Today’s Walk in the Word

He has given each one of us a special gift.                             —Ephesians 4:7 Alpheus Hardy (1815-1887) had his heart set on becoming a minister. The greatest disappointment of his life was that he couldn’t go to college due to failing health. It […]

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.             —Proverbs 27:17 Jesus attached value to pairs: camaraderie, companionship, support. “Calling the Twelve to him, [Jesus] sent them out two by two” (Mk 6:7). Speaking for the twelve, Peter said to Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you” (Mt […]

When I surveyed . . . what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless.          —Ecclesiastes 2:11 He was seemingly indefatigable: up and at ’em before dawn and still going strong long after dusk. He was a whiz at business—and an infrequent presence at home. “I’m selling out and retiring,” he […]

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.                                      —Hebrews 10:23 I’m fascinated with Simeon, that devout old man who had been assured he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Lk 2:25–26). Simeon […]

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. —Isaiah 40:26 James and Kathryn were living happily in our community when they were abruptly transferred to a remote outpost in Alberta, Canada. I stopped by to spend a night with them when a trip took me their way. As we reminisced, a tear trickled down Kathryn’s […]

Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?    —Numbers 14:3 The Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt. Mentally, they built an Egypt-that-never-was, where they feasted like kings every day, at no cost (Nm 11:5). They were memory-fogged about the real Egypt: a nightmare of slavery and the punishing work of […]

He has given us new birth into a living hope.              —1 Peter 1:3 Before becoming religious champions, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, and John Wesley were haunted by their pasts. Awareness of their sinfulness tormented them; thoughts of coming judgment terrified them. It isn’t an uncommon fear: what you once […]

To him be glory in the church.              —Ephesians 3:21 I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode; The church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heav’nly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and […]

Be sensible and watch what you say.                    —Proverbs 10:19 A lady kept badgering her husband to get their kaput lawnmower repaired. Finally, fed up with being ignored, she hatched a plan. When he came home from work, she was sitting in the grass, snipping away with […]

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge.                         —Leviticus 19:18 Revenge makes about as much sense as biting a dog because the dog bit you. Holding a grudge hurts no one except the one who nurses it. It doesn’t damage the person we […]