Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God for accepting you back every time you turn away. Read: Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 When you read Jesus stories, do you identify more with the tax collectors and sinners, or with the Pharisees and scribes? In verse 12, the… Read More »Luke 15:11-24 – A dirty rotten scoundrel
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God for guiding life throughout history. We fast-forward forty years from yesterday’s reading (Numbers 13 & 14). The people have crossed the Jordan River and entered Canaan. Read: Joshua 5:1-12 A few times in my life, I’ve been able… Read More »Joshua 5:1-12 – The Promised Land
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Ask for insight into the meaning of Scripture. Our reading today is long. Skim Chapter 13 for background; don’t worry about names and places. Read: Numbers 13:1-2,25-33; Numbers 14:1-25 The Jews fear the Canaanites more than they trust God. How… Read More »Numbers 14 – God loses His temper
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Ask God to grow good fruit in your life. Read: Luke 13:6-9 Many people treat parables as allegories, that is, as stories where there is a one-to-one correspondence between elements of the story and elements of real life. There are… Read More »Luke 13:6-9 – A Fruitless Tree
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Ask for grace towards others, and wisdom regarding yourself. Read: Luke 13:1-5 Today’s questions are less open-ended, as Jesus’ teaching is clear and crucial. Several years ago on Pentecost, a raging windstorm swept through mid-Michigan. Trees fell across roads and… Read More »Luke 13:1-5 – Tragedy, not Punishment
Time in the Scriptures Pray: For insight into your own life. Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Today’s reading raises serious questions about God and about us: About God: Paul says “These [acts of mass judgment] happened to them to serve as an example, and they were… Read More »1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – Testing
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God for free gifts. To people living under the Mosaic laws, Isaiah offered grace. Read: Isaiah 55:1-9 “You get what you pay for.” “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” These American proverbs echo biblical proverbs such as… Read More »Isaiah 55:1-9 – Come to the Waters
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God, who is willing to share our burdens. The new covenant promised in Jeremiah is fulfilled by Jesus. Read: Luke 22:7-20 Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrate what key event in the Abrahamic Covenant? (Details are available… Read More »Luke 22:7-20 – The Last Supper
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God for being willing to make a covenant with us. Read: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Remember the covenant that God made with Abram, to give Abram countless descendants and the land of Canaan. Here, God promises the Jews of Jeremiah’s day… Read More »Jeremiah 31:31-34 – A New Covenant
Time in the Scriptures Pray: Thank God for caring for you every day, good and bad. Read: Psalm 27 Verses 1-6 sing a joyous song of confidence in God. What songs, rituals, or other observances help you express God-confidence? God-confidence makes it much easier to… Read More »Psalm 27 – God Confidence