,” she said.“I’m glad to hear that,” he rep...

The Loss that Is Gain from 2022-02-05T06:03

Recently a friend posted on her blog that she had been diagnosed with incurable cancer.“Yes, I might have incurable cancer,” she wrote.“But I also have incurable life—I had ...

Advancing the Gospel from 2022-02-04T06:03

Some churches approach ministry like they are planning a marketing campaign. They talk about platforms and branding. They use social media to create a positive public image. The more people who kno...

Growing Spiritually from 2022-02-03T06:03

Many parents love to track the growth of their children by marking their height each year on their birthday. But is it possible to measure our growth as believers? More importantly, how does spirit...

The Secret to Church Unity from 2022-02-02T06:03

Minutes after my wife Jane and I pulled into the driveway of the church parsonage in our rental van loaded with all our worldly possessions, church members appeared to help unload it. I remember se...

Praying with Joy from 2022-02-01T06:03

Sometimes life makes it hard to pray. Maybe you feel tired or discouraged. Or perhaps the problems seem overwhelming. Paul opens the letter we will study this month on a joyful note saying that he ...

Learning as a Way of Life from 2022-01-31T06:03

“My dad pointed out to me something that Charles Spurgeon pointed out to him,” wrote pastor Dane Ortlund in Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. “In th...

Learning to Worship the Lord from 2022-01-30T06:03

“Stop praying for stuff and start praying for God,” wrote pastor David Platt. “The primary point of prayer is not to get something—it’s to know Someone. When you go in...

Growing Toward Godliness from 2022-01-29T06:03

For many years I had a love-hate relationship with today’s Scripture passage. The “love” part related to testing, perseverance, maturity, and wisdom. That made sense to me. The &l...

Learning to Follow Jesus from 2022-01-28T06:03

Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Calling of Saint Matthew pictures Matthew as an older man engaged in counting money from his tax collecting. He has just realized Jesus is summoning him to become...

Wisdom Multiplied from 2022-01-27T06:03

Jesus told a parable about a man going on a journey. He gave his servant five bags of gold and the man set to work, gaining five more for a total of ten. Another servant was given two bags of gold ...

When Wisdom Is Rejected from 2022-01-26T06:03

One of our bicycles recently needed repairs. We checked the extended warranty, fully expecting that (as in the past) it had just expired. To our surprise and delight, the warranty still had two wee...

A Godly Thirst for Learning from 2022-01-25T06:03

In his 1644 essay “Of Education,” English poet John Milton explained the purpose of learning from a Christian perspective: “The end, then, of learning is to repair the ruins of ou...

An Ordinary, Extraordinary Child from 2022-01-24T06:03

Our family had just arrived at the Kansas City Zoo. We gathered inside the gate...then had that sinking feeling almost all parents experience at some point: One of our children was missing. Perhaps...

How the Psalmist Learned from 2022-01-23T06:03

Mental health is an important dimension of our well-being that we sometimes don’t like to address. In any given year, an estimated 26 percent of adults have a diagnosable mental illness. Duri...

How Joseph Learned from 2022-01-22T06:03

In 1877, American abolitionist (and escaped slave) Frederick Douglass met his former master, Thomas Auld. Douglass had previously written strong condemnations of Auld’s cruel treatment of his...

Failure to Learn from 2022-01-21T06:03

Sometimes no matter how great the teacher, we fail to learn the lesson. In today’s reading, God directed the prophet Jeremiah to use a family called the Rekabites as an object lesson (v. 13)....

How the Disciples Learned from 2022-01-20T06:03

When we think of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we tend to think of headline moments such as miracles and confrontations with the Pharisees. But mostly He invested in a close circle of followers, e...

What Peter Learned from Paul from 2022-01-19T06:03

What can we learn from our disagreements? In today’s passage, we’re given a front row seat to a conflict between Peter and Paul. But while their disagreement was great, so was the learn...

Failing to Learn from Ezekiel from 2022-01-18T06:03

Christians often define success in terms of numbers: the number of people converted, churches planted, church members in attendance, money raised, etc. Would you answer a ministry posting like this...

How Nicodemus Learned from 2022-01-17T06:03

“Born again” may be a familiar phrase to us (v. 3), but in its original context it was breathtaking, even shocking. How could a grown man be born a second time? After all, a newborn bab...

How David Learned from 2022-01-16T06:03

The first job listed on David’s resume was as a shepherd guarding the family sheep (1 Sam. 17:34–35). He knew that it took a great deal of time, effort, and watchful care to raise a flo...

How Cain Failed to Learn from 2022-01-15T06:03

It may not surprise you that Americans are rapidly exiting the Christian faith. For every individual who becomes a believer, four leave the church. One source claims that over the next 30 years, on...

How Ezra Learned from 2022-01-14T06:03

One of the most moving scenes in the Old Testament is when Ezra the priest reads the Law to the returned exiles (Nehemiah 8). He stood on a high wooden platform so all could see and hear. The Levit...

Learning to Be God's Leader from 2022-01-13T06:03

The earliest printed collection of William Shakespeare’s plays appeared in 1623. Now called a First Folio, there are only 235 copies still in existence, and only 56 are complete or intact. In...

Learning to Be God's People from 2022-01-12T06:03

The phrase Sola Scriptura means “Scripture alone.” This was one of the foundational principles of the Protestant Reformation. The Reformers believed that church tradition had been wrong...

Benefits of Godly Learning from 2022-01-11T06:03

Two immigrants to Australia found the world’s largest gold nugget! One day in 1869, one of them was digging around the roots of a tree when he discovered a gold “nugget” weighing ...

Putting It into Practice - Part Two from 2022-01-10T06:03

Christian educators Muriel and Duane Elmer have synthesized a theory of learning they call simply the “Learning Cycle.” In this model, it’s not enough to acquire or retain informa...

Putting It into Practice - Part One from 2022-01-09T06:03

The book of Proverbs paints a vivid image of foolishness: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” (26:11). The shocking nature of this image makes it hard to forget...

Approved by God from 2022-01-08T06:03

A recent survey of evangelical Christians found that many hold unbiblical beliefs. Thirty percent thought Jesus was a great teacher, but not God. Forty-two percent thought God accepts worship from ...

Foolishness and Wisdom from 2022-01-07T06:03

One helpful definition of “godly learning” or “biblical learning” is offered by Christian college professor Jeffrey Greenman: “Learning, undertaken as an intentionally...

Teaching with Authority from 2022-01-06T06:03

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” we’re told. Why not? Because “all that glitters is not gold” and “the beard does not make the philosopher.” After ...

Paul's Great Learning from 2022-01-05T06:03

God called me back to school at age 40 to earn a Ph.D. I wasn’t entirely happy about it. I preferred learning on my own. Even in a good program with terrific professors, there were days I und...

Human Learning vs. God's Wisdom from 2022-01-04T06:03

Elisha and his servant woke up one morning to find their city surrounded by an impressive enemy army (2 Kings 6:15–17). “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” cried the servant. &ldq...

When Learning Is Meaningful from 2022-01-03T06:03

“Ecclesiastes is realistic,” wrote seminary professor Thomas Schreiner. “It teaches us that life under the sun is often empty, futile, and absurd, and yet it does not run us into ...

Is Learning Ever Meaningless? from 2022-01-02T06:03

When I took my last formal math class in high school, I sighed with relief. Little did I imagine that my wife and I would later be trying to help our own children with their math classes! Part of t...

Learning and Humility from 2022-01-01T06:03

As a teacher, I have known many students who disliked school but who loved learning. Perhaps you can relate. “School” tends to be about grades, exams, due dates, hallway passes, and sta...

Give Thanks! from 2021-12-31T06:03

We have a family video that I always enjoy watching. It is of my oldest daughter when she was about six years old opening a Christmas gift. She received a stuffed animal that she had been wanting f...

Justified by Jesus from 2021-12-17T06:03

Imagine what would happen if the apostle Peter came to visit your church. Peter was one of the original twelve disciples who walked beside Jesus during His earthly ministry. Surely, Peter’s a...

Gift Three: The Gift of Relationship from 2021-12-16T06:03

Have you ever been in a conversation with a name-dropper? These people look for every opportunity to tell you about all the powerful or important people they know. The reason for this behavior is n...

Love Conquered the Grave from 2021-12-15T06:03

In 1973, the children’s television show Sesame Street broadcast the song “Believe in Yourself.” Since then, it has been sung by a string of celebrities on the show from Ray Charle...

Loved By God from 2021-12-14T06:03

When in college, I lost my wallet, which contained my driver’s license, birth certificate, and my Social Security card. I discovered that it is difficult to replace any one of those items wit...

Loving Through Death from 2021-12-13T06:03

Maximilian Kolbe was a Franciscan Friar who ended up in Auschwitz because of his opposition to the Nazi regime. While there, ten men escaped from the prison camp. In retaliation, the Nazi guards de...

The Mindset of Jesus from 2021-12-12T06:03

In today’s world, pride can be a big problem. Social media magnifies this common human weakness by encouraging all of us to post about our achievements for all to see. We are encouraged to wo...

