Scripture Reading — James 3:1-12, 17-18 Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire. . . .— James 3:5-6Over the years our family has had many brushes with forest fires. At one point a forest fire came to within a kilometer of our hou
Scripture Reading — Acts 2:1-21 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’”— Acts 2:17There is an old saying that “Actions speak louder than wor
Scripture Reading — John 8:3-11 “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”— John 8:11Jesus’ gentleness to the woman who was caught in adultery is heartwarming. According to the law of Moses, this woman could have been stoned to death (Levi
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:10-26 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.— Isaiah 40:11Isaiah 40 speaks of the power and might of God with amazing clarity. Estimates hold
Scripture Reading — Zechariah 9:9-11 “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”— Matthew 21:5In Jesus’ statements of blessing (often called the Beatitudes) in Matthew 5:3-11, we read, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inhe
Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:27-30 Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality. . . .— Ephesians 5:3Years ago I attended a conference where a well-known Christian speaker asserted that the largest problem faced by Western Christianity was the use of pornograp
Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:33-37 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices. . . .— Colossians 3:9Each of the students took their turn. They raised their right hand and solemnly swore to carry out their duties with honesty and integr
Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:11-13 . . . if we are faithless, [Christ] remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.— 2 Timothy 2:13When our children were young, we visited an aquarium that had a glass tunnel through the middle. As we walked along, we saw sharks and othe
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:1-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.— Galatians 6:9Ephesians 2:1-9, especially verses 8-9, are among the best-known verses in the Bible, but verse 10 is often neglected.
Scripture Reading — Micah 6:6-8 “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”— Matthew 7:12In our reading today from Micah 6 and in the quotation from Jesus in Matthew 7, we find helpful guidelines that summarize t
Scripture Reading — Mark 10:17-27 “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”— Mark 10:17-18Jesus’ reply to the rich man here is full of surprises. First, in response to being
Scripture Reading — Romans 12:1-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.— Romans 12:6Years ago, my mother had a large jar for storing pennies. Over the years she accumulated thousands of these little coins but didn’t do anything with them. It was