Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1–4, 16–25 Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. 1 Chronicles 17:23–24 David had drawn up the plans. He designed the furniture. He collected the materials. He made all the arrangements (see 1 Chron. 28:11–19). But...

Read: 1 Chronicles 16:8–27 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11 My four-year-old son is full of questions, and chatters constantly. I love talking with him, but he’s developed an unfortunate habit of talking to me even when his back is turned. I...

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7–8 Her voice shook as she shared the problems she was having with her daughter. Worried about her teenager’s questionable friends, this concerned mum confiscated her daughter’s mobile phone and chaperoned her...

Read: Hebrews 13:1–2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers. Hebrews 13:2 The dinner where we hosted families from five nations remains a wonderful memory. Somehow the conversation didn’t splinter into twos, but we all contributed to a discussion of life in London from the viewpoints of different parts...

Read: Psalm 139:1–12 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:4 Sometimes my wife and I finish each other’s sentences. In over thirty years of marriage we’ve become increasingly familiar with the way the other thinks and speaks. We may not even have to...

Read: John 16:19–24 Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22 Clutching two framed photographs, the proud grandmother showed them to friends in the church foyer. The first picture was of her...

Read: Hebrews 2:9–18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18 At the memorial service for Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, friend and fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite spoke of his humanity and compassion....

Read: Matthew 27:45–54 Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 Young Isaac Watts found the music in his church sadly lacking, and his father challenged him to create something better. Isaac did. His hymn “When I Survey...

Read: Colossians 1:15–20 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 One of the earliest Christian poems in English literature is “The Dream of the Rood.” The word rood comes from the Old English word rod or pole and refers to the cross on...

Read: Nehemiah 2:11–18 Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. Nehemiah 2:17 When Edward Klee returned to Berlin after being away for many years, the city he remembered and loved was no longer there. It had changed dramatically, and so had...

Read: John 8:48–59 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 Jeralean Talley died in June 2015 as the world’s oldest living person—116 years of age. In 1995, the city of Jerusalem celebrated its 3,000th birthday. One hundred sixteen is old for a...

Read: Romans 8:31–39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35 We serve a God who loves us more than our work. Oh, it’s true that God wants us to work to feed...