Imitating Jesus from 2021-12-11T06:03

As I write this, my children are going through a phase where they are trying to improve their ability to draw. To help with this, they watch videos of experts drawing a picture. They pause the vide...

Jesus Became One of Us from 2021-12-10T06:03

One popular reality TV show in the United States is Undercover Boss. In each episode, someone from the upper management of a company goes undercover as an entry level employee to discover faults or...

Gift Two: Love in Action from 2021-12-09T06:03

In Western society, we think of love as an emotional connection. We use the word love to describe the way we feel about another person or object. While the Bible does not discount the emotional com...

Jesus, Promises Fulfilled from 2021-12-08T06:03

Imagine that you were near New York City on September 12, 2001. While you were out walking in a park with a friend, someone came up and asked what the two of you were talking about. You responded, ...

Jesus, Promised Servant from 2021-12-07T06:03

One day an important man was riding in a chariot on a dusty road. As he bounced to and fro, he was trying to read the Scriptures. The Lord told Philip to approach the chariot and talk to the man in...

Jesus, Promised Priest from 2021-12-05T06:03

In ancient Israel, the priest held a position of high esteem. Only the priest was able to touch holy things. The priest wore special clothing. And the high priest was the only one who was allowed t...

Jesus, Promised Prophet from 2021-12-04T06:03

Each of us has different roles to fulfill in life. For example, I am a husband, father, son, brother, professor, and Sunday School teacher. Each role comes with a different set of obligations and e...

Jesus, Promised Son from 2021-12-03T06:03

God has often asked people to act on truths that are difficult to believe. For example, Noah was called to build an enormous boat on dry land. Gideon was to discharge 97 percent of his army right b...

Gift One: A Promise Kept from 2021-12-02T06:03

My wife and I try to be careful about what we promise to our children. This is about more than just being true to our word. It is a key factor in creating and nurturing trust. One of the most astou...

Christmas Gifts from 2021-12-01T06:03

Gift-wrapped presents under a festive tree, excited children in pajamas, and tired but amused parents—these are some of the most familiar images of Christmas morning in Western culture. Even ...

No God Like Our God from 2021-11-30T06:03

In the final verses of his book, Micah the prophet asks a question, “Who is a God like you?” (v. 18). His question is actually a pun, of sort, since Micah’s name in Hebrew means &...

The Lord Is Faithful from 2021-11-29T06:03

My wife and I gave our oldest son a Hebrew name, Ari Zechariah. Ari means “lion,” because we hope and pray that he will be as brave and strong as a lion. Zechariah is Hebrew for “...

A Time to Rebuild from 2021-11-28T06:03

Before a home can be renovated, some things need to be demolished. Sometimes that means ripping down a wall or tearing out old floor tile. The old features need to be gone before the new ones can b...

His People Will Rise from 2021-11-27T06:03

No one likes a sore loser, but even worse is a sore winner, who not only celebrates victory but also mocks the loser. In these few verses, Micah speaks in the voice of Zion (that is, Jerusalem) war...

Hope and Faith from 2021-11-26T06:03

Have you ever been so discouraged in doing good that you felt like giving up? Micah knew that no matter how difficult his circumstances, God was with him. While for years the prophet failed to brin...

Times of Discouragement from 2021-11-25T06:03

We now come to the final chapter in Micah, which will end on a note of hope for the future and trust in the Lord. Despite that promised ending, in these first few verses of chapter 7 Micah is sad a...

The Lord Calls Out from 2021-11-24T06:03

If you’re a parent—or if you’ve ever been a child—then you likely know how uncomfortable discipline can be. It’s of course not fun to receive discipline, and, when chi...

What God Requires from 2021-11-23T06:03

Did you ever wonder what God really wants from you? In yesterday’s devotional, we learned that the Lord is different from other ancient Near Eastern gods. Unlike the confusion surrounding fal...

Confusion and Clarity from 2021-11-22T06:03

Have you ever worked for a boss who was impossible to please? Sometimes this is a result of unclear directions or unreasonable expectations. If you’ve ever been in this situation, you might h...

God's Protection from 2021-11-21T06:03

Did you ever have a time in your life when you thought, Wow, I’m so glad that I didn’t succeed in doing what I wanted to do? Have you ever considered that maybe God was intervening in y...

God's Question from 2021-11-20T06:03

When a judge enters a courtroom, people rise to show respect for the authority of the position. The book of Hebrews speaks of God as a Judge: “The Lord will judge his people” (10:30). I...

False Idols from 2021-11-19T06:03

One pastor warned his congregation that they shouldn’t give too much priority to sports. If you skipped Sunday service to watch a football game, for example, chances were good that sports had...

False Securities from 2021-11-18T06:03

In this modern age, we do not typically put our trust in things like horses and chariots. But maybe those “horses” and chariots” represent other things. How often have you felt se...

A Great Refreshing from 2021-11-17T06:03

Have you ever gone outside in the early morning, when the sun is just coming up and the grass glistens with the overnight dew? In the deep south, we appreciate those early morning moments because t...

Our God Reigns from 2021-11-16T06:03

Imagine living in a world with Christ on the throne and everyone acknowledging His authority. There is no more darkness. No more confusion. No more sin. No more pain. In Micah 5:6, the prophet spea...

Out of Bethlehem from 2021-11-15T06:03

Can you imagine a world without Christmas? In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a character named Mr. Tumnus laments that in the land of Narnia it is “always winter, ...

The Lord Will Redeem from 2021-11-14T06:03

I’ve often heard people say that the Lord will never give you anything more than you can handle. While that may be well-intended, it is not true. This idea seems to come from Paul’s sta...

The Lord Will Gather from 2021-11-13T06:03

My grandmother sent me back to my mom’s house with one of those flat wooden paint stirrers on which she wrote these words: “For Use On Rusty, When Needed.” She firmly believed tha...

Walking Faithfully from 2021-11-12T06:03

Some people view the Christian life as climbing up a hill, they think the only way it will go is straight up (and smoothly). But, if we are honest, a more realistic picture of our faith journey is ...

He Will Bring Peace from 2021-11-11T06:03

The mere mention of 9/11 brings with it memories of chaos, fear, and devastation. It changed our lives in many ways, but most young people can’t remember a “before.” They have no ...

A Light for the Nations from 2021-11-10T06:03

I looked around the room groggily and realized that it was now full of people in scrubs moving quickly into action. My wife was nearing the end of a grueling 48-hour labor, and I can’t fully ...

False Security from 2021-11-09T06:03

Some people think they are above the law, can do anything they want, and get away with it. That was happening with Israel’s leaders, and God was setting the record straight. Earlier in chapte...

The Lord Gives Strength from 2021-11-08T06:03

In the early sixteenth century a young German monk named Martin Luther changed the world when he preached that salvation came through faith in Christ alone—and nothing else. In stark contrast...

God and Others from 2021-11-07T06:03

Loving others is easier said than done. But loving our neighbors as ourselves is one of God’s central commands (Lev. 19:17–18). While loving others can be challenging, it’s crucia...

The Lord Will Lead from 2021-11-06T06:03

Many elementary school teachers will admit that they really do not enjoy field trips where children visit a zoo or a museum. For the teachers, even with the help of willing parents, it can be diffi...

Wind and Lies from 2021-11-05T06:03

When a teenage son wanted to borrow the family car, he asked his dad first. But when his dad said, “No,” he immediately went and asked his mom. Of course, he didn’t mention that h...

Woe to Oppressors! from 2021-11-04T06:03

The writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once observed, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” A righteous society doesn’t just happen. It requires planning and effort by those...

Hidden Idols from 2021-11-03T06:03

During high school, I dated a young woman whose parents had immigrated to the United States from Vietnam. The first time I visited their home I was surprised to see a shrine in their living room. I...

God's Judgment from 2021-11-02T06:03

If you enjoy watching television courtroom dramas like Matlock or reading the latest John Grisham novel, you know that (at least in fictional stories) things typically turn out well and justice win...

A Time and Place from 2021-11-01T06:03

Each of our lives is framed by a particular time in history, an expanse of years marked by memorable local, national, world, and personal events. People who are my age may remember the summer of 19...

A Faithful Servant from 2021-10-31T06:03

The central theme of the book of Hebrews is the superiority, excellence, and perfection of Christ. We don’t know who wrote this epistle, but the audience seems to have been Christians being p...

Meeting the Messiah from 2021-10-30T06:03

If you could go back in time and meet any person in history, who would it be? Jesus, of course! But who else? Among biblical characters, I’d love to meet the prophet, Ezekiel. Outside the pag...

A Prayer of Moses from 2021-10-29T06:03

The shortest amount of time ever recorded is one-trillionth of a billionth of a second, or a “zeptosecond.” Scientists discovered this measure when they wanted to see how long it took f...

The Death of Moses from 2021-10-28T06:03

When I lived in China, I saw the body of Mao Zedong, preserved for veneration in Beijing. Similarly, when I lived in Vietnam, I saw the body of Ho Chi Minh in his mausoleum in Hanoi. God prevented ...

