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OUR DAILY BREAD June 1, Tuesday GOD OF JUSTICE Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 15–16   John 12:27–50 I trust in your unfailing love. Psalm 13:5 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 13 She was perhaps the greatest “scapecow” in history. We don’t know if her name was Daisy, Madeline, or Gwendolyn (each name has been suggested), but Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was blamed for the 1871 Great Chicago Fire that left every third resident of the city homeless. Carried by strong winds through wooden structures, the fire burned for three days and took the lives of nearly three hundred people. For years, many believed the fire began when the cow knocked over a lantern left burning in a shed. After further investigation—126 years later—the city’s Committee on Police and Fire passed a resolution exonerating the cow and her owners and suggesting the activities of a neighbor warranted scrutiny. Justice often takes time, and Scripture acknowledges how difficult that can be. The refrain, “How long?” is repea

OUR DAILY BREAD May 31, Monday SECRET GIVER Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 13–14 John 12:1–26 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Matthew 6:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 6:1–4 For Christopher, a physically disabled veteran, everyday activities had become more challenging, took longer to finish, and increased his pain. Still, he did his best to serve his wife and child. Passersby would see him using a push-mower to cut his lawn every week. One day, Christopher received a letter—and an expensive riding lawnmower—from an anonymous donor. The secret giver’s satisfaction came through the privilege of helping someone in need. Jesus doesn’t say that all our giving should be in secret, but He does remind us to check our motives when we give (Matthew 6:1). He also said: “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others” (v. 2). While Go

OUR DAILY BREAD May 30, Sunday WORTH IT, OR WORTHY? Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 10–12   John 11:30–57 Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain. Revelation 5:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: Revelation 5:6–12 Helen Roseveare, an English missionary physician in the African Congo, was taken prisoner by rebels during the Simba Rebellion in 1964. Beaten and abused by her captors, she suffered terribly. In the days that followed, she found herself asking, “Is it worth it?” As she began to ponder the cost of following Jesus, she sensed God speaking to her about it. Years later she explained to an interviewer, “When the awful moments came during the rebellion and the price seemed too high to pay, the Lord seemed to say to me, ‘Change the question. It’s not, ‘Is it worth it?’ It’s ‘Am I worthy?’ ” She concluded that in spite of the pain she had endured, “Always the answer is ‘Yes, He is worthy.’ ” Through God’s grace at work within her during her harrowing ordeal, Helen Roseveare decided that

OUR DAILY BREAD May 29, Saturday DEATH ZONE Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 7–9 John 11:1–29 But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Samuel 11:1–6, 12–15 In 2019, a climber saw his last sunrise from the peak of Mount Everest. He survived the dangerous ascent, but the high altitude squeezed his heart, and he passed away on the trek down. One medical expert warns climbers not to think of the summit as their journey’s end. They must get up and down quickly, remembering “they’re in the death zone.” David survived his dangerous climb to the top. He killed lions and bears, slew Goliath, dodged Saul’s spear and pursuing army, and conquered Philistines and Ammonites to become king of the mountain. But David forgot he was in the death zone. At the peak of his success, as “the Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6), he committed adultery and murder. His initial mistake? He lingered on the mountaintop. When his army set out for new cha

OUR DAILY BREAD May 28, Friday RAINBOW HALO Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 4–6 John 10:24–42 My rainbow . . . will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13 Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 9:12–17 On a hike in the mountains, Adrian found himself above some low-lying clouds. With the sun behind him, Adrian looked down and saw not only his shadow but also a brilliant display known as a Brocken spectre. This phenomenon resembles a rainbow halo, encircling the shadow of the person. It occurs when the sunlight reflects back off the clouds below. Adrian described it as a “magical” moment, one that delighted him immensely. We can imagine how similarly stunning seeing the first rainbow must have been for Noah. More than just a delight to his eyes, the refracted light and resulting colors came with a promise from God. After a devastating flood, God assured Noah, and all the “living creatures” who’ve lived since, that “never again [would] the waters become a

