July 5 Paul begins 1 Corinthians 7 talking about sexual intimacy in marriage. While he prohibits sexual immorality (all sexual behavior outside the context of a one-man-one-woman covenant marital relationship), Paul encourages sexual intimacy within a covenant marital relationship. In fact, he says that giving yourself to your spouse is your conjugal duty. And it’s…
July 4 In yesterday’s Bible reading and devotional, we read Paul’s discussion on sexual immorality. He continues to discussion today in 1 Corinthians 6. But he begins chapter 6 talking about church members litigating against other church members. He says that believers should not take their church disagreements to secular courts. There are two issues…
June 22 Having prayed for the Thessalonians, Paul asks them to pray for him: that God’s Word would spread rapidly and be honored, as it was with them. He asked them to pray that he and his companions would be delivered from wicked and evil people. Then he reminds this church that God is faithful…
January 17 John’s first twelve chapters cover three years of ministry. In a unique twist, chapters 13-18 cover just one night. It’s as if John throws things into slow motion to catch all the details of this fateful night—the night that would be Jesus’ last with His disciples before His violent mocking, scourging, and death…
January 10 Have you ever heard a skeptic claim, “Jesus never claimed to be God?” I agree. Jesus never claimed to be God… well, not in so many words, not in the way we would say it. But if we look at how people responded to what He said and did, there’s no mistaking His…
January 2 John 2 records Jesus’ first miracle: He turned water into wine and not just cheap wine, but fine wine. This was good wine—not grape juice, but fermented, alcoholic wine and lots of it! (120 to 600 gallons, according to John 2:6) “Why would Jesus do such a thing?” someone might ask. Look at…
