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OUR DAILY BREAD August 1, Sunday WHO NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT? Bible in a Year: Psalms 57–59   Romans 4 Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death. Jeremiah 26:24 Today's Scripture & Insight: Jeremiah 26:12–15, 20–24 Clifford Williams was sentenced to die for a murder he didn’t commit. From death row he vainly filed motions to reconsider the evidence against him. Each petition was denied—for forty-two years. Then attorney Shelley Thibodeau learned of his case. She found that not only was there no evidence to convict Williams, but that another man had confessed to the crime. At the age of seventy-six, Williams was finally exonerated and released. The prophets Jeremiah and Uriah were also in deep trouble. They had told Judah that God promised to judge His people if they didn’t repent ( Jeremiah 26:12–13 ,  20 ). This message angered the people and officials of Judah, who sought to kill both prophets. They succeeded with...

UR DAILY BREAD July 31, Saturday PRICELESS LIVES IN CHRIST Bible in a Year: Psalms 54–56   Romans 3 There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 15:8–10 Tears streamed down my cheeks during a frantic search for my lost wedding and anniversary rings. After an hour of lifting couch cushions and scouring every nook and cranny of our home, Alan said, “I’m sorry. We’ll replace them.” “Thanks,” I responded. “But their sentimental value surpasses their material worth. They’re irreplaceable.” Praying, I continued hunting for the jewelry. “Please, God. Help me find them.” Later, while reaching into the pocket of a sweater worn earlier in the week, I found the priceless jewels. “Thank You, Jesus!” I exclaimed. As my husband and I rejoiced, I slipped on the rings and recalled the parable of the woman who lost a coin ( Luke 15:8–10 ). Like the woman who searched for her lost silver coin, I knew the wo...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 30, Friday OVERCOMING ENVY Bible in a Year: Psalms 51–53   Romans 2 Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. 1 Samuel 18:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 18:5–9 In the film  Amadeus,  aging composer Antonio Salieri plays some of his music on the piano for a visiting priest. The embarrassed priest confesses he doesn’t recognize the tunes. “What about this one?” Salieri says, playing an instantly familiar melody. “I didn’t know you wrote  that ,” the priest says. “I didn’t,” Salieri replies. “That was Mozart!” As viewers discover, Mozart’s success had caused deep envy in Salieri—even leading him to play a part in Mozart’s death. A song lies at the heart of another envy story. After David’s victory over Goliath, the Israelites heartily sing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” ( 1 Samuel 18:7 ). The comparison doesn’t sit well with King Saul. Envious of David’s success and afraid of l...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 29,  Thursday JESUS IS OUR PEACE Bible in a Year: Psalms 49–50   Romans 1 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: Ephesians 2:11–22 A monk named Telemachus lived a quiet life, but his death at the end of the fourth century changed the world. Visiting Rome from the East, Telemachus intervened in the blood sport of the gladiatorial arena. He jumped over the stadium wall and tried to stop the gladiators from killing each other. But the outraged crowd stoned the monk to death. The emperor Honorius, however, was moved by Telemachus’ act and decreed the end of the 500-year practice of gladiator games. When Paul calls Jesus “our peace,” he refers to the end of hostility between Jews and gentiles ( Ephesians 2:14 ). God’s chosen people Israel were distinct from the nations and enjoyed certain privileges. For instance, while gentiles w...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 28, Wednesday GOD’S LOVE IS STRONGER Bible in a Year: Psalms 46–48   Acts 28 Love is as strong as death. Song of Songs 8:6 Today's Scripture & Insight: Song of Songs 8:6–7 In 2020, Alyssa Mendoza received a surprising email from her father in the middle of the night. The message had instructions about what to do for her mother on her parents’ twenty-fifth anniversary. Why was this shocking? Alyssa’s father had passed away ten months earlier. She discovered that he’d written and scheduled the email while he was sick, knowing he might not be there. He’d also arranged and paid for flowers to be sent to his wife for upcoming years on her birthday, future anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. This story could stand as an example of the kind of love that’s described in detail in Song of Songs. “Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave” (8:6). Comparing graves and death to love seems odd, but they’re strong because they don’t give up their ca...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 27, Tuesday THE JOY GOD PROVIDES Bible in a Year: Psalms 43–45   Acts 27:27–44 A cheerful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22 Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 15:13–15, 30 When Marcia’s out in public, she always tries to smile at others. It’s her way of reaching out to people who might need to see a friendly face. Most of the time, she gets a genuine smile in return. But during a time when Marcia was mandated to wear a facemask, she realized that people could no longer see her mouth, thus no one could see her smile.  