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Showing posts from March 22, 2020

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 29, Sunday FRUIT JUICE Patricia Raybon I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.  John 15:5 John 15:5–8 Judges 7–8; Luke 5:1–16 A thrift-store bargain, the lamp seemed perfect for my home office—the right color, size, and price. Back at home, however, when I plugged in the cord, nothing happened. No light. No power. No juice. No problem, my husband assured me. “I can fix that. Easy.” As he took the lamp apart, he saw the trouble immediately. The plug wasn’t connected to anything. Without wiring to a source of power, the “perfect” pretty lamp was useless. The same is true for us. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” But then he added this reminder: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This teaching was given in a gra...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 28, Saturday THE WOULD-BE WOODCUTTER David H. Roper Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7 2 Kings 6:1–7 Judges 4–6; Luke 4:31–44 One year when I was in college, I cut, stacked, sold, and delivered firewood. It was a hard job, so I have empathy for the hapless logger in the 2 Kings 6 story. Elisha’s school for prophets had prospered, and their meeting place had become too small. Someone suggested they go into the woods, cut logs, and enlarge their facilities. Elisha agreed and accompanied the workers. Things were going remarkably well until someone’s axhead fell into the water (v. 5). Some have suggested that Elisha simply probed in the water with his stick until he located the axhead and dragged it into sight. That would hardly be worth mentioning, however. No, it was a miracle: The axhead was set in motion by God’s hand and began to float so the man could retrieve it (vv. 6...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 27, Friday PRECIOUS DEPARTURE Remi Oyedele Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.  Psalm 116:15 Psalm 116:12–19 Judges 1–3; Luke 4:1–30 Sculptor Liz Shepherd’s 2018 exhibition  The Wait  was described by a  Boston Globe  correspondent as “evok[ing] the precious, exposed, and transcendent in life.” Inspired by the time Shepherd spent at her dying father’s bedside, the exhibition attempts to convey yearning, the emptiness of loss, and the fragile sense that loved ones are just out of reach. The idea that death is precious might seem counterintuitive; however, the psalmist declares, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (Psalm 116:15). God treasures the death of His people, for in their passing He welcomes them home. Who are these faithful servants (“saints” nkjv) of God? According to the psalmist, they are those who serve God in grat...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 26, Thursday SEEING SALVATION Winn Collier All people will see God’s salvation.  Luke 3:6 Luke 3:1–6 Joshua 22–24; Luke 3 At fifty-three, the last thing Sonia expected to do was abandon her business and her country to join a group of asylum seekers journeying to a new land. After gangs murdered her nephew and tried to force her seventeen-year-old son into their ranks, Sonia felt escape was her only option. “I pray to God. . . . I will do whatever is necessary,” Sonia explained. “I will do anything so [my son and I] don’t die of hunger. . . I prefer to see him suffer here than end up in a bag or canal.” Does the Bible have anything to say to Sonia and her son—or to so many who have suffered injustice and devastation? When John the Baptist proclaimed the arrival of Jesus, he announced good news to Sonia, to us, to the world. “Prepare the way for the Lord,” John proclaimed (Luke 3:4)...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 25, Wednesday IT’S TIME TO PRAY . . . AGAIN Xochitl Dixon Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  Ephesians 6:18 Ephesians 6:10–20 Joshua 19–21; Luke 2:25–52 I pulled into my driveway, waving at my neighbor Myriam and her little girl Elizabeth. Over the years, Elizabeth had grown accustomed to our spontaneous chats lasting longer than the promised “few minutes” and morphing into prayer meetings. She climbed the tree planted in the center of their front yard, dangled her legs over a branch, and busied herself while her mother and I spoke. After a while, Elizabeth hopped down from her roost and ran to where we stood. Grabbing our hands, she smiled and almost sang, “It’s time to pray . . .  again .” Even at an early age, Elizabeth seemed to understand how important prayer was in our friendship. After encouraging believers to “be strong in the Lord and i...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 24, TUESDAY THE BELL Evan Morgan I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  Matthew 16:18 Matthew 16:13–20 Joshua 16–18; Luke 2:1–24 Jackson dreamed of becoming a US Navy Seal from early childhood—an ambition that led to years of physical discipline and self-sacrifice. He eventually faced grueling tests of strength and endurance including what’s referred to by trainees as “hell week.” Jackson was physically unable to complete the exhaustive training, and reluctantly rang a bell to inform the commander and other trainees of his choice to leave the program. For most, this would feel like failure. But in spite of the extreme disappointment, Jackson was later able to see his military failure as preparation for his life’s work. The apostle Peter experienced his own form of failure. He boldly proclaimed that he would remain loyal to J...

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OUR DAILY BREAD March 23, MONDAY REUNION Alyson Kieda Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people.  Revelation 21:3 Revelation 21:1–7 Joshua 13–15; Luke 1:57–80 The little boy excitedly ripped open a big box from his serviceman daddy, whom he believed wouldn’t be home to celebrate his birthday. Inside that box was yet another giftwrapped box, and inside that box was another that simply held a piece of paper saying, “Surprise!” Confused, the boy looked up—just as his dad entered the room. Tearfully the son leapt into his father’s arms, exclaiming, “Daddy, I missed you” and “I love you!” That tearful yet joyful reunion captures the heart of Revelation 21’s description of the glorious moment when God’s children see their loving Father face to face—in the fully renewed and restored creation. There, “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes.” No longer will we exp...