Read Romans 1:1–17

Epic adventures often involve multiple story lines. While the main characters are consumed with the central conflict, along the way we see seemingly lesser characters face challenges and trials. Keeping track of multiple storylines can be difficult, but a master storyteller can keep a reader’s interest until the time is right, finally revealing how all these threads weave together into a dramatic conclusion.

As the Apostle Paul opens the book of Romans, he takes a moment to explain how God has woven the overarching story of salvation into a conclusion beyond comprehension.

The Apostle Paul begins by acknowledging the part he plays—as one “set apart for the gospel” (v. 1). But the message of the gospel did not originate with Paul. This gospel was promised long ago by God through the prophets (v. 2). The Scriptures were written “through his prophets” for later generations (including us) to read, pointing to Jesus, a descendant of David (vv. 2–3). Jesus was born a human but revealed to be the Son of God at the resurrection (v. 4). The story of salvation is an epic one that stretches from before God made the world to the moment we find ourselves in His presence forever. God has woven the thread of your life and countless others into something wonderful and powerful.

Paul explains how he was made an apostle for a specific purpose, to call Gentiles to obedience to the Lordship of Christ (v. 6). He is “eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome” (v. 15). There is a sense of community in this calling; our stories are intertwined. Paul desires “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (v. 12). We are to declare the gospel, “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (v. 16).

Go Deeper

What is your salvation story? Who was instrumental in leading you to Jesus? What role have you played in pointing others to salvation? Extended Reading:

Romans 1–2

Pray with Us

Lord, we are thankful for the example Paul gives us of how to preach the gospel with courage and conviction. May we with the same boldness point people to Jesus, to receive grace and freedom.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.Romans 1:16

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Read Acts 9:1–19

When composers create music, they do more than just write notes on a page. They compose with specific instruments in mind. While we may hum the melody of a piano concerto, it was not written to be hummed. It was written to be played by an orchestra. Each instrument is chosen with intention and follows its own score while the hand of the composer controls.

In the years after Christ ascended, the church grew. They also faced harsh persecution (Acts 8:1). New believers were imprisoned and even killed. It would have been easy to assume the risen Christ had abandoned His flock. But He was at work in ways they could never have comprehended.

Saul, a leader among the Jewish community, obtained orders to arrest Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:1–2). He was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (v. 1). But God had other plans. While Saul was en route to that city, he was confronted by the risen Christ: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (v. 4).

Blinded by this encounter, Saul was sent to meet a Christian named Ananias. But Ananias was reluctant to welcome him (v. 13). So, Jesus revealed his plan for Saul: “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (v. 15). Notice how Ananias’s attitude changes as he addresses this man, once a feared enemy, as “Brother Saul” (v. 17).

God had selected Saul, who was later called Paul (see Acts 13:9), for a specific purpose. Until now the gospel had spread among Jewish people, and Jesus would use Paul to take it to Gentiles. Like an instrument chosen by a composer for its unique sound, Paul would serve the design of the Master Composer.

Go Deeper

Are you an unlikely convert? Consider your role in God’s grand symphony. What role does He want you to play? Extended Reading:

Acts 2

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Acts 7

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Acts 9

Pray with Us

You had a wonderful plan for Saul of Tarsus, turning him into a fiery apostle Paul. We praise You, God, that You have plans for our lives as well, to give us “hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). We can trust You with our lives!

This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles.Acts 9:15

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Read John 19

Renowned artist Leonardo da Vinci was known for procrastinating! His most famous incomplete work was the “Adoration of the Magi,” which he was commissioned to complete in 30 months. But progress on his 7-foot-tall masterpiece stopped when Leonardo moved to Milan to pursue another offer. It remains unfinished to this day.

From our study of Scripture, we know that God always finishes His plans (Phil. 1:6). And as we come to the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, we need to appreciate these final movements in the grand plan God set in motion before the foundation of the world. God decided He would redeem this fallen world through the death of Christ. What we witness at the crucifixion is the moment where this plan comes together.

