Through The Bible in a Year - February 6, 2026

“The midwives feared God more than they feared the king.”* – Exodus 1:17

The midwives had been ordered by Pharoah to kill the male children of the Israelite slaves. In the account, there is this simple sentence that tends to elude our attention: “Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah…”

Did you catch that? The midwives are named. The king of Egypt is not.

If you’ve watched the Charlton Heston version of The Ten Commandments, you know the pharaoh’s name—Ramses. But that’s not in the Bible. Whoever the king was, he’s never named. Who gets named? Who gets remembered for generation after generation?

Those who fear God more than man. Those who have courage to do what God requires.

Shiphrah and Puah were just two midwives. Obscure. Facing an evil decree from the most powerful man in their world: “Kill the baby boys.” They had every reason to obey out of fear for their lives. Who could blame them for obeying?

But they feared God more than Pharaoh. And God remembered their names for all eternity.

We sometimes feel that if we do things for God, it won’t matter. No one will remember. But God is saying, “For those who will stand for Me, I remember you.”

Why? Because those who obey God are participating in a mission grander and more important than any human could design or control. Because Shiphrah and Puah saved baby boys, Moses lived. Because Moses lived, Israel was freed. Because Israel was freed, Jesus came. Because Jesus came, you and I can be saved.

Respond: What act of courage is God calling you to in obscurity? What right thing feels too small to matter? Remember: God remembers names, and through small acts of faithfulness, He multiplies His purposes through those he remembers for eternity.

Prayer: Father, help me fear You more than man. Give me courage to do what’s right even when no one’s watching, even when it seems too small to matter. You remember names. You multiply your purposes. Use my small faithfulness for Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - February 5, 2026

God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant…God saw the people of Israel, and God knew.”* – Exodus 2:23-25

Four simple statements. Four powerful truths about God’s relationship with his people:
- God heard their groaning
- God remembered His covenant
- God saw the people of Israel
- God knew

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. They were dehumanized by loss of freedom and broken by brutal labor. Now they are terrorized by Pharaoh’s decree to kill their baby boys. Where was God?

Right there. Hearing. Remembering. Seeing. Knowing.

This account is not about what God’s people had done to earn His affection. They can’t do much of anything other than obey their earthly masters. This account is about who God is. He’s the covenant-keeping God who made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and He doesn’t forget, even when his people can’t perform.

Time and trial and sin and personal failure may all seem to say, “The grace of God doesn’t apply anymore.” But God is saying, “My grace is greater, and I will make happen what needs to happen so that my plan will be fulfilled for my people – and your life.”

You may feel forgotten in your troubles. Your prayers may seem to hit the ceiling. Your circumstances may scream that God has abandoned you. But listen to these four truths again:

God hears your groaning. God remembers His covenant with you through Christ. God sees you. God knows what He’s going to do about it.

Respond: What situation in your life makes you feel forgotten by God? Today, declare these four truths over it: God hears. God remembers. God sees. God knows. He has not forgotten you. Why is all of that important? Because when we know that God is with us – seeing, hearing, remembering, knowing, and designing all for our eternal good – we can face anything with the strength of knowing he is near and he is working.

Prayer: Covenant-keeping God, sometimes I feel forgotten in my troubles. But You hear my groaning. Help me to remember that You remember Your promises. You know what You’re going to do and what you want me to do and be. Help me trust Your faithfulness even when I can’t see Your hand, believing that you see me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - February 4, 2026

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “I hope I can take my wheelchair to heaven with me. I know that’s not biblically correct—we’ll be made whole. But if I could, I’d turn to Jesus and say, ‘Lord, do you see that wheelchair? You were right when you said this world would be full of trouble. That wheelchair has been trouble to me. But Jesus, the weaker I was in that thing, the harder I leaned on You, and the harder I leaned on You, the stronger I discovered You to be. So thank You for what You did in my life through that wheelchair. Now if You want to send it to hell, You can.’”

