Through The Bible in a Year - July 2, 2026

"Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me... This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."'" - Matthew 21:1-5

Five hundred years before Palm Sunday, the prophet Zechariah wrote that Israel's Savior king would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey—not just any donkey, but specifically the unridden foal of a donkey. That level of precision across five centuries is staggering.

To place it in a similar time perspective: it would be like Columbus predicting the Cubs would win the World Series. The prediction would have seemed preposterous at the time it was given. Israel was in captivity when Zechariah wrote his prophecy. God’s people were wondering if they'd ever return to Jerusalem, let alone see their king arrive in such a specific way.

But God was working over time, in detail, across centuries. Jesus didn't just fulfill the general prediction—He fulfilled the specific one. The exact village. The exact donkey. The exact reaction of the owner. He even predicted what His disciples would say and how the owner would respond.

Jesus is the prophet who knows in detail, across time, exactly what is coming—and He fulfills the prophecies about his ministry perfectly.

The same God who knew five centuries in advance the specific donkey on which His Son would ride into Jerusalem knows the specific details of your life today.

I think of the importance of such knowledge to someone like my youngest daughter. When she graduated from college, she did not know what job, location, friends, or spouse might be in her future. That caused a lot of anxiety. Yet, the message from this passage is that God is saying to her (and to us): "I know in detail beyond your time frame the plans that I have for you. I love you and am preparing the future for you. I won't be surprised. I know the details and will provide what is best for your eternity."

God's precision with the details of Palm Sunday is His message about the details of your life. He is not a distant deity who set the universe in motion and walked away. He is the God who knew which unridden colt would be tied in which village on which day—and He knows every detail of what you're facing right now.

Respond: What details of your life feel too uncertain, too complicated, too small for God to care about? A career decision, a relationship, a health concern, a family tension, a financial worry?

God's mastery of prophetic detail provides His credentials for your trust. If He could predict the unridden foal of a donkey five centuries in advance, He knows and can handle your future.

This week, consider your three biggest uncertainties. Then pray over each one: "Lord, You are the God who fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy in exact detail. You know the details of my life too. I trust You with these. Give me confidence in your wisdom and care for things I cannot know but that are plain to you already." Then, keep that list up to date, and trust the God of prophetic detail with the specifics of your life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus as the prophet who fulfills prophecy in exact detail, down to the specific donkey in the specific village at just the right time. That same precision of future wisdom applies to my life. You are not overwhelmed by my uncertainties. You are not surprised by my circumstances. You know the details. I bring You the specific things I'm facing right now with confidence that they are in your knowing hands. Give me the peace and confidence that comes from trusting the God of prophetic detail with the specifics of my uncertain life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - July 1, 2026

"And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water... And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly." - Matthew 17:14-18

Jesus and his disciples came down from the mountain of Transfiguration—from blazing glory, from Moses and Elijah, from the voice of God—and walked straight into a father's desperate grief.

"Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and he suffers terribly. He falls into fire and water. I can't fix this."

There was no gradual transition from the transcendent to the urgent. One moment: the overwhelming glory of the Transfiguration. The next moment: a desperate father and a suffering child in the valley.

The jarring transitions were not an impediment to Jesus’s heart. He healed the boy instantly.

The God of the mountain is also the God of the valley.

I once rafted the length of the Grand Canyon. We started the journey hiking down from the rim of the canyon. The view from the rim was staggering—a chasm 20 miles wide, a mile deep, with red rock blazing in low humidity clarity. Then we got to the river at the bottom of the canyon and began to raft, discovering other staggering realities. When our raft reached Lava Falls, we faced 30-foot waves, a dogleg turn that could plaster you against a rock wall, and fear. Suddenly, the God of the rim wasn't enough. We needed the God of the raft. The one who would be present in this specific set of rapids, in this specific danger, and at this specific time – right now.

This is why the Transfiguration matters for everyday life. The mountain view, with its revelation of God’s incredible plan, persevering grace, and overwhelming glory—isn't just for our meditation from the spiritual heights of a comfortable Sunday. It's the foundation for surviving Monday, and the rough waters of all the days that follow.

Once you know the God of the rim, you can trust the God of the raft.

When you've seen God orchestrate thousands of years of history to put Moses and Elijah on a mountain beside His transfigured Son—when you know that plan was written before the foundation of the world and includes you specifically—then when your fears come, when the rapids hit, when the waves threaten to take your faith underwater, then you can still trust and hold onto the One who is both on the canyon rim and in the raft with you.

You're not calling to a distant deity who set things in motion and walked away. You're calling to the God who touched three terrified disciples with the encouragement to "Rise. Have no fear." You are also calling to the God who came down from the mountain to comfort a despairing father and heal a desperate child.

Jesus came down from the mountain then. He will come into your raft now.

Respond: What rapids are you navigating right now? What situation is threatening to take you or someone you love under the water because the waves seem too big to navigate?

The God who blazed like the sun on the mountain is the same God who stepped off that mountain to heal a suffering child instantly when a desperate father fell to his knees.

He is not too majestic to enter the raft of your fears. He is not too transcendent to ignore your rapids. He came all the way from glory, and walked down the mountain that showed his glory, to help a father who couldn't fix his son's seizures.

This week, bring your specific rapids to Him—the crises or worries that are that are threatening to overturn everything. Tell Jesus exactly what the father told Him: "Lord, have mercy. He suffers terribly. I can't fix this." Then trust the God of the rim to get into your raft and help you.

Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the view from the rim—the grand sweep of Your plan, the blazing glory of Your Son, the incredible promise that You are working all things together for good. But there are times when I'm not on the rim. I'm navigating the rapids. Then, I understand that I can't power through my problems on my own. The waves are too big, the current too strong. I need the God of the raft, not just the God of the rim. Thank you for showing that you are that God because Jesus came down from the mountain to heal a boy instantly when his desperate father knelt before You. I'm kneeling. Have mercy. Get in my raft. Take me through. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 30, 2026

"When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Rise and have no fear.' And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." - Matthew 17:6-8

The disciples saw Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of God from the cloud. And they fell on their faces in terror.

And then Jesus did something breathtaking in its simplicity. He came to them. He touched them. And He said, "Rise and have no fear."

The Lord of glory—transfigured, blazing like the sun, the One Moses and Elijah came to affirm—stepped away from that display of overwhelming divine majesty and reached down to touch three terrified men lying face down in the dirt.

And then they looked up and saw "no one but Jesus only."

Not the blazing transfiguration. Not Moses. Not Elijah. Not the cloud. Just Jesus—standing with them, having touched them and comforted them in their fears.