After being betrayed and enduring hash treatment at the hands of the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, Jesus was crucified. This too was a part of God’s plan. The prophet Isaiah and others foretold that Israel would know a servant who would suffer on their behalf. He would bear their transgressions and iniquities (Isa. 53:5). Jesus did the will of the Father throughout His ministry, obedient to the point of death. “I have bought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

While on the cross Jesus was aware that the end was near. He gave up His life according to the will of God. His final words, “It is finished” (19:30), were a statement not of defeat but of victory. His work was complete. Sin was defeated. All that remained was victory. Three days later, the Father would raise Him from the dead, the first fruits of those who would believe in Him.

Go Deeper

Take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus who willingly went to the cross, taking the penalty for our sins. If you don’t know Him as Savior, let this be the start of your story! Learn More. Extended Reading:

John 18–20

Pray with Us

Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, the eternal Word, who gave us freedom from sin and showed us a new way to live. Teach us to live according to Your perfect law of love.

Jesus said, “It is finished.”John 19:30

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Read Luke 6

Social media influencers are a big deal in today’s culture. These individuals have huge followings on their social media, and brands pay to have them promote their products on their channels. While this new method of advertising has been very successful, the influencers can’t force their followers to do what they say. They can only suggest; they have no authority to require obedience.

As Jesus traveled the land of Israel, Luke records that He began to draw significant crowds (v. 17). People came for various reasons: some to see miracles (v. 18), others for healing, and still others hoping Jesus would start a revolution to drive out the Romans. But Jesus wasn’t interested in status or numbers. He was interested in changing hearts, so He challenged His audience to obey Him!

In Luke 6, Jesus rebuked those who made a pretense of calling Him Lord but didn’t do what He said (v. 46). This hypocrisy is foolish. The Light of the world stood before people and taught them, but instead of obeying, they disputed Him. To press His point, He used an illustration of a builder who built his house on the solid foundation of rock (v. 48). This person is like one who does what Jesus says to do. The one who does not obey, is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. They lost everything—“it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (v. 49).

Jesus’ point is clear. He did not come to earth as an influencer. The Son of God came to earth with a message to be obeyed. It is common today to suggest that Jesus was a nice Jewish Rabbi. But we must not forget that He was also an authoritative Teacher. His words required obedience. His most important teaching? The “good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1).

Go Deeper

What message did Jesus bring to the people? What did they misunderstand? How does it compare to what people misunderstand about Jesus today? Extended Reading:

Luke 5–6

Pray with Us

Jesus, it’s easy to pay You lip service, but it’s not always easy to obey You in everything. Give us courage and determination to do what You say and to build our lives on the solid rock of Your Word.

Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?Luke 6:46

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Read Mark 10

Jesus was not whom most people expected. Mark’s Gospel paints a portrait of Jesus that looks more like a servant than the redeemer God’s people had anticipated for hundreds of years.

But we know that God’s ways are often not our ways. The Gospels record that, according to God’s plan, the second Person of the Trinity became a man, Jesus, and lived among people. They were able to observe His actions and hear His teaching. While many regarded Jesus as the long-anticipated Savior of Israel, they also hoped He would be the one who would drive the Romans from their land and restore their kingdom. This would be a glorious future, and they hoped their lives would change for the better as their leader ascended to power. But Jesus had a different mission, one that embodied service and, finally, the ultimate sacrifice.

In the Gospels, Jesus taught these values to His disciples and followers. When it became clear that two of His disciples, James and John, were thinking of themselves and not of Jesus’ mission, He corrected them. While they may have been used to powerful leaders who held their authority over others, they were to live differently (v. 42). Jesus was modeling a different way, using His power to serve others. Greatness in God’s kingdom would be achieved by serving those in need (v. 43).

By invoking the title Son of Man for Himself, Jesus drew a connection to the book of Daniel where the second Person of the Trinity appeared as a man and received power, authority, and a kingdom (Dan. 7:13–14). Jesus was saying that even the God-Man did not come to use power for Himself, but for those He came to serve. His ultimate service would be to give His life, so that many would be saved from their sins.

