Through The Bible in a Year - May 22, 2026

"You have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction... you show partiality in your instruction... I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless." - Malachi 2:8-9; 3:5

The priests of Israel had a problem: they were cherry-picking God's law. They'd bless the rich and oppress the poor. They'd overlook sin in their friends and condemn it in strangers. They'd enforce laws they liked and ignore laws they didn't.

By their actions, they implied, "You need to keep all of God's law... unless you're rich. You need to keep all of God's law... unless you're related to me."

The result? People learned to cherry-pick their way through God’s standards: "I like that one. I don't like that one." Partial obedience was their pattern. Selective righteousness was theirpractice. Convenient holiness their habit.

Even the world recognizes such hypocrisy.

A recent example: A young woman on a reality TV show claimed to be a Christian while sleeping with multiple men on the show. When confronted, she responded with an obscene gesture and said, "Jesus still loves me." On the show and in social media everyone scoffed at her supposed faith.

Honoring God in one area while blatantly disobeying in another isn't honoring God at all. Even the world recognizes that hypocrisy.

We're all tempted to cherry-pick. We want to follow God where it's comfortable and ignore Him where it's costly.

We say we follow Jesus, but we hold onto bitterness. We claim to love God, but we ignore the poor. We talk about holiness, but we entertain ourselves with content that glorifies sin. We sing about surrender on Sunday but are tempted to live for ourselves Monday through Saturday.

Cherry-picking says: "I'll honor God here, but not over here." But that's not really honoring God in your heart at any time. God wants our integrity. That means no areas of our lives are marked "off-limits" to His lordship.

Respond: Where are you cherry-picking God's commands? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas where you've been saying, "I'll obey God here, but not there." Don't rationalize. Don't excuse. Don't compare yourself to others who are "worse." Confess where you have knowingly stepped aside from God’s standards. Then, repent by asking God to give you integrity—a whole heart that honors Him in all areas, not just the convenient ones.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart. Where have I been cherry-picking Your commands? Where have I honored You in convenient areas while disobeying in challenging ones? I don't want to be a hypocrite. I want integrity—a heart fully devoted to You. Show me where I've been partial in my obedience. Give me the courage to change. Make me genuine, inside and out. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 21, 2026

"By offering polluted food upon my altar... When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil?... Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." -Malachi 1:7-10; 3:10

God had delivered Israel from slavery. He'd walked with them through the wilderness. He'd given them the Promised Land. And how did they show their gratitude? They gave Him their garbage.

The law required lambs without blemish—what was precious and treasured offered in gratitudeto God. Instead, these people brought blind and lame animals, rotten fruit, spoiled food. Animals they didn't want. Offerings that cost them nothing.

They were making God into a Goodwill store—a place to dump what you don't want.

God's response: "This is strange gratitude. I've delivered you, walked with you, took care of you, and your thanks is to give me spoiled, rotten garbage?"

We think we would never do that. But what are we really giving God?

Do we give Him our leftover time—praying only five minutes before bed when we're too exhausted to stay awake? Do we give Him leftover money—whatever happens to be in our wallet after we've bought everything we want? Do we give Him leftover energy—serving only when it's convenient and doesn't strain us at all?

God isn't asking for you to compensate him for his grace. He is asking for you to rejoice in His purposes and do what you can to aid them. When you give from your heart—what is dear to you, what you believe will be dear to God —you're uniting your heart to His in love for his purposesand in dependence upon his provision.

And here's the beautiful promise of Malachi 3:10: "Test me in this," God says. "You give what is dear to you, uniting your heart to mine, and I will come into your life and provide what is best for your future."

This isn't the prosperity gospel. God isn't promising to make you rich. He's promising something better. He says, "I will work above all of creation to pour from heaven what is best for those who love me, who are depending upon me. I will provide what you need—for your heart, for eternity."

Respond: Take an honest inventory this week:

• Time: Am I giving God my best hours or my exhausted leftovers?

• Money: Am I giving generously from what I have, or just what I don't miss?

• Energy: Am I serving with joy or just when it's convenient?

God doesn't want your trash. He wants your heart. And when you give from your heart, you discover something wonderful: joy in giving. Not obligation, not duty—joy.

Prayer: Father, I confess it’s easy to offer you only my exhausted time, my spare change, my leftover energy. Forgive me for treating You like a Goodwill store, giving You only what I don't want. I want to give from my heart, to unite my heart with Yours in love and dependence. Show me what You're asking me to give—time, money, service. Help me give joyfully, knowing You will provide everything I truly need. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 20, 2026

"The people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away." -Ezra 3:13

The mixed sound of weeping and rejoicing—honest pain and genuine praise combined—went out from that humble construction site of the new temple "and the sound was heard far away."

This is the reverberating power of the gospel. Not people pretending everything is fine. Not people denying the real world, real hurt, real sin. But people who acknowledge it all and simultaneously declare: "Our God is good, for His mercy endures long beyond sin, pain, and trial. Because of such love, we trust Him. We turn to Him. We seek Him."

When other people hear such honest praise from God’s people—that honest mixture of tears and praise—they listen.

A young woman named Mary texted three friends when she realized she'd lost her way to God. She wrote, "I am doubting my faith, and I do not know the way back."

Why did she text those three friends? "They were not randomly chosen. They were friends who had previously shared their own struggles with faith and obedience. They were people who knew tears, and they knew how to rejoice in God at the same time. They'd been on the path Mary was now walking. Their honesty about their paths made their words worth listening to."

The people worth listening to are the ones who don't pretend.