A lot of us have our wheelchairs too—the faults in our families, the faults in us, the flaws that are so real. We are more like Abraham, the terribly flawed Father of our Faith, than we ever want to admit.

But for such people, there is a covenant-keeping God who says, “I will be there for you. Lean on me. Put your faith in Me, and My righteousness is substituted for your unrighteousness. I will make you right.”

And when we live this out in our families—when our children see us leaning on Jesus in our weakness—they learn where real strength and hope comes from. Not from our perfections, but from His grace.

From Joni’s wheelchair came ministry to hundreds of thousands. From flawed families – like Abraham’s – who lean on their Savior come children and new families and nations that flourish in the knowledge of Christ’s strength and care.

Respond: What’s your “wheelchair”—the weakness or flaw you wish you could get rid of? Instead of resenting it, can you thank God for how it’s made you lean harder on Him? How might God use your weakness to display His strength?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for my wheelchair—whatever weakness or flaw You’ve allowed in my life. The weaker I am in this thing, the harder I need to lean on You. And the harder I lean on You, the stronger I discover You to be. Use my weakness to display Your strength and point others to You. In Your name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - February 3, 2026

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6

Abraham was remarkably faithful. He left everything to obey God’s call at age 75. He raised an altar to Yahweh in a pagan land. He trusted God’s promise over time. By faith he obeyed, believing in the ultimate provision of an eternal city whose designer and builder is God.

Abraham was also remarkably fallen. He came from a terrible family—descended from Noah who got drunk and cursed his own son after great immorality. Abraham abandoned his wife twice to save his own skin. He slept with his wife’s maid. Then, he put that woman and his own biological son in the desert to die.

How does God make a way out of such sin and failure for this man and his family?

Here’s the answer: God provided his blessing on the basis of Abraham’s faith rather than his personal righteousness. The Bible says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Abraham believed God was the answer—not Abraham. And in believing that God would provide for Abraham what he did not earn or deserve, God credited that faith as righteousness to Abraham.

This is the core gospel truth we need every day: We’re not to depend on ourselves. We’re not to depend on our parents, our performance, or our resolve to do better. We depend on a Savior, who says, “Trust Me to make you right with God.”

We remain human. We are flawed. But we do not despair of God’s love and care because we believe in a Savior whose righteousness becomes our own when we put our faith in His provision rather than our performance.

Respond: What flaws and failures make you feel disqualified from God’s blessing? Today, hear this: Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Your faith in God’s provision—not your performance—is what makes you right with Him.

Prayer: Lord, I resolve to be faithful but remain remarkably fallen—just like Abraham. Thank You that my righteousness doesn’t depend on my performance but on my faith in Your provision. Help me believe You are the answer, not me. Cover my failures with Your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, amen.*

Through The Bible in a Year - February 2, 2026

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Some in our culture say, “Just expose children to everything spiritually and let them choose for themselves.” Sounds fair, right?

But expose them to every religious conviction – is that really good? Child prostitution in Indian temples? ISIS militants usinghuman shields for their God’s glory? Paying homage to spirits in trees and stones? Forcing people to memorize your holy book or die? Or what about the simple idea that you have to measure up to be good enough for God to accept you?

If those things don’t sound like all you want your children to know, will you also dare to expose children to this: “By grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”?

Teaching children these truths is not just letting them make their own way— it’s showing them the Way.

If you really believe there’s an eternity, that souls are at stake, it becomes vital that you don’t just say, “I’ll let my child choose.” Love shows them the way of greatest joy and hope. When we point children to the way that’s not simply dependent on theflawed work of their hands or the expectations of others, then we are really blessing their futures and eternities.

Such love requires more than just letting a child choose a way that may be filled with pain. Love is spelled T-I-M-E. It takes time to show the way, to live it out, to teach it, to model it, to pray it into their hearts.

