I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you. Exodus 31:6

Today’s Scripture

Exodus 31:1-11

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Virtuoso composer Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most celebrated musicians in history. Nearly two centuries after his death in 1827, his compositions are still among the most performed pieces. A study of Beethoven’s DNA, however, indicates he may not have been born with some of his abilities—as we might assume. When his genes were compared to those of 14,500 other people who’d shown an ability to keep rhythm (merely one aspect of musical talent), Beethoven ranked surprisingly low.

Beethoven also had ample opportunity and exposure to music (which developed the aptitude he did have). Yet neither talent nor opportunity fully account for God’s role in endowing us with the abilities we have. Our Creator equipped two men, Bezalel and Oholiab, with specific skills to be used in building the tabernacle. God filled Bezalel “with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs” and appointed Oholiab “to help him” (Exodus 31:3-6). God gave “ability to all the skilled workers to make everything [He] commanded” (v. 6).

Few of us will work on projects as significant as God’s tabernacle. And our abilities may never be recorded in history’s annals. Yet God has equipped us with the skills, aptitudes, and experiences He wants us to share with the world. May we serve Him faithfully, in His strength and for His glory.

Reflect & Pray

What skills and abilities has God given you? How might you serve Him with them?

Thank You, Father, for the abilities You’ve given me. Please help me use them for Your glory.

For further study, watch Gifts with Your Name on Them.

Today’s Insights

Bezalel and Oholiab are mentioned again in Exodus 35-38, as the Israelites prepared to put into action the instructions God had given them. But the construction of the “tent of meeting” (31:7) wasn’t just for those specially gifted by God (v. 6). The entire nation had the opportunity to participate. Moses said, “From what you have, take an offering for the Lord” (35:5). Notice that the command was to give “from what you have.” Then Moses said, “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded” (v. 10). The record says, “Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting” (v. 21). God has equipped each of us to contribute something, whether skill or time or material.

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You are precious and honored in my sight. Isaiah 43:4

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 43:1-7

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The painting hung on the wall of a home for years, unnoticed and forgotten, until one day it fell. When it was taken to an art restorer for repairs, he discovered it was a long-lost Rembrandt masterpiece titled The Adoration of the Magi. It had been thought that only copies of the work remained, but here was the original. Suddenly the painting’s value skyrocketed to hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Bible paints another picture of underestimated value and forgotten worth. Isaiah the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told God’s people that even though they would be taken away to a foreign land where they would suffer and be devalued, He would still be with them: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine,” He assured them (Isaiah 43:1). Though they would “pass through the waters” and “walk through the fire” (v. 2), His faithfulness to them would not change. With words that point to His coming kingdom in Christ, God promised that He would one day restore “everyone who is called by my name” (v. 7) and bring them home to Him.

God will one day gather all who are His because they “are precious and honored in [His] sight” (v. 4), each one an original! Our Creator values us because of His infinite kindness and mercy. The world may overlook us, but He never will.

Reflect & Pray

How does God’s kindness in Christ show that you are precious to Him? How much is He worth to you?

Saving God, how amazing is Your perfect love, that You would give Yourself for me!

Learn more here about having a personal relationship with God.

Today’s Insights

God disciplined His covenant people because of their unrepentant unfaithfulness and exiled them to Babylon for seventy years (Isaiah 39:6-7). But He wouldn’t forget His covenant or abandon His chosen people. In Isaiah 40-66, the prophet speaks of the return from exile and Judah’s future restoration. In chapter 43, God promised He’d bring them back to the promised land. They were disciplined, not abandoned, for He said, “I am with you” (v. 5). He reminded them that He’s still their God—their creator, redeemer, protector, and savior (vv. 7-15). As God’s people, we need not be afraid of the trials we face or the uncertainties of our future. Because we belong to Him, we can be assured of His unfailing love (vv. 1-3). He tells us, “You are precious and honored in my sight” (v. 4). He loves us and won’t forget us.

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Go and do likewise. Luke 10:37

Today’s Scripture

Luke 10:25-34, 36-37

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From her hospital bed, Marie Coble lit up when she saw the delivery driver whose help had likely saved her life. She’d fallen in her driveway and hit her head, causing a brain bleed. Seeing her injury, Raheem Cooper helped her while calling paramedics. Invited by family to visit her in the hospital, Raheem often brings sweet treats she enjoys to assist her recovery.

Their story brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable is Jesus’ reply to an expert’s question on what he must do to inherit eternal life. Do “what is written in the law,” Jesus said (Luke 10:26), including “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 27). But the expert persisted, asking, “Who is my neighbor?” (v. 29).

Christ’s answer describes a man attacked by robbers, left half dead, and then ignored by two people—a priest and a Levite—who passed him by. “But a Samaritan . . . took pity on him,” “bandaged his wounds, . . . and took care of him” (vv. 33-34). Seeing the hurting man in need, the Samaritan’s help was active, urgent, and without bias—looking past race or creed to assist someone he could’ve ignored.