When your worship is real—when it holds honest weeping and genuine rejoicing together—it creates a sound that travels far. It reaches people who are drowning in their own failures, despairing in the ruins of their own making, and wondering if there's any hope.

Such people don't need to hear – and can’t hear – from those who have perfect lives. Such people need to hear from those who have stood amidst ruins and known God's grace in the midst of it.

Mary wrote about what she learned from the hope she gained from honest friends: "I share my story now in order to shatter my own self-crafted image as a poster child for the Christian community. I am a sinner, ransomed and redeemed, lost and found. My story is all about a great God who knows who I am and still sent His Son for me, who knows my sin, but whose grace is sweeter and whose mercy is free."

That testimony—"I am the sinner, ransomed and redeemed"—is the sound that travels far into souls in need. Mary was healed by that testimony, and others will be helped by the same from us.

Respond: Who needs to hear your sound of honest worship—your mixture of tears and praise?

Who in your life is standing in the ruins, wondering if God could possibly still care? Who has wandered far and doesn't know the way back? Who thinks they're the only one who has messed up this badly? They don't need to hear about your perfection. They need to hear about God's grace in your imperfection.

You don't have to be perfect to have a healing testimony. You just have to be honest about where you've been and how God’s grace remained no matter how far you wandered.

The mixed sound of weeping and rejoicing together—that's the sound that travels far. That's the testimony that changes lives.

Prayer: Father, thank You that my story doesn't have to be perfect to be useful. Thank You that You can use even the ruins of my past to display Your grace. Help me to be honest about where I've been and who You are. Give me opportunities to share my testimony—the tears and the praise together—with someone who needs to hear it. Let the sound of Your grace in my life travel far. Use my story to help others find their way back to You. However many steps they've taken away, help them know you never took one step away from them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 19, 2026

"All the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD... But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice... so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping." - Ezra 3:11-13

The foundation was laid. The trumpets sounded. The people sang: "God is good! His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel!"

Then, some people shouted for joy, but some people wept. The old men who remembered Solomon's golden temple looked at this humble foundation and wept. It didn't measure up. It would never be what it was. The glory days were gone.

But the young people who had never seen the old temple rejoiced. God was doing something! He was providing a new beginning! A future!

The sound went out so mixed—weeping and rejoicing together—that you couldn't tell them apart. The mixture was not a failure of worship. It was honest worship, recognizing different aspects of how God had and would work.

Real worship by real people can hold both truths at once. We weep for the work of God that has been lost. We rejoice in the work that God is still doing. We grieve the consequences of sin. We celebrate the mercy of God. We acknowledge the ruin of the moment. We declare the steadfast love of the Lord that endures forever.

This is the nature of gospel worship. It's a lot like the death of saints: we grieve the loss and rejoice in the glory at the same time. And it's like the death of sin: we grieve what the sin has cost us while rejoicing in God's mercy and grace that still at work to advance God’s purposes in our lives.

Too often we think we have to choose: either be honest about the pain OR praise God. Either acknowledge past hurt OR declare God’s present goodness. The Israelites returning from exile show us a better form of worship: do both simultaneously.

Weep with passion for what your sin has cost, and shout with a great confidence that God is good and His love endures forever.

We don't need to hide our tears from God or from His people. We don't need to pretend everything is fine when it's not. Real worship happens when real people are unveiled before each other and God, acknowledging their pain while simultaneously singing God's praise.

Respond: Allow your expressions of worship to declare both realities: Say, "Lord, I weep for what my sin has cost me and others." But do not neglect to say, "AND Lord, I rejoice that You are good and Your steadfast love endures forever." Don't choose one or the other. Hold them together. Let your worship be honest—both the tears and the praise.

Pray that each of us and the leaders of our churches would realize that God’s people are most blessed where this kind of honest worship is welcomed. Where people don't need to pretend. Where you can weep and rejoice at the same time. Where the sound of both together creates a testimony to God's grace that can rings so true that God must be worshiped for his steadfast love.

Prayer: Father, I don't want to pretend before You. I weep for [name your specific pain/loss/ruin]. The tears are real. The grief is real. AND I rejoice that You are good. You have not abandoned me. You are building my future. Both are true at once. Help me to worship You with this honest, mixed cry—weeping and rejoicing together. Use my honest worship as a testimony to others who need to know they don't have to choose between truth and praise because your steadfast love endures forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 18, 2026

"They gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians... And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets." - Ezra 3:7, 10

Standing in a field of rubble, what did the people do? They gave money to the masons and carpenters. They gave meals to those transporting supplies. They started laying stones for God’s temple.

These weren't grand, heroic gestures. They were small, practical acts of obedience. They couldn't rebuild Solomon's golden temple overnight. They couldn't undo 70 years of captivity in a brief season. They couldn't resurrect the dead or restore what was lost.

But they could hire some masons and carpenters. They could feed some workers. They could lay one stone, then another, then another.

And in doing so, they were building the world in which their future would thrive.

When you're standing in the ruins of your life, the gap between where you are and where you want to be can feel overwhelming. Your marriage may be so broken, the addiction is so powerful, the hurt is so deep, and the consequences are so severe – all hope seems foolish.

Yes, it is true that you can't fix it all today. You can't instantly undo all the tangles of past faults or failures. You can't make the future arrive immediately.

But you can take one small step of obedience. That’s what God’s people did when they were given opportunity to build upon past ruins. They invested in small, practical acts of obedience, trusting that God was building something greater than they could imagine.

Small acts of obedience won't solve everything today. But they're laying foundations. They're building the world in which God will work. They're investing in a future you can't yet see but God has promised.