It’s sad,  she thought,  but I’m not going to stop. Maybe they’ll see in my eyes that I’m smiling. There’s actually a bit of science behind that idea. The muscles for the corners of the mouth and the ones that make the eyes crinkle can work in tandem. It’s called a Duchenne smile, and it has been described as “smiling with the eyes.” Proverbs reminds us that “a cheerful look brings joy to the heart” and “a cheerful heart ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 26, Monday BLOOMING FOR JESUS Bible in a Year: Psalms 40–42   Acts 27:1–26 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 Today's Scripture & Insight: John 13:31–35 I wasn’t truthful about the tulips. A gift from my younger daughter, the packaged bulbs traveled home with her to the US from Amsterdam after she visited there. So I made a show of accepting the bulbs with great excitement, as excited as I was to reunite with her. But tulips are my least favorite flower. Many bloom early and fade fast. The July weather, meantime, made it too hot to plant them. Finally, however, in late September, I planted “my daughter’s” bulbs—thinking of her and thus planting them with love. With each turn of the rocky soil, my concern for the bulbs grew. Giving their plant bed a final pat, I offered the bulbs a blessing, “sleep well,” hoping to see blooming tulips in the spring. My little project became a humble remin...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 25, Sunday OF PRAYER AND DUST AND STARS Bible in a Year: Psalms 37–39   Acts 26 Look up at the sky and count the stars. Genesis 15:5 Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 15:1–6 Lara and Dave desperately wanted a baby, but their physician told them they were unable to have one. Lara confided to a friend: “I found myself having some very honest talks with God.” But it was after one of those “talks” that she and Dave spoke to their pastor, who told them about an adoption ministry at their church. A year later they were blessed with an adopted baby boy. In  Genesis 15 , the Bible tells of another honest conversation—this one between Abram and God. God had told him, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am . . . your very great reward” (v. 1). But Abram, uncertain of God’s promises about his future, answered candidly: “Sovereign  Lord , what can you give me since I remain childless?” (v. 2). Earlier God had promised Abram, “I will make your offspring like the du...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 24 GOD CARRIES US Bible in a Year: Psalms 35–36 Acts 25 There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. Deuteronomy 1:31 Today's Scripture & Insight: Deuteronomy 1:26–31 In 2019, Hurricane Dorian overwhelmed the islands of the Bahamas with intense rain, wind, and flooding—the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. As he sheltered at home with his adult son who has cerebral palsy, Brent knew they needed to leave. Even though Brent is blind, he had to save his son. Tenderly, he placed him over his shoulders and stepped into chin-deep water to carry him to safety. If an earthly father facing a great obstacle is eager to help his son, think of how much more our heavenly Father is concerned about His children. In the Old Testament, Moses recalled how God carried His people even as they experienced the danger of faltering faith. He reminded the Israelites of how God had del...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 23, Friday THE GREATEST SYMPHONY Bible in a Year: Psalms 33–34 Acts 24 We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Corinthians 12:12–20 When BBC Music Magazine asked one hundred fifty-one of the world’s leading conductors to list twenty of what they believed to be the greatest symphonies ever written, Beethoven’s Third, Eroica, came out on top. The work, whose title means “heroic,” was written during the turmoil of the French Revolution. But it also came out of Beethoven’s own struggle as he slowly lost his hearing. The music evokes extreme swings of emotion that express what it means to be human and alive while facing challenges. Through wild swings of happiness, sadness, and eventual triumph Beethoven’s Third Symphony is regarded as a timeless tribute to the human spirit. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians deserves our attention for similar reasons. Through inspired words rather than mu...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 22, Thursday SEEKING GOD’S HELP Bible in a Year: Psalms 31–32   Acts 23:16–35 We will stand in your presence . . . and will cry out to you in our distress. 2 Chronicles 20:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Chronicles 20:5–12, 15 For five years in the late 1800s, grasshoppers descended on Minnesota, destroying the crops. Farmers tried trapping the grasshoppers in tar and burning their fields to kill the eggs. Feeling desperate, and on the brink of starvation, many people sought a statewide day of prayer, yearning to seek God’s help together. The governor relented, setting aside April 26 to pray. In the days after the collective prayer, the weather warmed and the eggs started to come to life. But then four days later a drop in temperature surprised and delighted many, for the freezing temperatures killed the larvae. Minnesotans once again would harvest their crops of corn, wheat, and oats. Prayer was also behind the saving of God’s people during the reign of K...

