Read Ecclesiastes 7:9–12 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiastes 7:10 An Arab proverb says, “Watch your beginnings.” Good beginnings will usually mean good endings. The Prodigal Son started with happiness and wealth but ended with...
Read Ecclesiastes 11 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Ecclesiastes 11:1 When I was a boy, I practically lived in the public library during the summer months. I loved books. One summer I read nothing but true adventure stories written by...
Read Philippians 1:18–20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20 Does Christ need to be magnified? After all, how...
Read 1 Timothy 3:1–7 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 1 Timothy 3:1 If a man’s own children cannot obey and respect him, then his church is not likely to respect and obey his leadership. For Christians,...
Read Ecclesiastes 7:1–8 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1 Solomon was not contrasting birth and death. He was contrasting two significant days in human experience: the day a person is given a name and the...
Read Hebrews 11:1–5 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 True biblical faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. This faith operates quite simply. God speaks, and we hear His Word. We...
Read 2 Timothy 2:14–18 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Each of us as God’s workman will be either approved or ashamed. The word approved...
Read Job 19:21–29 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25 It is significant that Job would go from the depths of despair to the heights of faith and then back into the depths again. This is often the...
Read Hebrews 5:7–8 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 Every Old Testament high priest had to minister...
Read Galatians 1:11–12 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. Galatians 1:11 “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist,” wrote Emerson. Many others agree with him. The English art critic John Ruskin said, “I fear uniformity. You...