Respond: What is one small, practical act of obedience you can take today? Consider one small step that says: "I believe God has a future for me, and I'm investing in it."

Maybe you can't sing praises from your heart yet—the devastation is too fresh, the pain too real. That's okay. Do what the Israelites did: declare a truth about God even if you can't feel it yet. Sing or pray from your heart: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” Then, take one small step of obedience. Just one. And tomorrow, take another. God is building your future through such steps of your faithfulness today.

Prayer: Father, I can't see how my future could possibly be greater than my past. The ruins are too real. The damage too severe. But You say the glory to come will be greater than the past. Help me believe that. Give me faith to take small steps of obedience today, trusting that You're building something I can't yet see. Use my steps of faith to build my future by your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 15, 2026

"When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD... they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, 'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.'" - Ezra 3:10-11

The people standing in the ruins couldn't "just get over it." They were walking through what looked like photographs of destroyed Middle East cities or tornado-ravaged American neighborhoods. Their families had been decimated. Their temple was rubble. The glory of Solomon's kingdom was gone.

And it was their own fault. Their idolatry had caused all of this.

If someone had told them to "just get over it" and "move on," they would have wanted to punch that person in the nose. How do you get over seeing your nation destroyed, your family decimated, your children enslaved—especially when you know your own sin caused it?

You don't get over such devastation by ignoring the pain – you can’t.

God did not invite his people to ignore or forget their pain, instead he invited these hurting people to start building again. To lay foundations. To act in faith. To sing praises while confessing honestly what had happened. To acknowledge their pain while declaring in word and action: "God is yet good and His steadfast love endures forever."

David Powlison, once helped rescue the Christian counseling movement with an article titled "You'll Never Get Over It." That doesn't sound like a very strong Christian message, but it's profoundly needed. Powlison's message to those who fear they will never get over past horrors was,  "You're right. You'll never get over it. This experience is now part of your life, part of the patchwork of your existence. But you don't need to be forever defined by it."

What does that mean?

It means making honest confession: "This is part of my life. This happened." And at the same moment saying: "But God, You are greater than that. The valley is real but you provide paths to higher ground. There is morning after the night."

God doesn't ask you to pretend the hurt never happened. He doesn't tell you to "just get over it." Instead, He invites you to acknowledge the pain while simultaneously building a future. To weep for what was lost while rejoicing in His steadfast love that endures forever.

Respond: What are you being told to "just get over"? What pain, betrayal, abuse, or loss keeps replaying in your mind like a flashback?

Stop pretending you should be "over it" by now. That's not how deep wounds work.

You don't have to deny the valley to believe in higher ground. You don't have to pretend the night never happened to trust that morning is coming.

This week, practice holding both truths at once: "This hurt is real" AND "God's love is greater." Don't let the past define your future or God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: Lord, I will never "get over" what happened. The pain is real. The betrayal is real. The loss is real. The consequences of sin—mine or others'—are real. I won't pretend otherwise. But I also won't let this define me forever. You are greater than my past. Your love endures longer than my pain. Help me to acknowledge the valley while believing in higher ground. Bring the morning, Lord. I trust You through the night. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 14, 2026

"Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem... Zerubbabel... and Jeshua... made a beginning." - Ezra 3:8

Three simple words buried in the middle of an architectural description: "made a beginning."

The people of God stood in the ruins of their homeland. Where millions once thrived, maybe 50,000 survivors returned—one in ten. Their families had been decimated by slavery, deprivations, and abuse. The golden temple of Solomon was rubble. Israel’s once-thriving cities lay in ruins. And the people of God knew whose fault it was: their own idolatry and sin had caused all of this.

Into this devastation—the consequence of their own rebellion—God spoke a word of incredible grace: "Begin again."

Not "You've ruined everything forever." Not "You've gone too far." Not "It's too late." Simply: "Begin again."

Reflect: A young woman named Mary was raised in the church, served as a missionary, led youth groups, and fell away from the faith. Small sins became habitual. Big sins began to appear. For two years she kept up the charade, "parading as a put-together Christian" while her life was falling apart.

One night she came home, sat on the floor, opened her Bible, and spoke from the mess of her life: "I do not know where to begin."

Maybe that's you today. You look at the ruins of your life—the broken marriage, the fractured family, the career trauma, the habitual sin, the addiction you've tried to quit a hundred times. You've messed up so badly. You've hurt people. You've saddened God. You wonder: "Can I really come back from this?"

God's answer is the same as it was to Israel: "Begin again."

Begin again with the marriage. Begin again with your children or grandchildren, even if you weren't a believer when you raised them. Begin again with the phone call, the letter, the apology you've been too ashamed to make. Begin again with Bible reading you stopped years ago. Begin again with the righteous habits you've abandoned. The first step back may be the hard but it is clear: Begin again.

Respond: What's stopping you? Is it shame? Embarrassment? The belief that you've gone too far? The fear that God has turned His back on you?

God is saying to you today what He said to Israel standing in the ruins: "Begin again. I am here. I will help you. We can start over."

Beginning again doesn't require you to have everything figured out. It just requires you to take the next right step and trust that God will walk with you into the future.

Prayer: Father, I stand in the ruins of [name your situation]. I have caused so much damage. I have hurt You and others. I am ashamed and embarrassed. But You are saying to me today: "Begin again." Give me the courage to take that first step. Help me believe that no matter how many steps I've taken away from You, it only takes one to get back with you. I'm taking that step now believing you will walk with me. I'm beginning again. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 13, 2026

"Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength... And all the people went their way to eat and drink and send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them." - Nehemiah 8:10-12

After the people wept over their sin, and after they grieved the devastation their idolatry had caused, the nation’s leaders gave a surprising command: "Stop mourning. Eat the fat. Drink the sweet wine. Send portions to those who have nothing. Rejoice!"

