One Man’s Disobedience Impacts the Entire Nation At last it’s time for Joshua to lead the people into the land God promised to give them and take it. First up is Jericho. But they don’t attack the city as we’d expect. Instead, they march around it for seven days. On the seventh day, the priests […]
Focus on Jesus and Don’t Worry about Others Today’s passage: John 21:20–23 Focus verse: When Peter saw [John], he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21) After restoring Peter into a right relationship with him, Jesus adds a cryptic line that implies Peter will die by crucifixion when he is older. This must make Peter […]
Look Up to the Mountains Psalm 121 is listed as “A song of ascents.” We may think of this as a subheading later added by translators, but it is not. It’s part of the original text. From nonbiblical sources, we learn that these songs were sung by the people as they climbed the hill to […]
Worship God Today’s passage: Revelation 22:7–11 Focus verse: “Worship God!” (Revelation 22:9) John identifies himself as the author of Revelation in the opening sections of the book. In case we forgot, he reminds us that he’s still here and this is his vision, which he’s dutifully recording for us to read. Overwhelmed by what he’s experiencing […]
Happy Mother’s Day In honor of Mother’s Day, I give my praise to all mothers. I want to salute all moms by commending one mom in particular. The Bible simply says she was the wife of Manoah. Though we don’t know her name, we know her son’s name: Samson. God promised to give a child […]
Daughters Receive Inheritance in Promised Land Zelophehad has five daughters but no sons. His girls are Mahlah, Noah (2), Hoglah, Milkah (2), and Tirzah. Zelophehad dies in the desert before he can receive his allotment of property in the promised land. Since he has no sons to receive his inheritance in his stead, the girls […]
Discover How Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophecy Today’s passage: Luke 24:44–47 Focus verse: Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) After Jesus appears to the disciples, Luke records additional details not found in John’s account. The risen Savior begins with a polite I-told-you-so reminder to his disciples of what […]
He Is the Rock of Our Salvation Psalm 95 opens with a compelling call to worship. It starts with the simple invitation of “Come!” Yes, we are to gather to worship our Lord. Though we can also worship him ourselves, the numbers in our corporate gathering multiply our praise. We are to come together and […]
Tree of Life Today’s passage: Revelation 22:1–5 Focus verse: On each side of the river stood the tree of life. (Revelation 22:2) The angel shows John a river of the water of life, clear and pure. It springs from the throne of Father God and the Lamb. From them comes living water, the source of eternal life. […]
Consider What Scripture Says about the Unborn Some say life begins at birth. Others point to conception. Yet too many look at the continuum of pregnancy and try to determine a point along that path where not-life becomes life. But this looms as a never-ending quest with an ever-moving answer. What does the Bible say […]