Today’s Walk in the Word

The righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands.           —Ecclesiastes 9:1 On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff and lost power in both engines. Knowing he couldn’t get back to LaGuardia, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger piloted the […]

Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.                   —Matthew 19:30 An incumbent politician has a huge advantage: name recognition, media access, fundraising edge. In every area—politics, sports, theater, business—the advantage belongs to the entrenched. We expect winners to keep […]

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? —1 Corinthians 4:7 His arrogance was repugnant. “I’m president of this bank,” he crowed. “My dad was just a lowly barber.” “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth” (Prv 27:2). Eugene Peterson paraphrased 1 Corinthians 4:7 this way: “Isn’t everything you have and everything […]

As he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.         —1 Peter 1:15 The root meaning of the Greek word “holy” (hágios) is “different.” William Barclay notes that the Temple was hágios because it was different from other buildings; the Sabbath was hágios because it was different […]

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.                         —1 John 5:4 Yesterday didn’t go well for her. Neither did the day before that. And today was no better. “It’s always something, isn’t it?” she whined. A second lady—who sat […]

Reckless words pierce like a sword.                —Proverbs 12:18 I learned church vocabulary at an early age—being in church three times a week. My dad told me that even my mealtime prayers included, “Guard, guide, and direct us, as we go to our several places of abode”—though I had […]

You will take me into glory.               —Psalm 73:24 I miss Paul Harvey. He gave us a lift by talking about the good guys and gals—told us about honest people doing honorable things. And there was never a need to wash his mouth out with soap. I miss Erma […]

Teach us to number our days.                 —Psalm 90:12 During World War II, the ALCAN Highway was built to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska, via Canada. It wasn’t paved until the 1960s. Early on, someone posted this sign in British Columbia: “Choose Your Rut Carefully—You’ll Be […]

I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.         —1 Corinthians 14:15 When we assemble for worship, only one person at a time will preach or pray. But we all join in singing—it’s the one thing we do together. Prolific hymnist Charles Wesley hailed the beauty […]

Come near to God and he will come near to you.           —James 4:8 “You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day . . . In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening, ‘If only it were morning!’” (Dt […]