Why? Because "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

This declaration wasn't denial of the people’s sin or minimizing consequences. It was recognition of a greater reality: God was still speaking to His people. He hadn't abandoned them. His Word was proof of His continuing love and care. And that truth—that God was with the people despite everything they had done and experienced—was cause for celebration.

So, they feasted. They shared with others. They rejoiced greatly "because they had understood the words that were declared to them." Understanding God's Word brought joy. And that joy gave them strength for whatever they would face now or in the future.

God's Word is described as "meat and drink" for His people—a feast, not a punishment. When we take in the nutrients of Scripture, when we see not just the commands but the heart behind them, when we understand that every word reveals a God who pursues us and loves us and provides for us—our hearts begin to swell with joy.

Think about a friend of mine named Sherri, a special-needs woman who couldn't speak but would write furiously during church services. At the end of church, she'd hand me papers covered with the same phrase repeated over and over: "God is love. God is love. God is love." That simple truth sustained her, and her loved ones, through a lifetime of disability. What Sherri and her family knew is that her disability was not her final chapter. When she went to the Lord who loved her, she would gain the ability to speak and praise God eternally.

The joy of the Lord isn't dependent on earthly circumstances. It comes from knowing who God is, how He feels about us, and the future he has prepared for us. Such knowledge provides joy that is the strength that carries us through tragedy, confusion, temptation, and darkness.

Our culture is drowning in darkness—mass shootings, addictions, unprecedented suicide rates, isolation, confusion about basic truths of who we are. So many are overwhelmed by loneliness. Young and old alike feel immersed in violence, rage and hatred through social media. The darkness is real.

But Christians can still sing and pray, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. When I am afraid, feel I have lost my way, there You are right beside me. Whom will I fear as long as You are near? Please be with me to the end."

In response to such prayers, God still answers in His Word, from the first page to the last: "I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Respond: Whatever you face this week—tragedy, temptation, confusion, or just the ordinary challenges of life—let God's Word be your light. And let the joy of knowing He's with you and for you for all eternity be your strength.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word—not as a burden but as a feast, not as obligation but as invitation. Help me to hunger for Scripture, to find joy in knowing You, to be strengthened by the truth that You will never leave me. When darkness surrounds me, remind me that Your Word is light. When I feel weak, remind me that the joy of knowing You and your eternal care is my strength. Feed me this week from the richness of Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 12, 2026

"They read from the book, from the law of God clearly, and they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading... And all the people went their way... to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them." - Nehemiah 8:8, 12

A youth leader wanted to help teenagers understand that the Bible isn't just ancient words on a page—it's God speaking directly to them. So, the leader created an unusual exercise: one student sat blindfolded in the center of a circle while others held Bible verses. The student in the middle would share his or her struggles, and the others would respond by reading the Scripture they held, as if God Himself were speaking.

A new girl volunteered for the center of the circle. Her first words: "I am so miserable. I don't know if I can stand my life anymore."

Then, one of the teens read: "But God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation provide a way of escape so that you can stand up under it."

She responded angrily: "No one cares about me."

Another voice: "But I have loved you with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness I have called you."

Finally, the girl spoke with the greatest pain: "You don't understand. My parents kicked me out last night and said, ‘Never come back.’"

Then one on the outer circle read from God’s Word: "But I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you."

They removed the blindfold. The girl in the center was crying. Her question: "Why doesn't God really talk to me that way?"

The youth leader's answer: "He just did. That was His word to you. His very word."

This is what happened in Nehemiah 8. The people heard the Word of God clearly, they understood what it meant, and they grasped what it meant for them personally. And when they did, they rejoiced.

God really does speak through His Word. Not in mystical, subjective feelings, but in actual, concrete promises and truths. When you're afraid and read "Do not fear, for I am with you," that's God speaking directly to you. When you're lonely and read, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," that's not ancient history—that's God's voice in your ear today.

The problem is we often don't slow down enough to let God's Word sink in. We read quickly, checking it off our list, never pausing to hear what God is actually saying to us in our specific situation.

Respond: Try this exercise this week. Sit quietly and name your deepest struggle, fear, or pain out loud. Then open your Bible and read, listening for God to speak directly to that situation.

Here are some passages to consider:

• If you're afraid: Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 6:25-34

• If you're lonely: Psalm 27:10, Hebrews 13:5-6, Matthew 28:20

• If you're grieving: Psalm 34:18, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Revelation 21:4

• If you feel worthless: Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9

• If you've failed: 1 John 1:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Romans 8:1

Don't rush. Read slowly. Listen for God's voice in His Word. He really is speaking to you.

Prayer: Lord, I confess I often rush through Scripture without really listening. I read the words but don't hear Your voice. Slow me down this week. Help me understand that when I read Your Word, You are actually speaking to me—not only to people thousands of years ago, but also to me, right now, in my specific situation. Open my ears to hear. Open my heart to receive. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 11, 2026

"This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep. For all the people wept as they heard the words of the law." - Nehemiah 8:9

When the Israelites heard God's Word after decades of silence, they wept. These weren't tears of joy—they were tears of grief, conviction, and regret. They looked around at the ruins of their city, the brokenness of their families, the devastation caused by their idolatry, and they cried, "What have we done?"

They knew their earthly enemies weren’t the ultimate cause of their ruin—their sin was. Walking back into the Promised Land was like walking through photographs of cities destroyed by war orthrough tornado-ravaged neighborhoods. But worse than the physical destruction was the spiritual reality: they had walked away from the God who loved them.