Blessing and Last Words from 2021-10-27T06:03

On April 3, 1968—just one day before he was assassinated—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said to a crowd in Memphis: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its ...

The Song of Moses from 2021-10-26T06:03

Children learn many things through songs, from the alphabet to their colors. When the time comes to pick up the toys in our church nursery, this tune can be heard: “Clean up, clean up, everyb...

Moses Names a Successor from 2021-10-25T06:03

How could a legend like Moses be replaced? God had a plan for this very important transition, and Moses was obedient to it. On one hand, it may seem as if Moses’ life ended with disappointmen...

Renewing the Covenant from 2021-10-24T06:03

Historians serve an important role in our society. While historians might not save lives or arrest criminals, they play a key role in our current and future success. Historians remind us of our pas...

The Core Message of Moses from 2021-10-23T06:03

The title of the Old Testament book, Deuteronomy, means “second law” or “repetition of the law.” It is the final of the five books of the Pentateuch, probably written about ...

A Distinctive Faith from 2021-10-22T06:03

Author Zora Neale Hurston wrote a book titled Moses, Man of the Mountain. Published in 1939, it retells the story of Moses and the Exodus. Hurston altered details of the story for her own purposes,...

The Bronze Snake from 2021-10-21T06:03

Why did Jesus compare a bronze snake to His own death on the cross? The “snake episode” Jesus referred to in His conversation with Nicodemus took place as the nation reapproached the pr...

Moses Fails from 2021-10-20T06:03

Do you think Moses sometimes felt like a parent trying to herd a pack of squabbling children (the Israelites)? One of parenting’s greatest challenges is to lead and discipline without giving ...

Failure at the Border from 2021-10-19T06:03

When the chips are down and you need to make a decision, who do you go to for advice? Hopefully, it’s a wise friend or family member whose words are rooted in Scripture and faith. But sometim...

Opposed from Within from 2021-10-18T06:03

Before he was stoned to death as the first martyr for Christ, Stephen gave an eloquent summary of Jewish history. Here’s how he described the people’s attitude toward Moses, their most ...

Creating the Tabernacle from 2021-10-17T06:03

Does God value creativity and art? Today’s reading clearly shows that He does! Led by Moses, the Israelites’ most talented artisans did their very best creative work to honor God with t...

A Radian Face from 2021-10-16T06:03

Michelangelo’s Moses sculpture and other classical artworks often show Moses with horns. Why? Because the Hebrew words for “radiant” and “horn” look similar. The Vulga...

Seeing God from 2021-10-15T06:03

Some of the most beautiful, memorable, and alarming pictures in Scripture are the visions of God experienced by His people. When Isaiah saw the Lord “high and exalted, seated on a throne,&rdq...

The Power of Prayer from 2021-10-14T06:03

“We must spend much time in prayer,” argued R. A. Torrey in How to Pray. “We must give ourselves to earnest, constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer . . . I have asked ...

No Other Gods from 2021-10-13T06:03

Greed, sex, arrogance, power. These are all examples of idolatry that are as true today as they were in biblical times, said Christopher J. H. Wright. The author of “Here Are Your Gods”...

Meeting on the Mountain from 2021-10-12T06:03

You’ve probably experienced a “gaper’s delay” on the expressway. An accident happens on one side of a divided highway, but vehicles slow to a crawl on both sides. On one sid...

Bread from Heaven from 2021-10-11T06:03

Did you know brown rice can help protect you from high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries? Researchers in Japan found that a component in brown rice (but not white rice) works against a p...

Song of Deliverance from 2021-10-10T06:03

There are hundreds of college fight songs. One of the oldest is Boston College’s “For Boston” which was written in 1885. These songs are memorized by generations of loyal alumni a...

Crossing the Red Sea from 2021-10-09T06:03

Earlier this year, the home of Harriet Tubman was located by archaeologists after decades of searching. Tubman became known as the “Moses of her people” because she helped many slaves e...

A New Nation from 2021-10-08T06:03

Before the American Civil War, The Liberator was an influential weekly newspaper that campaigned for abolition. For 35 years, founder William Lloyd Garrison demanded the immediate emancipation of a...

The First Passover from 2021-10-07T06:03

Have you ever wondered why we set off fireworks on the Fourth of July? The tradition goes back to the start of America’s nationhood. In 1777, one year after the Declaration of Independence wa...

The Final Plague from 2021-10-06T06:03

While slaves in the United States worked and hoped for freedom, they knew it might not happen in their lifetime. So they encouraged themselves with the hope of heaven. In the words of a traditional...

Confronting Pharaoh from 2021-10-05T06:03

British missionaries aiming to convert slaves in the West Indies used a truncated edition of the Bible. First published in 1807, it omitted texts dealing with rebellion, freedom, or liberation. Thi...

Meeting the People from 2021-10-04T06:03

When we attend a family reunion, we expect the meet-up to be filled with love, good memories, and delicious food. We hope no one mentions that old family feud, much less any current conflict. We do...

Meeting God from 2021-10-03T06:03

Rainbow eucalyptus trees are found in countries including Indonesia and the Philippines. Growing up to 250 feet high, they smell like honey, pine, and mint. Most amazingly, their trunks feature glo...

A Failed Liberator from 2021-10-02T06:03

When the religious leaders and Roman soldiers arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Peter sprang into action. The former fisherman drew a sword and swung wildly, cutting off the ear ...

The Birth of Moses from 2021-10-01T06:03

I have been privileged to be present at the births of my four children, each one a joyful miracle! And every person involved, from family to friends to medical staff, wanted these babies to grow an...

Passing the Test from 2021-09-30T06:03

Every child who has taken a long trip in the family car knows the fear of hearing a parent say, “Don’t make me come back there!” In the closing chapter of this book, the apostle i...

Serving in Weakness from 2021-09-29T06:03

After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to a solitary place, but the crowd followed Him there. As the evening drew near, the disciples expressed concern. “This is a remote place, ...

A Servant's Resume from 2021-09-28T06:03

Candidates who interview for a job are often put in the awkward position of trying to sell themselves to a potential employer. They list their accomplishments and describe their strengths in an att...

Humble Brag from 2021-09-27T06:03

A while back, I saw a post on Facebook that began with the letters IMHO. When I looked up the meaning, I discovered that it stands for the phrase “In my humble opinion.” I’ve noti...

The Rewards of Generosity from 2021-09-26T06:03

According to an apocryphal story, when someone asked John D. Rockefeller how much money is enough, he replied, “Just a little more.” Today’s passage reveals that the secret to Chr...

The Grace of Giving from 2021-09-25T06:03

Some have criticized the church for talking too much about money. But Jesus made it clear that our attitude toward our finances is a spiritual matter. He urged His disciples to store up treasures i...

Godly Sorrow from 2021-09-24T06:03

In one of his fables, Aesop told the story of a farmer who wanted to purchase a new donkey and took it home to test it out first. But when the animal chose a place next to the barn’s laziest ...

God's Fellow Workers from 2021-09-23T06:03

When my son Drew was a little boy, he had a toy lawnmower. Whenever I cut the grass, he would position himself a few yards away and push his toy mower in tandem with me. He was very serious about i...

Strike the Tent from 2021-09-22T06:03

One of 19th-century hymn writer John R. Sweney’s gospel songs begins, Strike our tents, the night is over! / See, the shadows one by one / Fade before the coming splendor / Of the morning&rsq...

Empowered by God from 2021-09-21T06:03

A pair of scientists from Texas A&M University have calculated that the human eye can detect the light of a candle flame from a distance of 2.76 kilometers or 1.71 miles. While this is not near...

Confident Through Christ from 2021-09-20T06:03

I occasionally get requests to provide recommendations for former students. I don’t mind as long as I can remember them. But sometimes, I get a request from a student who I can’t recall...

Led by God from 2021-09-19T06:03

A familiar saying goes: “I don’t get mad, I get even.” Unfortunately, some Christians adopt this attitude, not only when they are wronged but also when they perceive an injustice ...

The God of All Comfort from 2021-09-18T06:03

If this were a movie, the screen might show an image of seasons rapidly changing or a calendar with pages being torn from it. Time has passed since Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, and...

Churches Serving Churches from 2021-09-17T06:03

Many churches devote a portion of the worship service to announcements. Some place them at the beginning, while others wait until the end of the service. In a similar way, Paul closes this first le...

The Gospel of Resurrection from 2021-09-16T06:03

Over the years, I have learned several methods of sharing the gospel. From the Romans Road to the Four Spiritual Laws to the outline used in the Evangelism Explosion presentation, these tools were ...

Godly Order from 2021-09-15T06:03

Many people in the ancient world sought counsel from Delphi’s oracle on Mount Parnassus, about 75 miles west of Athens. Its priestess claimed to speak for the God Apollo and prophesied in a t...

The Way of Love from 2021-09-14T06:03

If you were formulating a top ten list of the world’s favorite Scripture passages, today’s reading would surely be on it. Most of us have attended at least one wedding where these verse...