OUR DAILY BREAD   July 21, Wednesday AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY Bible in a Year: Psalms 29–30 Acts 23:1–15 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 5:3–10 I applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn't do those things. But my argumentative side thought, Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed. Following Jesus can’t be defined by a list of rules. It’s a subtle quality of life that’s difficult to quantify but can best be described as “beautiful.” The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–10 sum up that beauty: Those who ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 20, Tuesday GOD’S POWER ON DISPLAY Bible in a Year: Psalms 26–28   Acts 22 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Job 38:24 Today's Scripture & Insight: Job 38:24–38 It was a lightning storm, and my six-year-old daughter and I were on the floor watching the dazzling display through the glass door. She kept repeating, “Wow! God is so big.” I felt the same way. It was obvious to both of us how small we were, and how powerful God must be. Lines from the book of Job flashed through my mind, “What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?” ( Job 38:24 ). Job needed to be reminded of God’s power (vv. 34–41). His life had fallen apart. His children were dead. He was broke. He was sick. His friends offered no empathy. His wife encouraged him to abandon his faith (2:9). Eventually, Job asked...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 19, Monday FIRM REFUSAL Bible in a Year: Psalms 23–25   Acts 21:18–40 Daniel . . . still pray[ed] three times a day. Daniel 6:13 Today's Scripture & Insight: Daniel 6:10–23 When the Nazis drafted Franz Jägerstätter during World War II, he completed military basic training but refused to take the required pledge of personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Authorities allowed Franz to return to his farm, but they later summoned him to active duty. After seeing Nazi ideology up close and learning of the Jewish genocide, however, Jägerstätter decided his loyalty to God meant he could never fight for the Nazis. He was arrested and sentenced to execution, leaving behind his wife and three daughters. Over the years, many believers in Jesus—under peril of death—have offered a firm refusal when commanded to disobey God. The story of Daniel is one such story. When a royal edict threatened that anyone “who pray[ed] to any god or human being except [the king]” ( Daniel 6:12 )...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 18,  Sunday GOD'S RESTORING WAYS Bible in a Year: Psalms 20–22   Acts 21:1–17 People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine. Hosea 14:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: Hosea 14 One of the most moving songs in the musical  The Greatest Showman  is “From Now On.” Sung after the main character comes to some painful self-realizations about the ways he’s wounded family and friends, the song celebrates the joy of coming back home and finding that what we already have is more than enough. The book of Hosea concludes with a similar tone—one of breathless joy and gratitude at the restoration God makes possible for those who return to Him. Much of the book, which compares the relationship between God and His people to a relationship with an unfaithful spouse, grieves Israel’s failures to love Him and live for Him. But in chapter 14, Hosea lifts up the promise of God’s boundless love, grace, and re...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 17, Saturday PREJUDICE AND FORGIVENESS Bible in a Year: Psalms 18–19   Acts 20:17–38 I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34 Today's Scripture & Insight: Acts 10:23–28 After hearing a message about correcting injustice, a church member approached the pastor weeping, asking for forgiveness and confessing that he hadn’t voted in favor of calling the black minister to be pastor of their church because of his own prejudice. “I really need you to forgive me. I don’t want the junk of prejudice and racism spilling over into my kids’ lives. I didn’t vote for you, and I was wrong.” His tears and confession were met with the tears and forgiveness of the minister. A week later, the entire church rejoiced upon hearing the man’s testimony of how God had worked in his heart. Even Peter, a disciple of Jesus and a chief leader in the early church, had to be corrected because of his ill-conceived notions about non-Jewish people. Eating and...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 16, FRIDAY NAVIGATING THE STORMS OF LIFE Bible in a Year: Psalms 16–17 Acts 20:1–16 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me. Psalm 43:3 Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 43 On July 16, 1999, the small plane piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Investigators determined the cause of the accident to be a common error known as spatial disorientation. This phenomenon occurs when, due to poor visibility, pilots become disoriented and forget to rely on their instruments to help them successfully reach their destination. As we navigate life, there are often times when life gets so overwhelming we feel disoriented. A cancer diagnosis, the death of a loved one, a job loss, a betrayal by a friend—life’s unexpected tragedies can easily leave us feeling lost and confused. When we find ourselves in these kinds of situations, we might try offering the prayer of Psalm 43. In this psalm, the psalmist is overwhelmed and feeling...