Respond: Consider what are you teaching the children in your life? Are you showing them the Way, or just letting them wander, hoping to find some meaning and joy? What needs to change in how you prioritize your time to lead the next generation in the way of everlasting joy in a world of many dark paths?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me courage to show children the Way, not just expose them to everything and hope they figure it out. Help me make time to teach them about Jesus, to live the gospel in front of them, to point them to the only hope that saves. Use me to shape souls for eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 30, 2026

I will establish my covenant between me and you…for an everlasting covenant.”* – Genesis 17:7

A secure family, maintaining the influence of God’s Word and Spirit, is the single greatest indicator of whether children will have Christian faith down the road. What happens in the home matters, especially what happens in the parents’ relationship with each other.

Plain talk: Great partners make great parents.

Why? Because when you have great partners, you have people living out the covenant relationship. “I’m going to love you based on a prior promise, not present performance—because sometimes you really tick me off. Sometimes you frustrate me. Sometimes I have to forgive you. Sometimes you have to forgive me.”

This covenant love—loving beyond the boundaries of our humanity—is the gospel being lived out in front of our children. When you love your spouse despite differences, frailties, and weaknesses, you’re saying to your children and others: “This is how Christ loves. Let me show you.”

A covenant is a commitment based on a prior promise, not present performance. That’s what we pledge in marriage—not a contract based on conditions being met, but a covenant: “For better or worse, I promise to love you.”

This gives us uncommon priorities in our culture. We prioritize time with our families – interacting, playing, worshipping, eating and working together. We also prioritize how we treasure our spouses in these family times, knowing that our marriagesare meant to model God’s covenant love. We show our childrenthe gospel by displaying what it means to forgive, to persevere, and to love even when it’s hard.

Respond: If you’re married, how are you modeling covenant love to those watching? What needs to change in how you prioritize your marriage and family? If you’re single, how can you support covenant families around you?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for treating my relationships like contracts instead of covenants. Help me to love based on prior promises, not present performance. Give me Your grace to model Your faithful love to my family, even when it’s hard. Make me a great partner so I can be a great parent. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 29, 2026

“I will be God to you and to your offspring after you.”– Genesis 17:7

“I have no memory of becoming a Christian. I don’t remember when I did not love Jesus. My Christian testimony is downright boring.”

Should I apologize for the lack of drama? No opium dens, no motorcycle gangs, no lightning on the road to Damascus?

While we celebrate those rescued from wayward paths at every stage of life, we must ask: What is the ordinary Christian life? What is the normal path by which most people come to faith?

The answer: By maturing in a Christian family that loves the Lord. Through prayers at the kitchen table, memorizing verses at dinner, regular rhythms of church life. Children grow up understanding, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

This is what God promised Abraham: “I will be God to you and to your offspring after you.” Not a guarantee that children will believe, but a guarantee that God will be there—showing love, showing faithfulness, even to the unfaithful.

When we baptize children, we pray, “May this child never know a day they don’t love Jesus.” That’s not sentiment—it’s trusting God’s covenant promise. Deeper than memory, beyond logical debates, faith is planted in the soil of God’s promise to love our children, as we love them and show them Christ’s love.

Just as children learn red is red without questioning, they learn Jesus loves me in homes where faith is lived and loved. These truths of faith, repeated and lived out in covenant families, shape souls before children can even articulate what they believe – and for eternity.

Respond: If you have a “boring” testimony, thank God for it today. If you’re raising children, consider how you are teaching them before memory, and beyond understanding. We are planting seeds of faith in the soil of God’s covenant promise and we daily love and live for him.

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank You for covenant families where faith is passed from generation to generation. Help me never to apologize for a steady faith planted in good soil. Whether I’m parenting, grandparenting, teaching, or mentoring, use me to point children to Jesus by loving him in such a way that they never remember not loving Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 28, 2026

"As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." – Matthew 24:37

First Peter 3 says that as Noah built the ark, Jesus was preaching to a fallen world. What does that mean? Was Jesus physically there? No—but with each hammer blow of Noah and his sons building the ark, God was declaring the gospel that must be believed.

