MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 24:1-14
Romans 6:15-23
Psalm 56
Numbers 21–22

Numbers 21–22
In John 3:14, Jesus talked about the bronze snake: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” The book of Numbers describes how the Israelite people were plagued with venomous snakes. Today, we are plagued with sin. In Numbers, the people looked to a snake on a pole to save them. Now, we look to a man on a cross. I wonder how many of the Israelites failed to look at the snake because it didn’t make sense to them. I wonder too how many people today won’t look to Jesus for a similar reason.

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 24:15-35
Romans 7:1-12
Psalm 57
Numbers 23–25

Psalm 57
David likely wrote Psalm 57 when he was hiding in a cave from King Saul (1 Samuel 22-24). He, more than most people, understood what it felt like to be surrounded by enemies “whose tongues are sharp swords.” The next time you feel surrounded by people who say unfair, hurtful things about you, remember what David did. He didn’t fight back but instead brought his complaint before the Lord. He understood that the best thing to do in a conflict was not to talk to the enemy but rather to talk to the Lord first.

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 24:36-51
Romans 7:13-25
Psalm 58
Numbers 26–27

Matthew 24:36-51
When we think of keeping watch, we might imagine someone standing by a window. Perhaps we picture a child looking intently down a driveway. We might imagine a dog waiting by the front door. When Jesus tells his followers to keep watch, however, he doesn’t intend for us to stare into the sky and do nothing until he returns. Instead, he wants us to do what he’s already asked us to do: love him, love others, serve those around us, and tell the world the good news. Keeping watch—at least for Jesus’ followers—is not a sedentary activity.

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 25:1-13
Romans 8:1-17
Psalm 59
Numbers 28–30

Romans 8:1-17
Sometimes, we mistakenly assume we can’t control our thoughts. We act as though we’re powerless. That’s not the message of the New Testament. Paul says, both in this text and in others, that we do have control over our thoughts. In Colossians 3:2, he encourages us to set our “minds on things above.” In Romans 8:5 he says that “those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” What we “set our minds on” is within our control, so the question is, what have we set them on today?

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 25:14-30
Romans 8:18-39
Psalm 60
Numbers 31–32

Matthew 25:14-30
The man in this parable said the same thing to the servant who earned five talents and the servant who earned two: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23). He didn’t care that the one who earned two didn’t earn five. He wasn’t disappointed, because the amount earned wasn’t his greatest concern. Instead, his greatest concern was faithfulness. He wanted his servants to be faithful with what he gave them. Likewise, God is more concerned with our faithfulness than our output. Our job is to be faithful; his job is to bring a harvest.

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 25:31-46
Romans 9:1-18
Psalm 61
Numbers 33–36

Numbers 33–36
God told the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan before they took the land (Numbers 33:52). He told them this because he knew if they didn’t, the Canaanites would lead them astray. God didn’t want his people to get comfortable with the sin around them. Comfort eventually leads to acceptance. In a similar way, God doesn’t want us to get comfortable with the sin in our lives. Just as God asked the Israelites to drive the Canaanites away, God asks us to drive away sin from our lives. Are there sins in your life you’re a little too comfortable with?