Read Hosea 1:1 through 7:16 Current headlines sometimes mimic biblical accounts. There are often stories about someone reconciling with an unfaithful spouse after repeated indiscretions. People shake their heads and wonder why. God had Hosea experience this kind of rejection and unfaithfulness, which mirrors how God feels when His people repeatedly turn their backs on Him. Hosea …
Read Colossians 1:1 through 4:18 Philip Yancey was raised in a legalistic, racist church. He still has a card from that church, which ushers were prepared to give any black students trying to integrate their worship services. His book Soul Survivor tells his story of recovering from that difficult upbringing and the resulting rebellion he expressed as a youth. …
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1 through 4:16 Gabe worked hard every day, enduring the unreasonable demands of his boss. Gabe’s family had what many considered the American essentials: a house, two cars, a computer, smartphones, plenty of playthings, and an annual vacation. They also had ongoing bills and increasing dissatisfaction with life. No matter what new gadget or experience they acquired, they …
Read Proverbs 17:1 through 20:30 Misty felt herself slipping toward depression again. Her hints of need had either gone unnoticed or ignored by her busy husband. Desperate, Misty called her pastor’s wife. Julie listened, then said, “I’m going to the children’s Bible quiz today. Why don’t you come along?” Misty agreed rather than host a pity party. The …
Read Proverbs 5:1 through 6:35; 1 Corinthians 6:1–20 Driving while sending or reading a text message is illegal in most states and a bad idea in every state. But that didn’t stop Cynthia. Excited about the new boots she had just bought at the mall, she couldn’t wait to text her best friend. She was so focused on her …
Read Romans 13:1 through 16:27 Generally the Bible encourages believers to live a life free of debt. Obviously, the framework of modern American life offers distinctions between the kind of debt that is basically acceptable (such as a reasonable mortgage) and the debt that can be burdensome and corrosive (like payday loans, etc.). There is one debt we are …
Read Psalms 93:1 through 101:8 When six-year-old Logan heard his mother on the phone with Grandpa, he begged, “Please, Mommy, can I talk?” Thinking her son wanted to tell Grandpa about his fun day at vacation Bible school, she said handed him the phone. Logan asked, “Grandpa would you please give your heart to Jesus? I want you …
Read Isaiah 18:1 through 20:6; 2 Corinthians 13:1–14 “Do you have a building permit for this?” The city official stood in the driveway with a clipboard. Ted was nearly finished adding the room above his garage. “I need a building permit to add on to my own home?” Ted should have checked with the city. At least, …
Read Psalms 54:1 through 61:8 Hiking the high-altitude volcanoes of Guatemala can leave a novice hiker gasping for air at the side of the trail after just a few minutes. The locals (who are used to the conditions) know this, so they run along with the group, leading horses to ride when a hiker cannot take another step. At …
Read Psalms 27:1 through 33:22 The pastor was excited that his morning sermon was progressing so well. His points were flowing; his illustrations were hitting home; and the congregation was leaning in to hear every word. But then during his conclusion he asked what he intended to be a rhetorical question: “Who here wouldn’t like to be in a situation …