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OUR DAILY BREAD September 5, Sunday HELP FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT Bible in a Year: Psalms 146–147   1 Corinthians 15:1–28 Return, faithless people. I will cure you of backsliding. Jeremiah 3:22 Today's Scripture & Insight: Jeremiah 3:11–15, 22 While my classmates and I used to skip the occasional lecture in university, everyone always made sure to attend Professor Chris’ lecture the week before the year-end exams. That was when he would unfailingly drop big hints about the exam questions he’d set. I always wondered why he did that, until I realized that Prof. Chris genuinely wanted us to do well. He had high standards, but he would help us meet them. All we had to do was show up and listen so we could prepare properly. It struck me that God is like that too. God can’t compromise His standards, but because He deeply desires us to be like He is, He’s given us the Holy Spirit to help us meet those standards. In  Jeremiah 3:11–14 , God urged unfaithful Israel to acknowledge their guilt

O UR DAILY BREAD September 3, Friday EMPTY HANDS Bible in a Year: Psalms 140–142   1 Corinthians 14:1–20 His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. Luke 15:20 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 15:17–24 Robert was embarrassed when he showed up for a breakfast meeting and realized he’d forgotten his wallet. It bothered him to the point that he pondered whether he should eat at all or simply get something to drink. After some convincing from his friend, he relaxed his resistance. He and his friend enjoyed their entrees, and his friend gladly paid the bill. Perhaps you can identify with this dilemma or some other situation that puts you on the receiving end. Wanting to pay our own way is normal, but there are occasions when we must humbly receive what’s graciously being given. Some kind of payback may have been what the younger son had in mind in  Luke 15:17–24  as he contemplated what he would say to his father. “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me

OUR DAILY BREAD September 2 THE BIG STORY OF THE BIBLE Bible in a Year: Psalms 137–139   1 Corinthians 13 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 11:26–32 When Colin opened the box of stained-glass pieces he’d purchased, instead of finding the fragments he’d ordered for a project, he discovered intact, whole windows. He sleuthed out the windows’ origin and learned they’d been removed from a church to protect them from World War II bombings. Colin marveled at the quality of work and how the “fragments” formed a beautiful picture. If I’m honest, there are times when I open particular passages of the Bible—such as chapters containing lists of genealogies—and I don’t immediately see how they fit within the bigger picture of Scripture. Such is the case with  Genesis 11 —a chapter that contains a repetitive cadence of unfamiliar names and their families, such as S

OUR DAILY BREAD September 1, Wednesday FIX UP TIME Bible in a Year: Psalms 135–136   1 Corinthians 12 Be made new in the attitude of your minds. Ephesians 4:23 Today's Scripture & Insight: Ephesians 4:20–32 It was time to give the inside of our home a fresh, new look. But just as I’d begun prepping a room for painting, our state government announced it would be halting the sale of many home improvement items due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as I heard the announcement, I rushed to the store and purchased the essential materials. You simply can’t remodel without the proper supplies. Paul had a bit of a remodeling project in mind when he wrote  Ephesians 4 . But the changes he was talking about went far beyond superficial alterations. Even though trusting Jesus as Savior makes us a new creation, there’s still some ongoing work the Spirit needs to do. And it takes time and work for Him to accomplish “true righteousness and holiness” ( Ephesians 4:24 ). The presence of the Spi

OUR DAILY BREAD August 31, Tuesday SHARING JESUS Bible in a Year: Psalms 132–134   1 Corinthians 11:17–34 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Isaiah 12:4 Today's Scripture & Insight: Isaiah 12 Shortly after Dwight Moody (1837–99) came to faith in Christ, the evangelist resolved not to let a day pass without sharing God’s good news with at least one person. On busy days, he’d sometimes forget his resolution until late. One night, he was in bed before he remembered. As he stepped outside, he thought,  No one will be out in this pouring rain . Just then he saw a man walking down the street. Moody rushed over and asked to stand under his umbrella to avoid the rain. When granted permission, he asked, “Have you any shelter in the time of storm? Could I tell you about Jesus?” Moody embodied a readiness to share how God saves us from the consequences of our sins. He obeyed God’s instructions to the Israelites to proclaim His name a