"Do not fear" is probably the most repeated command in all of Scripture. It traces the entire story of God's relationship with humanity:

In the garden, Adam and Eve sinned and hid because they were afraid. Then God promised a Redeemer to calm their fears and ours.

From that moment forward, the command not to fear gets repeated over and over: the angels say it, the prophets say it, God says it through Moses and Joshua and David and Isaiah and Jeremiah. Every major turning point in the Bible is marked by God’s comforting assurance: "Do not fear."

The angel to Mary: "Do not fear." To Joseph: "Do not fear." To the shepherds: "Do not fear." And after the resurrection, when Jesus appears to His disciples, he says, "Do not fear."

The message from beginning to end is the same: you have a Redeemer. You have One who stood before the Father to bear the penalty of your sin, who still intercedes for you, who will always provide a way of grace for you. Therefore do not fear.

And notice: after Jesus touched the disciples, who were face down in the dust, they looked up, and they saw no one but Jesus only. This is the gospel in five words: “No one but Jesus only.” Don't look at your performance. Don't look at your competence. Don't look at your background or your failures or what others think. Your hope is in no one but Jesus only.

Respond: What fear is paralyzing you right now? What has caused you to fall face down in terror—a diagnosis, a relationship, a financial situation, an uncertain future, a persistent sin, a looming consequence?

Jesus is coming to you in that moment. He is reaching down to touch you. And He is saying: "Rise and have no fear."

This week, practice lifting your eyes to see "no one but Jesus only." When fear rises, don't look at the size of the wave, the scope of the problem, or the severity of the situation. Look at Jesus only. He is present. He has touched you by his present Holy Spirit. He says: “Rise and do not fear.”

Prayer: Father, so many things in my life tempt me to fall face down in fear. I fear the loss of what I have. I fear the uncertainties of the future. I fear the consequences of my sin. Sometimes my fears feel overwhelming, and I can’t seem to rise above them. But You sent the One who came to terrified disciples, touched them, and said, "Rise and have no fear." Give me faith to believe that Jesus will come to me in this moment by the truths of your Word and the presence of your Holy Spirit. Let Jesus touch me. Let me hear His words of comfort. Help me lift my eyes to see no one but Jesus only. Not my circumstances. Not my failures. Not my fears. Only Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 29, 2026

"He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light... a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!'" - Matthew 17:2, 5

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, his face shone so brightly that the Israelites were afraid to look at him. He had to veil his face when speaking to the people.

But there is a crucial difference between Moses' shining face and the shining face of the transfigured Jesus.

The shining on Moses' face was a reflection—like the moon reflecting the sun. He had been in the presence of God's glory, and some of it clung to him. But it was borrowed light. It would fade.

Jesus' glory in this passage comes from within Himself. His face shone like the sun—not reflecting light, but generating it. He wasn't simply near a source of divine glory. He was the source. The divine had come down, and the veil of His humanity was momentarily pulled back to reveal the eternal glory that had always been his.

And then the voice from the cloud settled it: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him."

Not "listen to Moses." Not "listen to Elijah." Not "listen to your traditions or the record of your performance or the voices of your own wisdom." Listen to Him – Jesus.

The impetuous Peter, who had witnessed the transfiguration began talking about building three tabernacles—one for Jesus, one for Moses, one for Elijah—as if to make them equal objects of worship. But God interrupted him mid-sentence: "Stop. This is My Son. Listen to Him."

We are often tempted to do what Peter did. We want to consult culture, tradition, our heroes, our own reasoning, what our parents said, what our peers think. Yet, when are hearts are open to God, He keeps interrupting with a simple and strong instruction: "Listen to Him."

Jesus is not one voice among many. He is the voice. The light that reveals his divine nature is not from impressive human leaders, from religious traditions, or from our own ingenuity. The voice that we are most to consider comes from Jesus—and from Jesus alone.

Respond: What other voices are competing with Jesus' voice in your life right now? Whose instructions, whose opinions, whose version of what's right and acceptable are you following alongside—or instead of—His?

The Father made it unmistakably clear on that mountain: "Listen to Him.” The voice of Jesus revealed in the truths of God’s Word is the voice that we are most to hear and heed.

This week, identify one area of your life where you've been listening to something else more than to Jesus. Then deliberately shine the light of God’s Word on that situation and ask: what does Jesus say about this? What does listening to Him require of me?

We don’t need multiple tabernacles to hear multiple voices telling us what God wants. We need just one voice, and God has provided it through Jesus. Listen to Him.

Prayer: Lord, I confess how easy it is to want to build multiple tabernacles—giving other voices equal or greater authority in my life than Your voice. Culture, comfort, comparison, convention—so many other voices compete for my attention. But the Father gave clear instructions: "Listen to Him." Jesus is not to be one voice among many. He is the Son of the living God, the light that doesn't borrow from another source. Father, help me listen to Him. Drown out the competing voices. Let Your Word be the final word in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 26, 2026

"And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him." - Matthew 17:3

When was the last time we saw Moses before this moment?

He had led Israel through the wilderness for 40 years. But at the end, in a moment of exhaustion and anger, he struck a rock and claimed God's power as his own. God's verdict: "Because you claimed My status for yourself, you cannot take My people into the Promised Land. It would not be good for my people or for you to believe that you are their Messiah." So, the last image we have of Moses is a solitary figure walking away, disgraced, dying alone in the mountains—his burial place unknown to anyone.

When was the last time we saw Elijah?

He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. A moment of supreme faith and power. And then Queen Jezebel threatened him, and he fled into the desert in terror—the greatest prophet in Israel's history, hiding under a bush, asking God to let him die. He was consumed by cowardice and despair immediately after God had granted the prophet’s greatest triumph.

And yet—almost 1,500 years after Moses' disgrace, and 900 years after Elijah's cowardice—both of them stand on a mountain in the Promised Land, affirming the glory of God's Son.

What is God saying by bringing these two men back?

"Their sin, weakness, and failings are not the final chapter."

Moses couldn't enter the Promised Land in life. But he stands in it now, in glory, beside the Redeemer he spent his ministry pointing toward.

Elijah ran from his calling in cowardice. But he stands now on a mountain top, fully restored, declaring the One all his prophecies foretold.

God is writing this large on the mountain rim of history so we can see it from the valley of our lives: if He can still use Moses, if He can still redeem Elijah, if their failure wasn't their final chapter—then your sin need not be the final chapter of your life either.

So, go ahead and ask your hard questions in light of what happened on that mountain top: "God, if you still had a plan for Moses, if you could still use Elijah—do You still have a plan for me? Can You still use me? Will You yet forgive me?"

The answer blazing from the mountain on which Moses and Elijah stood is – Yes!

