2 Cor. 1:3–5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. Read the context Can you care for someone else when you haven't been cared for? It isn't recommended. Showing kindness from emptiness is...
2 days ago • 1 min read
James 1:2–4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Read the context The basketball team runs wind sprints after an embarrassing loss. It isn't punishment, it's physical and mental training for the next battle. Trials — persecution or temptation — can look like undo hardship. But God...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Deut. 10:12–13 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Read the context There are moments when you hate rules... especially overbearing ones. But you can't deny the fact that rules can be good — they create order and safety. God's law is more...
4 days ago • 1 min read
1 Cor. 1:26–28 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are. Read the context How often do you play the comparison game?...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Zeph. 2:3 & 3:11 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, — you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; — perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. ... On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame — for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters.Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. Read the context It is not typically the humble who end up ahead. The person who says, "No, you first" is...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Matthew 5:3–5 “Blessed are the poor in spirit — for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, — for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, — for they will inherit the earth. Read the context The roof is caving in. The family never leaves the hospital. Would you call them "blessed"? The world says if your situation is positive, you're blessed. Jesus says the opposite. Why? Because the blessings he is talking about are eternal, not temporary. Temporary suffering can’t...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 27:4–5 One thing I ask from the Lord,—this only do I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze on the beauty of the Lordand to seek him in his temple. For in the day of troublehe will keep me safe in his dwelling;he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent — and set me high upon a rock. Read the context The church building was crumbling... but inside hearts were alive. People were hearing about the love of their God. Where God's people gather...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 27:1, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? ... I remain confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; — be strong and take heartand wait for the Lord. Read the context What are you most afraid of... The doctor's appointment with bad news? Your busy life running you over? You can't avoid those places of fear... but you can take God's word with...
9 days ago • 1 min read
1 Thess. 5:14–15 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Read the context In an emergency room, if everyone gets the same response... things won't go well. The Church is made up of many people — some hurting, some needing encouragement, others celebrating. For each...
10 days ago • 1 min read