Thus, Jesus asked, “Which of these three was a neighbor to the man?” “The one who had mercy on him,” the expert said. Said Jesus, “Go and do likewise” (vv. 36-37). In Christ, we too can find the compassion to help a hurting person instead of passing by. It’s a lesson for all in sharing Jesus’ love.

Reflect & Pray

How do you need mercy? How can you show mercy?

Dear Father, may I look beyond differences to share Jesus’ mercy with others.

To learn more about mercy, read Living Justly, Loving Mercy.

Today’s Insights

The key to understanding the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) lies in knowing how first-century Israel answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (v. 29). They’d distorted the command “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) into “love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43). The Jews defined a neighbor as a fellow Israelite, for gentiles were accursed. For the Pharisees (experts in the law), it referred to a fellow Pharisee, for those who knew nothing of the law were accursed (John 7:49). Jesus turned this thinking upside down by making a hated Samaritan (people of mixed race whom the Jews viewed as heretics) the hero of the story. The Spirit can help us today to show compassion to others instead of simply passing by.

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I wrote you . . . to let you know the depth of my love for you. 2 Corinthians 2:4

Today’s Scripture

2 Corinthians 2:1-8

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Hippocrates (ca. 460–375 bc) brought medicine out of the realm of the superstitious and into the light of testing and observation. But he didn’t lose sight of the patient’s humanity. “It is far more important to know what person the disease has,” he said, “than what disease the person has.”

The apostle Paul cared for a church with multiple problems, yet he saw the humanity of each member—including a man who’d committed a sin “that even pagans do not tolerate” (1 Corinthians 5:1). Paul dealt strongly with the “disease,” and the man repented. Now, as he wrote another letter to the church in Corinth, Paul had affirming instructions for all of them. He recognized that this man’s sin had affected everyone: “He has grieved all of you to some extent,” he said (2 Corinthians 2:5). But since the man had turned from his sin, Paul said, “Reaffirm your love for him” (v. 8).

His motivation was clear: “I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you” (v. 4). He knew them all. And he loved them.

Sin affects us all. Behind each sin is a human being. When we’ve been wronged, it may be difficult to work toward restoration, yet that’s what God calls us to do. Know the person. Then, in Christ’s strength, love them.

Reflect & Pray

How did Paul handle the sin in the Corinthian church? How does loving someone despite their sin differ from enablement?

Dear Father, please help me see others as You see them. Thank You for complete forgiveness of my sins.

To learn more about fellowship with others, read Why Christians Need Good Friendships.

Today’s Insights

Romans says that we all fall short of God’s holy standards: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Yet Jesus loves us so much that He died for us and freely forgives all who come to Him in sorrow for their sins (John 3:16; 1 John 1:9). In turn, believers in Christ are to strive to forgive others (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32). Paul says in Colossians, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (3:12-13). When we’ve been wronged by others, working toward restoration can seem like a daunting task. As we seek God’s guidance, however, He’ll help us to take the necessary steps.

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I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 9:1-12

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“Dad, can you get me some water?” my youngest daughter asked. “Sure,” I said, bringing her a full cup. She took it wordlessly. Then my oldest daughter made the same request. She didn’t respond either after I got her some water. Annoyed, I blurted out, “Is anyone going to say, ‘Thank you’? Why is that so hard?”

Sometimes there’s nothing like parental frustration to open the door for God to work. Immediately I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit: Yes, Adam, why is it so hard to say, “Thank you”? Busted. Turns out a lack of gratitude isn’t just my kids’ problem; it’s mine too.

I don’t know why saying thank you can be so hard, but it certainly seems to be a part of the human condition. In the psalms, however, we see a model for growing in gratitude. There, David and others often praise God amid myriad trials. And a particular phrase frequently precedes their thanksgiving: “I will . . . .”

In Psalm 9:1, David deliberately chooses thankfulness: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” We might be prone to think of gratitude primarily as a feeling. But David reminds us that it’s also a choice.

Like David, as we choose to cultivate a habit of giving thanks, we can gradually grow to recognize and appreciate God’s goodness in every aspect of life.

Reflect & Pray

How can we cultivate the habit of gratitude? What are some things you’re thankful for?

Dear Father, thank You for all You’ve given me. Please help me to choose gratitude today for the many ways You’ve blessed me.

To learn more about Psalm 9, read The Voice of the Silenced.

Today’s Insights

In the original language of the Old Testament, Psalms 9 and 10 form what’s called an acrostic poem. Each major thought or stanza begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament—even combines Psalms 9 and 10 into one song, unifying the flow from beginning to end.