Respond: What failure are you convinced disqualifies you from God's plan? What sin, what cowardice, what moment of pride or weakness feels like it has written your final chapter?

Remember Moses and Elijah. Both appeared on the mountain with Jesus. Despite their failures, Jesus received them and used them to make his glory known.

Your failure is not the final word. God's grace is.

This week, bring your specific failures to God—not to explain them away or justify them, but to confess them honestly and then receive what the Transfiguration declares: His grace is greater than your greatest failure. Your sin is not your final chapter. He can still use you. He still has a plan for you.

Prayer: Father, I have failed You in ways that feel final to me. Like Moses, I have claimed things for myself that belong to You. Like Elijah, I have run from my calling. I've wondered if You could still use me, still have a plan for me, still forgive me. But then I see Moses and Elijah on that mountain—restored, honored, and used for Your glory. My failure is not my final chapter. Your grace is greater. Do for me what You did for them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 25, 2026

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves, and he was transfigured before them... And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him." - Matthew 17:1-3

Why Moses and Elijah? Of all the people who could appear on that mountain with Jesus, why those two?

Because Moses represents the Law—the entire revelation of God's commands for how His people should live. And Elijah represents the Prophets—the whole tradition of God's messengers who pointed forward to a coming Redeemer. Together, they represent the entire sweep of the Old Testament as it reveals God's unfolding plan to redeem his people.

Moses and Elijah appear not as Jesus’s equals, but as representatives of all that has preceded him and points to Him. He is the fulfillment of everything their ministries anticipated.

When Jesus would later walk with two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, Luke tells us about their conversation: "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained what was said in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." The Transfiguration shows us in image what that conversation explained in words: all of the Bible—every law, every prophet, every promise, every covenant—points here. To Jesus.

This Bible is not a collection of moral fables. It's not a rule book to stay on the right side of God. It's not a magic book of incantations to get God to perform for you.

From beginning to end, it is one story told by God himself: "You are not your Redeemer, but I am sending One. He is My Son, and He will save you from your sin."

Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and God promised a seed from the woman who would crush Satan's influence. God repeated this promise in various ways to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to David, and to the prophets represented by Elijah. Ultimately, the prophets would give remarkably accurate and blessed details of the Redeemer’s coming: what country, what town, what ministry, what death, what ultimate victory.

So, when Jesus stood on a mountain, shining like the sun, with Moses and Elijah beside Him, God was saying to Jesus’s disciples and to us: "This is Him."

A former Muslim who came to faith said something extraordinary about how God’s plan unfolds in Scripture: "I read the Bible and was convinced by how God’s covenant with Abraham kept expanding to include a Redeemer for all nations. That convinced me that the Bible was not about random stories but about a God who had an eternal plan that included me. And that brought me to faith."

The plan is big enough to include you too.

Respond: When you feel like your life is too small, too broken, too insignificant to matter to God—remember the Transfiguration. The God who orchestrated thousands of years of history to point to one moment on one mountain in one obscure corner of the ancient world to make clear the identity of our Redeemer is the same God who has an eternal plan that includes you specifically.

This week, read your Bible not simply as a rule book or a self-help guide, but as a love story that goes across nations and generations to reach you. Ask as you read: How is God pointing to my nature that requires Jesus and God’s nature that will ultimately provide Jesus? How is He showing that you are not your own Redeemer, but He that has prepared One – for you long before you could have known or deserved such care?

The plan has always been for people who do not deserve Him. That includes you and me. And it's a better plan than anything we could devise because it is the ultimate revelation of God’s wisdom and his heart.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your plan didn't start with me and doesn't depend on me. From the Garden of Eden to the Mount of Transfiguration, from Moses to Elijah to Jesus, You have been working a plan of redemption for people who do not deserve it. I am one of those people. Help me read Your Word as the story it truly is—one great, unfolding plan that leads to Jesus’s care for me. And help me trust that plan that reveals your wisdom and heart for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 24, 2026

"They came to the other side of the sea... And immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit... And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue and implored him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death…. He took her by the hand and said to her…, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise.' And immediately the girl got up and began walking." - Mark 5:1-2, 21-22, 41-42

In this one chapter, Jesus moves through three completely different worlds.

He crosses the sea and enters the spiritual realm—casting out a legion of demons from a man who had supernatural strength and no peace. The spiritual world is real. The battle for souls is real. And Jesus has authority over all of it.

He returns across the sea and enters the physical realm—healing a woman who had bled for twelve years, restoring her body and her dignity and her place among God's people. The physical world is real. Suffering is real. And Jesus has authority over all of it.

And then He enters the eternal realm—raising a girl who had died, calling her back from the dead with simple words: "Little girl, arise." Death is real and lasting. But Jesus has authority over that too.

Spiritual. Physical. Eternal. Three realms. One Lord over all of them.

Abraham Kuyper spoke memorably about the total authority of our Savior over all the realms of our existence: "There is not one square inch of this universe over which Jesus does not stand and say, 'This is mine.'"

There is not one square inch of your existence – not one corner of your spiritual life; not one part of your physical body; not one moment of your eternal future – that is outside Jesus’s rule and authority. There is not one relationship, one career move, one diagnosis, one struggle, one loss, one moment of your infinite existence as an immortal soul over which our God does not exercise control. He stands over all of it and says, "This is mine."

NFL linebacker Demario Davis was once fined $7,000 for wearing a headband that said "Man of God" during a game. He responded with a faith in his Lord’s rule over everything, even a fine for a headband. He said, "Any time the conversation about God is brought up, especially in these times, it is always a positive. If He can get glory from it, He is in control of the whole situation. God and I are still good."

He is in control of the whole situation. All of it. The spiritual battle you can't see. The physical suffering you can't fix. The eternal purposes you can't fully comprehend. All of it is under the authority and providential care of the King of all realms.

Respond: Which realm feels most out of control to you right now?

Is it a spiritual battle—confusion, deception, a sense of being overwhelmed by forces you can't see or name?

Is it a physical reality—a diagnosis, a body that won't cooperate, a situation that won't resolve no matter how hard you try?

Is it an eternal fear—death, loss, the unknown future, wondering if any of it ultimately matters?

