Romans 5:6–8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Read the context Who would you be willing to die for? I'm guessing your list might be short: A friend... a child... a spouse... But what about someone who consistently wrongs you?...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Luke 19:9–10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was… So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him… When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” …Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Read the context Zacchaeus...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Exodus 4:10–12 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Read the context "But I'm not ______ enough." As God sent Moses to free his people, it was...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Exodus 3:7–10 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey... So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Read the context "Does God really care about us?"...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Exodus 3:2ff Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Read the context Flames covered the bush,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Exodus 2:11ff One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. Read the context God’s people were suffering. Moses wanted to make things...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Luke 8:38–39 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. Read the context The man's life was controlled by demons. Now he was free. But Jesus told him to stay. Why Because he needed to tell the story of his freedom to those who knew him before... to tell them about Jesus. Often the best people to share Jesus...
8 days ago • 1 min read
2 Timothy 1:7–9a For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. Read the context What controls your decisions... faith or fear? Fear is powerful. It overwhelms you when you...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Gen. 50:19–20 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Read the context It had been almost 30 years since Joseph's brothers sold him off as a slave. But the guilt and fear was still around. Would you fault Joseph for getting revenge? His whole life was torn apart by his brothers! But instead he forgives. Why? Because he knows God's forgiveness given...
10 days ago • 1 min read