Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:24-31I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep. . . .— 2 Corinthians 11:27In these passages Paul describes many of his sufferings for the cause of Christ. In a way these litanies can sound like boasting, and Paul admits that. But his aim
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:12-20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.— 1 Corinthians 15:20Do you ever use euphemisms? Euphemisms are nice-sounding phrases that we use to talk about something harsh or difficult. For example, we may
Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-14Do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake from your slumber. . . .— Romans 13:11I generally try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. Often, though, I get less than that. And at those times when I’m a litt
Scripture Reading — Acts 20:7-12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.— Acts 20:12Have you ever fallen asleep in a public place, like during a long talk by a speaker or a preacher? Maybe your eyes began drooping, and your head started to nod. Then, despite your best eff
Scripture Reading — Acts 12:5-10Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.— Acts 12:6Sometimes we awake from a dream feeling relieved that it was only a dream. Other times we awake and wish the dream were real.After being locked up in pr
Scripture Reading — Matthew 26:36-46He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.— Matthew 26:40After an exhausting day, have you still had more to do even though it was bedtime? And have you kept on, barely able to stay awake? That’s the kind of day the disciples had when they went with Jes
Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28Do you ever feel completely worn out? Health experts may advise remedies such as eating right, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest. To feel truly rested, many of us
Scripture Reading — Mark 4:35-41Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.— Mark 4:38There are some places—like on airplanes—where I find it impossible to sleep.In our story today, though, we read that Jesus fell into a deep sleep on a small boat that was out on a lake—in the middle of a storm!T
Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:18-25When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him. . . .— Matthew 1:24Have you ever dreamed that an angel commanded you to do something? I’ve had some serious dreams, but I’ve never had a dream where I awoke convinced that God had told me to
Scripture Reading — Daniel 7:15-18“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.”— Daniel 7:15On occasions when I have visited places plagued with malaria, I have taken antimalarial drugs. The lifesaving benefits of these medications certainly outweigh
Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:10-20The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.— Ecclesiastes 5:12Ecclesiastes connects sleep with a sense of peace and satisfaction in life. These blessings are linked with honest w
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 6:6-11How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?— Proverbs 6:9Years ago, when we lived in Taiwan, we awoke one morning to find a column of ants marching across our house, from one end to the other. Ants are truly amazing. They seem s