Go Deeper

Go Deeper How did Jesus flip the script regarding power and service? Can you think of a few specific examples in the Bible of how He challenged those values? Extended Reading:

Mark 10–12

Pray with Us

We are amazed at the beautiful picture of Christ as a servant in Mark’s Gospel. We pray, Father, that You will raise a new generation of true servant-leaders in our churches and communities who will imitate Jesus.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.Mark 10:45

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Read Matthew 1

Watching buildings under construction is an exercise in waiting. At times it seems like nothing is happening. Construction vehicles come and go but no structure rises above the ground. Finally, the building pokes out. Then things slow down again as work progresses out of sight. Suddenly, one day, people are living there!

Today, we begin our journey through the New Testament. After 400 years without direct revelation, God’s plan to redeem our broken world seemed not to be going anywhere. The Jewish people had returned from exile and found themselves in their homeland, but without a king and without significant blessing. They struggled with faith. The idolatry was gone, replaced by religiosity that needed a heart change. Then suddenly, God’s plan entered its next phase.

We begin the Gospel of Matthew, where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and informed her that she would participate with God in a miraculous way. She had been chosen to give birth to a child who would “save his people from their sins” (v. 21). This is the first of many moments in the New Testament that directly answer events of the Old Testament. In Genesis, Adam and Eve sinned, plunging the world into darkness, but Jesus (His name means Yahweh Saves) will undo the consequences of that early disobedience. Sin was humanity’s greatest challenge! Prior to this moment Israel relied on sacrifices that couldn’t completely atone for their sins. Now God would offer a sacrifice that would put sin away forever.

To remind his readers that this was always the plan of God, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah who predicted that the miraculous birth of a Son would signal God’s presence with Israel to deliver them. Like the grand opening of a building, the next step was finally here!

Go Deeper

How surprising was Jesus’ arrival to those alive at that time? Why is it significant that Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah? Extended Reading:

Matthew 1–3

Pray with Us

Lord Jesus, we rejoice that You came to earth to live with us, to walk with us, and to save us. Thank You, Almighty God, that You speak to Your people through Your Son.

You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.Matthew 1:21

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Read Haggai 1:1–15

Have you ever heard the phrase, “The Cobbler’s children have no shoes”? If you saw the children of a cobbler, a shoemaker, walking around with worn out shoes, or no shoes at all, you would wonder why! Wouldn’t caring for your children’s needs be a priority? In a similar way, the prophet Haggai warned God’s people that their priorities were out of alignment. They were neglecting what was most important.

Israel was back in the land after 70 years spent in exile. While they returned in excitement, the rebuilding process had been discouraging. The Temple in Jerusalem was still not completed, and the people had turned instead to building their own homes. Through Haggai, God confronted them about the situation: “Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (v. 4). His question needs no answer. Of course, it was not time for them to be focusing on their own homes while the house of the Lord was in shambles. This was an embarrassment, an affront to all sensibility.

God’s displeasure is evident as the prophet points out that they have been suffering economic distress (v. 5). Their crops have failed. What they do have, they find satisfying. When they save money, it disappears like money in a bag with holes (v. 6)! They were failing to prioritize the most important things and this affected everything else they did.

The solution was to put God first. They needed to expend energy, making God’s work a priority in their lives. They needed to be less busy with themselves and more busy with the things of the Lord. Specifically, that meant redoubling their efforts to gather the building material to finish the Temple and working hard to get the work done.

Go Deeper

Are your priorities rightly ordered? How do you put God first in your life? What changes do you need to make to realign your priorities? Extended Reading: 

Haggai

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Zechariah 1

Pray with Us

Dear Jesus, help us to look honestly at our lives to determine our priorities. Do we put You first? Help us to “give careful thought to [our] ways” (Haggai 1:5).

Give careful thought to your ways.Haggai 1:5

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Read Zephaniah 3:14–20

The forest fires raging in California and Western Canada have caused an incredible amount of devastation. Homes have been destroyed, communities erased, and lives lost. Many wonder if things will ever return to normal. After returning from the exile, life in Judah was not the same as it used to be. The Jewish people returned to a land devastated by war. No longer an independent nation with their own king, they had become a province in the mighty Persian Empire.

