The Blog

Read Isaiah 28:1 through 30:33; Galatians 4:1–31 The old shoemaker calculated in his head and told customers exactly what they owed. He listened to others discuss current events and contributed to the conversation. No one suspected the man could not read or write. He hid his lack of formal education well. The Lord says: “These people come near to me …

Read Isaiah 14:1 through 18:7 Pride comes so naturally that people hardly notice it in their lives. It’s fine to take joy in personal accomplishments, but not to allow those feelings to morph into conceit or self-absorption. Pervasive pride seems to be the curse of modern society, with so much focus on: What’s in it for me? How does this …

Read Hosea 1:1 through 3:5 God told His prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous woman. Hosea’s life became a picture of God’s love for Israel and Israel’s constant unfaithfulness toward God. Hosea’s wife left him to chase after other men, but the story doesn’t end with a brokenhearted prophet. The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your …

Read Isaiah 52:13 through 55:13; Philippians 2:1–30 For most people who prick their finger or touch a hot stove, their arm involuntarily, even forcefully, pulls away. Pain helps protect the body. Children with congenital analgesia (the inability to feel pain) often suffer fractured bones, eye damage, burns, and damage to their tongues and lips. Humans were designed to avoid discomfort …

Read Ecclesiastes 5:1 through 7:29 A 2012 survey found that 65 percent of people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Reasons for this include being underpaid, limited career growth and advancement, lack of interest, poor management, job insecurity, poor communication, and unpleasant coworkers. Many do not feel appreciated or adequately rewarded for their performance. How different is the teacher’s advice in …

Read Ephesians 1:1 through 3:21 Traveling abroad poses challenges. In addition to obtaining a passport, it would help if you learned the language of the people. Failure to possess a thorough understanding of the culture and customs of a country may hinder effective communication. One word or a mispronounced syllable could transform an intended meaning into something entirely different. Prior …

Read Proverbs 3:1 through 4:27; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 27 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:7–8). To achieve good health, it may seem wise to follow the advice of “experts.” But most experts overlook the biggest problem—a lack of relationship …

Read Romans 13:1 through 16:27 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die; we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:7-8). Throughout church history, whenever people gathered together to worship …

Read Psalms 106:1 through 109:31 Ryan slipped downstairs at midnight, trying not to awaken his wife or their three children. The weary young father needed a little time with Jesus. Overwhelmed by life, he felt like an all-around failure. Ryan prayed, but, when he sensed no immediate reply, he muttered, “I must be failing You too.” Desperate for an escape …

Read Psalms 79:1 through 86:17 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11). In this climax to his prayer for guidance, David turns to the inward person, where the motivations for his actions originate. His desire to form right habits is clear: David …