Yet, in the midst of their mourning, the new leaders of Israel said something shocking: "Don't weep. This is a holy day. Rejoice."

Reflect: How could God ask them to rejoice in the middle of ruins? Because God's Word was itself love among the ruins. The very fact that God was still speaking to them—still teaching them, still calling them back—was proof that He hadn't abandoned them.

Many of us live in ruins of our own making. Families destroyed by neglect, abuse, adultery – all products of the idolatries of our hearts. We may live in relationships fractured by selfishness and pride, futures compromised by addiction or poor choices. We look at the devastation and ask, as did the Israelites, "What have I done?"

Yet, into such ruins, God still speaks. His Word comes not as condemnation but as invitation: "I am still here. I have not forgotten you. Here is the path back to wholeness. Here is My love in the midst of your ruin."

This is why Biblical conviction should lead to rejoicing. Yes, we grieve our sin. Yes, we recognize how we've hurt God and others. But the fact that God keeps pursuing us, keeps speaking to us, keeps showing us the way home—that is cause for celebration.

Respond: What ruins are you standing in today? What have you done—or what's been done to you—that has left devastation in its wake?

God's Word comes to you in that very place. Not to shame you further, but to show you love among the ruins. The God who gave His Word to broken, idolatrous Israel is the same God who speaks to you today.

You, too, can move from mourning to rejoicing? Not because the ruins aren't real, but because God's presence in them is even more real. He hasn't given up on you. He's still speaking. He's still showing you the way home.

Prayer: Father, I stand in the ruins of [name your situation]. I grieve what has been broken, what has been lost, what I have done. But I also rejoice that You are still here, still speaking, still pursuing me. Thank You, Lord, that Your Word comes not as condemnation but as love among my ruins. Help me hear Your voice calling me home. Restore what has been broken, redeem what has been lost. I trust You are still at work. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 8, 2026

"Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people... and as he opened it, all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, 'Amen, Amen,' lifting up their hands." - Nehemiah 8:5-6

Picture the scene: a devastated people standing in the ruins of their once-glorious city. They'd seen destruction like modern photographs of Syrian cities after war, or American neighborhoods after tornadoes. Their families were broken by slavery, abuse, and idolatry. Their leaders had been tortured and killed. Their children didn't know God's Word. The darkness was overwhelming.

And in the midst of that darkness, Ezra opened a Book.

The people stood—not out of religious ritual, but in recognition that God was speaking from his Word. They lifted their hands and said, "Amen, Amen"—"Yes, yes, let it be so." They were desperate for light, and God's Word was that lamp in the darkness.

We often sing "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," but do we really understand what that means? Sandra McCracken writes about living in an old house where the stairs take a tricky turn at the top—one stair too short, another too deep. In the darkness, she had to grip the handrails, but her husband provided more care: he's installed lighting to navigate the dangerous stairs.

That's what God's Word does. When life’s path veers at weird angles—when our explanations can’t handle what's happening, when our sin is too dark to think God would provide care—God has installed light on our stairs to Him. His Word isn't primarily a rule book; it's a love letter showing us the safe path home.

The Israelites must have wondered: "Does God still care about us after all we've done?" And God's answer was to give them His Word again. "I haven't forgotten you. Here is My voice. Here is the path that is good and safe and blessed. I am showing you light because I love you."

Respond: Where are you walking in darkness right now? What situation in your life feels confusing, overwhelming, or hopeless? Maybe it's a broken relationship, a moral decision, a financial crisis, or grief that won't lift.

God's Word speaks into that darkness. It's not a distant, impersonal rulebook—it's God saying, "I care enough to light your path. I love you enough to show you the way."

This week, bring your specific darkness to Scripture. Don't just read randomly—ask God to speak directly to your situation. Search for promises, for guidance, for hope. And when you find it, stand like the Israelites did and say, "Amen, Amen—yes, Lord, let it be so in my life."

Prayer: Lord, I am walking in darkness right now. [Name your specific situation]. I need Your light on this path. Thank You that Your Word isn't just rules to follow but light to guide me safely home. Help me to see Your love in Your commands, Your care in Your guidance, and speak to me through Scripture this week. I'm listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 7, 2026

"The Levites helped the people to understand the law... They read from the book, from the law of God clearly, and they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading." - Nehemiah 8:7-8

The people of God had returned from captivity to find their homeland in ruins. Families were fractured. The temple was destroyed. And tragically, an entire generation had grown up not knowing God's Word—they didn't even remember the language it was written in. Into this devastation, God sent teachers who didn't just read the Scripture but translated it, explained it, and helped people understand what it meant for their lives.

Notice the pattern: they read it clearly, they gave the sense (explained what it meant), and they helped people understand how to apply it. This wasn't about creating mindless rule-followers. This was about revealing and responding to God's heart.

Reflect: It's easy to reduce the Bible to a checklist: Don't do drugs. Don't sleep around. Don't cheat. Go to church. But if that's all Christianity is—a list to keep you on the "safe side" of God—then the Bible becomes nothing more than behavior management.

Paul Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, confessed he spent ten years "trying to convince kids to behave Christianly without Christ." Many young people today know the list and can recite the rules, but they're living far from God because they've never encountered His heart. They're "unsaved Christian kids"—raised in church, knowing the Bible stories, but thinking Christianity is just about maintaining traditional morals in the sight of other people.

God's Word is so much more. When the Israelites heard it after years of silence, they wept—not because they failed the checklist, but because they saw how far they'd wandered from the God who loved them. For them, the Scriptures revealed not just rules but a relationship, not just requirements but rescue.

