When One Door Closes | 1 Kings 17:5–7

“So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.” (1 Kings 17:5–7 NLT)   Elijah…

Aligning with the Right Person | 1 Kings 3:1

“Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.” (1 Kings 3:1 NLT)   Solomon’s fall and disillusionment began…

Through Jesus Alone | Romans 5:6

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” (Romans 5:6 NLT)   In the 1800s in London, a little boy wanted to hear the great American evangelist D. L. Moody, who had come to town to preach. This little street urchin made his way across the entire c…

For or Against? | 1 John 4:18–19

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.” (1 John 4:18–19 NLT)   I heard a story about a thief who broke into a ho…

Don’t Play with Fire | Proverbs 6:27–28

“Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet?” (Proverbs 6:27–28 NLT)   When I was a kid, I was fascinated by fire. This fascination prompted me to do some stupid things, like taking little green army men and light…

Finish Well | Ecclesiastes 7:8

“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV)   The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”And Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, “Th…

The Source of Our Strength | 1 Samuel 9:1–2

“There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” (1 Samuel 9:1–2 NLT…

The Right Way to Run | 1 Samuel 13:13–14

“‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to…

You Serve | 1 Samuel 30:24

“Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” (1 Samuel 30:24 NLT)   In 1 Samuel 30, we find the story of David leading his men to victory in battle against Amalekite raiders who had plundered and burned the town of Z…

It’s Not Your Battle | 1 Samuel 17:47

“And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT)   The encounter between David and Goliath is one of the best-known stories in all of Scripture. In fact, it’s so well…