Jesus walked into all three of these realms in Mark 5. He has authority in all three today. Today, take your specific realm of struggle and with the confidence of Mark 5, knowing that Jesus "Has authority here too. He stands over this too. He’s got this."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you had Jesus cross the Sea of Galilee to demonstrate authority over the spiritual realm, the physical realm, and even death itself. Nothing is outside His authority. Not one square inch our existence. So, I bring to You my specific struggle now, knowing that what is spiritual, or physical, or eternal has been committed to Christ’s care and authority. Help me believe this. He stands over every realm and says, "This is Mine." I trust Him as King of all realms—infinite in power, intimate in care. He is never distant from my reality, but entered it completely for my sake. Bring Christ’s rule over the realms of my struggles. In Jesus name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 23, 2026

"There was a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians and spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse... She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment… Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my garments?'... And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.'" - Mark 5:25-34

Twelve years. Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years of spending everything on physicians who made her worse. Twelve years of being declared ceremonially unclean—unable to worship, unable to be touched, unable to fully belong anywhere.

She had every reason to give up. She had every reason to believe God had forgotten her, that her suffering was permanent, that she had somehow been left behind in God’s plan of blessing his people.

But she pressed through the crowd, believing: "If I touch even His garments, I will be made well."

And Jesus—on His way to raise a ruler's daughter, surrounded by a pressing crowd, with a thousand urgent things happening—stopped. Turned around. Looked for her specifically. And called her not "woman," but "daughter."

Twelve years of waiting, and He paused for her. Twelve years of being overlooked, and He looked directly at her. Twelve years of isolation, and He called her family.

I remember hearing an unsettling truth told years ago by Pastor David Jeremiah: "If you're a believer and you knew everything God knows about your circumstances—what led to them, what's happening now, and the impact for eternity of how you will handle them—nothing would enter your life that you yourself would not choose if you knew what God knows."

That's a hard word. But the woman with the bleeding didn't just receive healing. She became a witness of the power of Christ for centuries to come. Her twelve years of suffering became the story that has brought eternal hope to millions.

This gospel account is assuring us God has not abandoned us in our-sometimes-long wait to experience the fruit of his plan. God is very good at writing long stories He is not ignoring your struggles over twelve years or, perhaps, many more. He is working in and with and for you—even when you can't see it—for purposes that extend far beyond what you can currently see.

Respond: What is your "twelve years" of struggle? What long, painful situation have you been enduring, spending all your resources on getting better, yet growing worse rather than better?

Press through to Jesus. Reach out and touch the hem of His garment. He will stop in his tracks. He will turn. He will see you specifically—not just the crowd, not just the needs of others—you. And He will call you his child, His very own – supplying what is eternally best for your blessing and His glory.

This week, bring your suffering years to Jesus. Don't dress it up. Just come as this suffering woman came—in the press of the crowd, believing: "If I just touch Him, I will be made well." He has already reached out to touch your soul, and will respond to heart reaching out to Him with what is absolutely best for eternal blessing and divine glory.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have been waiting twelve years—or more—to see the blessings of Jesus’s touch in ways that my heart or loved ones are suffering. I have spent so many of my material or spiritual resources trying to fix the problems. But I feel that I am worse, not better. I've wondered if You've forgotten me, if I'm invisible in the crowd. But You made Jesus stop for this suffering woman. He turned to her, really looked at her, and called her his child. So, please turn the heart and power of Jesus toward me. See me in this crowd. Call me Yours. In faith I reach out to You now, trusting that eternal blessings will come from your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 22, 2026

"While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, 'Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?' But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not fear, only believe.'" - Mark 5:35-36

Jairus, the synagogue ruler, had done everything right. He had found Jesus. He had humbled himself publicly before the crowd by asking for help from this itinerant rabbi. He had made his request for help from Jesus with faith: "Come lay Your hands on her so that she may be made well and live."

And then came the worst news possible: "Nothing worked. Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"

Notice the cruelty of those words. "Why trouble the Teacher any further?" As if the moment that Jesus could help had passed. As if death was the final victor. As if faith was now pointless.

Jesus overheard the servants’ cruel conclusion—and immediately responded with the most important words Jairus would ever hear: "Do not fear, only believe."

Not: "Don't worry, everything will be fine." Not: "I have a plan." Not even: "I can fix this."

Just: "Do not fear. Only believe."

Trust Me. In this moment. With this loss. With this impossible situation believe that your God is greater.

The words "do not fear" run like a thread through the entire Bible. God said it to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah. Angels said it to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Jesus said it to His disciples before the cross and after the resurrection.

Many say that these words form the most common command in all of Scripture—because fear is probably the most common human response that accompanies loss, uncertainty, and death.

Yet, into every situation where fear says "it's over, why bother"—Jesus says: "Do not fear. Only believe."

This is not naive optimism. Rather, it is grounded trust in the One who holds every realm—physical, spiritual, and eternal—in His hands.

Respond: What "your daughter is dead" moment are you facing? What situation has someone told you is hopeless, over, beyond God’s help?

Jesus still hears the words of hopelessness spoken over you or erupting in you due to the horror and hurts of your situation. And His response is the same: "Do not fear. Only believe."

This week, try writing down the hopeless report you've been given. And next to it, write Jesus' words: "Do not fear. Only believe." Return to those four words when fear and hopelessness rises in you. They are not a platitude—they are the word of the One who raised the dead.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I receive a "your daughter is dead" report, I am tempted to walk away from you as though there is nothing that you can offer to help. The situation feels final. The voices around me are saying "why bother anymore." But Jesus’s response to this grieving father, reminds me of the word from you that is always the same: "Do not fear. Only believe." Give me the faith of Jairus—to keep walking with Jesus toward the peace and provision that seems impossible. I choose not to fear. I choose to believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 19, 2026

"He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain... Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones... They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind." - Mark 5:3-5, 15

The man from the tombs couldn't be controlled by anyone or anything. Chains snapped. Shackles broke. The strength of many men wasn't enough to subdue him. All attempts to impose order on his chaos failed.

So, he did what people do when the external world offers no control: he turned inward for control, abusing himself. He cut himself with stones. When everything around him was out of control, at least he could control pain. At least he could feel something in a world that had rejected him entirely.

Such emotions and practices still stir in our world today. People – especially young people – feel, "I'm totally out of control. Nobody cares about me. I have no control around me. Well, at least I can control pain. I can control something and feel something when the world has rejected me." Such perceptions are what drive the epidemics of cutting, eating disorders, and self-harm across our culture.

Jesus didn't confront an out-of-control life with more chains or stronger shackles. He came with something the chains never could provide: peace. Not imposed from the outside. Real peace, from within—because the One who stilled storms, also stilled the storm inside this demon-controlled man.

The apostle Paul wrote: "God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." That is not a description of what Christians always feel. Yet, it is a description of what Jesus provides when our hearts are beating in resonance with His.

The man from the tombs was cutting himself because he had no other way to feel control. Jesus gave him something infinitely better: genuine peace. Real rest. A sound mind. Dignity restored.