Acrostic poems and songs played an important function in ancient Israelite society. Because they were built on the alphabet, they were easy to remember. These two psalms of thanksgiving and help were designed to memorably remain in the minds of those who heard them. As a result, the reader or listener could quickly recall the message in the music. By rehearsing the words of David, they’d receive a regular injection of the importance of living a life of gratitude and dependence on God. Today, as we meditate on Scripture, may we also strive to cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving.

Examine other types of Hebrew poetry in the book of Psalms.

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As God’s chosen people . . . clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Today’s Scripture

Colossians 3:12-17

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An older man jogging down a street in New York City stopped in his tracks when he noticed a pair of battered sneakers placed near a homeless man’s sign requesting help. When the jogger learned that the two men wore a similar size, he gave the younger, homeless man the shoes (and socks!) off his feet and walked home barefoot. But not before explaining, “I’ve been blessed my whole life. God has been very good to me, so I feel like I should bless you too.”

Just as this man showed kindness to another because God had been good to him, so too believers in Jesus are called to “clothe [our]selves with . . . kindness” (Colossians 3:12). In fact, in whatever we do or say, we’re to do it as “a representative of the Lord Jesus” (v. 17 nlt). Along with kindness, we’re also to embody the characteristics of “compassion, . . . humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) grows in us because we have the Spirit dwelling inside us; and this fruit is evidenced by God’s love for us flowing out to others—binding all these virtues “together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).

Like the jogger, may we be on alert for opportunities to be kind—an encouraging word, a thoughtful act, or even giving the shoes off our feet—and as we do, let’s point to Jesus (v. 17).

Reflect & Pray

What effect has another’s kindness had on you? How might you show kindness to someone today?

Loving Father, please help me be attuned to opportunities to spread Your love through kind words and actions. I want to be more like You!

Consider three things we can learn from the kindness Jesus showed to everyday people.

Today’s Insights

Paul’s encouragement to the believers in Jesus in Colossae to forgive and love each other (Colossians 3:13-14) is reminiscent of Christ’s words to His twelve closest followers in the upper room: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Jesus reached out to the ostracized and called the sinner to repentance (Luke 5:32). His example is reflected in the apostle’s plea for the Colossian believers to live in such a way that benefits others (Colossians 3:12-17). Today, when we look for ways to love others and “clothe [ourselves] with compassion [and] kindness” (v. 12), our lives can point others to Christ.

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My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart. Proverbs 3:1

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 3:1-12

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Corey Brooks—“The Rooftop Pastor”—spent 343 days living on the rooftop of his church on Chicago’s south side to inspire community transformation. Online, Brooks posted a “shout-out” to his elementary school teacher Joe Stokes, who taught him four unforgettable lessons: the power of perseverance, the importance of integrity, the value of community engagement, and the impact of education.

By embracing Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs 3, we likewise can strive to live in ways that have community impact. Solomon taught four lessons that are just right for those who trust in God and are called to be a positive force: “Trust in the Lord” (v. 5); “fear the Lord and shun evil” (v. 7); “honor the Lord with your wealth” (v. 9); “do not despise the Lord’s discipline” (v. 11). Such wisdom compels us to be God-focused, but there are people-touching dimensions to our faith too.

In Matthew 5:3-12, Jesus, the ultimate embodiment of wisdom, eloquently described the internal disposition of believers in Jesus. Furthermore, He reminded them that they were high-impact people. “You are the salt of the earth” (v. 13). “You are the light of the world” (v. 14). As such, we are honored to “Let [our] light shine . . . that they may see [our] good deeds and glorify [our] Father in heaven” (v. 16).

Reflect & Pray

Who compels you to honor God in ways that also touch people? How can you reengage with lessons from the Bible you may have forgotten?

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my failure to honor You fully. Renew my heart through Your words today.

For further study, read At the City Gates.

Today’s Insights

The “proverbs of Solomon” were written “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight” (Proverbs 1:1-2). Solomon says the beginning of such wisdom is “the fear of the Lord” (v. 7). In chapter 3, he warns his son not to be “wise in [his] own eyes” (v. 7). Only by wholly trusting in, honoring, and obeying God could he gain wisdom (vv. 5-6). That’s true for us today. When God, the source of all wisdom (2:6), is central in our hearts and minds, Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit guide and direct our lives and choices, including our interactions with others. Wisdom helps to keep us from making foolish decisions (vv. 12, 16) and helps us to treat others with love, patience, and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23; James 3:13) and thereby influence our community for good.

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The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

Today’s Scripture

Acts 2:36-47

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On a sunny afternoon, I drew with sidewalk chalk with the Sudanese family next door. We could hear singing coming from the house next to theirs, where a small group holds worship services. The young mom I was talking with was curious about what was going on, so she and I walked over and listened in. They invited us to gather with them. A young man, standing in a tank filled with water for baptism, spoke about receiving forgiveness for his sins and committing himself to follow Jesus.