Every time Noah lifted his hammer and struck the nail, the message rang out:

• You must flee the destruction that is coming

• Your hand is not your redemption—you are not your Redeemer

• You must get on this boat if you want to be saved

• You must trust in God’s provision, not in your own hand

The people mocked. They believed they were the way out of their own evil. But God provided the only way of escape—and they had to trust Him, not themselves.

It wasn't the last time the hammer would fall. When Christ put His own right hand on the cross, each hammer blow that nailed him there signaled the same gospel: You must flee the destruction to come. Your hand won't save you. You are not your own redeemer. You must trust Christ's hand to provide the way of escape.

Jesus said the days before His return would be like the days of Noah—people eating, drinking, marrying, unaware until judgment comes. Jesus rose from the dead and he is coming again to reap a harvest of those who put hope in His provision, not in the work of their own hands or the safety they think their works will provide..

Respond: Have you gotten on that boat - The Gospel boat of Jesus Christ? Have you trusted in Christ's provision instead of your own hand? If not, today should be the day. If you have trusted in Jesus, who needs to hear this gospel from you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my ark, my refuge, my only hope of salvation. My hand cannot save me—only Your hand can. Thank You for the cross where each hammer blow declared Your love and provision for me. Help me live in light of Your coming return, and give me boldness to point others to You for that same salvation. This I pray in Jesus name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 27, 2026

"The Lord is...patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9

People constantly ask: "If God is sovereign and good, why does He allow all this evil? Why doesn't He just wipe it out?"

The biblical answer? Been there, done that. That was the flood.

There was so much evil and God destroyed the evil by the flood. And at the end of the flood, God said, "Never again will I destroy the world by flood." Instead, the way things are now where evil persists through people like us, God has to be very patient. Jesus told a parable about wheat and weeds growing together until harvest. The servant asked, "Should we pull up the weeds?" The master says, "No—if you pull up the weeds, you'll uproot the wheat too. Let them grow together until harvest."

If God destroyed all evil in this moment, not one of us would be here. Our ability to reach others with the gospel would disappear. God is so patient that He's waiting for the harvest—allowing the weeds to continue so the wheat can be gathered in His time as He knows is best..

This is amazing patience. God is allowing time for nations, people, families, and our own sinful souls to claim Jesus Christ before the final judgment. The weeds won't be destroyed by flood next time—they'll be destroyed by fire. But until then, God is gathering His harvest - people like you and me. Sinful though we are, He uses us to tell His gospel to others – sinful though they be. He’ll do this until He has the harvest that is full as He knows is best.

Respond: Who in your life needs God's patience right now? Who seems so far from God that you've almost given up hope? Remember: God is patient, not willing that any should perish. Keep praying. Keep witnessing. Trust His timing for those that He is calling to Himself.

Prayer: Patient Father, thank You for not giving up on me when I was far from You. Thank You for waiting, pursuing, drawing me to Yourself. Give me patience with others who don't yet know You and who haven’t yet responded to your call. Help me trust Your timing as You gather Your harvest as you know is best in the timing that you know is best. Thank you for such patience. Help me to be patient too.. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 26, 2026

"I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood." – Genesis 9:11

Here's what should astound us as we read and hear these words of God - God makes His covenant promise right after Noah's family completely messes up.

They've just survived the flood—this family that's supposed to bring the world into a new creation without violence and evil. And what immediately happens? Noah gets drunk. Ham dishonors his father. There's brokenness, bitterness, addiction, and sexual sin in the very first chapter after their rescue.

If only God had known who He was rescuing. If only He'd known what Noah would do.

He did know. He knows the end from the beginning. And He gave them refuge anyway.

This is a God who establishes a covenant with His people, not on the condition that they, or we, measure up, but because He says: "I will be faithful even to a faithless people. I will make a prior commitment to people I know will mess up."

Why do we need to know this? Because we mess up. We come through the crisis thinking, "If God just brings me through this, I'll never sin like that again." And then we do. The struggle returns. We fall again.