Into such discouraging circumstances God sent the prophet Zephaniah with a message of hope. God had not abandoned His people (v. 17). While their situation might have given them the impression that they were alone, the reality was that God was with them as He always had been. God was a mighty warrior, intent on saving them (v. 17). This portrait of God was designed to encourage them to have hope for the future.

After decades in exile, followed by decades of malaise, the Jewish people needed hope that God’s wrath could be assuaged, and that they would see the other side of Him again. He declares in Zephaniah that the time for rebuke is over. Instead, He will respond to them with delight and singing (v. 17). More than that, He will undo the effects of their sin. Oppressors who had been sent to afflict them will be removed (v. 19). The lame and exiled who find themselves helpless will be rescued and brought home to a hero’s welcome!

God will return things better than they were before. After enduring the punishment for their covenant violations, Israel could rest in the knowledge that their God had never abandoned them, and that He was a God who restores.

Go Deeper

Are you tempted to give up on God because you have endured a difficult season? Recall all that He has done for you in Christ to restore you to Himself. Read Zephaniah’s message of hope and remember that God loves and cares for you as well. Extended Reading: 

Zephaniah 3

Pray with Us

Lord, the message of Zephaniah fills us with joy: You respond to Your people with delight and singing. Thank You for the hope and assurance that we need today as much as did Your people in Zephaniah’s time.

At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.Zephaniah 3:20

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Read Nahum 1:1–15

Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so we are told. But as people committed to the Bible, we are commanded not to take revenge. We are told to love our enemy, not plot his downfall. Yet if you have ever suffered an injustice, you know the feelings that can bubble up in your heart. If I don’t take care of this, who will? If I don’t take care of this, they might get away with it. Is there anyone you can turn to who will take care of things for you?

In biblical times, Assyria was a world power that excelled at cruelty. From one of their principal cities, Nineveh, this empire ran roughshod over the ancient Near East. In his providence, God used this nation to chastise His people. But the Assyrians took delight in their cruelty and took credit for their own success (Isa. 10:10–11), so God decided to defend His people. The judgments described here are severe: Their allies would abandon them, they would be childless, their precious idols and temples would be destroyed (Nah. 1:14).

This would have been a cause for rejoicing among Israelites. God promised to defend them when their enemies attacked. He had done so in the past, but with the arrival of Nineveh they might have wondered if He would do so again. The prophet declares that He would (v. 12). This was a joyous word from the Lord. Nahum calls it “good news” (v. 15). Their enemy would be totally and triumphantly defeated.

Rejoicing at the downfall of an invader is understandable, but how can it be squared with exhortations to avoid revenge? Nahum provides the answer. Because God is fully capable of judging with perfect righteous judgment, His people can leave that difficult work to Him.

Go Deeper

Have you been wounded and are struggling with a desire for revenge? What does Nahum teach us to do with those emotions? Extended Reading: 

Nahum

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Habakkuk 1

Pray with Us

In our flesh we crave revenge on our enemies, on those who hurt us. Holy Spirit, encourage us with Nahum’s “good news” that it’s God who fights for us as our defender from any evil.

The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.Nahum 1:3

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Read Jonah 3:1–10

For a number of years, my father, a pastor in Brooklyn, New York, volunteered with a second chance program. Young men and women who had early encounters with the legal system were given a chance to have their records expunged in exchange for community service. They were given a second chance for a purpose.

God gave both Jonah and the people of Nineveh second chances as well. Most of us are familiar with Jonah’s story. After God told the prophet to go to the city of Nineveh, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. The Lord disciplined the prophet with unusual means, and Jonah spent a few nights in a watery jail cell before he was released on parole (read Jonah 1–2).

In chapter 3, we see God return to Jonah a second time with a mission (3:1). God once again told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, calling them to repent. Again, Jonah was resistant. Why did he resist? Was it fear? Was it bitterness? As an Israelite who had suffered at the hands of Nineveh, he preferred to avoid this calling.