This was a unique opportunity for us to hear a testimony of salvation in the yard right next door. This group was being the church in our neighborhood.

Jesus is building His church around the world. In the days before His ascension, He told His followers that He would send the Spirit to live in them and that they would be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He would build His church through their Spirit-empowered preaching and teaching. And immediately God began to add “to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:47).

We can be a part of building Christ’s church by being His church as we live out our faith in our neighborhoods and share with others what He’s done for us. He gave His life and was resurrected so that we might be forgiven and have eternal life. And He’ll help us learn how to serve others in His church today.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways might God be using you to build Jesus’ church? What more might you do?

Dear Jesus, thank You that You’re adding people to Your church daily.

Discover more about Acts 2 by reading Fulfillment, Foundation, and Foreshadowing.

Today’s Insights

Acts 2 offers a glimpse of early faith communities after the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost (vv. 1-13). In response to hearing that forgiveness, salvation, and the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 38) were possible because of Jesus’ resurrection as “Lord and Messiah” (v. 36), “about three thousand” people became believers in Christ (v. 41). These new believers’ faith was deepened through “[devoting] themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (v. 42) and giving “to anyone who had need” (v. 45). God’s Spirit draws people into faith and deepens it through fellowship and service in community.

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When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:19

Today’s Scripture

Deuteronomy 24:17-22

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A few years ago, our church hosted refugees fleeing their country because of a change in their political leadership. Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, some with little room to spare.

Such gracious hospitality echoes God’s command to the Israelites before they inhabited the promised land. As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest. Every bit of food would be essential to get them through until next year’s harvest. God told the Israelites when harvesting not to go back to retrieve what they may have missed. “Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:19). They were to practice generosity not by giving when they knew they had enough but by giving out of a heart of trusting in God’s provision “so that the Lord [their] God may bless [them] in all the work of their hands” (v. 19). God always has enough.

The practice of hospitality also reminded them that they had been “slaves in Egypt” (v. 22). While we may not have experienced such oppression, we’ve all experienced being an outsider or being in need. As we give to others, we do well to remember our most basic need: freedom from our sin. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Reflect & Pray

What needy person or group has God drawn your attention to? What might you give to them?

Dear Father, please open my eyes to those in need.

Discover more about serving others by reading Going the Extra Mile.

Today’s Insights

Deuteronomy 24 describes the act of gleaning, which served as one means for the Israelites to care for the marginalized and poor. The Scriptures record some instances of this practice (the story of Ruth being a prime example), but their failure in this area was commonplace. The prophets charged the Israelites with not being hospitable and oppressing the poor. Ultimately, it was part of the reason God sent them into exile (see Isaiah 1:17; Amos 4:1-3; Zechariah 7:9-10; Malachi 3:5). Today, He still desires that we practice hospitality by serving those in need. As the Spirit helps us, we can look for ways to be generous to others and celebrate the generosity of God.

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Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

Today’s Scripture

Galatians 5:7-10

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It was Tuesday at the gym, so the people walking around the track were supposed to go clockwise. The first walkers my wife joined were doing that. But then another person walked onto the track going counterclockwise. A couple of her friends joined her—and then another. Suddenly there was chaos on the track—and it took a few minutes to restore order.

While the wrong-way walkers intended no harm, I couldn’t help but think about the power of influence. One person headed the wrong way leads to another, and on it goes. It’s a bit like Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Following a person going the wrong way leads to trouble.

In Galatians 5, Paul explains how such a mistake can halt our spiritual progress. “You were running a good race,” he says. “Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you” (vv. 7-8). God, who desires obedience, never leads us away from truth and “into confusion” (v. 10). But those who oppose His truth can hamper our spiritual walk by redirecting us from Him.

God wants to be our guide. When we walk with Him, we’ll never wander in the wrong direction.

Reflect & Pray

In what situations are you allowing someone to lead you away from God? What can you do to change your course?

Dear God, thank You for Scripture, which tells me to direct my steps toward You. Please help me follow You better today.

Learn more about Paul’s letter to the Galations.

Today’s Insights

In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul takes up one of his most passionate arguments—that believers in Jesus don’t need to become culturally Jewish in order to enjoy the blessings of Christ’s life of faithfulness. The apostle argues that he has the credentials to proclaim the gospel, recounting not only his history of Jewish perfectionism but also receiving Peter’s (Cephas’) stamp of approval on his call by Christ (1:18; 2:9).

Then he tells the story of confronting Peter to his face about his choice to avoid the uncircumcised gentiles out of fear of some of the Jews (2:11-21). Chapter 5 reiterates that Christ has made us right with God and won our freedom. Requiring believers to follow the law denies the truth of the gospel (vv. 1-10). But encouraging them to spend time in the Scriptures directs their steps toward truth and keeps them from wandering in the wrong direction.