Whatever chaos surrounds you—or lives inside you—Jesus came to enable you to serve Him without fear of being out of control. He offers not merely to suppress the storm, but to still it. Not merely to give you better chains, but to make chains unnecessary.

Respond: Where are you trying to impose control on your mental or spiritual storms through unhealthy means? Are you turning to habits or sins that hurt you because at least they're something you can manage?

If you're in a place of real pain right now—if self-harm is something you're struggling with—please reach out. You don't have to manage this alone. Jesus came for exactly this moment. He provides His love, His Spirit, and His church to help you find His peace.

Bring your specific chaos to Him this week. Not cleaned up. Not explained away. Just bring it: "Jesus, I have no control here, and I'm hurting. Still this storm. Bring the truths of your Word, the Spirit’s power and the church’s care to give me control so that I can rest in You."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came to a man who had been screaming and cutting himself among the tombs and You gave him peace. Real peace. I need that peace, too. Too often I try to control my urges, fears, and chaotic thoughts with habits and sins that can only hurt me. Help me confess that I can't chain down the storms in my heart and mind. I can't subdue them by my own strength. I'm not even sure I know how to ask for help. But I'm asking now. Come to where I am through your Word, Spirit, and people. Still this storm. Give me power, love, and a sound mind. In Your name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 18, 2026

"They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid." - Mark 5:15

The man from the tombs had been stripped of everything. His dignity was gone. His family and friends were gone. Screaming day and night, cutting himself with stones, living among the dead—he was the picture of a life completely out of control. Even chains could not control him.

Then, Jesus came. And in a moment, everything changed.

When the people arrived and saw him, he was sitting. He was calm. He was clothed. He was in his right mind.

Three words tell the whole story of what Jesus had done: clothed, sitting, sound (in mind).

The man who raged naked among the tombs was now clothed. The man who couldn't be chained was now at rest. The man whose mind had been chaos was now thinking clearly.

This is what Jesus does. He doesn't just remove what's wrong. He restores what has been lost—dignity, peace, clarity – the soul is made whole.

We all have areas where we feel naked before the world. Maybe it's the divorce that everyone knows about and some people gossip about. The child who has disappointed, making others feel free to comment on our parenting. The job loss. The mental health struggle you can't explain. The depression that cycles back no matter what you try.

In every one of those areas, Jesus spiritually offers the same thing He provided the demon-possessed man on that Galilean hillside: "You are clothed in My righteousness. You can rest in my identity. No matter how muddled the past, the future promises the clarity of God’s principles and presence despite its uncertainties.

The past does not define you. Trials do not threaten your ultimate peace. Future unknowns are turned over to the wisdom and love of your Heavenly Father. The reality of being united to Christ by faith means that you will always be the Father’s precious child. You are as loved by God as Jesus Himself."

Lynsi Snyder, President of In-N-Out Burger, found these provisions of Jesus to be still real after alcohol, addiction, abusive relationships, and three marriages. She wrote, "I found the deep need in my heart can only be filled by Jesus and my identity in Him. Not what I've done. Not what I accomplish. My identity and peace comes from trusting Him, not in anything that I have done or will do."

Clothed in His righteousness. Sitting in His peace. Sound in His mind.

Respond: Where do you feel most exposed—most stripped of dignity—right now? What situation makes you feel like everyone can see your worst?

That is precisely where Jesus’s provision can be so life-giving and conscience-calming. He doesn't wait for you to get cleaned up. He clothes you in His righteousness right there in your soiled reputation. He doesn’t wait for you to fix everything or get everything figured out, He offers his peace and priorities going forward no matter what is in the past.

This week, when shame rises about your most exposed area, speak this truth out loud: "I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. My identity before God is that of a perfectly loved child. The past does not define me. Jesus defines me, grants me peace and shows me the way that I should go."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am exposed in so many ways – what people think about me, the mistakes I have made, the relationships that are frayed. I feel the shame of it all. I feel that I can’t escape others’ opinions. But You are the one who clothed the man from the tombs in dignity before the crowd. Clothe me in Your righteousness. Let Your identity be mine—not my failures, not my past, not what others say about me. Let me rest in the knowledge that I am Yours. You are mine and you will show me the way to be with you in every future step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 17, 2026

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." - Matthew 13:45-46

A merchant who knows pearls—who has spent his life searching for them, evaluating them, trading them—finds one that stops him in his tracks. He has never seen anything like it.

And without hesitation, he sells everything else he has to buy it.

This isn't recklessness. This is a professional who knows exactly what he's looking at. His entire career of searching has led him here. He knows the value of what he's found. And he knows that everything else he owns will not compare to its worth.

He doesn't agonize. He doesn't hesitate. He sells it all and buys the pearl.

The kingdom of heaven is the pearl of great price that the Lord has set before us. It isn't all ready yet. We still have to face some heartaches and joys of lesser import. But when you see the kingdom—really see it—you know it's worth more than everything else. Worth the waiting. Worth the sacrifice. Worth the persecution. Worth giving up whatever you've been clinging that is not worth as much and that can't satisfy anyway.

All things will be made new. All things sad will come untrue. And the Lord your God will welcome you into the peace and happiness of his Kingdom forever. That’s the pearl beyond price. The treasure that’s worth everything.

Respond: What are you holding onto that you've been unwilling to trade for the kingdom?

Maybe it's a comfortable life that keeps you from serving your Savior. A relationship that keeps you from obedience. A habit that keeps you from holiness. A bitterness that keeps you from becoming a peacemaker. A fear that keeps you from being a witness.

Remember the pearl merchant didn't bargain for the pearl of greatest price. He didn't try to keep a few other pearls while also buying the great one. He sold all that he had.

He didn’t act out of obligation, but out of joy, knowing the value of what he'd found.

This week, ask God to help you see the pearl that Christ has prepared for you for what it really is. A kingdom that is yours not by duty but by grace. A grace that is so good and so precious that living in gratitude for its provision is not a burden—but is the natural response of someone who has glimpsed how great is the treasure God is offering to those who trust him.

Then let go of whatever is less valuable. It's not worth comparing to the treasure that God intends to give you in heaven and to have you start experiencing today as you trust his plan for your life and future.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your kingdom is the pearl of great value—worth more than everything else I possess, everything I cling to, everything I'm afraid to lose. Forgive me for treating it as one option among many, for bargaining, for trying to hold onto lesser things while also claiming You. Help me see the pearl clearly. Give me the joy of the merchant who sells everything without regret because he knows exactly what he's found. Your kingdom is worth it all when I receive it in the future and as I experience its assurance today. Help me live in that assurance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 16, 2026

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." -Matthew 13:44

One sentence. No elaborate explanation. Just this: a man stumbles onto treasure hidden in a field, and in his joy, he sells everything he has to buy that field.

