Today’s Walk in the Word

You became a model to all the believers.                       —1 Thessalonians 1:7 In 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, Paul sketches a three-panel picture of authentic Christianity: “You turned to God from idols / to serve the living and true God / and to wait for his Son […]

We all stumble in many ways.                  —James 3:2 The longest winning streak in college sports history ended on January 18, 2012, when Trinity College’s squash team lost to Yale after 252 consecutive victories. It was Trinity’s first loss in fourteen years. Coach Paul Assaiante received an email […]

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.              —Ecclesiastes 1:2 Solomon is the perfect portrait of opulence. He had it all. In a single sentence, he summarized it: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Eccl 2:10). Even so, he came up empty: “Vanity of […]

You have heard of Job’s perseverance.                           —James 5:11 Most of us grew up hearing the phrase, “She has the patience of Job,” to describe someone who calmly faced adversity. My reading of the book of Job shows him to be far from […]

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart.    —Psalm 9:1 Izaak Walton was thankful for what he had—but most of all, for what he didn’t have: “Every misery that I miss is a new mercy,” he said. When Walton heard of people afflicted with terrible diseases or victims of horrible accidents, […]

I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.             —Psalm 139:14 On the table is a bowl. In it are ten slips of paper, numbered from 1 to 10. If you reach in and draw one slip, the chance of drawing number 1 on the first try […]

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.                        —Colossians 3:15 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24). This is a day of choices. God chose to make it. You choose how to […]

I know whom I have believed.             —2 Timothy 1:12 The apostle Paul was transparent about his spiritual weaknesses (Rom 7:14–25). But there is magnetic power in his certainties. He speaks of them with unshakable confidence: I know whom I have believed (2 Tm 1:12) I know that the Spirit […]

The body is not made up of one part but of many.  —1 Corinthians 12:14 Charlie Grimm spent most of his baseball career as player and then manager of the Chicago Cubs. A scout for the Cubs called Charlie one day, so excited he could hardly talk. “Charlie, I’ve been watching the greatest young pitcher […]

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.                             —John 15:13 When a 200 mph tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri, Bethany Lansaw’s husband, Don, covered her body with his to protect her from flying […]