Spiritual Gifts from 2021-09-13T06:03

When I was a boy, I received a Christmas gift from my aunt in New York. When I opened it, to my dismay, I found a bright red corduroy shirt. It was a nice shirt, given in love. But I was hoping for...

Rules for Worship from 2021-09-12T06:03

The first church service that I can remember attending seemed strange to me. I wasn’t sure why people were standing up or sitting down. They sang aloud, collected money, and then some guy in ...

Spiritual Eating from 2021-09-11T06:03

Most people don’t think of eating as spiritual. But the Corinthians lived in a culture where eating and worship were often closely connected. Idol feasts were a common occurrence. While Paul ...

Freed to Serve from 2021-09-10T06:03

Thomas Jefferson captured the American idea of freedom in one sentence in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they ...

A Careful Conscience from 2021-09-09T06:03

Bill likes to listen to jazz. Mary hates it. Cynthia enjoys mysteries, but Jeff prefers history. These differences are matters of taste. But the differences described in today’s reading are d...

Single or Married? from 2021-09-08T06:03

On one hand, our culture seems to idolize marriage. We have television shows where singles compete for a proposal and online apps that promise to find you the perfect spouse. At the same time, marr...

Circumstance and Calling from 2021-09-07T06:03

April was thrilled to announce her engagement. But later, she began to wonder if she should follow through with it. Her fiancé had a drinking problem and an increasing lack of interest in sp...

Morality Matters from 2021-09-06T06:03

Some estimate that over 40 million lawsuits are filed every year in the United States. According to the American Bar Association, there are over a million registered lawyers. Litigation has become ...

Judging the Church from 2021-09-05T06:03

If you ask those who do not attend church why they refuse to go, some will answer that it is because the church is full of hypocrites. Others will say they don’t attend because the church is ...

Judging Our Leaders from 2021-09-04T06:03

In the early days of my pastoral ministry, I became discouraged. Someone in the congregation disagreed with the direction the church was taking and criticized me personally. I grumbled to a friend ...

God's Temple from 2021-09-03T06:03

The disciples of Jesus marveled when they saw Herod’s temple in Jerusalem. Once, as they were leaving the temple precincts, one of Jesus’ disciples said: “Look, Teacher! What mass...

A House Divided from 2021-09-01T06:03

According to the Pew Research Center, about half of U.S. adults say that they have looked for a new church at some time in their lives. Most people choose a church based on the quality of the preac...

Return to the Lord from 2021-08-31T06:03

My husband Peter agreed to hold down the fort for a few days, allowing me to retreat to a little cabin to finish this Today in the Word study. When he sent me a text message to check-in, I responde...

I Will Redeem from 2021-08-30T06:03

Throughout the centuries, death has been described in many ways. William Shakespeare imagined death as a tree on which only a few yellow leaves still hang—until they fall. Emily Dickinson per...

Do Not Forget from 2021-08-29T06:03

My pastor’s wife makes custom signs that I’ve placed in almost every room of our house. Over the piano, I have a large sign of Matthew 22:37. On the mantel is the word “hesed.&rdq...

Fallen from Grace from 2021-08-28T06:03

The narrative is far too familiar. A preacher grows a church and gains a following. He writes books, hosts a radio show, and accepts speaking engagements followed by large crowds. The global Church...

The Futility of Wealth from 2021-08-27T06:03

In 1954, a college drop-out took a mail-room job at Philipp Brothers trading firm. For the next 19 years, Marc Rich climbed the ranks, eventually launching his own very successful firm. By 1982 he ...

Lies and Deceit from 2021-08-26T06:03

Literature is full of liars. Some, like Edmund Pevensie in C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, lie by omission. Edmund decided not to tell his siblings about certain parts of...

When He Roars from 2021-08-25T06:03

This week our son made a willful choice to do something wrong—a choice he had already made a few times before. I wasn’t home, so my husband Peter called me to explain the situation and ...

A Refusal to Repent from 2021-08-24T06:03

One comedian described life with young children who are determined not to follow directions. “People without children have NO IDEA what it’s like,” he jokes. “Things that yo...

A Father's Love from 2021-08-23T06:03

In one of our favorite family videos, I am behind the camera, asking 15-month-old Amelia if she wants to walk. Not wanting to be left out, 4-year-old Daryl asks, “Can you take a picture of me...

In Your Own Strength from 2021-08-22T06:03

Threshing is an agricultural process that removes grain from the straw; farmers of every generation will tell you that it is hard work. In the earliest days, a worker would beat the grain with a st...

Idols and Altars from 2021-08-21T06:03

Roman Robroek has a passion for photographing abandoned buildings. His stunning—sometimes shocking—pictures reflect his love of architecture, culture, and history. As you look at his ti...

Prophetic Prayers from 2021-08-20T06:03

Children have a refreshing honesty when they pray. A few years ago, Kicks105.com posted the “Top Ten List of Funniest Prayers by Kids.” Here are a few of my favorites: 1) Dear God, Plea...

The Unpopular Prophet from 2021-08-19T06:03

I recently heard a story about a basketball coach who shared his faith in Christ with a couple of his players after practice when they expressed interest. He told them about the consequences of sin...

Fickle Followers from 2021-08-18T06:03

Have you ever watched vultures devour a carcass? That violent image would give you a strong, if unpleasant, visual of what Hosea is communicating in today’s passage. Vultures eat mostly dead ...

Missing the Mark from 2021-08-17T06:03

I grew up hearing “sin” defined as “missing the mark.” God’s will and law were the target for our behavior, a target not one of us will hit perfectly this side of heav...

Creeping Compromise from 2021-08-16T06:03

In the mid-1630s, thousands of Puritans migrated to New England. They built homes, established government, and founded churches. Quite quickly, though, they recognized the need to train the next ge...

Restoration Impossible? from 2021-08-15T06:03

Unfortunately, sin is not a once-and-done event. James 1:14–16 describes its clear progression: “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and entic...

Covenant Breakers from 2021-08-14T06:03

Our children are 9 and 12, and one aspect of parenting that currently requires great patience from me is reminding them (again and again and again) to clean their rooms. Too many Saturdays they com...

Let Us Return from 2021-08-13T06:03

While my mother-in-law loved Jesus and pursued Him passionately, Dad Worrall wanted nothing to do with God—until he contracted terminal cancer at the age of 56. When the doctor delivered the ...

A Fearsome God from 2021-08-12T06:03

Author Flannery O’Connor once wrote that when you’re talking about faith to an unbelieving audience, “you have to make your vision apparent by shock—to the hard of hearing y...

The Accountability of Leadership from 2021-08-11T06:03

Have you ever been present in a courtroom when a bailiff says, “All rise,” just before the judge enters the room? Everyone in attendance stands to attention, out of respect—for th...

Determined to Sin from 2021-08-10T06:03

What should a church do when a member is pursuing sin? The New Testament teaches that an individual should approach the brother or sister one-on-one. “If they listen to you, you have won them...

Worthless Worship from 2021-08-09T06:03

Being a spiritual leader of any kind is an immense responsibility that we dare not take lightly. The book of James warns us that people holding such positions incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1)....

The Land Mourns from 2021-08-08T06:03

Isn’t it fascinating to watch skilled prosecutors argue a case? They clearly articulate the charges brought against the suspect. Then they support those allegations with evidence, logic, and ...

The Restoration Plan from 2021-08-07T06:03

I believe that love is primarily a decision, a choice, an action we take. Hosea 3 reinforces this understanding. In this short and summarized chapter, we return to the story of Hosea and Gomer. Fro...

Future Hope from 2021-08-06T06:03

I recently read a story by a woman who calls herself “The Restored Wife.” She and her husband endured years of bitter arguments, bankruptcy, an affair, and even divorce. She was plannin...

First Love from 2021-08-05T06:03

In the movie Fireproof, firefighter Caleb Holt fights to save his failing marriage by following advice found in The Love Dare. The book challenges spouses to make one concrete overture of love each...

A Harsh Rebuke from 2021-08-04T06:03

Christianity has never existed in a cultural vacuum. For centuries, believers around the world have lived out their faith within that era’s language, customs, artistic expressions, and politi...

A Total Transformation from 2021-08-03T06:03

Have you ever heard a salvation story so shocking it dropped your jaw? For the past several years, Christianity Today has compiled the Top Ten Testimonies of the year. Titles include: “How a ...

Blessings and Cursing from 2021-08-02T06:03

Many prospective parents comb through lists of baby names, considering the meaning of each possibility. They know that names matter. In today’s passage, Gomer gave birth to her first child, a...

A Symbolic Marriage from 2021-08-01T06:03

Is there any concept as misunderstood as “love”? In romantic movies, love is shown as that euphoric feeling when someone catches our eye. In the news, we hear how love drives both heroi...

A Shepherd's Benediction from 2021-07-31T06:03

Commenting on today’s reading, the Africa Study Bible points out: “We can often see if preaching about blessing is false or true by looking at its focus. False teachings about blessings...