Jesus doesn't explain what the treasure is. He doesn't explain the ethics of covering it back up. He doesn't break down every detail.

He just wants you to feel the joy of claiming a treasure. We taste some of the goodness of the gospel when we resonate with the man's complete, total, joyful willingness to sacrifice everything he has to claim a treasure that is so much greater.

Everything else dims in comparison. Everything else becomes tradeable when you assess the far greater magnitude of the treasure.

I remember coming off the plane after a long international trip. I was tired, my bags were heavy, my back was hurting and I walked smack into a massive, cheering crowd. There were signs of welcome, banners, flags, and bagpipes. It was a welcome home celebration – but not for me.

The crowd was welcoming the return of an Honor Flight—war veterans in their senior years coming home from a tribute in our nation’s capital. Many were in wheelchairs, being wheeled through the gauntlet of cheering people, high-fiving as they went.

A commentator said: "These are veterans receiving the welcome now that they did not get the first time they came home."

But what I thought was this: there is a day coming when ten thousand times ten thousand angels will hail the Savior for the redemption of our souls. We will look around and will see our brothers and sisters in Christ who have endured the dangers and trials of this world enroute to their eternal home, where there are no more wheelchairs, or war, or tears, or pain—they will all be there, and we will  be there with them, all welcomed home.

That's just a taste of the treasure that is ours. And when you get just a taste of it, you're willing to give up everything else that will not endure, anything that will not last, and face all things necessary for Christ’s sake.

Respond: Whenever have you get just a taste of the kingdom of God – a moment of genuine forgiveness—given or received, a flash of inexplicable peace in the middle of chaos, a sense of God's presence so real it stops you cold with a joy that had no natural explanation – that taste is giving you a preview of heaven, but also giving you power for today.

This week, remember your tastes of the kingdom. Let them make you hungry for more. Let it make the things you're tempted to cling to seem less precious by comparison. The treasure is real. The kingdom is worth everything.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the tastes You've given me of Your kingdom—the moments of grace, the inexplicable peace, the joy that has no natural source. Those glimpses are enough to make everything else seem less precious by comparison. Help me live for the treasure, not the trinkets. When I'm tempted to cling to things that can't satisfy, remind me of the taste I've had of something infinitely better. Your kingdom is worth everything. Help me to believe this and live it. In Jesus’ name., Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 15, 2026

"The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." - Matthew 13:36-43

Jesus doesn't leave the meaning of the parable of the wheat and weeds to our imagination. He explains it point by point.

The sower of good seed: the Son of Man—Jesus Himself. The field: that’s the world. The good seeds: the children of the kingdom. The weeds: the servants and deeds of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them: that’s the devil. The harvest: the end of the age. The reapers: the angels.

And then Jesus describes two destinations with stark contrast.

For the weeds: they will be gathered, bound in bundles, thrown into the fiery furnace. Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For the righteous: they will live in God’s eternal blessing, shining like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

There are two destinations: weeping and gnashing of teeth... or shining like the sun.

Both are real. Both are coming. And which one is our destination depends entirely on one thing: whether you are with those gathered to heaven by faith in God’s rescue through His Son.

The weeds will not last forever. Evil may have its day, but God will have the final say.

There will come a day with no more weeds. The eternal Kingdom is coming with no more pain or tears. There will be no more fears of darkness. There is no night there.

That dawn of that eternal day is already breaking into our reality by faith. By trusting that the weeds will not win, we are able to endure present grief and pain without despair or bitterness.

The Apostle Paul helped us by expressing his own faith this way: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

The righteous will shine like the sun, and the goodness of Jesus will be the light that drives all darkness away forever.

Respond: Jesus gives this parable so that we will not lose hope in times of trouble. He wants you to know that the weeds around you, the suffering you endure, the evil you face—none of it has the final word. In His time, when he knows that His harvest is full of those who will trust Him, he will come and remove all the evil that troubles us.

This week, live in that reality. When the weeds press in, remind yourself: “The weeds will not last forever. The best is yet to come."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that the weeds will not last forever. Thank You that You will have the final say. You will send Your angels. You will separate the wheat from the weeds. The righteous will shine like the sun. When I'm overwhelmed by the weeds around me—the evil, the suffering, the injustice—remind me that this is not the final chapter. Your kingdom cannot be stopped and, when it comes, all evil and pain will be gone forever. Comfort and strengthen me with faith in that reality today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 12, 2026

"The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" - Matthew 13:28-30

The servants had a completely reasonable idea: pull up the weeds. Get rid of what's causing the problem. Fix it now.

But the Master said no. Not yet.

Why? Because in a broken, fallen world, the roots of the wheat and the roots of the weeds are intertwined. To pull up the weeds too soon is to destroy the very harvest God intends to grow.

This is the part of the parable that requires faith—real faith, hard faith. The parable teaches that God is intentionally leaving the weeds in place, at least for now, until He is ready to collect those who have put their faith in Him because the weeds have made them desperate for God’s care and certain that they need his grace more than their own solutions. And He's asking us to trust Him with that truth.

Do we have any proof that God’s weeding schedule is wiser than ours? Consider how our nation has struggled with Iran with its constant threats to Israel. Why doesn’t God just wipe out the Arab nation now? The answer for those with ears to hear is that Iran has one of the most rapidly growing underground churches in the world. If God had acted on our schedule, He would have "fixed" Iran—and destroyed the harvest of believers he is growing.

China is America's greatest geopolitical threat. China also has more Christian believers than any other nation on earth. If God had decimated China when it drove out Western missionaries decades ago, He would have "solved" the China problem according to our wisdom—but would also have uprooted the growth of millions of believers who now worship Jesus in China, and will be our brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity.

And closer to home: that grandmother suffering in hospice care, whose roots are intertwined with a grandchild who needs to watch a saint die well. The young person bullied at school, whose roots are entangled with persecutors who will later come to faith as a consequence of that young person’s witness. The patient in the hospital, whose faithful endurance of suffering is witnessed by medical staff whose own roots are slowly becoming intertwined with the roots of the gospel.

Kenneth Bae, the longest-held American prisoner in North Korea, had a guard who taunted him: "If your God loves you so much, why are you in this prison camp?"

Kenneth Bae answered: "What if my God put me here so that you would know my God—and He loves you that much?"

Respond: What situation in your life makes you want to pray, "God, just fix this now"? Where are you struggling to wait on His timing?

Consider: whose roots might be intertwined with yours in that situation? Who might be watching how you endure? Who might be drawn toward God by witnessing your faith in the middle of your suffering?