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Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 11:1-4

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In the late nineteenth century, few people had access to the great sequoia groves in the United States, and many didn’t believe the reports of the massive trees. In 1892, however, four lumberjacks ventured into the Big Stump Forest in California and spent thirteen days felling the grand tree named Mark Twain. Twain was 1,341 years old, three hundred feet tall, and fifty feet in circumference. One observer described Twain as a tree “of magnificent proportions, one of the most perfect trees in the grove.” They shipped part of this remarkable beauty, now destroyed, to the American Museum of Natural History, where everyone could see a sequoia.

The reality, though, is that we can’t prove every truth with our eyes alone. Hebrews describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith isn’t irrational or a fit of fancy, because the whole story is grounded in a person—Jesus—who has entered human history. Faith includes human senses and reason, but it’s not limited to them. Faith requires more. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,” Hebrews says, “so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (v. 3).

It’s often difficult to trust what we can’t touch or see or completely comprehend. But our faith in Christ, made possible by the Spirit, helps us to believe more than we can see.

Reflect & Pray

Where do you struggle with faith? How can you trust God more confidently?

Dear God, please help me to believe and have confidence in You.

Learn more about Hebrews 11 and faith by reading Faith that Endures.

Today’s Insights

Hebrews 11 commends Old Testament men and women for their faith because of their hope in God. They believed He’d one day fulfill His promises, including sending a Savior. Yet even during Jesus’ ministry, seeing Him and His works wasn’t enough, for many rejected Him. In Romans 10:9, Paul states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” He adds, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (v. 17). When we hear the gospel and believe in Him, we’re saved. Believers in Jesus are to “[fix their] eyes on [Him], the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Even though we haven’t physically seen Christ, Scripture tells us about Him, and the Holy Spirit works to increase our faith (John 14:16, 26).

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It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:71

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 119:65-72

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The brain is remarkably small, but stress can make it even smaller. Recent research has revealed that cumulative stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for managing emotions, impulses, and social interactions. This shrinkage is linked to anxiety and depression, highlighting the toll that a lifetime of stress can take. But there’s good news—the brain’s plasticity allows it to heal through intentional practices like exercise, meditation, and meaningful relationships.

The psalmist in Psalm 119 understood this idea of growth and healing after facing stress and hardship: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (v. 71). Affliction, though painful, became the psalmist’s teacher—taking us from being “astray” from God to choosing to “obey [His] word” (v. 67). The psalmist expresses gratitude for his bitter medicine and God’s goodness (v. 68). While he understood that affliction and suffering could diminish him, he trusted God to use those experiences to refine and restore him (v. 66).

Like our brains, our spirits are capable of being stretched. God uses this stretching to cause growth and renewal. Through Scripture, prayer, and a Spirit-inspired perspective, He can reverse the effects of our hardships. He can use our afflictions for our spiritual growth, transforming pain into purpose.

Reflect & Pray

How has God helped you grow in faith through suffering? How have you embraced gratitude?

Loving God, thank You for teaching me through my trials.

To learn more about faith in pain, read Why? Seeing God in Our Pain.

Today’s Insights

Psalm 119 is an extended song/poem about the beauty of the law even in hard times. In today’s text (vv. 65-72), the psalmist uses a variety of terms to describe the law, including “word,” “commands,” “decrees,” “precepts,” and “law.” These ideas are intensely personal for him, for he speaks from his experiences of pain. He uses terms like “afflicted” (vv. 67, 71) and “smeared . . . with lies” (v. 69) to cry out to God‚ grateful for all he’d learned from those seasons of struggle. In spite of his afflictions and mistreatment, however, he concludes in verse 68, “You are good, and what you do is good.” In a broken world filled with hatred and pain, we too can rest in the never-failing goodness of God. He uses all things, even our trials, for our spiritual growth and to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.

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The soothing tongue is a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 15:1-4, 23-28

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Today’s Devotional

As a young man, journalist Sebastian Junger traveled the United States and wrote about it. One day in the 1980s, he entered a restroom in the Florida Keys and found hateful graffiti scrawled on the walls. Most of it targeted Cuban immigrants. But one message, apparently from a Cuban, stood out. It read, “Thank God the rest of the people in this country are warm and caring and welcomed me in ’62.” Junger observed, “The very worst things about America were on that men’s-room wall, and the very best.”

How are we to respond to the poisonous messages we so often encounter? The book of Proverbs offers sound counsel. Solomon, who compiled most of the book, brackets chapter 15 with similar imagery: “the mouth of the fool gushes folly” (v. 2), and “the mouth of the wicked gushes evil” (v. 28). The chapter begins, however, with the antidote to such venom: “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (v. 1). Solomon also noted, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life” (v. 4). Always, a patient response is key: “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers” (v. 28).

