Today’s Walk in the Word

Of all the commandments, which is the most important?         —Mark 12:28 Jewish Teachers of the law concocted 613 commandments out of the original ten: 248 Dos and 365 Don’ts. A lawyer asked Jesus to comb through them and single out the most important one. The most important one, answered Jesus, is […]

She did what she could.        —Mark 14:8 When Mary anointed Jesus, “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (Jn 12:3). Not just that house—the whole wide world has sniffed that scent, for Jesus said, “Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be […]

What she has done will also be told, in memory of her.         —Mark 14:9 Today we play a part in fulfilling a promise of Jesus—the promise that a certain dear lady would never be forgotten. Her name was Mary. She did a lovely thing when she anointed the body of Jesus […]

The heart is deceitful above all things.                      —Jeremiah 17:9 “All of you will desert me,” Jesus told his disciples. Not me, protested Peter: “Not even if I have to die with you! . . . And all the others vowed the same” (Mk 14:31 NLT). […]

[I]t is not for man to direct his steps. —Jeremiah 10:23 Your toddler thought you were messing up, mismanaging her world; when she was a teenager she was sure of it. You’re God’s kid, viewing the world from a child’s perspective. When you fuss and fume, grumble and gripe, you are implying that God is […]

Do you believe that I am able to do this?                   —Matthew 9:28 Two blind men trailed Jesus, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” “Do you believe I can do this?” Jesus asked. “Yes, Lord.” “Let it be done for you according to your faith,” […]

He who promised is faithful.        —Hebrews 10:23 Have you ever been the victim of a broken promise by a company, a salesperson, or an individual? In America, there is a divorce every thirty-six seconds; 2,400 per day. That’s a lot of broken “until death do us part” promises. When God makes a […]

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.      —Matthew 6:21 Jesus warned about the dangers of wealth but didn’t condemn everyone who had it. Mary, John Mark’s mother, was apparently well-heeled. She owned a spacious house, large enough to accommodate Christians who gathered there for worship (Acts 12:12). Zacchaeus, a rich […]

Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.   —Genesis 5:27 When we preachers cite today’s text, we sometimes say something like this: “Methuselah lived longer than any person in history. But all he did was live and die. In the long interval from birth to death, he did nothing worth recording.” Really? Who were […]

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.                  —1 Thessalonians 4:11 Ida Tarbell was an American teacher, author, and journalist who pioneered investigative journalism. She is best known for taking on John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil Company, resulting in the Supreme Court decision in 1911 […]