God is not absent from your weeds. He is present and working through them. He is letting both wheat and weeds grow together because He sees something you can't yet see—a harvest being prepared through the very thing you want removed.

This week, ask God to show you who might be watching your faith. Who needs to see you trust Him as you walk through your weeds?

Prayer: Lord, I want You to fix this now. I want the weeds gone. I want the pain to stop. I want the situation resolved. But You are saying, "Not yet. Let the weeds and wheat both grow together." Give me faith to trust Your timing. Help me see that my roots may be intertwined with someone who needs to witness my faith. Use my suffering, my waiting, my patience to grow someone else toward You. Your timing is right, even when I don't understand it. Help me to believe that. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 11, 2026

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away... The servants said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'" - Matthew 13:24-28

A farmer plants his field with good seed. But while everyone slept, an enemy crept in under cover of darkness and scattered weeds throughout—seeds of destruction sown deliberately among seeds of life.

When the servants discovered the weeds growing alongside the wheat, they came to the master with an anguished question: "Didn't you plant good seed? How did the weeds get here?"

The question in the parable is meant to echo one of the most ancient and desperate questions humanity asks: If God is good; if God is King; if God planted good seed—then how did the weeds get here? How did the cancer get here? How did cruelty get here? How did hatred and oppression and abuse get here?

The Master's answer is simple but profound, and requires acceptance by faith: "An enemy has done this."

We live in a world of weeds. Enemies still threaten to wipe Israel off the map. Cancer wards are full of suffering children. Racism and oppression tear communities apart. Rebellious children break parents' hearts. Cruel bosses. Abusive spouses. Aching bodies. Grieving hearts.

And our hearts naturally question God, as did the servants in Jesus’ parable: "Master, did You not plant good seed? How did this happen?"

The answer hasn't changed: an enemy has done this. Evil is real. The devil is real. The weeds didn't plant themselves.

But notice what the Master doesn't say. He doesn't say, "I didn't see this coming." He doesn't say, "This has ruined My plans." He doesn't panic. He doesn't wring His hands.

He already knows what He's going to do. He is going to mow down the weeds and reap his harvest at the time he knows is right to rescue his people from every evil the enemy caused.

Respond: What weeds are growing in your field right now? What evil, what suffering, what brokenness makes you want to ask God, "Did You not plant good seed here? How did this happen?"

Name it honestly before God. He can handle the question. He's heard it before. And He has an answer—not just "an enemy has done this," but "I know what I'm doing with it."

The weeds don't surprise Him. They don't define His plan. They are not the final word.

This week, bring your "how did this happen?" to God. Pour out your honest confusion, grief, or anger. And then slowly breathe in His response by faith in the God who sent Jesus to endure evil for your eternity. He is saying, "I know. It’s hard, but an enemy did this. Yet, I am still the Master of this field, and I have a plan to help you and never to harm you."

Prayer: Father, I look at my life and my world and I want to ask what the servants asked: "Did You not plant good seed? How did these weeds get here?" The evil is real. The suffering is real. The brokenness is real. Thank You for answering honestly: an enemy has done this. You didn't cause this. But You also aren't surprised by it. You are still the Master of this field. Help me trust that You have a plan even for the weeds and eternal safety for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 10, 2026

"When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." - Matthew 8:1-3

The Sermon on the Mount is over. Jesus has said:

• You can't measure up to God's perfect standards

• You can't make it up to with your performance

• God is going to have to provide some help for you if you are going to know his blessings

And then the Lord Jesus comes down from the mountain.

What happens next to encourage those of us who have just learned that we cannot meet heaven’s standards by earthly abilities? A leper approaches Jesus. In that society, leprosy was seen as the visible manifestation of hidden sin. Lepers were outcasts—unclean, untouchable, condemned.

The leper kneels and says: "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."

He doesn't say, "I deserve healing." He doesn't say, "I've been good enough." He doesn't say, "I've earned this."

He simply says: "If You will, You can help me."

Then, Jesus stretches out His hand, touches him, and says: "I will. Be clean."

Immediately, the leprosy was cleansed.

Whom does Jesus help? The one who says, "Jesus, You can help me."

What’s the lesson? When we say, “Lord, if you will, you can help me,” then Jesus says, "I will."

Next comes a Roman centurion—an enemy soldier, a foreigner, unworthy. He says, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Jesus marvels: "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

Faith in what? That Jesus can provide for one who is unworthy, who does not deserve it.

Next comes the account of Peter's mother-in-law, sick with fever. In that day, disease could always be explained as a consequence of sin or spiritual weakness. Yet, Jesus not only healed this woman but many more who were sick "to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.'"

Jesus did not run from physical or spiritual weakness, or reject those struggling. He provided his blessing for those who could not provide it for themselves. Why? Because we are all such people. His sermon just exposed the spiritual inadequacies and weakness of every person who desires the blessing of God. His sermon, his presence, and his healing ministry also demonstrated God’s provision for creatures like us who cannot provide what we need by our abilities.

Respond: What's the path to receiving Jesus' help? It’s not complicated. Say…

1. "Jesus, I need some help." Be honest about your brokenness, your sin, your inability to save yourself.

2. "I'm not worthy to ask." Humble yourself. You don't deserve His help. You can't earn it. You can only receive it.

3. "But I believe You can help me." Put your faith in Him—the One who provides for those who cannot provide for themselves.

4. "So Jesus, will You help me?" Ask. Call out. Kneel before Him and say, "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."

And when we humble ourselves in that way, He will make us clean and provide as he knows is best for our eternity.

This week, pray this prayer from your heart:

"Jesus, I need some help. I'm not worthy to ask, but I need your mercy. I know that you can provide what is absolutely best for my life here and in eternity, if you will.” Then you know what happens when we pray that way? He will!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need your help. I can't measure up to Your perfect standards. I can't qualify for your love with my performance. I am like the leper—unclean, unworthy, unable to save myself. But I believe You can help me. I believe You bore my spiritual illnesses and diseases on the cross. You took the punishment I deserved. So I ask: Lord, if You will, make me clean. Be merciful to me, a sinner. I'm not worthy to ask, but I believe You can and will help me. I put my faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 9, 2026

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" - Matthew 6:26-30

After crushing His audience with the perfections of God’s holy standards—standards that make it clear people cannot qualify for heaven with their earthly abilities—Jesus does something wonderfully surprising.

He points to birds. "Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

He points to flowers. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

What is Jesus doing? He's showing God’s people God’s grace. What is the nature of heavenly grace on earthly display? God takes care of birds and flowers that cannot take care of themselves. It is God’s nature to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves—whether it's birds, or flowers, or you.

Imagine the scene as though you were there. Jesus has just told you:

• You can't keep the standards of God’s law regarding anger, lust, compassion, or regard for others.

