Read Isaiah 30—31 Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of man; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. Isaiah 31:8 Judah’s faith was in people, not in God. Why should the Lord fear the Assyrians? God would pounce on Assyria like a lion and swoop down...

Read 1 John 1:8–9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 Dishonest believers lose fellowship with God and with God’s people. As a result, prayer becomes an empty form to them. Worship is a dull routine. They...

Read Hebrews 7:1–28 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God [Melchizedek] remains a priest forever. Hebrews 7:3 There is no record of Melchizedek’s genealogy in the Old Testament. This is significant because it was important that the priests...

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...