The New Covenant

Read Mark 14:1 through 16:20 God’s covenant with Israel involved the sacrifice of animals. Each sacrifice applied only to the person offering the sacrifice and only for the specific sin(s) for which the sacrifice was made. However, as Jesus celebrated His last meal with His disciples, He pointed to a new and greater covenant, sealed with His own blood, that …

Keep Believing

Read Mark 8:1 through 9:50 People sometimes find themselves facing an impossible situation. It could be a marriage broken almost beyond repair, a child addicted to drugs, a health crisis, or a financial debacle. When facing such a crisis, Christians know God can do the impossible, but they may wonder if He’ll take action to help them. It’s natural for …

Real Peace

Read Judges 5:1 through 6:40 Sharon sat in front of the unopened bills on her desk and felt the panic rising. Recently widowed, she was still waiting for the life insurance settlement. The loss of her husband had forced her to look for a job, and the one she found didn’t pay enough to cover her monthly bills. Now Sharon …

Ride of Faith

Read Mark 4:1 through 5:43 Brian was fishing in his small boat as a storm unexpectedly approached. Quickly, a bad situation turned worse when the engine wouldn’t start and the boat was caught in a serious whirlpool. Brian immediately cried out to God for help. Miraculously, the engine started, and he returned home safely. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping …

God Prepares Leaders

Read Deuteronomy 32:1 through 34:12 God is faithful to provide His people with pastors and other leaders. The people He raises into leadership enter the experience in a variety of ways. Some individuals sense the Lord calling them into His service from a very young age. This becomes a goal toward which they aim their education and career path. Others …

Time to Testify

Read Acts 22:1 through 24:27 Kevin bowed his head to give thanks for his meal. Taking notice, his coworker Jerry began asking questions about Kevin’s faith in Christ. After work, they continued to talk, and Kevin introduced Jerry to Christ. Jerry excitedly invited Kevin for dinner so Kevin could share Jesus with rest of Jerry’s family. The following night the …

Pick Me Up!

Read Deuteronomy 1:1 through 2:37 Little children love to be picked up and held close. One of the first words Janet’s two daughters learned was “up.” When she was washing dishes when they were toddlers, they would clutch her leg, waiting until she was finished so that she could pick them up again. Both of these daughters (now grown) have …

Focus on God

Read Numbers 14:1 through 15:41; Mark 2:1–22 The Israelites experienced God’s power and presence more deeply than any other ancient people. They witnessed incredible miracles firsthand when they were freed from slavery in Egypt. They had daily evidence of His presence over the tabernacle as they moved toward the Promised Land. When their complaints and expressions of anger escalated, God …

Be Blessed

Read Numbers 5:1 through 6:27 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24–26). Through Aaron and his sons, God invoked a blessing for the people of Israel. His blessings included His presence, protection, and peace. …

Valued Resource

Read Leviticus 18:1 through 20:27; Matthew 26:6–30 Gloria, a retiree, met Rosalie, a recent college graduate. When Rosalie mentioned where she lived, Gloria began to relate her experiences living in that city. Gloria continued to talk about her past career, not sure if the young woman would be interested. To Gloria’s surprise, Rosalie listened and asked questions. Gloria felt she …