Our Future Home from 2021-07-30T06:03

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression ramped up among people of all ages. The isolated and unstable conditions, constant news reports, and conflicting information increased ...

Peace in the Kingdom from 2021-07-29T06:03

A beautiful portion of Bach’s Cantata No. 208 is titled “Sheep May Safely Graze.” Sheep and shepherd imagery is used to explain how people benefit when they have good leaders: &ld...

The Conquering Lamb from 2021-07-28T06:03

On October 31, 2018, a single web of lightning flashed and stretched 440 miles over Brazil. About the distance from Boston to Washington, it was the longest (in distance) lightning strike ever meas...

Sheep and Goats from 2021-07-27T06:03

Sheep and goats have many similarities, but they are distinctively different. One way to tell the difference is to look at their tails. A goat’s tail goes up, while sheep tails hang down. The...

Yeast, Sin, and the Passover Lamb from 2021-07-26T06:03

Jesus Christ is both our Good Shepherd and the perfect Lamb of God, sacrificed for our salvation. While under the Mosaic Law animals had to be sacrificed over and over, our Lord Jesus became the pe...

Jesus' Final Passover from 2021-07-25T06:03

One of the most famous paintings in the world is The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting shows the moment Jesus announced He would be betrayed, with the disciples reacting in different w...

The Passover Lamb from 2021-07-24T06:03

God had heard the cries of His people Israel in bondage in Egypt. He’d sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message, “Let my people go!” He’d also sent increasingly serious plague...

God Will Provide a Lamb from 2021-07-23T06:03

If you visit Jerusalem you can see the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine built in the late seventh century and long recognized as one of the world’s great architectural masterpieces. This i...

Spotless Lambs from 2021-07-22T06:03

Have you ever worn a brand new white shirt only to mar it with an accidental food stain? Even when you try your best to remove the offending mark, the shirt no longer has the same pristine appearan...

Caring for the Sheep from 2021-07-21T06:03

What is a pastor’s main responsibility? “Since the 1960s, we have experienced an evolution in what we expect a local church pastor to be,” wrote J. P. Moreland in Love Your God Wi...

Feed My Sheep from 2021-07-20T06:03

When I was young, my mother always told me to eat my peas because they were good for me. As an adult, I know she’s right. Green vegetables are an important source of protein, fiber, and vitam...

The Sending Shepherd from 2021-07-19T06:03

In the military, soldiers are sent out on a mission, following clear directives from their leaders. They need to be ready because they do not know when they will be sent or where they will need to ...

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing from 2021-07-18T06:03

The English language is filled with sheep imagery. If you can’t sleep, we try “counting sheep.” If you’re accused of something, you try to look “as innocent as a lamb....

Worthless Shepherds from 2021-07-17T06:03

Do you believe that following Jesus will make you successful? Does God promise to bless His followers with abundant riches? These ideas are central to what is commonly called the “prosperity ...

Scandalous Shepherds from 2021-07-16T06:03

How do you know who to trust? In today’s world, it is easy to be deceived. We’ve all received “official-sounding” phone calls or emails that appear legitimate, but are actua...

Sheep Without a Shepherd from 2021-07-15T06:03

When people are hurting, God responds! Earlier this year, a church in West Virginia decided to host a last-minute food drive to help feed hungry families in their community. In just a few hours, pe...

The Sheep of HIs Pasture from 2021-07-14T06:03

One of the many things we missed during the COVID-19 outbreak was the joy of singing together. But prior to the pandemic, about one in every six Americans sang in a choir! One study listed numerous...

Keeps Us from Straying from 2021-07-13T06:03

A lost dog in a Chicago neighborhood sparked a massive search that went viral on social media. Toby, a 2-year-old German shepherd, strayed from his yard, causing his family to scour the neighborhoo...

Straying Sheep from 2021-07-12T06:03

For sheep who strayed from the shepherd, danger awaited! All sorts of harm, even death, could be the consequence of one who wandered. So if the Lord is not our shepherd, what’s the consequenc...

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd from 2021-07-11T06:03

The well-known “shepherd hymn,” Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us, describes the compassionate care the Lord gives His children. “Savior, like a shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy te...

A Shepherd's Failure from 2021-07-10T06:03

Literary scholar Leland Ryken describes the meeting between the prophet Nathan and King David as a “confrontation story.” He explains: “Usually the confrontation implies some tens...

The Seeking Shepherd from 2021-07-09T06:03

A. W. Tozer wisely commented: “The only safe place for a sheep is by the side of his shepherd, because the devil does not fear sheep; he just fears the Shepherd, that is all.” Today&rsq...

Behold the Lamb of God! from 2021-07-08T06:03

In William Blake’s poem “The Lamb,” a child asks the small creature, “Dost thou know who made thee?” The answer is found in the second stanza: “He is callé...

Shepherds at the Incarnation from 2021-07-07T06:03

The pilot episode for The Chosen, a popular television series depicting the life of Christ, tells the story of Simon, a poor, lame shepherd. Simon longs for the coming of the Messiah. One day, he e...

The Coming Shepherd from 2021-07-06T06:03

Many famous paintings have pictured Jesus as the Good Shepherd, carrying a lamb over His shoulders or in His arms. In fact, some of the earliest artistic depictions of Jesus found in the Catacombs ...

The Messiah as a Shepherd from 2021-07-05T06:03

For about seven years, Moody Bible Institute graduate Caleb Fetterhoff has been living and ministering to semi-nomadic shepherds high in the mountains of Lesotho in southern Africa. These shepherds...

Hear Us, O Shepherd! from 2021-07-04T06:03

A famous hymn, often sung to a Welsh or Irish tune, celebrates God as our Shepherd: “The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine ...

God, the Shepherd of Israel from 2021-07-03T06:03

In ancient Palestine, caring for sheep looked different from what we see today. According to the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, “Sheep were not fenced in and left to fend for themselves. Ins...

Shepherds and Giants from 2021-07-02T06:03

The first shepherd in Scripture, Abel, was also the first murder victim (see Genesis 4). In the first five books of the Old Testament, a shepherd was a common occupation. We meet Jacob, whose flock...

The Lord Is My Shepherd from 2021-07-01T06:03

According to one Bible app, the most popular verse of 2020 was Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you.” In 2019, it was Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything.&...

O God, Our Help in Ages Past from 2021-06-30T06:03

Why is it so easy for us to forget the victories and miracles of our past when faced with the troubles of today? In yesterday’s reading, the Psalmist narrated Israel’s history with an e...

Great Is Thy Faithfulness from 2021-06-29T06:03

One of the things my family loves to do at gatherings is telling stories. We recall the quirky personalities of loved ones who have departed. We talk about how couples met and got married. We tell ...

This Is My Father's World from 2021-06-28T06:03

My family enjoys watching nature shows together. It is stunning to see the diversity of animals and habitats that exist in the world. While most science shows do not give God the credit for creatio...

Amazing Grace from 2021-06-27T06:03

In 1835, a music publisher named Charles Bradlee created a tune to help children learn the alphabet. Utilizing a theme by Mozart, Bradlee copyrighted the tune that children all over the United Stat...

Clinging to God from 2021-06-26T06:03

A few years ago, the church building that I grew up attending was torn down. I was saddened to think that the place where I had spent so much of my childhood, where I had encountered God, would be ...

Holy Worship from 2021-06-25T06:03

“Power corrupts,” as the saying goes, “and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is true that there is something about the human condition that makes power dangerous. In h...

God Is King: Part 2 from 2021-06-24T06:03

In 1741, George Frideric Handel was deeply in debt after a string of musical failures. On the verge of his going to debtor’s prison, his friend Charles Jennens wrote the text of an opera base...

God Is King: Part 1 from 2021-06-23T06:03

The United States is deeply divided politically. One reason is that many people look to political victories as their primary source of hope for the nation. When their party wins an election, they a...

Sing to the Lord! from 2021-06-22T06:03

Have you ever wondered why some people propose marriage at large gatherings, such as a professional baseball game? They may want to make the moment memorable by choosing such a setting. They might ...

Wholehearted Worship from 2021-06-21T06:03

University of Michigan football fans call their stadium “the Big House.” When the team scores, the team’s 107,601 fans fill the space with so much cheering and shouting the sound ...

Judge of All from 2021-06-20T06:03

Have you ever tried to play hide-and-go-seek with a two-year-old? It can be pretty comical. I remember playing the game with my son at that age and found him standing next to his bed with his face ...

Made to Worship from 2021-06-19T06:03

Music is one of the most engaging human activities. When we sing or play an instrument our whole being is engaged—our mind, our heart, and our body. Music unites us. In a choir, a group of un...

Safely Home from 2021-06-18T06:03

Every day we are reminded that human life is incredibly fragile. As we look at the world, there are endless threats pressing near—disease, war, famine, and spiritual forces of evil, to name a...

Life and Death from 2021-06-17T06:03

From the fountain of youth to the philosopher’s stone, humans have long been obsessed with finding a way to cheat death and achieve immortality. For most people, the solution to the problem o...