OUR DAILY BREAD August 30, Monday MERCY AND GRACE Bible in a Year: Psalms 129–131   1 Corinthians 11:1–16 [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David. 2 Chronicles 34:3 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Chronicles 34:1–8 A stately sunflower stood on its own in the center of a lonely stretch of national highway, just a few feet from the fast lane. As I drove past, I wondered how it had grown there with no other sunflowers visible for miles. Only God could create a plant so hardy it could thrive so close to the roadway in the gray gravel lining the median. There it was, thriving, swaying gently in the breeze and cheerfully greeting travelers as they hurried by. The Old Testament tells the story of a faithful king of Judah who also showed up unexpectedly. His father and grandfather had enthusiastically served other gods; but after Josiah had been in power for eight years, “while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David” ( 2 Chronicles 34:3 ). He sent wo

OUR DAILY BREAD August 29, Sunday THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL Bible in a Year: Psalms 126–128   1 Corinthians 10:19–33 I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. Romans 1:15 Today's Scripture & Insight: Romans 1:1–7, 14–17 Ancient Rome had its own version of “the gospel”—the good news. According to the poet Virgil, Zeus, king of the gods, had decreed for the Romans a kingdom without end or boundaries. The gods had chosen Augustus as divine son and savior of the world by ushering in a golden age of peace and prosperity. This, however, wasn’t everyone’s idea of good news. For many it was an unwelcome reality enforced by the heavy hand of the emperor’s army and executioners. The glory of the empire was built on the backs of enslaved people who served without legal personhood or property at the pleasure of masters who ruled over them. This was the world in which Paul introduced himself as a servant of Christ ( Romans 1:1 ). Jesus—how Paul had once hated that name.

OUR DAILY BREAD August 28, Saturday A GREAT ENDING Bible in a Year: Psalms 123–125   1 Corinthians 10:1–18 Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. Revelation 22:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: Revelation 22:12–21 My husband and son surfed television channels looking for a movie to watch and discovered that their favorite movies were already in progress. As they enjoyed watching the final scenes, the search became a game. They managed to find eight of their favorite flicks. Frustrated, I asked why they wouldn’t just choose a movie to watch from the beginning. My husband laughed. “Who doesn’t love a great ending?” I had to admit I too look forward to the endings of my favorite books or movies. I’ve even skimmed through my Bible and focused on my favorite parts or the stories that seem more palatable and easier to understand. But the Holy Spirit uses all of God’s reliable and life-applicable words to transform

OUR DAILY BREAD August 27, Friday THE ULTIMATE HEALER Bible in a Year: Psalms 120–122   1 Corinthians 9 [Hezekiah] broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made. 2 Kings 18:4 Today's Scripture & Insight: Numbers 21:4–9; 2 Kings 18:4–7 When a medical treatment began to provide relief for a family member’s severe food allergies, I became so excited that I talked about it all the time. I described the intense process and extolled the doctor who had created the program. Finally, some friends commented, “We think God should always get the credit for healing.” Their statement made me pause. Had I taken my eyes off the Ultimate Healer and made the healing into an idol? The nation of Israel fell into a similar trap when they began to burn incense to a bronze snake which God had used to heal them. They’d been performing this act of worship until Hezekiah identified it as idolatry and “broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made” ( 2 Kings 18:4 ). Several centuries earlier, a g

OUR DAILY BREAD August 26, Thursday HEEDING THE WARNINGS Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:89–176   1 Corinthians 8 Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:33 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 10:1–7, 32–33 When a pickpocket tried to pilfer my property while I was on vacation in another country, it wasn’t a surprise. I’d read warnings about the danger of subway thieves, so I knew what to do to protect my wallet. But I never expected it to happen. Fortunately, the young man who grabbed my wallet had slippery fingers, so it fell to the floor where I could retrieve it. But the incident reminded me that I should have heeded the warnings. We don’t like to dwell on warnings because we think they’ll get in the way of enjoying life, but it’s imperative to pay attention to them. For instance, Jesus gave us a clear warning while sending out His disciples to proclaim God’s coming kingdom ( Matthew 10:7 ). He said, “Whoever acknowledges me before

