1 Cor. 4:1–2 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Read the context When you borrow something, you tend to treat it well. You don't want to be known as the one who broke something borrowed. Paul talks about sharing God's word in the same way. The message isn't his — it belongs to God. It's both a blessing and a challenge to treat...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 6:5–8 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Matt. 9:35, 10:7–8 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Read the context Before Jesus ever sent his disciples out, he had already gotten his own hands dirty: healing the sick,...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Matthew 9:36–38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Read the context Lawns left uncut. Carafes crusted with old coffee. Laundry sitting in the dryer for a week. We're experts at noticing problems and saying "Someone should really do something...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 100 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.Know that the Lord is God.It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Read the context Sheep. Not shepherds. We didn't choose the Lord... HE chose us and made us. It wasn't because of who you are, but because of who the Lord is. You are his sheep. That's something worth singing about! Come before the Lord with gladness knowing that you are...
5 days ago • 1 min read
1 Kings 19 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life... He went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life." All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Numb. 20:10-12 Then Moses... said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Read the context...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hosea 6:1–3 “Come, let us return to the Lord.He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Read the context The surgeon carefully creates incisions...
8 days ago • 1 min read
1 Timothy 1:15-17 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Read the context He was a...
9 days ago • 1 min read