But God says, "I will not fail you. I am a covenant-keeping God."

Respond: What sin or failure are you convinced disqualifies you from God's love? Hear this today: God knew about it before He saved you, and He chose to make a covenant with you anyway. His covenant is not based upon your qualification, but upon His mercy. His faithfulness doesn't depend on your performance.

Prayer: Covenant-keeping God, I am amazed that You knew everything I would do—every failure, every sin, every broken promise—and You chose to save me anyway. Thank You for Your faithfulness when I am faithless. Help me to rest in Your covenant love, not my wavering performance. Help me to believe this because of Jesus. He came for me when I was a sinner. So, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 23, 2026

"Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief." – Genesis 5:29

When Noah was born, his father named him "comfort" or "relief," saying, "This one shall bring us relief from our work and painful toil." Those who heard must have wondered: Is this the one? Is this the promised seed who will crush Satan's head and fix this broken world?

They quickly learned Noah was not that one. But their question reveals what they desperately needed—what we all desperately need:

• A God who brings relief after ruin

• A God who makes provision for sinful, broken people

• A God who brings peace after pain

• A God who brings divine provision for human failure

• A God who brings rainbows after rain

Some of you know about rainbow babies—the child born after a mother's pregnancy loss. That baby is never a replacement, never a reason to avoid grief. But a new baby is new life, new purpose, some means to deal with the grief and recreate joy again.

This is what God offers all of us. Whatever your loss—a child, a marriage, a job, your health, even losses caused by your own mistakes—God says that when the teardrops fall like raindrops, they can be preparation for the rainbows. They can bring restoration, relief, fresh hope, a clean slate, new life, new purpose.

Respond: What loss are you grieving today? Bring it honestly to God. Don't rush past the tears, but don't camp in hopelessness either. Ask God to prepare your heart for the rainbow that He's bringing.

Prayer: Father, I'm grieving. The loss can feel overwhelming, and sometimes the pain feels endless. But I believe You are a God who brings relief after ruin, who makes provision for broken people like me. Help me trace the rainbow through the rain. Give me hope that this is not the end of my story because you are my God and I am your child. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 22, 2026

"The LORD said to Noah, 'Go into the ark, you and all your household...And the LORD shut him in.'" – Genesis 7:1, 16

When skeptics demand naturalistic explanations for the supernatural flood, there's only one honest response: God put His hand into that the event. This was a miracle-working God doing something for a profound purpose.

And here's why that matters for your life today: If God doesn't put His hand into this world—with all its disorder, violence, and evil—we have no basis for our hope.

We can debate the logistics of the ark all we want. How did it hold so many animals? How did the penguins get there? How did the lions and sheep coexist? But ultimately, God says, "I shut the door." He put His hand into that experience.

This isn't about explaining away miracles—it's about believing in a God who intervenes. A God who brings rainbows after the rain. A God who creates restoration from ruin. A God who can make new worlds even for people who have messed it up so terribly.

You need to know that God is willing to put His hand into your world—for your life, for your good, for your refuge. When everything is falling apart, when the violence and chaos feel overwhelming, you serve a God who doesn't just observe from a distance. He steps in. He shuts the door. He provides the way of escape. He puts His hand into that experience for our good.

Respond: What situation in your life right now feels impossible without God's intervention? Stop trying to explain it away or fix it yourself. Instead, ask God to put His hand in—to do what only He can do.

Prayer: Lord, I need You to put Your hand into my life. I can't fix this mess on my own. I can't explain my way out of it or work my way through it. I need a miracle-working God who intervenes, who provides, and who rescues. Put Your hand in my situation today. Be my refuge you’ve promised. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 21, 2026

"Behold, I am making all things new." – Revelation 21:5

Think of the hard news we hear. Twenty-one deaths from a polar vortex. Twenty-three from tornadoes. Six hundred thousand from civil war. Forty active conflicts worldwide. Babies die. Diagnoses startle us. Lives get upended in a moment that is totally unexpected.