OUR DAILY BREAD August 25, Wednesday A GOOD REASON Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:1–88   1 Corinthians 7:20–40 Put [your] religion into practice by caring for [your] own family. 1 Timothy 5:4 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Timothy 5:1–8 The two women occupied the aisle seats across from each other. The flight was two hours, so I couldn’t help but see some of their interactions. It was clear they knew each other, might even be related. The younger of the two (probably in her sixties) kept reaching in her bag to hand the older (I’d guess in her nineties) fresh apple slices, then homemade finger sandwiches, then a towelette for clean up, and finally a crisp copy of the  New York Times . Each hand-off was done with such tenderness, such dignity. As we stood to exit the plane, I told the younger woman, “I noticed the way you cared for her. It was beautiful.” She replied, “She’s my best friend. She’s my mother.” Wouldn’t it be great if we could all say something like that? Some parents a

OUR DAILY BREAD August 24, Tuesday GOD’S PROVISION Bible in a Year: Psalms 116–118   1 Corinthians 7:1–19 See how the flowers of the field grow. . . . Will he not much more clothe you? Matthew 6:28 ,  30 Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 1:11–13, 29–30 We trekked deeper and deeper into the forest, venturing farther and farther away from the village at Yunnan Province, China. After an hour or so, we heard the deafening roar of the water. Quickening our steps, we soon reached a clearing and were greeted by a beautiful view of a curtain of white water cascading over the gray rocks.  Spectacular! Our hiking companions, who lived in the village we had left an hour earlier, decided that we should have a picnic. Great idea, but where was the food? We hadn’t brought any. My friends disappeared into the surrounding forest and returned with an assortment of fruits and vegetables and even some fish. The  shuixiangcai  looked strange with its small purple flowers, but tasted heavenly! I

GIVE Love God. Love Others.  iTunes Download MP3 August 23 Loving Your Enemy Bible in a Year: Psalms 113–115   1 Corinthians 6 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria. Acts 1:8 Today's Scripture & Insight: Acts 1:1–8 I ducked into a room before she saw me. I was ashamed of hiding, but I didn’t want to deal with her right then—or  ever . I longed to tell her off, to put her in her place. Though I'd been annoyed by her past behavior, it’s likely I had irritated her even more! The Jews and Samaritans also shared a mutually irritating relationship. Being a people of mixed origin and worshiping their own gods, the Samaritans—in the eyes of the Jews—had spoiled the Jewish bloodline and faith, erecting a rival religion on Mount Gerizim ( John 4:20 ). In fact, the Jews so despised Samaritans they would walk the long way around rather than take the direct route through their country. Jesus revealed a better way. He brought salvation for all people, includ

O UR DAILY BREAD August 21, Saturday CARRIED THROUGH THE STORM Bible in a Year: Psalms 107–109   1 Corinthians 4 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:29 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 107:1–3, 23–32 During Scottish missionary Alexander Duff’s first voyage to India in 1830, he was shipwrecked in a storm off the coast of South Africa. He and his fellow passengers made it to a small, desolate island; and a short time later, one of the crew found a copy of a Bible belonging to Duff washed ashore on the beach. When the book dried, Duff read  Psalm 107  to his fellow survivors, and they took courage. Finally, after a rescue and yet another shipwreck, Duff arrived in India. Psalm 107  lists some of the ways God delivered the Israelites. Duff and his shipmates no doubt identified with and took comfort in the words: “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to t

OUR DAILY BREAD August 20, Friday PEACE IN THE CHAOS Bible in a Year: Psalms 105–106   1 Corinthians 3 [Our] help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 121 Something that sounded like firecrackers roused Joanne from sleep. Glass shattered. Wishing she didn’t live alone, she got up to see what was going on. The dark streets were empty and the house seemed to be okay—then she saw the broken mirror. Investigators found a bullet only a half-inch from the gas line. If it had struck the line, she probably wouldn’t have made it out alive. Later they discovered it was a stray bullet from nearby apartments, but Joanne was afraid to be at home. She prayed for peace, and once the glass was cleaned up, her heart calmed. Psalm 121  is a reminder for us to look to God in times of trouble. Here, we see that we can have peace and calm because our “help comes from the  Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2). The God who created