• You can't fix your spiritual condition with your good works because your motives are always tainted.

• So, you're headed for judgment and the fires of hell.

And then Jesus says: "Look at the birds. Look at the flowers."

Your eyes follow His gestures. You see birds flying, landing, eating. You see wildflowers blooming in brilliant colors. None of them are anxious. None of them are striving for the glory they display. Creatures and creation are simply recipients of the goodness God provides for those who can do nothing to earn his care.

And then your eyes come back to Jesus. He says, “If God so takes care of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, will he not also care for you.” What is the evidence of such care for us? Jesus. The One standing and teaching about God’s gracious care is the greatest evidence of God’s gracious care, not only because of what he says but because of the sacrifice God sent him to offer for us.

Jesus words about the perfections of God’s standards are not only meant to destroy our faith in our ability to earn God’s affection, they are his caring and urgent exhortation to put your faith in God’s provision for you: Jesus."

Respond: What are you anxious about today? Start combating anxiety by believing that the God who feeds birds and clothes wildflowers will take care of you. Go outside. Watch birds. Look at flowers. Notice how they receive what they need without being able to provide it for themselves.

Then remember that the God who provides for those who cannot earn or deserve his blessing not only is watching over such physical needs; he is also providing for your spiritual needs—not because you could earn or deserve such grace, but because it is his nature to provide it. Trust that he will and – He will!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am anxious about so many things. I'm striving, worrying, trying to control outcomes I can't control. But You feed the birds. You clothe the wildflowers. You take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Help me trust You. When I can't measure up to your standards, remind me how You provide your grace for those who can neither earn or deserve it. Increase my faith. Decrease my anxiety. I put my trust in You—the One who provides. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 8, 2026

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…. When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.... When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others." - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Even if you can't measure up to God's perfect standard, maybe you can impress him or others by showing you are trying really hard to be as good as you can?

So, you give generously, pray fervently, fast faithfully – and make sure that you can be seen doing such.

But Jesus says: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father."

When you give, don't sound a trumpet. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

When you pray, don't stand on street corners to be seen. Go into your room and shut the door.

When you fast, don't look gloomy so everyone knows how holy you are. Wash your face and anoint your head.

Your generosity, your prayers, your fasting—if they're done to be seen by others, you've already received your reward. Human applause. But that's it. That’s all you’ll get for the public show.

This is devastating. Not only can we not measure up to the standards of God, we don’t get credit for performing them well in front of others.

The message that Jesus is driving home with this lesson is not new. Comparisons don’t work with God. Showing off, or showing others up, doesn’t score points with God. "Men look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart."

That standard forces us to ask if we are more interested in God's purpose or our reputation? Is our righteousness intended more to have others think highly of us, or to think more highly of the God we serve?

Respond: These words of Jesus may cause us to take a hard look at the motives behind the righteous deeds that we do. For example, when it comes to …

• Giving: When you give, is part of you hoping someone will notice? Hoping your generosity will be recognized? Hoping God will "owe" you because of your faithfulness?

• Praying: When you pray publicly, are you praying to God or performing for people? Would your prayer change if no one were listening?

• Serving: When you serve in church or the community, are you serving God's purposes or building your reputation?

Now we need to be clear, Jesus isn't saying don't give, don't pray, don't serve. He's saying: check your heart. God sees in secret. He knows your motives. And He only rewards what's done for His glory, not yours.

So, where does honest assessment of our motives leave us? In need of grace. Because there really is no way to give, pray, or serve without having aspects of our humanity creep into our motivations. At some level, we will always give to be appreciated, pray to be respected, and serve to be noticed. The Biblical response to that reality is not to stop giving, praying, or serving, but to rejoice that God’s grace cleanses our motives of their human imperfections so that we delight even more to give, pray and serve. And, the result is that our Lord gets even more glory from us and from those who observe what we have done out of love for Him.

Prayer: Father, I confess I can’t entirely keep my service to you from being motivated by what others think. I've wanted to be seen as generous, prayerful, faithful. I've wanted applause, recognition, reputation. Forgive me for sometimes making my service to you about me. So, help me to give without recognition, to pray in secret, to serve without acclaim. And, when I fail, wash my motives with your grace so that I am freshly appreciative of your unconditional love. And help me to know the profound satisfaction of doing things for Your eyes only so that you are the One who gets the glory. Help me to remember that there is no limit to what can be done for heaven’s purposes if it does not matter who on earth gets the credit. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - June 5, 2026

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder'... But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment... You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28

Jesus takes the law everyone thought they could keep and raises the bar impossibly high.

Murder? "I haven't killed anyone. I'm good!"

Jesus: "Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council. Whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to the hell of fire."

Being angry brings you under judgment? Insulting someone breaks the commandment against murder? Name-calling sends you to hell?

Adultery? "I've been faithful to my spouse. I'm good!"

Jesus: "Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Looking with lust is adultery?

Jesus can't be serious. This is unreasonable. Unrealistic. An impossible standard.

And that's exactly the point.

Jesus isn't trying to help us check boxes. He's trying to break us from ourselves.

As long as we think, "I've done the best I can, and certainly better than those people over there," we won't cry out for help. We'll keep trying to measure up.

But Jesus says: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

The scribes and Pharisees were the most outwardly righteous people in Israel. They fasted, prayed, gave, obeyed. And Jesus says your righteousness has to exceed theirs?

How? It's impossible!

Exactly. You can't measure up.

Fannie Lou Hamer, the civil rights activist, once said, "Ain't no such thing as I can hate anybody and see God's face."

Is Jesus serious? Yes. Verses 23-24: "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Our minds rebel: "This is unreasonable! Look at what that person said to me! Look how they insulted my family! Look at how everyone talks about everyone else in the media, in politics, on social media!"

And Jesus says: "I know. And you still can't measure up to My standard."

Respond: Have you been trying to measure up? Comparing yourself to others? Thinking you're doing pretty well?

Jesus wants to break you of that. Not to crush you, but to humble you. Not to destroy you, but to prepare you to receive what you cannot earn.

This week, stop comparing yourself to others. Stop trying to check all the boxes. Instead, read Matthew 5:21-48 slowly and honestly.

Let the weight of God's perfect standard press on you until you say: "Jesus, I can't measure up. I need help."

That's when the blessing comes.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I've been trying to measure up. I've been comparing myself to others and thinking I'm doing okay. But Your standard is perfect—and I fall short every day. I get angry. I insult. I lust. I judge. I fail. I can't measure up. I need help. Break me from my self-sufficiency. Humble me. Prepare me to receive what I cannot earn. In Your name, Amen.