Remember God's Promises from 2021-06-16T06:03

Much of our life of faith is spent living in between God’s promise and its future fulfillment. All through the Bible, God makes big promises and then asks His people to live in faith. God pro...

Darkness Is My Closest Friend from 2021-06-15T06:03

After the death of his wife, Joy, C. S. Lewis processed his grief by journaling about his sadness and anger toward God and the world. He later felt his journal might help others who were grieving a...

An Anchor for the Soul from 2021-06-14T06:03

As a young college student, I lost my wallet at a concert. This would not have been a major issue except for the fact that my wallet contained my driver’s license, social security card, and m...

Justice and Forgiveness from 2021-06-13T06:03

Have you ever needed to ask someone for forgiveness? It is a difficult place to be in because it means admitting that you have done something wrong. You also might not know how the offended person ...

Longing for God from 2021-06-12T06:03

When we were engaged, my wife and I had a long-distance relationship. We lived about four hours apart by car and every weekend one of us would make the pilgrimage to see the other. All year, we wou...

Grace in Judgment from 2021-06-11T06:03

The apostle Paul was under attack. He had been arrested on the false charge that he had brought a Gentile into the Temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27–29). A group of Jewish leaders had had enoug...

God of Justice from 2021-06-10T06:03

When 33-year-old Bob Pierce was in China holding evangelistic meetings, he was introduced to an abandoned Chinese girl. After she became a Christian, the girl’s father beat her and threw her ...

True Worship from 2021-06-09T06:03

“What have you done for me lately?” It’s easy to forget how well someone has served us in the past, when we are disappointed with them in the present! Some companies take this app...

Revive Us, O God! from 2021-06-08T06:03

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the wayward son recognizes his sin and comes to his senses, saying: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be call...

Where is God? from 2021-06-07T06:03

When a natural disaster like a tornado or hurricane strikes, government officials tour the areas hit hardest. One of the reasons for this is to show that they recognize the situation and intend to ...

Knowing God from 2021-06-06T06:03

In his classic work Knowing God, J. I. Packer points out the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. He understood that it was possible for someone to have sound theology, know the Bi...

Our Waymaker from 2021-06-05T06:03

What do we do when the way forward looks hopeless and confusing? How do we take the next step Who will lead us? Again and again in Scripture, we see that God provides a way. It took ten terrible pl...

The Power of God from 2021-06-04T06:03

Investment advisors often use the phrase “Past performance is no guarantee of future result.” The phrase serves as a kind of disclaimer. Just because a particular company has performed ...

The Cup of God's Wrath from 2021-06-03T06:03

When I was camping in a pop-up trailer with my family, a thunderstorm came up suddenly in the night. The wind shook the canvas and rocked the trailer. We wondered how long our shelter would hold up...

Rise Up, O God! from 2021-06-02T06:03

How do we engage with God when we are deeply wounded? According to the National Institute of Health, trauma can affect our “beliefs about the future via loss of hope.” Israel had been t...

A Vision of God from 2021-06-01T06:03

Roman author Phaedrus once quipped, “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many.” When the author of Psalm 73 looked around him, his first impression was o...

More Love in Christ, Paul from 2021-05-31T06:03

If there was a recording of our conversation for an entire day, what would it reveal? As our words played back, would God be glorified in our language? In their book, Redeeming How We Talk, Ken Wyt...

A Reminder to Do Good from 2021-05-30T06:03

In the city of Joppa in the days of the early church, a believer named Dorcas (also called Tabitha) “was always doing good and helping the poor.” The poor in that time and culture inclu...

Laziness and Disorderliness from 2021-05-29T06:03

In fixer-upper shows, the most amazing transformations happen when a house has experienced neglect. Ceilings leak. Floorboards are rotted. The structure has disintegrated due to the neglect of the ...

The Spread of the Gospel from 2021-05-28T06:03

A recent survey by Arizona Christian University found that most American adults believe a gospel of works, that is, they don’t believe the true gospel at all. About 48 percent think that if t...

Stand Firm and Hold Fast from 2021-05-27T06:03

Before Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians, he wrote a letter to the Galatians. The church there had “astonished” the apostle by “turning to a different gospel—which is really ...

Lawlessness Overthrown from 2021-05-26T06:03

In 1997, musician and author Michael Card released an entire album on the Book of Revelation. Titled Unveiled Hope, the album includes songs such as “To the Overcomers,” “The Song...

The Day of the Lord from 2021-05-25T06:03

When natural disasters and wars occur in rapid succession, many people begin to talk about the End Times. They wonder what day the Lord might return, and which living person might be the promised A...

Paul's Prayer for Them from 2021-05-24T06:03

What does it mean for Christ to be glorified in us? The great English preacher Charles Spurgeon answered: “Even now His saints glorify Him. When they walk in holiness they do, as it were, ref...

Justice and Christ's Return from 2021-05-23T06:03

What is biblical justice? How is it different than what we mean by justice today? Pastor and author Tim Keller explained: “In the West, when we think of justice, we think of individual rights...

More Thankful Remembrances from 2021-05-22T06:03

The word martyr originally meant “witness”—someone who testifies to truths they have personally seen, heard, and experienced. Even in the first generation of believers, though, th...

Dear Thessalonians, Again from 2021-05-21T06:03

Do you get excited when you receive an actual hand-written letter? In today’s era, letters are a rare treat. But in Paul’s time, they were a necessary means of communication. This secon...

Love in Christ, Paul from 2021-05-20T06:03

Nowadays, we authenticate or verify as genuine a person’s identity through such means as government-issued picture ID cards or notarized signatures. Higher standards of proof can be met by fi...

Prayer and Encouragement from 2021-05-19T06:03

What does it mean when the Bible says we are to long for Christ’s return? The fifth president of Moody Bible Institute, William Culbertson, once preached: “If you say you love the appea...

Closing Exhortations, Part 2 from 2021-05-18T06:03

In 2020, many of us struggled to maintain a positive attitude. As week after week and month after month passed with no end to the pandemic in sight, it was easy for even the most ardent optimist to...

Closing Exhortations, Part 1 from 2021-05-17T06:03

A well-known quote from the gangster movie The Untouchables expresses a strong spirit of retaliation or revenge: “You wanna know how to get [gangster Al] Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a...

Live as Children of Light from 2021-05-16T06:03

The belt of truth. The helmet of salvation. The shield of faith. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us to put on the “full armor of God” in order to prepare for spiritual warfar...

Surprising and Expected from 2021-05-15T06:03

An elementary school teacher told her class to be ready because in the coming week there would be a fire alarm. She taught them what they should do when the bell rang. They would need to follow dir...

Christ Will Return from 2021-05-14T06:03

The “Day of the Lord” is portrayed in Scripture as a day of fear and trembling, justice and judgment. On that day, God will come as a Mighty Warrior and conquer the nations (Joel 2:1&nd...

Resurrection Day from 2021-05-13T06:03

African American poet James Weldon Johnson depicted Death as God’s servant in his poem “Go Down Death: A Funeral Sermon.” In the poem, a woman was dying, and God summoned Death to...

Living with Integrity from 2021-05-12T06:03

While many people associate success with accumulating wealth or prestige, one woman had a different type of dream. After years of being unhappy in her high-pressure, prestigious government job, she...

Loving One Another from 2021-05-11T06:03

Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love.” The motto references the Greek word phileo which means “brotherly love” or the love between friends. Christians r...

Living to Please God Alone from 2021-05-10T06:03

Following Jesus should impact every area of our life. It changes the way we work and how we spend our money. It shapes the way we treat our neighbors and the way we address conflict in our own home...

A Blessing and a Prayer from 2021-05-09T06:03

When I was a child, pastoral prayers were a main feature of our church worship service. When the prayer began, I knew to settle in for a long one. Over the years, it seems that pastoral prayers hav...

A Good Report from 2021-05-08T06:03

My family, to be honest, is not always thankful. We have to work at it. One year, we wrote on slips of paper and filled a jar with things for which we were thankful. Some years, we keep a weekly gr...

Longing to See You Again from 2021-05-07T06:03

Picture for a moment those first moments of a family reunion. The entire extended family is reunited— aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, and others. They may come from around the countr...

Suffering for Christ from 2021-05-06T06:03

When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, he presented the gospel first to Jews in the local synagogue, as he often did. Some believed, but others responded with hostility, stirring up mob violence and dr...

Caring for Others from 2021-05-05T06:03

Any new parent will agree that caring for a newborn baby is an act of selfless love. The newborn baby relies completely on parents to meet its needs for food, physical closeness, and safety, while ...

Pleasing God Alone from 2021-05-04T06:03

Whom are you trying to please: people or God? In their commentary on 1 Thessalonians, John F. Walvoord and Mark Hitchcock wrote: “The most basic test of any service rendered for God is the qu...

The Life-Changing Gospel from 2021-05-03T06:03

Welsh missionary Timothy Richard arrived in China in 1870. For 45 years, he preached the gospel; distributed Scripture and Christian literature; organized famine relief; and founded schools, orphan...