Thankfully, God didn’t leave the outcome in Jonah’s hands. It was God’s message and His heart on display, as He called a second time for Jonah to deliver this message! We learn that the “Ninevites believed God” (v. 5). Their turnaround was so complete that “a fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (v. 5). God had saved Jonah for a reason, and this time the prophet obeyed. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” (v. 10).

Go Deeper

God has redeemed you for a purpose, too. Have you resisted His call in your life? Have you noticed that His call to service will not go away? Consider what mission God has for you! Extended Reading: 

Jonah 1-3

Pray with Us

Dear God, thank You for the assurance that You redeemed us for a purpose. You called us to Yourself out of our wanderings in hopelessness. Help us to discern and follow Your call on our lives.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented.Jonah 3:10

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Read Amos 5:4–15

I lived in eastern Iowa for a decade. Every Wednesday a tornado warning siren would blare over the air. My family and I quickly learned that this was only a test, and we grew to ignore them. But occasionally the siren would blare at a different time, and we would scramble to the basement in haste. The siren was calling us to take immediate action so we would live!

The prophets of Israel are often characterized as full of judgment and destruction. But we can also look at them as God’s warning sirens. During the days of Amos, Israel was not living according to the covenant, so God sent the prophet with a warning. “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel” (v. 4). By inviting the people to seek Him, God was sounding the alarm.

This alarm also warned them where not to go. Bethel was an infamous city in Israel. Generations before, a king named Jeroboam had built a temple to a false god there (1 Kings 12:29). As a result, he led the nation into idolatrous worship and away from the Lord. Years later, Bethel continued to be a place where people went to sacrifice and pray to a pagan deity. Like a family fleeing from a tornado to the second story of their home, Israel was turning to false gods for help. They needed to be told where to go, but they also needed to be told where not to go! The other cities, Gilgal and Beersheba, also had associations with wickedness.

Far more than just judgment and destruction, the prophet Amos was calling Israel to change their ways while there was still time. Eventually God would lose patience, but until that moment there was a chance to escape punishment. All they needed to do was seek Him, and they would live.

Go Deeper

Are you hearing sirens going off in your spiritual life? What is God warning you to do or not to do? Extended Reading: 

Amos 5

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Obadiah

Pray with Us

Father in heaven, thank You for Your prophets who spoke Your word in a mighty way. Today, we are called to seek You and live. It is a comfort to know that Your Son Jesus opened for us the way to You and gave us eternal life.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live.Amos 5:14

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Read Joel 2:12–27

It is possible to settle a lawsuit without admitting guilt. Sometimes the cost of the legal proceedings is so high that an accused person may just settle the case with a fine, while never actually admitting they are guilty. While our legal system allows this procedure, it would be hard to say the person who paid the fine actually repented.

A survey of Israel’s history could lead one to believe that the nation had been paying fines, but never really admitting they did anything wrong. They seemed to commit the same sins over and over again. Idolatry, abusing the poor, and taking advantage of foreigners all appeared on their rap sheet since the book of Exodus. Even though God had called them to repent more times than we can count, they had not done so with their whole hearts.

The prophet Joel describes what true repentance looks like. He uses an ancient image for expressing distress: tearing a garment a person is wearing. Generally tearing a garment will ruin it, so this act was reserved for expressing the deepest of distress. But tearing a garment could also be done for show. Here the prophet invites his audience to an even greater level of commitment: rending or tearing their hearts (v. 13).

This expression signifies a genuine decision to turn from violating God’s covenant. It is an act that, while it cannot be seen externally, is transformative spiritually. Joel calls his readers to this because, unlike a torn garment, a torn heart will be accepted by God. Joel knew God’s character. Since the days of Mt. Sinai God had consistently reminded Israel that He was unlike any god they had ever encountered (Ex. 34:6). Joel invokes that self-declaration of God here, using it to entice the Israelites to repent.

