Approachable

Read Leviticus 8:1 through 10:20 What does it take to approach God? Is it good intentions? Or a proper effort through some sort of trial and error? Nadab and Abihu discovered that disobedience can be deadly. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved …

He Hears and Cares

Read Exodus 1:1 through 3:10; Matthew 13:24–26   The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob (Exodus 2:23–24).   Joseph saved Egypt from famine and death. He should have been …

Dreams Fulfilled

Read Genesis 42:1 through 44:34   While a child, Cathy announced, “God wants me to be a missionary in China.” As she grew up, Cathy was blessed with her family’s encouragement. After she completed her college degree, she worked in accounting and researched entry options. Finally, she found the perfect missions organization. Twenty years to the month later, Cathy departed for …

Bearing Fruit

Read Genesis 22:20 through 24:67; Matthew 7:1–20   A gnarled, old tree growing in the front yard of a house appeared worthless. The owners thought the tree was a fruitless species and planned to cut it down. Then, one spring, beautiful pink blossoms appeared on the branches of the tree. Soon it was covered in fruit—big, golden peaches. The owners …

Loving the View

Read Genesis 1:1 through 2:25; Matthew 1:1–25   Jonathan and his son, Michael, walked together along the shore. They were happy. Waves made sounds with regular rhythm. The splashing water kept Michael stepping away from the water, then back toward the water. It was almost night, but the view was amazing.   Sandy, Jonathan’s wife and Michael’s mother, probably had …

Always There

Read Haggai 1:1 through 2:23   Frank left at 5:00 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. flight out of Los Angeles. “Surely the traffic won’t be bad that time of morning. I should get to the airport by seven o’clock easy,” he said to his wife.   The digital clock on the dashboard blinked 8:00 a.m. “Lord Jesus, help. Boarding starts …

Fresh Water for Life

Read Ezekiel 47:1 through 48:35; 1 Peter 1:1–25   Water plays a vital role in the life of the earth. God’s unique combination of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen meets many of mankind’s basic needs. The average adult human body is about 58 percent water. Without water, both plant and animal life suffer.   Ezekiel foresaw a time …

Christ Has Overcome

Read  Ezekiel 37:1 through 38:23   Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off (Ezekiel 37:11).   Have despair and hopelessness, those “twins” of darkness, ever gripped you so tightly you thought you couldn’t breathe?   Sometimes life can be ferocious, and not many escape its fury. An accident takes a spouse or child. …

Be a Wall Builder

Read Ezekiel 22:1 through 23:49   God looked for someone to stand in the gap in King Saul’s day and found David, who challenged Goliath and said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” …

Stand Boldly

Read John 17:1 through 18:40   When Martin opened his locker at the fitness club, his Bible fell to the floor. Larry, who degraded Christians every time he got the chance, said to Martin, “I should’ve known you’re one of them.”   Martin was tempted to say he had opened the wrong locker. Instead, he looked Larry in the eye …