MONDAY

Reading for Today:

Micah 4, 5
Peace isn’t really a feeling. It’s more like a person. That’s why people can be at peace when they are nearing death. That’s why people can be at peace even when their lives are full of suffering and turmoil. Peace isn’t so much of a feeling as it is a person. “And he will be our peace,” the prophet Micah said in Micah 5:5. That means we don’t need easy, pain-free lives to have peace. We can have peace in the midst of trials because all we really need to have peace is Jesus.

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:

John 19:1-16
What would have happened if Pilate had refused to hand Jesus over? Because it was God’s plan for Jesus to die for our sins, Jesus would have still died. But how might the rest of Pilate’s life been different if he hadn’t been the one to do it? Pilate took the easy way out. He could have refused to give in to the religious leaders, but he didn’t and likely regretted that decision for the rest of his life. We too will have opportunities either to stand up for Jesus or give in to the pressure of those around us. Let’s stand our ground!

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:

Revelation 14
Many young children love to play “Follow the Leader.” In this game, the players mimic the actions of the leader. As Christians, our job is to follow the Leader too. In Revelation 14:4, the believers who were redeemed from the earth were those who followed the Lamb wherever he went. They didn’t follow him only when it was convenient or popular. They didn’t follow him only when their friends followed also. And they didn’t follow only when it was easy. They followed all the time, wherever he went, even when it meant they faced ridicule or persecution. 

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:

John 19:28-37
Do you ever feel like you need to do something to make up for your sins? You know you have been forgiven, but still you feel guilty because of what you’ve done. Or maybe, even though in your head you know you are forgiven, you still feel like you need to prove yourself by your good behavior. When Jesus died on the cross, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). There is nothing more you need to do to be forgiven. It is done. He has accomplished all that is necessary. Your sins are not too great. Your debt is paid. 

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:

Job 38:1-21
God didn’t have to answer Job. He is God, after all. He could have allowed Job and his friends to continue arguing among themselves about why Job was suffering. But God didn’t do that. He spoke up. True, he never fully explained why Job was suffering, but he did show up. Out of his love for Job, he came to him. Interestingly enough, he answered “out of the storm” (Job 38:1). Isn’t that how he often speaks to us too: through the storms of our lives? I wonder, though, if we are ready to hear him when he speaks.

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:

Zephaniah 3
Do you really believe God loves you? It’s easy to say God loves us in a generic way or to sing “Jesus Loves Me” to a child at night, but do you really believe it about yourself? Do you really believe the God who created the universe loves you? Zephaniah 3:17 says, “He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” God is delighted with us. He is so delighted, in fact, he sings over us. God really does love you.