OUR DAILY BREAD August 19 REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE Bible in a Year: Psalms 103–104 1 Corinthians 2 [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 22:14–23 On December 6, 1907, explosions rocked a small community in the US state of West Virginia, producing one of the worst disasters in the history of the coal-mining industry. Some 360 miners were killed, and it’s been estimated that this horrific tragedy left behind about 250 widows and 1,000 children without fathers. Historians maintain that the memorial service became the seedbed from which the celebration of Father’s Day in the US would eventually grow. Out of great loss came remembrance and—eventually—celebration. The greatest tragedy in human history occurred when human beings crucified their Creator. Yet, that dark moment also produced both remembrance and celebration. The night before He wou

OUR DAILY BREAD August 18, Wednesday GOD KNOWS YOUR STORY Bible in a Year: Psalms 100–102   1 Corinthians 1 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 139:1–6, 23–24 As I drove home after lunch with my best friend, I thanked God out loud for her. She knows me and loves me in spite of things I don’t love about myself. She’s one of a small circle of people who accept me as I am—my quirks, habits, and screw-ups. Still, there are parts of my story I resist sharing even with her and others that I love—times where I’ve clearly not been the hero, times I’ve been judgmental or unkind or unloving. But God  does  know my whole story. He’s the One I can freely talk to even if I’m reluctant to talk with others. The familiar words of  Psalm 139  describe the intimacy we enjoy with our Sovereign King. He knows us completely! (v. 1). He’s “familiar with all [our] ways” (v. 3). He invites us to come to Him with our c

OUR DAILY BREAD August 17, Tuesday TRUSTING THE BIBLE Bible in a Year: Psalms 97–99  Romans 16 When your words came, I ate them. Jeremiah 15:16 Today's Scripture & Insight: Jeremiah 15:15–21 Billy Graham, the renowned American evangelist, once described his struggle to accept the Bible as completely true. One night as he walked alone in the moonlight at a retreat center in the San Bernardino Mountains, he dropped to his knees and placed his Bible on a tree stump, able only to “stutter” a prayer: “Oh, God! There are many things in this book I do not understand.” By confessing his confusion, Graham said the Holy Spirit finally “freed me to say it. ‘Father, I am going to accept this as thy Word—by faith!’ ” When he stood up, he still had questions, but he said, “I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.” The young prophet Jeremiah fought spiritual battles too. Yet he consistently sought answers in Scripture. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy a

OUR DAILY BREAD August 14, Saturday WHEN WE DON’T UNDERSTAND Bible in a Year: Psalms 89–90   Romans 14 In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:10 Today's Scripture & Insight: Job 2:7–10 “I don’t understand His plan. I turned my whole life over to Him. And this happens!” Such was the message of a son to his mother when his dream to succeed as a professional athlete was temporarily derailed. Who among us hasn’t had some kind of unexpected, disappointing experience that sends our minds into overdrive with exclamations and questions? A family member cuts off communication without explanation; health gains are reversed; a company relocates unexpectedly; a life-altering accident happens. Job 1–2  records a series of tragedies and setbacks in Job’s life. Humanly speaking, if there was anyone who qualified for a life free from trouble, it was Job. “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” ( Job 1:1 ). But life doesn’t always work out the way we’d

OUR DAILY BREAD August 9, Monday FEARLESS LOVE Bible in a Year: Psalms 77–78   Romans 10 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 John 3:1, 11–18 There are some images so powerful they can never be forgotten. That was my experience when I viewed a famous photograph of the late Princess Diana of Wales. At first glance, the captured scene looks mundane: smiling warmly, the princess is shaking the hand of an unidentified man. But it’s the photograph’s story that makes it remarkable. On April 19, 1987, when Princess Diana visited London Middlesex Hospital, the United Kingdom was engulfed in a wave of panic as it confronted the AIDS epidemic. Not knowing how the disease—which often killed with terrifying speed—was spread, the public at times treated AIDS victims like social pariahs. So it was a stunning moment when Diana, with ungloved hands and a genuine smile, c