How might God use our words when we ask Him to help us weigh them before our mouths, our pens, or our keyboards spew venom and vitriol at our fellow humans? As the proverb says, “How good is a timely word!” (v. 23).

Reflect & Pray

What’s your reaction when you see or hear hateful speech? How might you respond differently the next time you encounter hate?

Dear Father, how prone I am to answer quickly and in anger. Please guide me by Your Spirit and help me weigh my responses wisely.

Discover more about speaking wisely by reading Stewarding Words Responsibly.

Today’s Insights

Proverbs 15 emphasizes that the tension that occurs between people often isn’t due to truly irreconcilable differences. Instead, while conflict is an inevitable dynamic in human relationships, it can become harmful when people are careless with their words—failing to let them be guided by a gentle spirit and a desire for the other person’s good. Verses 1 and 18 both set up this contrast between an approach that makes a problem worse and an approach that brings healing. In verse 1, we’re told that “a gentle answer turns away wrath,” while “a harsh word stirs up anger.” The word translated “gentle” suggests an approach that’s tender and aimed at bringing comfort. Verse 18 similarly contrasts two kinds of people: someone “hot-tempered” who “stirs up conflict” with someone “patient” who “calms a quarrel.” Our words can be used for good when we ask God to help us carefully weigh them before we speak.

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Be devoted to one another in love. Romans 12:10

Today’s Scripture

Romans 12:3-15

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As I opened the bookshelf assembly instructions with piles of boards and tools strewn on the floor before me, I viewed a set of instructional diagrams of what to do and what not to do. One diagram—with a large X on top—depicted a person staring at a pile of boards and tools with a bemused frown not unlike mine just a few minutes prior. On the right side was drawn the “correct” way to assemble. The only difference? A second person was there. Both figures now had smiles on their faces as they worked together.

So I got my husband. “The instructions say I need your help,” I said, showing him the drawing. He laughed, and we assembled it together. I could have stubbornly tried to find a way to put it together on my own. But the manual was right; the process wasn’t meant to be done alone.

In Romans 12, Paul urges new believers not to try to do life in Jesus alone. Instead of seeing themselves as self-sufficient and thinking of themselves “more highly than [they] ought” (v. 3), they needed to see themselves as part of an interdependent body, where every member needs each other’s help (vv. 4-8).

As Jesus helps us learn how to “be devoted to one another in love” (v. 10), we can experience life “in harmony” with each other, where one another’s needs, griefs, and joys (vv. 13, 15) are never carried alone.

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Reflect & Pray

Why do you think we’re tempted to do life alone? What helps you rely on others?

Dear God, please help me to rely daily on Your Spirit to unite and guide me in how to share life with other believers.

For further study, read The Family of God Invites Us to Re-learn Community.

Today’s Insights

After laying the theological groundwork in Romans 1-11, chapter 12 represents the beginning of Paul’s practical call to action. Previously, the apostle articulated what God did to create His family. As part of that family, believers in Jesus have many joys and blessings but also responsibilities and opportunities. For example, we’re to be “devoted to one another in love” (12:10), which is just one of many “one another” commands found in the New Testament. These instructions relate to how we interact with those in the body of Christ. Jesus, who loves perfectly, helps us love others and share in their griefs and joys.

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What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:8

Today’s Scripture

Philippians 3:1-9

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On May 29, 1925, Percy Fawcett sent a final letter to his wife before he ventured deeper into the unmapped jungles of Brazil. He was seeking a fabled lost city of great splendor, determined to be the first explorer to share its location with the world after years of searching. But his team of explorers got lost, the city was never found, and many expeditions failed to recover either.

Percy’s courage and passion, while admirable, was squandered on a lost city that could never be reached. If we’re honest, there are many unreachable goals in our lives that hold a similar power over us. But there is a real treasure for each person that’s worth seeking with all of our heart, mind, and strength.

In his letter to believers in Philippi, Paul put it this way: “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Unlike a fabled city—yielding riches, fame, or power—knowing Jesus and believing in Him is a treasure without equal. Worldly goals of power or status, or even the appearance of righteousness through keeping the law, are nothing compared to knowing Jesus (vv. 6-7). Are we spending our time and energy on something that can never satisfy? May Christ help us check what “city” we’re seeking.

Reflect & Pray

What treasure are you seeking today? How does meditating on the worth of knowing Jesus help rightly align your priorities?

Thank You, Jesus, that I don’t have to strive for something that can never satisfy. I have the treasure of knowing You.

For further study, read The Promised King.

Today’s Insights

Paul was tutored by Gamaliel, a leading authority of Judaism (Acts 5:34), and “carefully trained in [the] Jewish laws and customs” (22:3 nlt). He was a Pharisee par excellence, whose knowledge of religious learning was unrivaled among his peers (Philippians 3:4-6). Yet he considered “everything else . . . worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus” (v. 8 nlt). Because knowing Jesus is the key to living a life of faith in Him, the apostle made it his life goal “to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead” (v. 10 nlt). When we’re tempted to seek satisfaction in earthly things, we can remember that to experience life fully is simply to know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ” (John 17:3).

