Read: Mark 14:10-21 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 British pastor Joseph Parker was asked, “Why did Jesus choose Judas to be one of His disciples?” He thought deeply about the question for a while but...

Read: Mark 14:3-9 Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.” —Mark 14:6 After being away on business, Terry wanted to pick up some small gifts for his children. The clerk at the airport gift shop recommended a number of...

Read: Matthew 21:1-11 When [Jesus] had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” —Matthew 21:10 From time to time, we read of people who are offended at not being treated with what they consider due respect and deference. “Do you know who I am?” they...

Read: Isaiah 53:4-12 They pierced My hands and My feet. . . . They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. —Psalm 22:16-18 In recent years, my daughter has become fascinated with the history of the indigenous people in northern Michigan where she lives. One...

Read: John 16:7-15 Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. —2 Corinthians 11:14 Crunch. Crunch. Whoosh! In the early days of film, Foley artists created sounds to support the story’s action. Squeezing a leather pouch filled with cornstarch made the sound of snow crunching, shaking a pair of...

Read: Joshua 24:15-24 We will serve the Lord! —Joshua 24:21 Coming from someone who used to value ancestral gods, my 90-year-old father’s statement near the end of his life was remarkable: “When I die,” he spoke laboriously, “nobody should do anything other than what the church will do. No soothsaying,...

Read: Luke 2:36-40 She . . . spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. —Luke 2:38 I visit two elderly women from time to time. One has no financial worries, is fit for her age, and lives in her own home. But she can always...

Read: Psalm 56 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. —Psalm 56:3 When our children were young, taking them to the doctor’s office was an interesting experience. The waiting room was filled with toys they could play with and children’s magazines I would read to them. So getting...

Read: John 1:1-9 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light. —John 1:7 The cozy little village of Rjukan, Norway, is a delightful place to live—except during the dark days of winter. Located in a valley at the foot of the towering Gaustatoppen Mountain, the town...

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:6-14 You had become dear to us. —1 Thessalonians 2:8 During the 1980s, a singles’ class at our church became a close-knit family for many people who had lost a spouse through divorce or death. When someone needed to move, class members packed boxes, carried furniture, and...

Read: Nahum 1:1-9 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. —Nahum 1:7 When a defendant stands before a judge, he or she is at the mercy of the court. If the defendant is innocent, the court should be a refuge. But if the defendant is guilty,...

Read: Judges 13:1-7 He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. —Judges 13:5 When a powerful typhoon swept through the city of Tacloban, Philippines, in 2013, an estimated 10,000 people died, and many who survived found themselves homeless and jobless. Necessities became scarce. Three months...