Read James 4:13–14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 We count our years at each birthday, but God tells us to number our days (Ps. 90:12). After all,...
Read Isaiah 4—6 I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 Anyone reading the first few chapters of Isaiah’s book might be inclined to ask, “What right does this man...
Read 1 Corinthians 4:1–13 It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. 1 Corinthians 4:9 Pride has no place in ministry. If a truly great leader like Paul considered himself “on display...
Read Colossians 2:16–23 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Colossians 2:18 The word translated “disqualify” means “to declare unworthy of a prize.” It is an athletic term: The umpire disqualifies contestants who do not obey the rules....
Read Philippians 3:17–19 As I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Philippians 3:18 The cross of Jesus Christ is the theme of the Bible, the heart of the gospel, and the chief source of praise...
Read Colossians 1:9 Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9 When we are born into God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ, we...
Read Job 32:2—33:33 Elihu … became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. Job 32:2 Job had claimed that God was wrong, and the three friends couldn’t prove that Job was wrong! Elihu was disgusted at the three friends’ failure. “It is easy to fly into a...
Read Isaiah 24—25 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. Isaiah 25:4 Isaiah paints two pictures: the buffeting of a storm and the beating down of a burning sun in...
Read Galatians 4:8–18 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. Galatians 4:17 One of the marks of a false teacher is that he tries to attract other people’s...
Read 1 John 2:26–29 Now, dear children, continue in [Christ], so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28 A person who professes to be a Christian but does not live in obedience, love, and truth is either deceived or...