Go Deeper

What is holding you back from genuine repentance? Are you hoping to escape with a fine, but never admit guilt? What would it look like to rend your heart today? Extended Reading: 

Joel 2

Pray with Us

“Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Joel 2:13). What a powerful message! May we learn the true repentance of the heart.

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart.”Joel 2:12

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Read Daniel 2:24–45

Would you want to know the future if you could? Which details would you like to know? Some would like to know the results of the next election, or the price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on a certain day. But the future is a mystery, inaccessible to all but the God who controls all things. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from wondering, which leads to uncertainty.

God uses His knowledge of the future to make an important point: He can be trusted. God did this during the time of Daniel by giving the king of Babylon a dream he couldn’t understand. Then God gave Daniel the meaning of the dream. The people of Israel had experienced the trauma of military defeat. The nation wondered, does God have a plan for us? Does He have a plan at all? Their reaction reveals typical human uncertainty. So, God took pains to show that He had things under control; He knows the future (Isa. 46:10).

In a series of visions, God revealed the rise and fall of empires in the region. These were significant details which could not be predicted with such specificity by mortals. In doing so He made it clear that He had His hand on world events. The dream was trustworthy and so was the God who revealed it (2:25). In addition, God showed the powerful Babylonian king and the humble prophet how much they didn’t know!

This prophetic dream covered more than just ancient times. It extended to the end of times as well, when God establishes a kingdom that will endure forever. This kingdom, promised to the nation during the days of King David (2 Samuel 7), represents a great victory over Israel’s enemies and the enduring hope of all who trust in God today.

Go Deeper

Do you ever wonder about what’s next? Does it ever cause you to doubt whether God really has things under control? How do these prophetic visions calm your fears? Extended Reading: 

Daniel 1-2

Pray with Us

We are in awe of the vision of the future You revealed to us in the book of Daniel! Lord, You are in control of the rise and fall of empires and of each individual human destiny. It gives us great comfort. Hallelujah!

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.Daniel 2:44

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Read Ezekiel 33:10–15

How do you react to difficult feedback? Do you accept the critique as being for your own good? Or do you write it off, suspecting the messenger of unfair motives? By the time we get to Ezekiel, a lot of hard words have been spoken against Israel. It’s easy to wonder if God had their best interest in mind. The attentive ear will listen to the words of the prophet Ezekiel and hear the note of redemption.

During Ezekiel’s day, the political invasions God promised were starting to become reality. Even so, Israel wasn’t taking the hint. They were asking all the wrong questions. “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live (v. 10)? Facing strong punishment, they wondered how they would ever recover. Like a person facing bankruptcy due to their poor decisions, or a confiscated driver’s license they wondered, How or when will life go back to normal?

Thankfully the Lord presented the answer right away: Turn! This one word sums up the Lord’s purpose in judgment. His goal was to compel His people to turn from their godless behavior and turn to Him, the source of all joy. Today, we might use the word repent to describe a change of mind that leads to a change of action.

God was not judging Israel because He enjoyed it (v. 11). Rather, He was punishing them because He wanted them to live. To really live meant loving Him above all other things (Deut. 6:4). In the New Testament, God makes the same plea. Jesus says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

Go Deeper

We too need to hear the call to repentance. It doesn’t mean you are not a child of God, it means you still sin and need to change. Pray that the Lord will give you a spirit of repentance to hear, turn, and really live! Extended Reading: 

Ezekiel 33

Pray with Us

Merciful God, give us a spirit of repentance! Teach us to turn away from sin and turn to You with all our worries, hardships, and trials. May we hear Your voice even in the “valley of the shadow of death.”

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.Ezekiel 33:11

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Read Jeremiah 25:15–32

Who is in charge? Political scientists use the term “anarchy” to describe the way our world operates because no one is in charge to enforce laws or resolve conflicts. Countries act in their own best interest. Given this state of affairs, we might wonder if the buck stops with anyone at all. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that God is in control of all things, even the movements of countries on the world stage.

