Solomon, Rehoboam, and Jeroboam all treated God’s promises like something they could improve on or control on their own terms only to encounter the pavement courtesy of the black ice of sin. Our efforts end like that, but God’s faithfulness outlasts our failures.
We all want our lives to mean something—to make a name for ourselves that people will actually remember. The builders at Babel in Genesis 11 wanted exactly that, and the choice they made raises an uncomfortable question for anyone who’s ever chased significance: is the tower you’re building any different from theirs?
The holidays can bring back the empty chair, the family hurt, the memories of when everything felt joyful—and before long, sorrow and anxiety begin to take over. The words of Romans 8 help us in times when grief feels stronger than truth.
It’s a relief when a warning light disappears—unless the problem under the hood is still there. In Matthew 9:35–36, Jesus heals sickness, preaches the good news of the kingdom, and looks with compassion on people who are helpless and without a shepherd. What does his compassion say about the immediate burdens we bring to him and the deeper need we cannot afford to ignore?
Asking God what His will is can quietly become another way of living for yourself—always scanning the horizon for the next big thing He has for you, while the world shapes you into its own image in the meantime. Romans 12:1–2 pushes back on that, calling us to something that starts not with where we’re going, but with what we’re willing to offer right where we are.
As we turn to Psalm 110 and run into the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, we are reminded of an important truth about how Jesus represents us.
We turn to our own plans and end up missing out on both God’s plans for us and understanding Him. Psalm 2 helps us to think about who is really in control and how we can find peace in His control.
What do we think of when we wake up? Psalm 5 suggests we change up our first thoughts of the morning to something more refreshing.