Respond: Ask yourself honestly: Do I approach the Bible as a checklist or as a way of walking with God? Am I reading to confirm how well I'm doing, or to encounter the heart of the One who created me?

Think about Leah Sharibu, the 16-year-old Nigerian girl who remained so long in Boko Haram captivity because she refused to deny Christ. She was simply not keeping the rules of a list—she was responding in loving loyalty to her Savior. What would it take for your faith to move from list-management to love-motivated devotion?

This week, as you read Scripture, look for God's heart, not just His commands. Ask: "What does this reveal about who God is and how He cares for me?"

Prayer: Father, forgive me for reducing Your Word to a checklist. I confess I've often read the Bible to confirm my performance rather than to encounter Your heart. Open my eyes to see not just what You command, but who You are—a God who pursues me even when I wander, who speaks even when I've stopped listening, who loves me beyond my deserving. Let my obedience flow from true love, not begrudging obligation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 6, 2026

“The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” – Daniel 7:27

When the Ancient of Days takes His seat in the royal court of judgement described by Daniel, there’s not just one throne brought as a seat for the judge. Thrones—plural—are placed in the courtroom. Who’s going to sit on all those thrones?

Daniel answers, “The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. Their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them” (7:27).

According to the Apostle Paul, right now, we are co-laborers with Christ, making the beauty and blessings of his heart known throughout this creation. Yet, according to Daniel, In the new creation, we will be co-rulers with Christ.

His purity, His righteousness, His love and forgiveness will extend to all kingdoms of humanity, across all ethnicities, across all languages, across all borders. From every tribe, language, people, and nation, God’s people will gather around the throne and say, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive glory and honor and praise… because with His blood He purchased men for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

What is the future role of all of those people? They will be expressing Christ’s love, justice, and righteousness throughout the Kingdom of God. So, when we express love, justice and mercy in this life, we are practicing now for our eternal rule. In eternity, God will use us to administer the blessings and power of Christ for all people.

So, for now we encourage translation of the Bible’s message into multiple languages. We invite people across neighborhoods and schools to hear about Jesus. We love the unlovely. We invite widows, orphans, and outcasts to our dinner tables. We say to those who think they don’t belong: “When I was a sinner, He saved me.”  We represent Christ everywhere we go.”

These responsibilities aren’t just for missionaries. Every Christian is preparing to co-rule the new creation. We express Christ’s heart to those easy and hard to love, to those who may not deserve it, and even to those of whom our culture says, “You may not love them.”

Respond: Are you practicing now for eternal rule? How are you expressing Christ’s love across boundaries? Who is God calling you to reach that your culture says to avoid? What resentment or prejudice is God calling you to conquer? How will you practice today for what you’ll do in eternity?

Prayer: Lord, I will co-rule with You in the new creation. That’s staggering. And terrifying. And wonderful. Help me practice now. Help me express Your nature, name, power, and goodness to all people. Break down my prejudices. Expand my heart beyond my resentments. Use me as an ambassador to tell the world: “Our God reigns. He even conquered the evil of my heart. And He is so great and so good that he is preparing me to rule in his Kingdom with Christ’s heart when Jesus comes back.” Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 5, 2026

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11

Paul takes the imagery of physical slavery that God’s people – like Daniel and his countrymen – had repeatedly experienced and uses that pain to explain the blessings of gospel. He says to those in the church at Corinth (and to us), “You were once slaves to sin. But now you have been set free.”

To drive home the point, Paul lists those who will not experience the blessings of Christ’s kingdom because they are still enslaved to different types of sin: those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, thieves, greedy, addicted, critics.

Then, Paul makes this stunning statement to those in the church who are reading his letter about all these terrible sinners: “And such were some of you.”

Not “such are some of those people out there.” Such were some of YOU. Those of you in the church. Those of you reading this letter.

But Paul isn’t done. He adds, “But you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Why does the apostle give first an awful and then, a beautiful reminder of our past and present status before God? So that those of us who are forgiven, cleansed, and set free, would not think of ourselves as too good to care for those who are still struggling with or enslaved by evil. We represent Christ’s heart for sinners in the way we speak, act, and live. It is our calling.

I once went with my mother to visit my brother in prison. Even at 88-years-old, she had to lean against a chain-link fence in the Mississippi sun and be frisked. Once she was allowed into the prison, she made her way to my brother’s quarters, but along the way she used her nursing skills to take the pulse of a prisoner feeling faint. She used her “moma” skills to speak encouragement to others, asking about their children and grandchildren.

My mother went to visit her troubled son, but one of other prisoners said to her, “We’re all your sons, aren’t we?” And, I had to recognize, if they’re all her sons, then they are all my brothers.” My mind may recoil, “No, they’re criminals.” My Bible replies, “Such were some of you. Only by the grace of God, have we been saved.”

Respond: Who are you dismissing as beyond God’s reach? Who have you written off as too far gone to warrant your care or witness? When the Bible speaks of great sinners and says to Christians, “Such were some of you”? How does that change how you see others? How you treat them? How you pray for them?

Prayer: Lord, you died for the sexually immoral, greedy, idolators, thieves, drunkards and worse. Such was I before a holy God claimed me. But I was washed, sanctified, justified. Not because I deserved it, but because of Your grace in Christ. Help me see others the way You saw me—not as they are, but as they could be by Your transforming power. Make me an ambassador for Christ by helping me remember who I was and who I am because of your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 4, 2026

“Love the sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” – Deuteronomy 10:19

When we are studying the writings of Daniel, we cannot help but remember that his time was not the first time God’s people had been forced from their homeland and enslaved by evil. Over and over in Scripture, God’s people are oppressed, displaced, and made captives, slaves, or wanderers in foreign lands. Yet, despite the hardships – so often caused by their own sin – God maintained his promises to them even in their state of distress? What are we supposed to do with that?