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Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 22:1-6

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One Thanksgiving I called home to greet my parents. As we talked, I asked my mom what she was most grateful for. She exclaimed that she was most grateful that “all three of my children know how to call on the name of the Lord.” For my mother, who’d always emphasized the importance of education, there was something more valuable than her children doing well in school and taking care of themselves.

Her sentiments remind me of Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” While this isn’t a promise but more a wise principle, and many children do wander from God for at least a season of life, she and my father had strived to raise us to humbly, reverently love God (v. 4)—primarily through example. Now, by His grace, they were able to see us grow older and benefit from a personal relationship with Him. As verse 2 says, God is “the Maker of . . . all.” And although some children will respond to loving instruction in Christ, others might take longer perhaps to hear His voice. For those precious children, we continue to pray and rest in God’s timing.

Mom’s humble thanksgiving points to what’s most important in life. Reverently loving God yields spiritual riches for this life and beyond (v. 4). And while we can’t control what children will choose to do, we can rest in the hope that God will lovingly continue to work in their hearts.

Reflect & Pray

How have you been shown the love of God? How do you reverently love Him?

Dear God, please help me to love and disciple others well.

For further study, read God Is Love.

Today’s Insights

It’s fascinating that the man who collected or wrote most of the sayings in the book of Proverbs (King Solomon) is also believed to be the writer of Ecclesiastes. The proverbs essentially say, Do this, and get that result. Do wise things and get good results; do foolish things and pay the price. However, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “With much wisdom comes much sorrow” (1:18). Yet in Proverbs he says, “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (4:7). Ecclesiastes shows us the futility of life without God at the center; Proverbs instructs us how and why to live wisely. And so we live by the wisdom of the Proverbs: “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (22:1). And “humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life” (v. 4)—a truth that will see its full fruition in the next life.

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All the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. Ezra 3:11

Today’s Scripture

Ezra 3:1, 4-6, 9-11

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When I was a little girl, I loved the old hymn “Count Your Blessings.” The song encourages those who are “tempest-tossed” and “thinking all is lost” to “count your blessings, name them one by one.” Years later when my husband, Alan, was discouraged, he would often ask me to sing that simple song to him. Then I would help him to enumerate his blessings. Doing so took Alan’s focus off his struggles and self-doubt and centered his thoughts on God and his reasons for thankfulness.

The book of Ezra describes God’s people facing overwhelming challenges through focusing on God’s power and provision. After they’d endured decades of captivity in Babylon, King Cyrus allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Israel to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1-2). Only a fraction returned (2:64). Despite their “fear of the peoples around them” and the great task before them, they rebuilt the altar and laid the temple’s foundation (3:3, 10). Then “with praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord” (v. 11).

If you’re discouraged or facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, turn your thoughts toward God. “Count your blessings . . . and it will surprise you what the Lord has done,” and continues to do, for those who love Him.

Reflect & Pray

How has counting your blessings helped you in a difficult situation? What are you thankful for?

Dear God, please help me to be grateful and praise You for who You are and for all You’ve done.

Discover more about gratefulness by reading Consistently Celebrating.

Today’s Insights

The celebration recorded in Ezra 3:10-11 is significant. After decades of captivity on foreign soil, God’s people were back in their homeland in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy: “I will . . . bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you . . . and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:14). Though the work ahead of them would be long and hard, the presence of the temple foundation (Ezra 3:10-13) was a visible reminder that God had kept His promise. When we’re discouraged and facing severe obstacles, we can pause and recognize what God has done. Gratitude for His faithfulness helps us gain momentum for the future.

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Thus far the Lord has helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12

Today’s Scripture

1 Samuel 7:7-12

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When I was younger, I thought it improper to ask God to help me meet writing deadlines. Other people have greater needs, I told myself. Family problems. Health crises. Job letdowns. Financial needs. I’ve faced all those things too. But meeting a writing deadline seemed too small to take to God. I changed my view, however, after finding multiple examples in the Bible of God helping people regardless of the challenge they faced.

In one story, the Israelites were dismayed because they faced an attack at Mizpah by their enemies, the Philistines. “[The Israelites] said to Samuel, ‘Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines’ ” (1 Samuel 7:8). In response, Samuel sacrificed a lamb to God, crying out to Him on Israel’s behalf, “and the Lord answered him” (v. 9).

“While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites” (v. 10).

Later, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’ ” (v. 12). Samuel placed the stone to commemorate God helping His people. Ebenezer means “stone of help.”

Asking God for help is always proper. Let’s call out to Him today.

Reflect & Pray

What help do you need from God? Why is it vital for you to call out to Him?