How do we rejoice in a world this broken?

The answer is in the structure of Scripture itself: This brokenness, this hurt, this mess, is not the final chapter.

Yes, Genesis 3 tells us everything went bad. Our whole nature is fallen—physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. We face pain in childbirth, pain in relationships, pain in work, pain in the wars we face, pain in living. Creation and creature are both broken.

But Genesis 3:15 also tells us God has a plan, right from the start. Between everything going bad and everything being made perfect at the end of all time, God is unfolding His message of redemption. He's pursuing His plan. He's pursuing His people.

God is not content to leave us in the mess. He's been working, since the fall, to show us His grace is greater than our sin. And one day, He will make everything perfect—which is even better than good.

So when disaster strikes, when suffering overwhelms, when the brokenness of this world threatens to crush your joy—remember that this is a fallen world, but it’s also a world being redeemed. This is a broken world, but not a forgotten one. This is not the final chapter.

Respond: What broken situation in your life or in the world feels overwhelming today? Bring it to God and ask Him to help you see it through the lens of Scripture: fallen, yes—but it is being redeemed and it will be restored.

Prayer: Father, this world is so broken, and sometimes my heart breaks with it. Thank You that You haven't abandoned us in the mess. Thank You that You're working out Your plan of redemption, that Jesus has crushed Satan's head, and that one day You will make all things new. Until then, give me hope to endure and joy to rejoice even in this fallen world, because Jesus will have the victory. So, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 20, 2026

"Everything written in the past was written for us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." – Romans 15:4

A father stands in his kitchen early in the morning, pouring milk into his daughter's cereal bowl. And he thinks: "What's my job as a Christian parent?" The answer: Just as I'm filling up this bowl with milk, my goal is to fill up her heart with love for Jesus.

Because if her heart is full of love for her Savior, she cannot be more safe or more strong spiritually.

This isn't just true for children. It's true for every child of God. When hearts are full of love for Jesus, we cannot be more safe or more strong.

This is why we keep unfolding the beauty of God's grace throughout all of the Bible—not to earn brownie points with God, not to bribe Him with good behavior, but because the gospel of God’s goodness is fuel for our souls. When we see how great God's love is for us, how unrelenting His pardon, how He provides for people who can't provide for themselves—our hearts respond with love.

And when God says, "Will you walk with Me?" our hearts can only say, "Yes! How could I not walk with You when I've seen how beautiful and good You are?"

Respond: Who in your life needs their heart filled with love for Jesus today? A child? A spouse? A friend? A coworker? How can you point them to the beauty of Christ's love?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of Your love. Help me fill others' hearts with the gospel—not just with rules and obligations, but with the stunning beauty of Your grace for people like me. Use me to point people to You, that they might be as safe and strong as possible because of the love that you have for them. Despite our sin and weakness, you have provided grace. In this reality, we know we are safe, secure and made strong for your purposes. Teach me this everyday. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 16, 2026

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." – Romans 3:23

Here's what we learn when we put on our gospel glasses and read all of Scripture: We are fallen creatures in a fallen world. Our whole nature is undone—physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. Everything is broken in every dimension.

This isn't just about being a little flawed or needing some improvement. The Bible is clear: we are not our own redeemers. We cannot make a way out of this mess of the world we are in and the world we make.

For 1,500 years, God demonstrated this to His people. He says, “Pick the strongest, handsomest king.” That doesn’t work to redeem God’s people. “Send prophets to instruct the kings.” The people kill the prophets. “Establish a priesthood and sacrifices.” The priests steal the sacrifices. “Give the law.” Does that help? No, the people don't obey the law.

Over and over, God says: "You need a better king, a better prophet, a better priest, a better sacrifice, a better law-keeper." It’s not your strength, cleverness, or your best effort that makes you right with God. You need someone else.

