Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.
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Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. — Ephesians 4:28 Can you guess what the most common crime is in any country?If you guess that stealing is the most common crime, that’s right—shoplifting, burglary, identity theft, credit card fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement,…
“You shall not steal.” — Exodus 20:15 The story of Achan in Joshua 7 is very disturbing. During the battle for Jericho, Achan steals an ornate robe along with a hoard of silver and gold. Knowing he has committed a serious sin, Achan buries the stolen goods under his tent. Achan’s wrongdoing highlights the truth that the cost of breaking the eighth commandment —“You shall not steal”—can be…
This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. — Ephesians 5:32 On weekday evenings, my wife, Vicki, and I can usually be found in our favorite seats in our living room, with Vicki knitting while I read. Occasionally I’ll glance at her from over my book, and often I am filled with a rush of gratitude and wonder—grateful for over 42 years of marriage and awed by how…
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.” — Matthew 5:29 Many years ago, the Christian college I attended did not allow dancing. To skirt this rule, “foot functions” were sometimes held in dormitory basements. Today we may smile at such a quaint restriction, but behind it was concern about a serious challenge to Christian purity: lust.Recognizing the destructive…
A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. — Genesis 2:24 If atoms are the so-called “building blocks” of matter, what are atoms made of? Scientists have identified protons, neutrons, and electrons as particles that make up atoms, and even more fundamental particles are quarks and leptons.In some ways similarly, if families are the so-called “building…
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” — Genesis 4:9 Sometimes we recognize that two things are closely related or even the same, although they appear to be different— and we describe them by saying they are like two sides of the same coin.God’s command “You shall not murder” is an example of this. While he orders that we may not harm or kill anyone, God is also calling us to care for and protect our…
“I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” — Matthew 5:22 As we learn from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5, the commandment “You shall not murder” addresses not only our physical actions but also our words and our thoughts.I have never physically murdered anyone, but I’m humbled— even horrified—to realize that I cannot begin to count the number of…
“What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” — Genesis 4:10 One of my guilty pleasures is to watch crime shows on Friday evenings while enjoying chocolate and apple slices. Though I like the puzzle effect, drama, and suspense of these TV shows, I sometimes feel uneasy that murder is usually at the heart of this entertainment. God doesn’t find murder amusing…
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. — Romans 13:1 Throughout history, most cultures around the world have understood the family as the “building block” of human society. And many of these cultures operate with the foundational idea that where the family is strong, the society is strong.This general understanding of…
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. — Proverbs 23:22 Some years ago, as our nearly adult daughter was on the verge of “leaving the nest,” I mentioned something about the fifth commandment’s call for children to obey their parents. She looked me in the eye and asked, “Does the Bible really teach that adult children need to obey their…
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. — Ephesians 6:1 Have you ever noticed that most of the Ten Commandments forbid certain behaviors while only some call for positive action? The fourth commandment, for example, is positive, calling us to keep the Sabbath. And the fifth calls for honoring our parents. What’s more, only the fifth commandment includes a promise.The people of…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Often Sunday nights are my least favorite time of the week. Though I enjoy my work, Monday morning means rising early to face a demanding new workweek. At times, however, those feelings of reluctance about the coming week remind me of the promise of the eternal Sabbath.In the context of our Bible reading…
Early on the first day of the week… — John 20:1 While I was growing up, there were certain things our family did not do on Sundays. We did not eat at restaurants, go shopping, or work in the yard, among other things. Occasionally we would go swimming on a Sunday, but only after sunset. Over the years, that definition of “keeping the Lord’s Day” has changed for many of our friends and family.The…