Thankful Remembrances from 2021-05-02T06:03

Gratitude helps build community. That’s why California educator Mike Fauteux built an online tool to promote more gratitude in schools. Called GiveThx, this app provides a way for students to...

Dear Thessalonians from 2021-05-01T06:03

A hub of political and economic power. People known for idol worship. Welcome to Thessalonica, the capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia. This month we’ll begin by reading Paul&rsqu...

A Person of Prayer from 2021-04-30T06:03

Dutch Christian and Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom was known as a woman of prayer. She once said, “What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” As we end...

Christ in You from 2021-04-29T06:03

Robert Munger, a Presbyterian minister, once wrote a small booklet titled “My Heart, Christ’s Home.” In story form, he depicts Jesus being welcomed into our heart as a guest. As J...

Transformed by God from 2021-04-28T06:03

As faculty at a Bible college, we want our students to go beyond just studying the Bible. We want them not just to know about God but also to grow in their relationship with Him. We want them not j...

A Praying Family from 2021-04-27T06:03

Puritan preacher Thomas Brookes once said, “A family without prayer is like a house without a roof, open and exposed to all the storms of heaven.” Praying as a family can be challenging...

Prayer and Ministry from 2021-04-26T06:03

Will Graham said that his grandfather, the Rev. Billy Graham, once gave him life-changing advice: “Pray. Pray. Pray,” said Graham, then added, “Study. Study. Study.” Will sa...

Believer's Bold Prayers from 2021-04-25T06:03

Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples went into the Temple courts and healed a crippled man. The authorities opposed the crowds that soon gathered and tossed Peter and John into pr...

Two Ways to Pray from 2021-04-24T06:03

One of the easiest traps we can fall into is the Comparison Trap. We look at the lives of others and begin comparing ourselves to them. Sometimes we are jealous, sometimes we look down on others, f...

Pray Persistently from 2021-04-23T06:03

“Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness,” said Hannah More, an English religious writer and philanthropist in the late 1700s. Prayer is “not the definition of helplessness, but ...

Don't Give Up from 2021-04-22T06:03

Angela Yuan was a fervent prayer warrior on behalf of her son. Christopher had made choices that led him far from God, but his mother, a strong believer, prayed day and night on his behalf. She ask...

The Lord's Prayer from 2021-04-21T06:03

As we approach the last week of our study, we return to learn at the feet of Jesus who Himself showed us how to pray. The disciples longed to pray like Jesus and in Luke 11 we see the prayer templa...

Habakkuk's Prayer from 2021-04-20T06:03

Habakkuk’s prayer came shortly before the Babylonian invasion of Judah (605 BC). Facing His coming judgement, the prophet struggled with God’s justice. However, Habakkuk wanted the righ...

Jonah's Prayer from 2021-04-19T06:03

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah, especially the part about the whale. Jonah was a prophet who refused the Lord’s command to go to Nineveh and instead boarded a ship headed in ...

David's Prayer for Favor from 2021-04-18T06:03

Before I followed God’s leading into full-time vocational ministry, I wanted to be an architect. I love design and structure. Did you know that our prayer life and our prayers need structure ...

David's Prayer for Forgiveness from 2021-04-17T06:03

Silence can be a virtue. But sometimes, God gives us opportunities to speak truth, and we must be careful not to neglect the opening to make a meaningful difference. In our text today, David was si...

Elijah's Prayer from 2021-04-15T06:03

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt underqualified? You feel pressured to act, maybe people are watching, but you have no idea what to do. If you are a person of prayer, you may cry ou...

Daniel's Prayer from 2021-04-14T06:03

Dreams are not something we talk about much in Christian circles. However, we do see in Scripture that at times the Lord has used dreams to teach people about Himself and to communicate His glory t...

Hezekiah's Prayer from 2021-04-13T08:03

People love an underdog story, when a downtrodden person conquers great obstacles and transforms into a hero. In today’s passage, Hezekiah is the underdog. Assyria is set on attacking the cit...

Jabez's Prayer from 2021-04-12T08:03

Born into poverty, Walt Disney grew up to create what he envisioned as the “happiest place on earth.” We all love to read stories about men and women who overcame hardship and went on t...

Solomon's Prayer at the Temple from 2021-04-11T08:03

There is nothing quite like completing a huge project, whether it is home renovation or an all-day feast. The feeling of accomplishment is satisfying. That’s what Solomon and the Israelites e...

Solomon Prays for Wisdom from 2021-04-10T08:03

Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” However, better advice came from King Solomon, who wrote centuries earlier: “The fear of the LORD...

David's Prayer (Part 2) from 2021-04-09T08:03

In his New York Times bestselling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey tells people to imagine what they want said at their funeral. When we think about how we want to be re...

David's Prayer (Part 1) from 2021-04-08T08:03

Groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies are ways we celebrate and thank the many people who paved the way for a new business or building. As God’s people prepared to build the Temple in ...

Hannah's Prayer from 2021-04-07T08:03

Has there ever been a time when you pleaded with the Lord? “God, if you do this, then I promise to . . . ” Sometimes God looks at our life and chooses to answer “Yes.” In ou...

Jesus Prays for Us from 2021-04-06T08:03

There is an old fable about a man who, at the hour of his death, gathered his sons around him. He gave them a bunch of sticks, tied into a bundle, and asked the oldest son to try and break them. Th...

Jesus Prays for His Disciples from 2021-04-05T08:03

I do not know how all the components of my smartphone work, but I do know this: if I forget to charge it, and the battery is dead, nothing will work. Jesus knew His disciples would need to work tog...

Jesus Prays for Himself from 2021-04-04T08:03

“He has risen! He has risen, indeed!” This is how many believers around the globe will greet one another on this Resurrection Day. But this is more than a greeting, it is a proclamation...

Three Prayers from the Cross from 2021-04-03T08:03

On the cross, Jesus was mostly silent. The excruciating pain He endured would have made it nearly impossible for Him to speak. Any utterance would have used the strength needed to pull himself up b...

Teach Us to Pray from 2021-04-01T08:03

Pastor David Platt says, “The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.” This month, as we focus on powerful prayers from the Bible, we want to learn how w...

Miriam - A Solemn Warning from 2021-03-31T08:03

Like all parents everywhere, my husband and I have frequent conversations about how to discipline our children. Often we ask ourselves: Does the punishment fit the crime? Will this particular conse...

Miriam - Competing for Leadership from 2021-03-30T08:03

At times, we all experience envy—resenting the blessing or success of others. But envy can be particularly damaging when we let it divide the people of God. In Numbers 11, the Israelites had ...

Miriam - The Prophetess from 2021-03-29T08:03

My high school English teacher was the austere Opal Underbakke. When I was a senior, she encouraged my class to enter a national writing competition and worked with me to hone my essay, which won s...

Miriam - Persistent Providence from 2021-03-28T08:03

Our adoption story is full of moments where God coordinated the timing. The most obvious example is that our kids’ adoptions were finalized on the exact same day. One three-year journey throu...

Potiphar's Wife - A God of Absolutes from 2021-03-27T07:03

When teaching communication skills, I caution my students against the overuse of absolute descriptors. Words such as “never” and “always” should be used sparingly since they...

Tamar - More Righteous Than I from 2021-03-26T07:03

One of my writing professors often said, “Sometimes in order to tell one story well, you need to tell two.” Sometimes two narratives, when placed side by side, deepen the impact of each...

Rachel - Cleaning House from 2021-03-25T07:03

There are several popular shows today about how to organize your home. But before the experts can display your items neatly in clear matching bins, they have an important request: Edit! Go through ...

Dinah - Deceit, Defilement, and Revenge from 2021-03-24T07:03

“Revenge Plays,” like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, share key characteristics. A crime is committed (usually violent and against a family member of the avenger), but ordinary law cannot p...

Rachel - Witness to Transformation from 2021-03-23T07:03

No salvation testimony could be more dramatic than Nicky Cruz’s, ex-New York City gang warlord who was pursued by a country preacher and the love of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit changed Cruz...

Rachel - Caught, Not Taught from 2021-03-22T07:03

My dad was a quiet man. His cerebral palsy made speech difficult. Consequently, most of what I learned from him I learned through observation. I absorbed some of his strengths and some of his weakn...

Rachel and Leah - Conflict Management from 2021-03-21T07:03

When young couples engage in premarital counseling, they discuss topics like family, finances, communication, and—of course—conflict. Scripture is full of passages that can guide the ne...

Rachel - A Taste of Your Own Medicine from 2021-03-20T07:03

Most couples enjoy telling the “how we met” story. It is fun to hear what brought two lives together. In Genesis 28 and 29, we learn the love story of Jacob and Rachel. When Jacob left ...

Rebekah - Give Me Your Blessing from 2021-03-19T07:03

In the Old Testament, the patriarchal blessing was not merely a father’s wish for his child. Rather, it was a permanent declaration, mediated by God, that often included an inheritance. When ...

Rebekah - Fearful, but Blessed from 2021-03-18T07:03

Fear is a powerful motivator. It can drive us to do dastardly things. Some of us shut down, attack, or distract ourselves. Others face fear by trying to wrestle a problem in their own strength. In ...