The Bible is clear: Have empathy for people in like condition.

Deuteronomy 10:19 says, “Love the sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt yourselves.”

Similarly, we read in Leviticus 19:33-34, “When foreigners reside among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner you must treat as native-born. Love them as yourselves, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

It’s one aspect of the golden rule: Treat others as you would wish to be treated were you in their condition.

We are living in a time of the greatest displacement of people in the history of the world. As the church tries to find its way through political, economic, and charitable responses, we cannot ignore Scripture. The Bible says to the Old Testament people of Israel, “God executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”

This isn’t political correctness. This isn’t blind progressiveness. It is a calling to deal responsibly and compassionately with the needs of others so that God’s character would be known through us. Most of us are not in positions of power to determine how best to deal with national crises of poverty and persecution in our era, but we can urge those who are to have priorities that are Christ’s. This is the way that the Lord shows his heart to the world through his people.

There are clearly difficult matters to balance regarding what a nation can bear and what suffering we can responsibly relieve. But willing blindness to suffering is not a Christian choice. A nation without a border cannot survive, but a nation without a heart cannot honor Christ.

We believe Jesus Christ is King over all peoples. And the way people will recognize that reality is if there’s something different about the priorities of his people in all nations.

Respond: Who are the sojourners in your life? The foreigners? The displaced? How is the grace of Christ you have received being expressed in your dealings with them? Despite what political, economic, or ethnic pressures may be upon you? What is God calling you to do, or say, or pray for the sake of those that Christ loves as much as he loves you?

Prayer: Lord, spiritually I was once a sojourner—a foreigner to Your covenant, a refugee from Your presence, enslaved to sin. But You loved me. You claimed me. You provided for me when I couldn’t provide for myself. Help me love the way You loved me. Show me how I can express such love to others for Christ’s sake. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - May 1, 2026

“Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.” – Daniel 7:13

After seeing all the beasts representing the successive kingdoms of ancient humanity, Daniel sees something different.

“There came one like a son of man.” In Hebrew, “man” is just “Adam.” There came one like a son of Adam. Like us. But not quite the same.

How is he different? He comes on the clouds of heaven. He’s like us but also bearing unmistakable signs of divine origin. He shows himself to Daniel in clouds of power and glory as he appeared at Sinai, at the Resurrection, and at the Ascension after his Resurrection form the dead.

These marks of divine origin are not entirely past. Jesus, before His crucifixion, told His disciples: “The Son of Man shall come again in clouds, in power and great glory.” Jesus told us what will happen in the future, but he is not the first to tell us.

Centuries before Christ’s birth, Daniel would say to God’s people: “This is what’s going to happen. You’re in captivity now. You’re in this jail of Babylon. But that’s not the end of the story. Your God, who is so great, is going to come after all the kings and kingdoms of humanity and, though, he will appear to be like you in many ways, he will overcome all the evil powers of the earth, because he is of divine origin.

Daniel foresaw that the future of this One who is like us but divine: “To him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

The kingdom of the one who is like us, but divine, will be universal (for all peoples, not just Abraham’s descendants) and eternal (never destroyed, never put aside).

By showing these truths of the coming Messiah, God is saying through Daniel: “I will provide through My Son—this one who’s like you but of heavenly origin—a universal and eternal kingdom. As I promised David, as I promised Moses, as I promised Noah, as I promised Adam and Eve. I will be faithful to rescue my people from the evil of this world.”

Respond: We are meant to see Jesus in this prophecy. One like us—fully human—but of divine origin—fully God. We are meant to find hope and courage in God’s promise of ultimately overcoming the evil of our world with the triumph of Christ’s kingdom. His rule will be universal—not limited by ethnicity or nationality. His kingdom will be unending—never destroyed, never passing away. So, how does knowing Jesus is this Son of Man, who is like us and who is also the divine and coming King, change how you face today? It should make you able to pray to your Heavenly Father, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,” with confidence that no danger, disappointment, or evil will undo God’s eternal plan for you. The One who came to this earth like you in order to save you is divine. He has the power to save you eternally from all evil—and he will.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Son of Man. Like us—fully human, You entered and understand our struggles. But you are also of divine origin—fully God. You have all power and authority. Your kingdom is universal and eternal. You reign over all peoples, nations, languages. Your dominion will never pass away and no evil will thwart your purposes. I trust You because You are My Savior and my eternal King. Thank you for helping me and holding me by the eternal power of your Kingdom. Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - April 30, 2026

“The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened… The beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.” – Daniel 7:10-11

Daniel wrote from a Babylonian jail. He and his people—slaves in captivity, refugees—had spent two generations in bondage. Everything seemed hopeless.

But Daniel had a vision. He saw four beasts rising from a churning sea: a lion with eagle’s wings (representing, Babylon), a bear devouring much flesh (Persia), a leopard with four wings (Greece under Alexander the Great), and a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, exceedingly strong, with iron teeth (Rome).

Each beast represented a kingdom more powerful and cruel than the last. Each lasting centuries. God’s people must have wondered: Will there ever be relief?

The answer is in Daniel’s vision. He describes it this way: “Thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat.” God—with hair white as snow (representing ancient wisdom), clothing pure white (reflecting perfect righteousness), a throne of fiery flames (showing unstoppable power)—enters the royal courtroom.