Please help me today, loving God. I need You!

For further study, listen to The Mercy Prayer.

Today’s Insights

In Hebrew literature, a “word pair” refers to two closely related yet distinct words that are often found together and enhance an idea. In 1 Samuel 7, we find the common word pair of “deliver” (v. 3; Hebrew, natsal) and “rescue” (v. 8; Hebrew, yasha). To “deliver” captures the idea of God rescuing from a situation of immediate danger, while “rescue” (or “save” in some translations), points to a more enduring, secure, and ultimate victory. In 1 Samuel 7, Samuel calls for God’s people to trust Him to “deliver” (v. 3) and “rescue” them from the Philistines (v. 8). Together, this word pair points to our need to ask God for help when we face trials and to leave both our immediate situation and our ultimate security and final salvation in God’s hands.

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“You did not listen to me,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 25:7

Today’s Scripture

Jeremiah 25:4-11

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Alida took a DNA test in 2020 and discovered a strong match to a man living on the opposite coast of the US. Later, she and her daughters found news articles from the 1950s that led them to conclude that the man was Alida’s long-lost uncle, Luis! He’d been abducted from a park in 1951 when he was six years old. That DNA test, taken seventy years after Luis’ disappearance, eventually led to a happy reunion with his biological family members. Alida said, “With [our] story out there, it could help other families . . . . I would say, don’t give up.”

Seventy years is a long time to keep hope alive. Jeremiah and the people of Judah must have been heartbroken and fearful when God said they would “serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). But they hadn’t listened to God and turned from their “evil ways and . . . practices” (v. 5), which had deformed them into “an object of horror and scorn” (v. 9). The people were condemned more than thirty times in Jeremiah for not listening to Him. Seventy years might have felt like forever, but God would be with them, and He promised that the hard season would eventually end (29:10).

As we face challenging seasons that seem to go on and on, let’s remember that while we may struggle to trust God, He promises that He’s with us and loves us (30:11). As we listen to Him and wait expectantly, we can find hope.

Reflect & Pray

How is it possible to endure difficult times? Where can you find comfort in God’s promises?

Loving God, please help me find hope in You.

Find out how you can find comfort in who God is and what He says He will do.

Today’s Insights

The people of Judah were stubbornly unrepentant, persistently refusing to trust God and blatantly ignoring His warnings of punishment for their idolatry (Jeremiah 25:3-7). The Babylonians would turn their country into a desolate wasteland, and the people would be exiled to Babylon for seventy years (vv. 8-11). But God wouldn’t abandon them. He assured them of His presence and love: “Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, . . . for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land” (42:11-12). Whatever situation we’re facing today, we can entrust ourselves to God, knowing that He loves us and is with us.

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He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 121

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Two pilots fell asleep in the middle of their flight over Indonesia. While the commanding pilot had permission to nap once the plane reached cruising altitude, he woke up to find that his copilot had also dozed off. The two were asleep for about thirty minutes with more than 150 passengers and crew on board and while at approximately 36,000 feet altitude. The plane had veered off course, but thankfully the plane still arrived at its destination safely.

Human pilots may snooze mid-flight, but we can rest assured that God never falls asleep.

This is the comfort offered to us in the words of Psalm 121. In eight verses, we’re reminded that God is omniscient, or all-knowing about our life; omnipresent, or present all throughout our day; and omnipotent, or all-powerful and can protect us. The psalmist declares that our help comes from God (v. 2). He is our keeper and shade (v. 5), and He guards us from all evil while preserving our soul (v. 7).

God never gets tired. “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (v. 3). “The Lord will watch over your coming and going,” the psalmist concludes “both now and forevermore” (v. 8).

When we’re wondering if God has forgotten us, we can rest assured that He’s at the wheel. He’s always awake and watching over us.

Reflect & Pray

Why does it sometimes feel like God is asleep? How does it comfort you knowing that He’s always alert and aware of what you’re experiencing?

Almighty God, thank You for always watching over me.

Discover A Prayer for Wondering If God Is There.

Today’s Insights

All adult male Israelites were to come to the temple every year to observe three national feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). The journey was a perilous one, with travelers vulnerable to the treacherous mountain terrain, weather, wild animals, and robbers. As they journeyed into Jerusalem, the travelers sang from an anthology of fifteen “Pilgrim Psalms” or “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134). Psalm 121, often referred to as “The Traveler’s Psalm,” is one such song. It acknowledges the Israelites’ safety and security concerns and highlights God’s protection of them. This psalm is dominated by the Hebrew verb shamar, translated “watch[es]” (vv. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) or “keep” (v. 7). The word means “to preserve,” “to guard,” “to watch carefully over,” “to care for.” As we tread through life’s uncertainties and dangers, we can be assured that we’re under God’s watchful eyes. He journeys with us, keeping us in His protective care.

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