Read Romans 5:1–21 Today’s Scripture: We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3–4 Suffering builds Christian character. The sequence is: suffering— perseverance—character—hope. Our English word tribulation comes from the Latin word tribulum. A tribulum was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it, used...

Read Job 18 Today’s Scripture: The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. Job 18:5 In Bildad’s second speech, his weapon was fear. However, Bildad made two mistakes when he gave this speech. To begin with, he preached it to the wrong man,...

Read 2 Timothy 2:1–13 Today’s Scripture: Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:5 A person who strives as an athlete to win a game and get a crown must be careful to obey...

Read 1 Peter 1:17 Today’s Scripture: Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:17 God will give us many gifts and privileges as we grow in the Christian life, but He will never give...

Read Philippians 1:21–24 Today’s Scripture: To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 James tells us that “a double-minded man [is] unstable in all he does” (James 1:8). Or, to use the old Latin proverb: “When the pilot does not know what port he is...

Read 2 Corinthians 10:7–11 Today’s Scripture: Even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 2 Corinthians 10:8 In my many years of ministry, I have never ceased to be...

Read 1 Peter 3:18–20 Today’s Scripture: [Christ] went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. 1 Peter 3:19–20 Jesus Christ is the only Savior, and the lost world needs to hear...

Read 1 Corinthians 16:1–24 Today’s Scripture: On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2 It is unfortunate...

Read 1 Peter 4:7–11 Today’s Scripture: The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7 My wife and I were in Nairobi, Kenya, where I would be ministering to several hundred national pastors at an Africa Inland...

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 Today’s Scripture: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 When I was a young pastor, it used to embarrass me somewhat to make visits and confront...