OUR DAILY BREAD May 27, Thursday FLOURISH AGAIN Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 1–3   John 10:1–23 The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. Exodus 1:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: Exodus 1:6–14 Given enough sunlight and water, vibrant wildflowers carpet areas of California such as Antelope Valley and Figueroa Mountain. But what happens when drought strikes? Scientists have discovered that certain wildflowers store large quantities of their seeds underground instead of allowing them to push through the soil and bloom. After the drought, the plants use the seeds they've saved to begin to flourish again. The ancient Israelites thrived in the land of Egypt, despite harsh conditions. Slave masters forced them to work in fields and make bricks. Ruthless overseers required them to build entire cities for Pharaoh. The king of Egypt even tried to use infanticide to reduce their numbers. However, because God sustained them, “the more they were oppressed, the

OUR DAILY BREAD May 26, Wednesday BRAVE LOVE Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 28–29   John 9:24–41 Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Corinthians 16:10–14 The four chaplains weren’t known as “heroes.” But on a frigid February night in 1943, when their transport ship, the SS  Dorchester,  was torpedoed off the coast of Greenland during World War II, the four gave their all to calm hundreds of panicked soldiers. With the ship sinking and injured men jumping for overcrowded lifeboats, the four chaplains calmed the pandemonium by “preaching courage,” a survivor said. When life jackets ran out, each took his off, giving it to a frightened young man. They had determined to go down with the ship so that others might live. Said one survivor, “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven.” Linking arms as the ship began to sink, the chaplains prayed aloud together, offering encouragement to those perishing with them. Bravery

OUR DAILY BREAD May 25, Tuesday SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 25–27   John 9:1–23 And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Kings 19:9–12, 15–18 The man ahead of me at the carwash was on a mission. He purposefully strode to the back of his pickup and removed the hitch, so it wouldn’t snag the high-powered rolling brushes. He paid the attendant then pulled onto the automated track—where he left his truck in drive. The attendant shouted after him, “Neutral! Neutral!” but the man’s windows were up and he couldn’t hear. He zipped through the car wash in four seconds flat. His truck barely got wet. Elijah was on a mission too. He was busy serving God in big ways. He had just defeated the prophets of Baal in a supernatural showdown, which left him drained (see  1 Kings 18:16–39 ). He needed time in neutral. God brought Elijah to Mount Horeb, where He had appeared to Moses long before. Once again God shook the mountain. B

OUR DAILY BREAD May 24, Monday GOT PLANS? Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22–24   John 8:28–59 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 16:3–9 Caden, a young man of almost eighteen, was anticipating attending his first choice of a college on an academic scholarship. He was involved in a campus ministry in high school and looked forward to participating in a similar ministry in the new environment. He’d saved money from his part-time job and also had an excellent lead on a new job. He’d established some great goals, and everything was coming together exactly on schedule. And then in the spring of 2020 a global health crisis changed everything. The school let Caden know that his first semester would probably be online. The campus ministry was on hiatus. The job prospect dried up when the business closed. As he despaired, his buddy glibly quoted words from a well-known professional boxer: “Yea

OUR DAILY BREAD May 23,  Sunday SIGHT UNSEEN Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 19–21 John 8:1–27 If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. Luke 16:31 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 16:19–31 After Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, he parachuted into the Russian countryside. A farm woman spotted the orange-clad cosmonaut, still wearing his helmet and dragging two parachutes. “Can it be that you have come from outer space?” she asked in surprise. “As a matter of fact, I have,” he said. Soviet leaders sadly turned the historic flight into antireligious propaganda. “Gagarin went into space, but he didn’t see any god there,” their premier declared. (Gagarin himself never said such a thing.) As C. S. Lewis observed, “Those who do not find [God] on earth are unlikely to find Him in space.” Jesus warned us about ignoring God in this life. He told a story of two men who died—a rich man who had no time for God

OUR DAILY BREAD May 22,  Saturday WATER WHERE WE NEED IT Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16–18   John 7:28–53 Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. John 4:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: John 4:7–14 Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, is vast and magnificent. Measuring one-mile-deep and nearly 400 miles (636 km) by 49 miles (79 km) across, it contains one-fifth of all the surface fresh water in the world. But this water is largely inaccessible. Lake Baikal is located in Siberia—one of the most remote areas of Russia. With water so desperately needed for much of our planet, it’s ironic that such a vast supply of water is tucked away in a place where not many people can access it. Although Lake Baikal may be remote, there is an endless source of life-giving water that is available and accessible to those who need it most. When at a well in Samaria, Jesus engaged a woman in conversation, probing at the edges of her deep spiritual thirst. The solution to her hear