Rebekah - A War in the Womb from 2021-03-17T07:03

Twins have a fascinating relationship. Even as babies they seem to share an unspoken language, understanding one another in a way no one else can. And when they grow up, they remain instinctively c...

Rebekah - Seeking the Will of God from 2021-03-16T07:03

As a college professor, one of the most common conversations I have with my students is about God’s will. How does He reveal His leading to us? In Abraham’s advanced years, his primary ...

Sarah - Leaving a Legacy from 2021-03-15T07:03

My grandma Ruby wrote her life story and titled it My Burden Bearer. The title points to the difficult life she endured—losing her mother when she was a child, suffering an unkind stepmom, be...

Sarah - A God Who Provides from 2021-03-14T07:03

Two years ago, my husband Peter suffered a small stroke. By God’s provision, he has made a strong recovery, but this journey tested our faith in new ways. God does that sometimes. He wants to...

Sarah - A God Who Preserves from 2021-03-13T07:03

Do you and your siblings always get along? Has there ever been rivalry between you? Sibling rivalry began with humanity’s very first sibling set: Abel and Cain. And it has infected every rela...

Sarah - A Promise Fulfilled from 2021-03-12T07:03

My husband and I endured such an arduous journey to parenthood that, when we finally brought our son into our home, everything became cause for celebration. His first tooth. His first word. His fir...

Sarah - Sovereign God from 2021-03-11T07:03

We have a tendency to fall back into sin, doing the very thing we know is wrong. When we seem to “get away” with a sin, the temptation grows to try it again. Genesis 20 records that fo...

Sarai - Living the Impossible from 2021-03-10T07:03

My nine-year-old daughter remembers everything I say—at least when it comes to fun events or potential treats. I have to be very careful how I communicate to her, lest they be misconstrued as...

Sarai - The Covenant Confirmed from 2021-03-09T07:03

A vow renewal ceremony has become an increasingly popular way for couples to recommit to one another and reclaim their marital promises. They often use new rings as a tangible sign of their ongoing...

Sarai - The God Who Sees from 2021-03-08T07:03

My husband and I longed for biological children for many years before God finally opened the door for us to adopt our two children. And while God has healed much of the pain of infertility, it stil...

Sarai - Self-Preservation from 2021-03-07T07:03

Early last year, our state’s governor issued a disaster proclamation in response to the COVID-19 virus. A shelter-in-place order followed, bringing long-term consequences that we are only beg...

Sarai - The Call and the Covenant from 2021-03-06T07:03

God’s general call to each of us is to love, follow, and obey Him. But sometimes He communicates a more specific calling—to a specific person at a specific time and for a specific purpo...

Eve - The Greatest Gift from 2021-03-05T07:03

My husband Peter and I have grieved several losses in our twenty years of marriage - his father, both of my parents, and three babies by miscarriage. Experiencing such pain together can either deep...

Eve - Driving the Wedge from 2021-03-04T07:03

Our family often enjoys an evening walk around our neighborhood. We like to call our route the “McHenry Loop.” We wander through the park, along the river, and back via our quaint downt...

Eve - Then Came Shame from 2021-03-03T07:03

In the movies, the villain often approaches with ominous music. In Genesis 3, the snake arrived with no fanfare at all. No explanation is given for his entrance. He was a “wild animal” ...

Eve - Work, Worship, and Partnership from 2021-03-02T07:03

Our twelve-year-old son would probably tell you that “work” is a dirty word. As parents, we want to encourage him to see work differently, to model a joyful approach, and to invite him ...

Eve - In His Image from 2021-03-01T07:03

Most of us ask the question “Who am I?” at some point in our lives—often in seasons of crisis or change. This question contains just three simple words, but it’s a surprisin...

Many Hands from 2021-02-28T07:03

When I was a pastor, our church hosted Vacation Bible School every summer. Planning began months before the event with the same announcement every year: “Many hands make light work.” Pa...

Joining the Struggle from 2021-02-27T07:03

Missionaries often refer to those who support their work as “ministry partners.” They aren’t trying to flatter donors so they will send more money. They know that their ministry d...

The Spirit of Unity from 2021-02-26T07:03

The church today is divided over many things. Race and politics, in particular, have become a flashpoint in recent days. But there are also many other, less volatile matters over which we disagree....

Working for Peace from 2021-02-25T07:03

Cartoons often depict our conscience as a tiny angel standing on one shoulder, telling you to do good, and a miniature devil standing on the other, urging you to do the opposite. This cartoon image...

Acceptable Differences from 2021-02-24T07:03

My father was a fan of Dixieland jazz. If I complained about it, he usually responded with the Latin phrase: De gustibus non est disputandem, which means, “In matters of taste, there can be n...

Our Debt of Love from 2021-02-23T07:03

“Oh, to grace, how great a debtor. / Daily I’m constrained to be!” begins the third stanza of the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” As recipients of God&rsqu...

Christians and Government from 2021-02-22T07:03

In addition to the health threat it presented, the COVID-19 crisis created political tensions for many churches when some states ordered them not to meet for worship.  Some complied with gover...

How to Overcome Evil from 2021-02-21T07:03

A popular quote attributed to the 19th-century statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke goes, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” One of the probl...

A Living Sacrifice from 2021-02-20T07:03

In her poem entitled “A Christmas Carol,” 19th-century author Christina Rossetti wrote: “What can I give Him, \ Poor as I am? \ If I were a shepherd \ I would bring a lamb, \ If I...

The Mystery of Grace from 2021-02-19T07:03

There are many ways we can share the gospel. Some people like to use an outline, a Scripture map, or even a helpful diagram. But evangelism cannot be reduced to a methodology. Paul calls God’...

God's Plan for Israel from 2021-02-18T07:03

When I was a young Christian, I wore a button with the letters PBPGINFWMY on it. The letters stood for the phrase, “Please be patient; God is not finished with me yet.” Paul’s mes...

The End of the Law from 2021-02-17T07:03

When I began attending church in the 1970s, most people wore “Sunday clothes” to the worship service. Men wore suit jackets and neckties, and women wore dresses. Today most people dress...

God's Stumbling Block from 2021-02-16T07:03

At some point, every parent has heard their child say, “I can do it all by myself.” The determination to do something for ourselves is a necessary stage in our development. But in the s...

God Is for Us! from 2021-02-15T07:03

A famous saying goes, “God plus you is a majority.” It implies that God is on our side and will help us conquer our opposition. As Christians, we know that God is with us. But because t...

Written on Our Heart from 2021-02-14T07:03

The problem of humanity’s inability to keep God’s law was not a New Testament problem. The Old Testament recognized it as well. In Jeremiah 31:33, the Lord delivers this promise: &ldquo...

The Other Law from 2021-02-13T07:03

Many who struggle with addictions have found help by joining a twelve-step program. Developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, the twelve steps begin by having participants admit that they are powerless ov...

Death and the Law from 2021-02-12T07:03

According to voting records, John Cenkner cast ballots in the California elections of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010. The only problem was that he died in 2003. For obvious reasons, the dead can&...

Escaping Sin's Control from 2021-02-11T07:03

Juneteenth commemorates the day that Union General Gordon Granger announced to former slaves in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended, and they were free. The announcement came two and a h...

The Power of One from 2021-02-10T07:03

In the days before digital pictures, photographic negatives were common. A negative is an image where the light areas are reversed to appear dark, and the dark areas now become light. It creates a ...

The Chain of Grace from 2021-02-09T07:03

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy Pevensie opens the door of a wardrobe and discovers that it is a gateway to the dreamlike land of Narnia. As she pushes past heavy fur winter coats, s...

The Promise of Faith from 2021-02-08T07:03

David Macaulay has authored a popular series of books for children (and loved by many adults) that describe The Way Things Work. Using colorful and precisely detailed illustrations, he explains the...

Earning Righteousness from 2021-02-07T07:03

A popular children’s song goes: “Father Abraham had many sons / Many sons had Father Abraham. / I am one of them and so are you. / So let’s just praise the Lord!” Today&rsqu...

The Good and Bad News from 2021-02-06T07:03

When someone is going to deliver a difficult message, they’ll sometimes ask you: Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news? The word gospel comes from a Greek word that means goo...

The Lesson of God's Law from 2021-02-05T07:03

When I was in graduate school, one professor told us that he designed his tests so that nobody could get a 100 percent. Then, he told us not to worry because he graded on a curve. Some believe that...

Right on the Inside from 2021-02-04T07:03

In most television dramas, the conclusion to a courtroom scene is usually very dramatic. During a final cross-examination, the prosecuting attorney will successfully provoke the accused to break do...

Moral Sinners from 2021-02-03T07:03

After the Pharisees condemned Jesus for healing a blind man on the Sabbath, He told them, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will bec...

Sin's Downward Spiral from 2021-02-02T07:03

One of the most famous sermons preached by 18th-century pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards was titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards said that the sermon was &ldquo...