The court sits in judgment. The record books are opened. And the cruelest beast that has been speaking arrogant things, representing the evil and oppression that has come against God’s people—is killed, destroyed, and burned with fire.

This was the message of hope to captives in Daniel’s day, but it remains the hope of all who suffer until Christ comes: As awful as our circumstances may be, we can rest assured that though evil may have its day, God will have the final say.

Our God is so great. He is above and beyond all that challenges, discourages, and opposes his purposes in our lives. He will have the final word.

Respond: What evil in your life feels like it’s winning? What injustice seems unstoppable? What oppression appears permanent? Today, hear Daniel’s message from whatever captivity of mind or heart you are experiencing: Evil may have its day. God will have the final say. The Ancient of Days will be the final judge. His perfect record books will be opened. Justice will finally triumph. God’s purposes will prevail.

Prayer: Lord, evil seems to be winning. Injustice is everywhere. The powerful oppress the weak. The wicked prosper. But You are the Ancient of Days. You have seen kingdoms rise and fall. Nothing surprises You. Nothing perplexes You. You sit in judgment over all the affairs and actions of our world. The books of truth will be opened. You will judge justly. Evil may have its day, but You will have the final say. Help me trust that. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - April 29, 2026

"Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness…" - Daniel 9:24

As a consequence of its sin, Israel had endured 70 years of exile — 70 years of ruin, shame, and displacement. It must have felt, at times, as though God had forgotten his people entirely. But now God speaks through His angel with a staggering promise: the rescue will be 70 times greater than the ruin. Not just restoration, but everlasting righteousness. Not just return from captivity, but the atoning work of a Savior who would end transgression itself.

This is such a beautiful and important gospel truth: the rescue is greater than the ruin. God’s rescue is always greater than our ruin. That is one of the great themes of the Bible — and one of the hardest things to believe when you are standing in the middle of the ruin. Still, the ruin that is a consequence of our sin will never outweigh or be too much for the grace that is greater than all our sin. The earthly consequences may remain great, but the spiritual blessings and eternal provisions are far greater.

Perhaps you are amidst the ruins now. A broken relationship, a season of loss, a faith that disaster has made that feel threadbare. The ruins around you may seem permanent and overwhelming. But the message of Daniel 9 — and ultimately the message of the gospel — is that God is a God of disproportionate redemption. He does not merely patch what is broken. He makes all things new. Whatever devastation you are walking through, do not give up hope. When you humbly ask God’s help, his rescue will come, and it will be greater than the ruin.

PRAYER: Father, some days the ruins feel very real and the rescue feels very far away. In those moments, anchor my heart in Your promise. You are a God who does not just restore — You redeem, and You make things more beautiful than they were before. Give me the faith of Daniel, who could count the years of ruin and still believe in the vastness of Your rescue. Let me not forget that this is my Father's world, and You are the Ruler yet. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - April 28, 2026

"At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved." - Daniel 9:23

Daniel had not even finished praying when the angel Gabriel arrived with God's answer. The heavenly messenger had been dispatched at the very beginning of Daniel's prayer. Before the words were done, God was already moving to inform Daniel how greatly he was loved.

That is the speed of divine mercy! Before we can even finish wording our request – before we can even figure if our request is what is best, God is answering as he knows is best.

We are often tempted to believe that God's mercy is slow — that He waits to answer until we have prayed long enough, suffered enough, or proven our sincerity enough. But Daniel's experience tells a different story. "At the beginning of your pleas," the angel says, “a word went out” in heaven to bring you comfort. God did not wait until Daniel got his words right, or his attitude right, or his petitions perfect. God did not make Daniel earn a hearing. He simply responded — swiftly, surely, and with the tender word: "you are greatly loved."

Before a word is on your lips, God knows it altogether (Ps. 139:4). Even before you call out to Him, He is answering (Is. 65:24). He is not distant or reluctant to help. He is a Father who runs to meet His returning child while the child is still a long way off. When you cry out to God today, know this: the answer is already on its way.

PRAYER: Lord, I confess that I sometimes wonder if You are listening — if my prayers are going anywhere at all. Remind me today of the speed of Your mercy. Even before I finish asking, You are already acting. Help me to pray with confidence, not because I have earned a hearing, but because You are a God who is swift to love and slow to turn away. Thank You that I am greatly loved. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - April 27, 2026

"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." - Daniel 9:19

Daniel's prayer is not a private transaction between one man and his God. It is a sweeping, corporate cry on behalf of an entire people. He prays for the city. He prays for the nation. He prays that God would act — not merely for his personal good, but for the glory of God's name and the good of God's people.

If we are not thinking according to God’s priorities our faith can quietly become a private party. We go to God to provide for my needs, bless my family, and smooth my path. I need to be clear, there is nothing wrong with personal prayer. But Daniel calls us to a wider vision and a greater purpose — to understanding that each believer is part of a body of faith, and each is most healthy and happy when the body is healthy, too.

When we genuinely believe that our spiritual health and happiness are affected by how others experience the mercy of God, it changes how we pray. We begin to carry others. We pray for the struggling church member, for the prodigal child, for the community around us. We become instruments of God's mercy rather than simply recipients of it. The boundary of "me" begins to dissolve, and we discover that our lives have greater meaning and purpose as God does His most expansive work through us.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for the smallness of my prayers. I confess that I so often come to You only with my own list. Enlarge my heart today. Teach me to pray for my church, for my community, for those around me who are desolate and in need of Your mercy. Let the boundary of "me" fall away, and let me become someone who carries others to You in prayer. For Your glory and for their good. In Jesus' name, Amen.