OUR DAILY BREAD May 21, Friday SAFETY ASHORE Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13–15   John 7:1–27 Peace, be still! Mark 4:39   nkjv Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 139:7–12 In Papua New Guinea, the Kandas tribe awaited with excitement the arrival of New Testament Bibles printed in their language. To reach the village, however, the people bringing the books had to travel on the ocean in small boats. What gave them courage to travel across great waters? Their seafaring skills, yes. But they also knew who created the seas. He’s the One who guides each of us across our life’s churning waves and deepest waters. As David wrote, “Where can I go from your Spirit?” ( Psalm 139:7 ). “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; . . . if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (vv. 8–10). These words would resonate deeply with the Kandas, who live on an island nation whose tropical coasts, dense rainforests, and rugged mount

OUR DAILY BREAD May 20, Thursday WALK, DON’T RUN Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10–12   John 6:45–71 Walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 Today's Scripture & Insight: Micah 6:6–8 I’d see her welcoming the dawn each day. She was our local power walker. As I drove my kids to school, she’d be there on the road’s shoulder. Equipped with an oversized pair of headphones and knee-high, colorful socks, she walked with an alternating movement of arms and feet, always with one foot in contact with the ground. The sport is different from running or jogging. Power walking involves an intentional restraint, a reining in of the body’s natural inclination to run. Although it doesn’t look like it, there’s just as much energy, focus, and power involved as in running or jogging. But it’s under control. Power under control—that’s the key. Biblical humility, like power walking, is often viewed as weakness. The truth is, it’s not. Humility isn’t diminishing our strengths or abilities, but rather all

OUR DAILY BREAD May 19, Wednesday SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7–9   John 6:22–44 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Mark 14:8 Today's Scripture & Insight: Mark 14:3–9 She loaded the plastic container of cupcakes onto the conveyor belt, sending it toward the cashier. Next came the birthday card and various bags of chips. Hair escaped from her ponytail, crowning her fatigued forehead. Her toddler clamored for attention. The clerk announced the total and the mom’s face fell. “Oh, I guess I’ll have to put something back. But these are for her party,” she sighed, glancing regretfully at her child. Standing behind her in line, another customer recognized such pain. Jesus’ words to Mary of Bethany echoed in her mind: “She did what she could” ( Mark 14:8 ). After anointing Him with a bottle of expensive nard before His death and burial, Mary was ridiculed by the disciples. Jesus corrected His followers by

OUR DAILY BREAD May 18, Tuesday FACING THE DARKNESS Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4–6   John 6:1–21 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2 Today's Scripture & Insight: Isaiah 9:2–6 In the mid-1960s, two people participated in research on the effects of darkness on the human psyche. They entered separate caves, while researchers tracked their eating and sleeping habits. One remained in total darkness for 88 days, the other 126 days. Each guessed how long they could remain in darkness and were off by months. One took what he thought was a short nap only to discover he’d slept for  30 hours.  Darkness is disorienting. The people of God found themselves in the darkness of impending exile. They waited, unsure of what would take place. The prophet Isaiah used darkness as a metaphor for their disorientation and as a way of speaking about God’s judgment ( Isaiah 8:22 ). Previously, the Egyptians had been visited with darkness as a plague ( Exodus 10:21–29 ).

