Is the Universe a Perfectly Safe Place? I recently heard a commencement speaker quote Dallas Willard: “The universe is a perfectly safe place for us to be.” It is one of those sentences that lands with promise. I can feel what it is reaching …
TODAY'S DEVOTION: He Gives Us the Freedom of Grace In today’s readings—Deuteronomy 16–18, Psalm 38, and Galatians 2—we are invited to a fresh encounter with the living God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here is the God who liberates slaves, wh…
TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is the God who goes before us. Today we stand beside Mary Magdalene and her companions as the dawn breaks on the first day of the week, their hearts still shadowed by grief and questions. The tomb is meant to be a place of …
TODAY'S DEVOTION: Stamped With God's Image In today’s readings, we journey through the wilderness with the people of Israel and we hear the words of Jesus confronting tricky questions from religious leaders. What emerges is a striking invitati…
Cooperating with the Creator Today’s readings bring us to the edges of promise and responsibility. In Numbers 34–36, Israel receives boundaries for the land, towns for the Levites, and cities of refuge. These details are not random. They show us wh…
Following the Path of Freedom and Vision In today’s readings from Numbers and Mark, we see a God who leads with steady, liberating love. When the tribes of Reuben and Gad consider settling east of the Jordan, Moses reminds them how easy it is to di…
Introduction: Meeting God in Exodus Welcome back to the podcast and the blog. In our most recent episode, we found ourselves standing on holy ground in Exodus 33 and 34. These chapters are not just ancient history or theological background materia…
Run well, fight the good fight. At the close of his life, the Apostle Paul offers us a glimpse of what it means to finish the race in faith. After pouring out his life for Christ, what does Paul most desire? He asks Timothy for three simple thin…
His life is for everyone, and He is impartial. Jesus’ message of life is for all—without favoritism, without boundaries. It transcends nationality, political affiliation, race, and gender. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from—His lo…
What’s It All About? Have you ever found yourself reading through the detailed instructions for the tabernacle in Exodus and wondered, "What’s it all about?" The seemingly endless list of specifications—so specific, so exact—can leave us scratching…
Our message is simple, but how often do we get it wrong? Ananias and Sapphira missed it. The high council and religious leaders missed it too. And, truth be told, many of us miss it as well. Ananias and Sapphira thought the message was about gainin…
He Sees Us and Makes Us Upright As Peter and John passed through the gate called Beautiful, they encountered a man who had been lame from birth. This man wasn’t just seeking charity; he was yearning to be seen. And Peter and John, following the exa…
All hell was breaking loose, yet Luke tells us that the people rested. On the day of Christ’s suffering—when the horrors of Good Friday reached their climax—something extraordinary happened: rest. The women from Galilee, who had followed Jesus and …
Jesus meets these 2 men on the way to a little town outside of Jerusalem. It's a 7 mile walk, and the town is called Emmaus. Their hearts are dejected, their hopes and aspirations dashed, they're broken. Having followed Jesus through his ministry, t…
All hell was breaking loose, and Luke tells us that the people rested. The horrors of this day, the day of Christ's suffering, are culminating in a moment of rest. The women from Galilee who had witnessed Jesus' body being taken down from the cross …
No other witnesses are required. Why do we need any more witnesses? These are the last words shouted out in the trial of Jesus, and they're right. Why do we need any other witnesses? Everything he said that would happen has happened. Everything tha…
Come early and receive from him. Luke tells us at the end of this passage that the crowds gathered at the temple early each morning to hear Jesus. That may be what you're doing right now. Early in the morning, you've come to hear him. We live in a w…
For most of the people in this story, life moves on, business as usual. Even in the midst of their problems, their leprosy, their uncleanness, as they tend their flocks or grind their flour, punch their clocks as it were, it's business as usual. And…
Joseph and the Call to Faithful Stewardship Joseph’s rise to power and his handling of the famine crisis reveal a profound truth about God’s provision and wisdom in times of abundance and scarcity. This timeless story resonates deeply with Jesus’ t…
Come On Home The younger brother decides it’s time to come home. He’s lived life on his own terms, and it hasn’t worked out so well. But when he does come back, he’s greeted with open arms: a kiss, a ring, a coat, and a party. In coming home, he no…
Witness how God reassures Jacob of His divine presence throughout his journey, guiding him toward reconciliation and peace. When Jacob confronts Laban, their escalating conflict ultimately resolves in a covenant of peace marked by a monument of ston…
Whose blessing will you see and receive? God's or yours? Will you force things and be a fool, demand things and be deceived, or will you trust and rest, receive, and believe? Blessing doesn't come from our own hands. The rich fool learned that the …
God's Transforming Presence Throughout today's readings, a powerful message emerges: God is actively transforming the hearts and lives of those who seek Him. This transformation is evident in three profound moments from Scripture. In Genesis, we se…