In chapter 25, Jeremiah delivers sobering news to the nations (v. 15). God’s wrath is symbolized as a cup of wine which will make them staggering drunk. God lets them know that they will experience war (v. 16). While Jerusalem was due for hard discipline, the nations had worn out God’s patience and He intended to punish them as well (v. 17). This would involve startling geopolitical shifts, causing some empires to rise and others to fall.

The list of nations would have shocked Jeremiah’s audience (vv. 19–25). Israel’s neighbors Egypt, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, and more were put on notice! Many of these nations played a negative role in Israel’s politics for centuries. Now God was informing them, through Jeremiah, that they would all be torn down.

For little Israel, an island in a sea of enemies, this might have come as good news. But it was also a reminder that God doesn’t play favorites when it comes to disobedience. They would endure their own judgment (v. 18). It’s easy to look out at the world and declare that God will one day judge the nations, but at times we forget that our own people will fall under judgment if we do not repent. “You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who lives on the earth” (v. 29).

Go Deeper

Are you quick to rejoice when God judges disobedience in other nations? Have you considered that God commands “all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30)? Extended Reading: 

Jeremiah 25

Pray with Us

Father, may we heed the sobering message of Your “weeping prophet” Jeremiah: You don’t play favorites, and You punish disobedience. Thank You that in Christ, You extend Your love and forgiveness to us.

The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling.Jeremiah 25:30

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Read Song of Songs 2:3–13

Of all emotions, love is the most celebrated in art, literature, and song. There seems to be no end to our appetite for depictions, words or melodies that extol the delights, depths, or devastations of romantic love. Song of Songs describes the love between a man and a woman. In a world that has debased, monetized, and distorted the nature of this relationship, it is a breath of fresh air.

While marriage customs of their day may seem strange to us, we understand the emotion of seeing our beloved from afar. “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men” (v. 3). Her love stands out among his peers. The passage encourages those who have not tasted love not to get ahead of themselves (v. 7). Love is powerful. In each other’s presence the old has passed away, all things are made new (vv. 11–13).

Are you wondering why this description of romantic love is in the Bible? Consider that after God made Adam, He declared that man shouldn’t be alone (Gen. 2:18). Even the relationship between Christ and the church is described as a marriage (Ephesians 5). Instead of attempting to resolve the tension of this little book by spiritualizing the difficult bits away, we should stop and consider that God gave humans the capacity to experience an emotion as powerful as love. But, like all other emotions, sin has marred love. Our capacity to love can become disordered. Song of Songs shows that this is not what God intended. And the Bible points to the perfect love Christ has for His church, showing us how to love well.

Go Deeper

Are you in a relationship that could be described by the Song of Songs? If so, rejoice. God has given you the capacity to enjoy it. Are you waiting to be in a Song of Songs relationship? Be patient as you trust God to bring you the right one. Extended Reading: 

Song of Songs 1-2

Pray with Us

Even though love is often marred by sin in today’s world, You showed us beautiful love in Song of Songs. Even more, Lord Jesus, You gave us Your perfect, eternal love. Teach us to love You more!

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.—Song of Songs 8:7

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Read Proverbs 1:1–7

I serve as president of a small public charity that gives scholarships to undergraduate students. Recently one recipient wrote a letter of thanks, saying: “I am grateful for your investment in my career, and it won’t go to waste.” Then he quoted Proverbs 14:23, “All hard work brings a profit.”

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are two books of the Bible considered wisdom literature. Both books offer important observations about God and humanity, living with wisdom versus living foolishly. Wisdom can be described as the knowledge it takes to live life skillfully. Having wisdom doesn’t mean you’ll always be profitable, but it does mean that you’ll be able to navigate your way through life’s various situations.

The foundation of wisdom is learning to respect the Lord. Proverbs describes this as the fear of the Lord (v. 7). The phrase does not mean being terrified of God. Rather it means having respect for Him and His ways. Ecclesiastes ties this to obeying God’s commandments (Eccl. 12:13). Neither the Proverbs nor Ecclesiastes make promises the way promises are typically understood. Both agree that failure, difficulty, and frustration are part of the human condition. Wisdom literature does remind us that, in the end, we answer to a God who does not always tell us why He does what He does.

