Daily Archives: May 31, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – For Every Generation

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Read Numbers 36

Have you ever wrestled with how to balance personal freedom with responsibility to your family or community? Our culture champions individual choice—but God calls us to consider the impact our decisions have on others.

Numbers 36 concludes with a follow-up to an earlier story. The five daughters of Zelophehad had bravely asked for their father’s inheritance because he died with no sons (Num. 27). God honored their request and granted them land rights. Now the leaders worried: Suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away” (v. 3). If the daughters married outside their tribe, their land would eventually belong to their husbands’ tribes, disrupting God’s carefully planned distribution.

So, God gave guidance: “They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan” (v. 6). This command preserved the daughters’ rights and the unity of the tribal inheritance. The daughters obeyed (v. 10–12): “Zelophehad’s daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses. Zelophehad’s daughters…married their cousins on their father’s side” (vv. 10–11). They found fulfillment within God’s loving limits.

This story reminds us that God cares about the details of our lives—our personal choices impact His larger purposes. The New Testament reminds us to “not [look] to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:4). Faithfulness means honoring God not only with our personal lives but also how we live within the body of Christ.

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Pray with Us

God, only in You are we truly free. Forgive us for the time when we prioritized our personal “freedom” over Your will. Keep us mindful of how we might serve others and, thus, serve You.

This is what the LORD commands.Numbers 36:6

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Extending God’s Care

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If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! 2 Kings 5:3

Today’s Scripture

2 Kings 5:1-3, 9-11, 13-14

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Today’s Devotion

As a teenager, I had a strained relationship with my churchmate Lisa, so I was dismayed to learn we’d be roommates at our youth summer camp. The week at camp passed smoothly, though, with both of us being civil.

The most anticipated event was a bonfire gathering at the end of the week. On that evening, however, I had a fever. I went to bed early, but I could hear the laughter and music outside. An hour later, I was startled by Lisa, who was taking my temperature. “I’m not joining them at the bonfire,” she said. “You’re sick. I need to stay with you.” Lisa could’ve stayed uninvolved, but she chose to care for me, which lifted my spirits.

We see another example of someone who cared in the story of Naaman. The commander of the Syrian army, Naaman had an Israelite servant girl who’d been taken captive and now “served Naaman’s wife” (2 Kings 5:2). Separated from family and forced to servitude, the girl could’ve chosen to not help her master, who had leprosy. But her faith moved her to help: “She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him’ ” (v. 3). And God did, in fact, use the prophet Elisha to heal Naaman (vv. 8-14).

Lisa and the Israelite girl chose to help, and God worked through them. Let’s ask God to show us who we can extend His care to and give us the wisdom how.

Reflect & Pray

Why might you resist helping others? How can helping others allow them to see God’s care for them?

Dear God, I’ve experienced so much help from You. Please use me to help others.

Today’s Insights

At the time of Elisha, Naaman was the only leper who’d been healed (2 Kings 5:1-14; see Luke 4:27). A young girl from Israel had been forcefully taken to a foreign country and was enslaved to serve Naaman’s household (2 Kings 5:2). It would’ve been understandable for her to rejoice that her enemy had leprosy. Yet, she told him that the God of Israel—through the prophet Elisha—had the power to heal him (v. 3). This is an example of “[overcoming] evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Galatians reminds us to “do good to all people” (6:10). Today, we can ask God to show us how we can show His love to others.

Learn why we should help our neighbors. 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Learning to depend on God’s word

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As we discussed last week, Scripture lists several reasons why God judges nations that are of particular relevance to America. However, each is also tied closely with a reason why the Lord might bless our nation as well. Today, we’re going to look at the first of those reasons: Our response to God’s word.

Disobedience to God’s word is a “blanket” sin that covers all that follows. Those who are disobedient to his word must face his judgment, since he cannot be a holy God while rewarding sin or a loving Father while blessing that which harms his children.

For example, God upbraided Israel prior to the death of Joshua: “You have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?” (Judges 2:2). Accordingly, he warned that he would not “drive out” the nations before them, but “they shall become thorns in your sides” (v. 3).

The Lord similarly revealed to Zechariah:

They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts . . . “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate.” (Zechariah 7:12, 14)

Continue reading Denison Forum – Learning to depend on God’s word →

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Instruction Contrary to Knowledge

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:27)

One of the saddest realities in the modern world is that many of the leaders of evolutionary and humanistic thought were raised in Christian homes, where from an early age they were exposed to the truths of Scripture. Testimonies without number have been chronicled of Christian students going to universities where they were taught to doubt and then to disbelieve the faith of their parents. Perhaps all these students ever knew of Christianity was a set of rules; maybe they never understood the reasons their parents held certain views or the basis for these beliefs. Certainly the foundational teaching of creation has been missing in many Christian homes and churches.

Our primary goal as parents should be to establish a godly heritage—to teach the truths of God in such a way as will be believed and cherished by our children so that they will “keep that which is committed to [their] trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20).

Certainly a more effective way of teaching is to continually point the child or student back to foundational principles rather than to list a set of dos and don’ts. We must teach those under our influence to be grounded in the Word so that they can make sound judgments when away from our watchful eyes. No greater aid to serious study, no better primer in careful reasoning exists than in Scripture. Using it and other supportive materials, a child can learn to think carefully and critically. Not only will they learn information, but here they can learn wisdom and knowledge and understanding. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). JDM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Follow the Leader

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My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8 (AMPC)

The psalmist David says in today’s scripture that his “whole being follows hard after” God and “clings closely” to Him. We can sense the intensity of David’s heart as he follows God, the only worthy leader we could have.

You may remember, as I do, playing a childhood game called Follow the Leader. If the leader was creative and fun and kept everyone moving at a good pace, the game was enjoyable.

If the leader was bossy, moved too fast, or was inclined to lead other children to do things that were too hard or dangerous, the game fell apart quickly. As we go through life, we get to choose which leader we will follow. We all reach a point where we must decide whether we will follow God or trust ourselves to lead our lives.

People who go through life with their own agendas—trying to set their own course, make their own plans, and run their own lives—often end up frustrated and unhappy. It’s not that their plans aren’t good; it’s that God’s plans are so much better.

When we follow God, we have a leader who moves at exactly the right pace and keeps life interesting for us. He also makes sure we miraculously end up just where we’re supposed to be, when we’re supposed to be there. Following God is a great adventure, and I hope you will embrace it today.

Prayer of the Day: God, I choose You as the leader of my life. Help me to follow hard after You with my whole being.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org