OUR DAILY BREAD May 17, Monday PURSUED BY LOVE Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1–3   John 5:25–47 I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Jonah 2:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: Jonah 2:1–9 “I fled Him, down the nights and down the days,” opens the famous poem “The Hound of Heaven” by English poet Francis Thompson. Thompson describes Jesus’ unceasing pursuit—despite his efforts to hide, or even run away, from God. The poet imagines God speaking to him and saying, “I am He whom thou seekest!” The pursuing love of God is a central theme of the book of Jonah. The prophet received an assignment to tell the people of Nineveh (notorious enemies of Israel) about their need to turn to God, but instead “Jonah ran away from the L ord ” ( Jonah 1:3 ). He secured passage on a ship sailing in the opposite direction of Nineveh, but the vessel was soon overcome by a violent storm. To save the ship’s crew, Jonah was thrown overboard before being swallowed by a large fish (1:15–17). In his ow

OUR DAILY BREAD May 15, Saturday SHINING STARS Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 22–23   John 4:31–54 You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15–16 Today's Scripture & Insight: Philippians 2:12–18 I can close my eyes and go back in time to the house where I grew up. I remember stargazing with my father. We took turns squinting through his telescope, trying to focus on glowing dots that shimmered and winked. These pinpricks of light, born of heat and fire, stood out in sharp contrast to the smooth, ink-black sky. Do you consider yourself to be a shining star? I’m not talking about reaching the heights of human achievement, but standing out against a dark background of brokenness and evil. The apostle Paul told the Philippian believers that God would shine in and through them as they held “firmly to the word of life” and avoided grumbling and arguing ( Philippians 2:14–16 ). Our unity with other believers and our faithfulness t

OUR DAILY BREAD May 14, Friday TAKEN IN Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19–21   John 4:1–30 People who . . . lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 49:5–20 My old dog sits by my side and stares off into space. A penny for her thoughts. One thing I know she  isn’t  thinking about is dying because dogs don’t “understand.” They don’t think about future things. But we do. No matter our age or health or wealth, we at some point think about dying. That’s because we, unlike beasts, have “understanding,” according to  Psalm 49:20 . We know that we will die, and there’s nothing we can do about it. “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them” (v. 7). No one has enough money to buy himself or herself out of the grave. But there is a way out of the finality of death: “God will redeem me from the realm of the dead,” insists the psalmist. “He will surely take me to himself” (v. 15; literally, “He will take me in

OUR DAILY BREAD May 13, Thursday ABUNDANT WATERS Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 17–18   John 3:19–36 Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink. Exodus 17:6 Today's Scripture & Insight: Exodus 17:1–7 In Australia, a report outlined “a grim story” of extreme drought, heat, and fire. The account described a horrific year with only minuscule rainfall, turning parched brush into tinder. Raging fires torched the countryside. Fish died. Crops failed. All because they didn’t have a simple resource we often take for granted—water, which we all need in order to live. Israel found itself in its own terrifying dilemma. As the people camped in the dusty, barren desert, we read this alarming line: “There was no water for the people to drink” ( Exodus 17:1 ). The people were afraid. Their throats were dry. The sand sizzled. Their children suffered thirst. Terrified, the people “quarreled with Moses,” demanding water (v. 2). But what could Moses do? He could only go to G

OUR DAILY BREAD May 12 Wednesday RENEWED VISION Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 15–16 John 3:1–18 My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. 1 Samuel 2:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 1:10–18; 2:1–2 After a painful minor surgery on my left eye, my doctor recommended a vision test. With confidence, I covered my right eye and read each line on the chart with ease. Covering my left eye, I gasped. How could I not realize I’d been so blind? While adjusting to new glasses and renewed vision, I thought of how daily trials often caused me to be spiritually nearsighted. Focusing only on what I could see up-close—my pain and ever-changing circumstances—I became blind to the faithfulness of my eternal and unchanging God. With such a limited perspective, hope became an unattainable blur. First Samuel 1 tells the story of another woman who failed to recognize God’s trustworthiness while focusing on her current anguish, uncertainty, and loss. For years, Hannah had en

OUR DAILY BREAD May 11 LISTENING TO WISE ADVICE Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 13–14 John 2 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15 Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 12:2–15 During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln once found himself wanting to please a politician, so he issued a command to transfer certain Union Army regiments. When the secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, received the order, he refused to carry it out. He said that the president was a fool. Lincoln was told what Stanton had said, and he replied: “If Stanton said I’m a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I’ll see for myself.” As the two men talked, the president quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it. Though Stanton had called Lincoln a fool, the president proved wise by not digging in his heels when Stanton disagreed with him. Instead, Lincoln listened to advice, considered it, and c