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 15, Thursday CONFIDENT PRAYER Bible in a Year: Psalms 13–15 Acts 19:21–41 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Luke 11:11 Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 11:5–13 Having tried for years to have a child, Richard and Susan were elated when Susan became pregnant. Her health problems, however, posed a risk to the baby, and so Richard lay awake each night praying for his wife and child. One night, Richard sensed he didn’t need to pray so hard, that God had promised to take care of things. But a week later Susan miscarried. Richard was devastated. He wondered, Had they lost the baby because he hadn’t prayed hard enough? On first reading, we might think today’s parable suggests so. In the story, a neighbor (sometimes thought to represent God) only gets out of bed to help the friend because of the friend’s annoying persistence (Luke 11:5–8). Read this way, the parable suggests that God will give us what we need only if ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 14, Wednesday LISTEN AND LEARN Bible in a Year: Psalms 10–12 Acts 19:1–20 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 Today's Scripture & Insight: James 1:19–27 On one side of the street a homeowner displays in his yard a giant blow-up bald eagle draped in a US flag. A big truck sits in the driveway. Its side window features a painted flag and the back bumper is covered with patriotic stickers. Directly across the street in a neighbor’s yard are signs that highlight the slogans for current social justice issues in the news. Are the people in these homes feuding or friends? we might wonder. Is it possible that both families are believers in Jesus? God calls us to live out the words of James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Too often we stubbornly hold on to our opinions and aren’t willing to consider what others are thinking. Matthew Henry's Commentary has this ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 13, Tuesday LONGING FOR GOD Bible in a Year: Psalms 7–9 Acts 18 Even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen. Nehemiah 1:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: Nehemiah 1:5–11 When Conner and Sarah Smith moved five miles up the road, their cat S’mores expressed his displeasure by running away. One day Sarah saw a current photo of their old farmhouse on social media. There was S’mores in the picture! Happily, the Smiths went to retrieve him. S’mores ran away again. Guess where he went? This time, the family that had purchased their house agreed to keep S’mores too. The Smiths couldn’t stop the inevitable; S’mores would always return “home.” Nehemiah served in a prestigious position in the king’s court in Susa, but his heart was elsewhere. He had just heard news of the sad condition of “the city where my ancestors are buried” (Nehemiah 2:3). And so he prayed, “Remember the instruction ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 12, Monday JESUS RESTORES US Bible in a Year: Psalms 4–6 Acts 17:16–34 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 3:17–24 Although Sam had done nothing wrong, he lost his job on the assembly line. Carelessness in another division led to problems in cars they built. After several crashes made the news, wary customers stopped buying their brand. The company had to downsize, leaving Sam out of work. He’s collateral damage, and it isn’t fair. It never is. History’s first collateral damage occurred immediately after the first sin. Adam and Eve were ashamed of their nakedness, so God graciously clothed them with “garments of skin” (Genesis 3:21). It’s painful to imagine, but one or more animals that had always been safe in the garden were now slaughtered and skinned. There was more to come. God told Israel, “Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect for a burnt off...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 11, Sunday HOPE IN GRIEF Bible in a Year: Psalms 1–3 Acts 17:1–15 We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 As the cabbie drove us to London’s Heathrow Airport, he told us his story. He had come alone to the United Kingdom at age fifteen, seeking to escape war and deprivation. Now, eleven years later, he has a family of his own and is able to provide for them in ways unavailable in his native land. But he laments that he’s still separated from his parents and siblings. He told us that he’s had a hard journey that won’t be complete until he’s reunited with his family. Being separated from our loved ones in this life is hard, but losing a loved one in death is much harder and creates a sense of loss that won’t be made right until we’re reunited with them. When the new believers at Thessalonic...