Matthew 4:18–20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Read the context The Olympic torch is en-route to the start of the games. The light gets passed from person to person until it reaches the finish line. As Jesus calls fishermen to...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Matthew 4:16–17 "The people living in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Read the context It was a place not all that different from where you live — confused and hurting people... darkened hearts... hopeless lives. And it was exactly where Jesus needed to be. As Jesus begins his ministry, he goes the places of hurt and fear, and...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 1:1–4 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, — but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Read the context A gust of wind blows through...
4 days ago • 1 min read
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...
5 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...
6 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...
7 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?...
8 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...
9 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...
10 days ago • 1 min read