Daily Readings

October 22 (Daily reading: Matthew 18) Sometimes we need to recapture the child who lives within us. Not to be childish, as the disciples were when they asked Jesus, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (v. 1). The child in us can make us want to be first. To answer them, […]

October 21 (Daily reading: Matthew 17; Mark 9) When Jesus and three disciples returned from His Transfiguration on the mountain, they found the other disciples were experiencing—and failing—a test of their faith. A man had brought his son to Jesus to cast an evil spirit out of him. When Jesus heard that the disciples had […]

October 20 (Daily reading) Matthew 16; Mark 8. When Jesus said, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Mt. 16:6), He was referring to their false teaching. The disciples did not understand and thought that He mentioned “leaven” because they had forgotten to bring bread. He spoke of their lack […]

October 19 (Daily reading: Matthew 15; Mark 7) “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men” (Mk. 7:8). That one phrase says so much! In our country’s legalized position on abortion, or on sexuality, have we not placed human tradition over God’s word? And in our individual practices, are we guilty […]

October 18 (Daily reading: John 6) Jesus often taught by doing the unexplainable. All four gospels give the story of feeding the five thousand. The disciples saw only the problem of a large hungry crowd, but Jesus challenged them to find a solution. When He fed the crowd by multiplying five loaves of bread and […]

October 17 (Daily reading: Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9) This lesson is adapted from my book, “We Love Because God First Loved Us,” pages 41-42. In Luke 9, Jesus presented three conditions of discipleship: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Christ (v. 23). He then talked about three potential disciples and […]