OUR DAILY BREADMay 10 SINGING OVER US Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 10–12 John 1:29–51 [He] will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 Today's Scripture & Insight: Zephaniah 3:14–17 A young father held his baby boy in his arms, singing to him and rocking him in soothing rhythm. The baby was hearing-impaired, unable to hear the melody or the words. Yet the father sang anyway, in a beautiful, tender act of love toward his son. And his efforts were rewarded with a delightful smile from his little boy.  The imagery of the father-son exchange bears a striking resemblance to the words of Zephaniah. The Old Testament prophet says that God will joyfully sing over His daughter, the people of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:17). God enjoys doing good things for His beloved people, such as taking away their punishment and turning back their enemies (v. 15). Zephaniah says they no longer have any reason for fear and instead have cause for rejoicing. We, as God’s children redeemed by the sacrific

OUR DAILY BREAD May 9, Sunday NOTICING NATURE Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 7–9   John 1:1–28 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 6:25–34 A friend and I recently visited a favorite walking spot of mine. Climbing a windswept hill, we crossed a field of wildflowers into a forest of towering pines, then descended into a valley where we paused a moment. Clouds floated softly above us. A stream trickled nearby. The only sounds were birdsongs. Jason and I stood there silently for fifteen minutes, taking it all in. As it turns out, our actions that day were deeply therapeutic. According to research from the University of Derby, people who stop to contemplate nature experience higher levels of happiness, lower levels of anxiety, and a greater desire to care for the earth. Walking through the forest isn’t enough, though. You have to  watch  the clouds,  listen

OUR DAILY BREAD May 8, Saturday LEGALLY HIS Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 4–6 Luke 24:36–53 The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Romans 8:15 Today's Scripture & Insight: Romans 8:1–2, 10–17 Liz cried for joy when she and her husband received the birth certificate and passport for their child, making the adoption legally binding. Now Milena would always be their daughter, forever part of their family. As Liz pondered the legal process, she also thought of the “true exchange” that happens when we become part of Jesus’ family: “No longer are we held down by our birthright of sin and brokenness.” Rather, she continued, we enter into the fullness of God’s kingdom legally when we're adopted as His children. In the apostle Paul’s day, if a Roman family adopted a son, his legal status would change completely. Any debts from his old life would be canceled and he would gain all of the rights and privileges of his new family. Paul wanted the Roman believers in Je

OUR DAILY BREAD May 7, Friday THE RIGHT WORDS Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 1–3 Luke 24:1–35 Pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan. Ephesians 6:19 nlt Today's Scripture & Insight: Ephesians 6:10–20 In the past year or so, a number of authors have urged believers to take a fresh look at the “vocabulary” of our faith. One writer, for example, emphasized that even theologically rich words of faith can lose their impact when, through overfamiliarity and overuse, we lose touch with the depths of the gospel and our need for God. When that happens, he suggested, we may need to relearn the language of faith “from scratch,” letting go of our assumptions until we can see the good news for the first time. The invitation to learn to “speak God from scratch” reminds me of Paul, who devoted his life to “[becoming] all things to all people . . . for the sake of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:22–23). He never assumed he knew best how to com

OUR DAILY BREAD May 6, Thursday HEAVY BUT HOPEFUL Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 21–22   Luke 23:26–56 Lord, you are the God who saves me. Psalm 88:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 88:1–13 In a  Peanuts  comic strip, the very enterprising character Lucy advertised “psychiatric help” for five cents. Linus found his way to her office and acknowledged his “deep feelings of depression.” When he asked her what he could do about his condition, Lucy’s quick reply was, “Snap out of it! Five cents, please.” While such lighthearted entertainment brings a momentary smile, the sadness and gloom that can grip us when real life happens is not that easily dismissed. Feelings of hopelessness and despair are real, and sometimes professional attention is needed. Lucy’s advice wasn’t helpful in addressing real anguish. However, the writer of  Psalm 88  does offer something instructive and hopeful. A truckload of trouble had arrived at his doorstep. And so, with raw honesty, he poured out his heart