In life, we may work very hard at something and still fail. That does not negate the biblical principle that hard work is good. It also does not negate that in a sinful world hard work does not always produce the fruit we want. Wisdom stands as the bedrock foundation of our confidence. We are to fear the Lord above all else and trust that He alone controls the results of your labor.

Go Deeper

Do you feel like you bear the responsibility for the results of your work? Have you considered that your toiling and striving may be more about yourself than about honoring God? Extended Reading: 

Proverbs 1-2

Pray with Us

Lord, thank You for the important principles You revealed in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We ask for Your wisdom and knowledge. May we trust You, even when we don’t understand Your ways.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 1:7

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Read Job 1:1–22

Have you ever questioned God? When something terrible happens to us, we may wonder if we can ask God hard questions. The short answer is, yes. But we also don’t want to cross into sinfully accusing God. We must ask, Is my question a real question or an accusation? Has God already given me an answer that I just don’t like, or am I genuinely confused about what He is doing?

The first chapter of Job is a case study in tragedy. Job had lost everything: children, wealth, property, status. Yet, Job was known to be a man of God, blameless and upright (Job 1:1). The question is one we all face, why do bad things happen to people who love and follow God?

Job was experiencing unbelievable suffering. But his first step took him to the feet of God. In an attitude of worship, Job reminded himself of two things he knew to be true: people arrived into the world without anything, and they leave without anything (v. 21). Furthermore, God can give blessings and take them away: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (v. 21).

Note that Job did not accuse God of maliciousness. However, he did express anger at God. He did not withdraw from God because he lost trust in Him. Instead, he took a step closer to the One who controls all things. In this, Job showed us how to suffer. There is little value in charging God with wrongdoing when we face difficulty. Like Job, we don’t have all the facts (Job 42:1–3). However, we should lament to the One who holds the answers, the One who controls all things.

Go Deeper

Are you facing a difficult situation? Have you considered the relative weakness of your power when compared to God’s? While you may not understand what He is doing, that doesn’t change His position or love for you. Extended Reading: 

Job 1-2

Pray with Us

Lord, how do we go through the inevitable suffering of this life? In the book of Job, You showed us how. Despite all his trials, anger, and confusion, Job didn’t sin against You. Thank You for Job’s honesty and faith!

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.Job 1:22

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Read Esther 4:9–17

While a large contingent of Jewish people returned to their homeland, many remained in exile where the kings of Babylon and Persia had taken them. Some exiles rose to positions of authority and power and made lives for themselves in foreign lands. Most importantly, they remained committed to the God of Israel. They refused to give in to the practices and customs of the people among whom they lived, even when it meant persecution.

Esther was one individual who faced persecution. Married against her will to the king of Persia, she found herself in a position of dubious influence. Her people were under threat of annihilation, and she was the only one who could do something about it by speaking to the king about the matter in an official capacity.

Esther knew that approaching the king brought great risk; she could be killed for breach of protocol (v. 11). But she had great faith, believing that the God of Israel was not bound by borders, procedure, or protocol! Gathering the Jewish community in Susa she invited them to fast, which often was accompanied by prayer. She would entrust herself to God as she took a risk for His people. Her declaration, “If I perish, I perish” (v. 16), should not be interpreted as a nihilistic expression of defeat. Rather, it was an expression of faith that, having done all she could, she was now entrusting herself to her God who controls all things.

Esther’s commitment was rewarded. The king looked upon her with favor and granted her requests. God delivered the Jewish community from certain death and destroyed their enemies in dramatic fashion. “For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor…and many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them” (8:16–17).

Go Deeper

What can we learn from Esther? How can you apply her courage and act of faith to a difficult situation you are facing? Extended Reading: 

Esther 4-5

Pray with Us

Holy God, May Esther’s courage and faith inspire us to be brave and faithful through all the twists and turns of our destiny. Teach us to walk worthy of Your kingdom!

I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.Esther 4:16

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