This isn't depressing news—it's liberating news. Because once you stop trying to be your own savior, you're finally ready to receive the Savior God has been providing all along.

Respond: What area of your life are you still trying to fix on your own? What sin, struggle, or situation are you treating as if you're strong enough, clever enough, or good enough to handle it by yourself? Today, admit: "I am not my own redeemer. I need Jesus."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess I keep trying to save myself. I act like I'm strong enough, wise enough, good enough to fix my own mess. Forgive me. Thank You that You came to be the Redeemer I desperately need. Help me rest in Your finished work, not my failing efforts. In Your name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 15, 2026

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." – Genesis 3:15

At the battlefield of Waterloo, where Napoleon once was defeated by the armies of Europe, there's a massive earthen mound with an observation deck on top. From that vantage point, you can see the entire battlefield—where the infantry met, where the cavalry waited, where the artillery was positioned. Every piece of the battle makes sense when you see it from above.

Genesis 3:15 is the observation deck over the rest of Scripture. It's the first gospel promise, right in the middle of humanity's greatest mess. God looks at fallen creation and fallen creatures and says, "This is not the end of the story. One will come from the woman's offspring. He will crush the serpent's head, though Satan will wound His heel."

This is the promise that helps everything else make sense. From this vantage point, you can look across all of Scripture and see God's unfolding plan of redemption. Creation—everything is good. Fall—everything is broken. Redemption—God is pursuing His plan to restore. Consummation—God makes everything right.

Between the fall and the final consummation, when everything is restored and made better, God spends the entire Bible showing us that we need a Redeemer. Kings don't work. Prophets get killed. Priests fail. Sacrifices aren't enough. The law can't be kept. For 1,500 years, God keeps signaling: "Not this, not this, not this—but THIS." So when Jesus comes, we know who He is and what He must do.

Respond: When you read Scripture, are you looking for random moral tales, or are you standing on the observation deck seeing God's unfolding grace? Today, read one complete Bible story with your "gospel glasses" on, Ask the question, "What in this text is God revealing about Himself, and what am I learning about my need for a Redeemer?" We should pray in the reality that God is using the whole of scripture to reveal our need of Him, and his provision of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, thank You for not leaving us in the mess of Genesis 3. From the very beginning, You promised a Redeemer. Help me see all of Scripture as Your relentless pursuit of Your people. Give me gospel glasses to see Your grace unfolding in every passage. I pray this In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 14, 2026

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." – 1 Corinthians 15:49

We are all "glorious ruins." Like ancient Roman colonnades covered in vines—still beautiful, but clearly damaged. God looks at humanity in our fallen, broken state and says, "You’re not a mistake. You are mine" He says, "You are made in my image. There may be much ruined in you and about you, but you are still glorious to me. "

This is a most profound truth? Damage does not mean done.

Your psychological struggles don't disqualify you. Your aging body doesn't diminish your worth. Your past sins don't erase God's image in you. The ways you've been hurt or broken don't make you disposable. You are still precious to God.

Why? Because God's image in you is indestructible. It cannot be erased by sin, diminished by disability, or destroyed by disease. And more than that, you are destined for glorious restoration.

The Bible promises that when Christ returns, "we shall be like Him." What you shall be has not yet been fully revealed, but this we know: you will bear the image of the man of heaven. Perfect. Redeemed. Restored. Whole.

So when you look at yourself with all your damage and difficulty, remember: this is not the final chapter. There is glory to come. For a glorious ruin like me and you, that is a wonderful assurance.

Respond: What part of your life feels like a ruin right now? Your health? Your mind? Your relationships? Your past? Bring it to God and hear Him say: "You're mine. Damage does not mean done. I have a plan for your glorious restoration. You are made in my image and I will perfect that in you, in my time."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing me as a glorious ruin—broken but beautiful, damaged but destined for restoration. When I despair over what's been lost or broken in my life, remind me that You are not finished with me. You're making all things new, and that includes me. Help me live with hope until Jesus returns. I pray this is His name, Amen.