Read Ezekiel 18:1 through 20:49 Aliesha had purposely sat alone in the college cafeteria to study for her French final. Distracted by conversations around her, she hadn’t even read her first page of notes. At the table next to her, Brenda bragged about shoplifting some earrings. Behind her, Melissa angrily spouted that her boyfriend had cheated on her. On the …
Everlasting Hope
Read Lamentations 1:1 through 5:22 A news program that aired an episode entirely of good news would shock its viewers, and probably be unrealistic. From life experience, we know that people daily suffer loss, distrust, and discord. Human need is like soil that cannot be fully hydrated. There is always more parched ground. Since everyday struggles are ongoing and universal, …
Power or Position?
Read Jeremiah 38:1 through 40:16 Dogs don’t care about titles. They aren’t impressed by lineage or money. They do, however, seem to be better- than-average judges of character. In a household full of people, they figure out whom they can count on. The titles of master or owner mean nothing to them. Dogs tend to evaluate people based on their …
Our Shepherd
Read John 10:1–21 It was a cool day in the autumn of 1975. The flock of sheep spread from one side of the two-lane Lebanese road to the other. The picturesque view was beautiful with a brisk breeze, the white sheep, green hillside, high blue sky, and bright sunshine. But something was amiss. There was no shepherd—just sheep meandering along …
If You Only Knew
Read John 4:1 through 5:47 There are six essentials for any good news story: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Rudyard Kipling called them “six honest serving men” who taught him all he knew. The gospel is the greatest news story the world has ever heard. The “who” is Jesus; the “what” is the plan of salvation; the “when” is “when …