MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 5:33-48
Acts 8:1-25
Psalm 13
Genesis 31

Matthew 5:33-48
You hurt me, and I respond with an equal vengeance. That was the “eye for an eye” reasoning of the day. Imagine the impact of Jesus’ words to forego any kind of retaliation or to do more than was asked in helping or serving others. And then, on top of all that, Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies. Obviously, this is not the warm and fuzzy love of a grandchild, but still . . . love your enemies? Jesus is demanding character that rises above the norm; a character that raises the bar of human expectations and points others to Jesus Christ. 

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 6:1-15
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 14
Genesis 32–33

Acts 8:26-40
The evangelist Philip was ready at a moment’s notice to provide an answer for the faith he held dear. The Ethiopian government official was a man of humble character who, on understanding the truth, willingly submitted to the Lord. Many powerful images are captured in the act of baptism, one of which is the perfect picture of submission. One cannot baptize himself, he can only submit to baptism. Similarly, we cannot save ourselves, we can only submit to God’s grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And once buried with him in baptism, the future becomes hopeful. No wonder the Ethiopian returned home rejoicing!

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 6:16-24
Acts 9:1-19
Psalm 15
Genesis 34–35

Psalm 15
In contrast to the ungodly fool depicted in Psalm 14, Psalm 15 highlights the righteous qualities and virtuous behavior of the godly person. Beautiful in its brevity, these five verses capture the essence of one who desires to please God. Scripture commands us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but just exactly how do we love God? We know how to demonstrate love for family and friends, but how do we demonstrate it for God? Memorize this Psalm and put it into practice and you will never be shaken, always welcome in the Lord’s presence.

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 6:25-34
Acts 9:20-43
Psalm 16
Genesis 36

Matthew 6:25-34
Leo Buscaglia wrote, “We fret over those things we cannot change but wish we could, so we keep trying without results.” Such is the futility of worry. The American Institute on Stress observed numerous emotional and physical disorders linked to stressful worry including depression, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disorders, insomnia, and a host of viral linked illnesses. If you worry about the future, you’ll miss the joy of today. Trust God to handle your tomorrows and live life to the fullest right now.

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 7:1-14
Acts 10:1-23
Psalm 17
Genesis 37–38

Genesis 37–38
Often referred to as the Christ of the Old Testament, Joseph is the epitome of how a godly person copes with life’s injustices in a broken world. Consider all he had endured by age 17: the death of his mother while still a boy, a father who spoiled him and made his favoritism obvious to the rest of the family, brothers who hated him and sold him into slavery. His dreams were prophetic but only got him into trouble as a teenager. Despite it all, he became a great leader. Perhaps God is preparing you for greatness through the injustices of life.

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 7:15-29
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 18:1-24
Genesis 39–40

Acts 10:24-48
Unless you are of Jewish heritage, this passage should top your list of favorites. Chapter 10 is the Gentile Pentecost. This is our story of how salvation was extended to us who are not blood descendants of Abraham. I marvel at the courage of Peter who stepped way out of his comfort zone to follow God’s lead. I admire Cornelius who, contrary to his culture, sought to worship the true God. As his 21^st century counterparts, we would do well to imitate his character: devout, prayerful, generous, and God-fearing. If all Christians lived with such devotion, the church today would be viewed with deeper respect.