Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 8:6-18“Give us today our daily bread.”— Matthew 6:11The college where I serve as chaplain includes many students who are squeezed financially. Some of them have to choose between buying food, paying rent, or paying their tuition and fees. So when they pray, “Give us t
Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 6:8-23What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.— 2 Peter 3:11-12Elisha and his servant were in big trouble. They were surrounded by a hostile army that had come to capture them.
Scripture Reading — Matthew 13:31-35The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.— Romans 14:17On Mondays I bring lunch for students at the college, and we have discussions about life. I once asked, “If you could change three thing
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 6:1-8“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”— Matthew 5:16God is perfectly holy. When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” he is teaching us to pray that we, and all who
Scripture Reading — Matthew 6:5-14Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18In my work as a college chaplain there is rarely a day when I am not asked to pray. Most students also express gratitude when
Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:12-17“And the second [greatest commandment] is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”— Matthew 22:39-40Maybe you’ve heard that one of the first steps a person takes toward becoming a murderer is to dehuma
Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:1-11“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”— Matthew 22:37-38My wife and I recently attended a symphony. Seventy-five musicians on the stage gave their best. The star of th
Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:16-26Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.— Galatians 5:25On our first visit to the Grand Canyon we made our way to the guardrail and peered down to the Colorado River some 5,000 feet below us. Considered to be one of the natural wonders of
Scripture Reading — Luke 17:11-19Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?— Romans 6:1-2We have been saved by grace and not by works. But does that mean we do not have to do good? The answer is clear and decis
Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20“Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. . . .”— Hebrews 12:5-6Jesus teaches that there is a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to life (Ma
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:23-26Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?— 1 Corinthians 10:16It has been said that the Lord’s Supper, or holy communion, is a “vi
Scripture Reading — Romans 6:1-10In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.— Galatians 3:26-27In the church we have two sacraments given to us by Christ: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (holy communion).B