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 10, Saturday LIES WITH TRUTH Bible in a Year: Job 41–42 Acts 16:22–40 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 30:5–8 I set my Bible on the podium and stared at the eager faces waiting for me to begin the message. I’d prayed and prepared. Why couldn’t I speak? You’re worthless. No one will ever listen to you, especially if they know your past. And God would never use you. Seared into my heart and mind, these words spoken in various ways over my life ignited a decade-long war against the lies I so easily believed. Though I knew the words weren’t true, I couldn’t seem to escape my insecurities and fears. So I opened my Bible. Turning to Proverbs 30:5, I inhaled and exhaled slowly before reading out loud. “Every word of God is flawless,” I read, “he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” I closed my eyes as peace overwhelmed me, and I began to share my testimony wi...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 9, Friday GROWING IN GOD’S GRACE Bible in a Year: Job 38–40 Acts 16:1–21 Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. 2 Peter 1:5 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Peter 1:3–11 The English preacher Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) lived life “full throttle.” He became a pastor at age nineteen—and soon was preaching to large crowds. He personally edited all of his sermons, which eventually filled sixty-three volumes, and wrote many commentaries, books on prayer, and other works. And he typically read six books a week! In one of his sermons, Spurgeon said, “The sin of doing nothing is about the biggest of all sins, for it involves most of the others. . . . Horrible idleness! God save us from it!” Charles Spurgeon lived with diligence, which meant he “[made] every effort” (2 Peter 1:5) to grow in God’s grace and to live for Him. If we’re Christ’s followers, God can instill in us that same desire and capacity to grow more like Jesus,...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 8, Thursday BLOCKED PRAYERS Bible in a Year: Job 36–37 Acts 15:22–41 When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25 Today's Scripture & Insight: Mark 11:20–25 For fourteen years, the Mars rover Opportunity faithfully communicated with the people at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After it landed in 2004, it traversed twenty-eight miles of the Martian surface, took thousands of images, and analyzed many materials. But in 2018, communication between Opportunity and scientists ended when a major dust storm coated its solar panels, causing the rover to lose power. Is it possible that we can allow “dust” to block our communication with Someone outside of our world? When it comes to prayer—communicating with God—there are certain things that can get in the way. Scripture says that sin can block our relationship with God. “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord ...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 7, Wednesday THE WISDOM WE NEED Bible in a Year: Job 34–35   Acts 15:1–21 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge. Proverbs 1:7   nlt Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 1:1–9 Ellen opened her mailbox and discovered a bulky envelope with her dear friend’s return address. Just a few days prior, she’d shared a relational struggle with that friend. Curious, she unwrapped the package and found a colorful beaded necklace on a simple jute string. Attached was a card with a company’s slogan, “Say It in Morse Code,” and words translating the necklace’s hidden and wise message, “Seek God’s Ways.” Ellen smiled as she fastened it around her neck. The book of Proverbs is a compilation of wise sayings—many penned by Solomon, who was acclaimed as the wisest man of his era ( 1 Kings 10:23 ). Its thirty-one chapters call the reader to listen to wisdom and avoid folly, starting with the core message of  Proverbs 1:7 : “The fear of the L ord  is...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 6, Tuesday NOT FATHERLESS Bible in a Year: Job 32–33   Acts 14 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 6:5–13 John Sowers in his book  Fatherless Generation  writes that “No generation has seen as much voluntary father absence as this one with 25 million kids growing up in single-parent homes.” In my own experience, if I’d bumped into my father on the street, I wouldn’t have known him. My parents were divorced when I was very young, and all the photos of my dad were burned. So for years I felt fatherless. Then at age thirteen, I heard the Lord’s Prayer ( Matthew 6:9–13 ) and said to myself,  You may not have an earthly father, but now you have God as your heavenly Father. In  Matthew 6:9  we’re taught to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Previously verse 7 says not to “keep on babbling” when praying, and we may wonder how t...