Daily Scripture, P. O. Box 2954, Ann Arbor, MI (2026)

09/02/2024

9/1/2024 (Lord's) Who Is This Teacher? (1 Kings 10:1-11:13)

https://moodybible.canto.com/direct/document/std30nb40h1qb4jk5gh341e72f/V3gOtT9E6jIKvRjscRegXyfNQWM/original?content-type=application%2Fpdf&name=TIW_SEP_2024.pdf

If you’re on social media even a little bit, you have probably seen someone “canceled.” This happens when a person (or company, brand, etc.) says or does something deemed unacceptable by one group or another, and then “the offender” is boycotted.

Imagine if we applied that same scrutiny to people in the Bible! Take Solomon, for example. While the “Teacher” who authored Ecclesiastes (Eccl. 1:1) is not specifically identified, many scholars consider him to be Solomon, the son of King David. In 1 Kings 3, Solomon was granted a request from God. He asked for wisdom (not wealth) to lead His people, and the Lord blessed him with both. Solomon constructed the Temple David longed to build, and he reigned over Israel in Jerusalem for four decades. The author of Kings calls him “wiser than anyone else” (1 Kings 3:12), and credits him with writing 3,000 proverbs and over a thousand songs.

Yet, this same Solomon amassed enormous amounts of gold and silver, imported horses from Egypt, and married 700 women (in addition to 300 concubines)—thus defying the Lord’s mandate for kings in Deuteronomy 17. Solomon’s sexual sin led to his downfall—his wives “turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4). Because of this, the Lord said, “I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you” (v. 11).

Solomon’s history complicates our reading of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. You may wonder: Should these books be ignored based on his reputation? Or should we just overlook his sin? Neither is appealing! But there is another way: Knowing Solomon’s story helps us appreciate more fully the divine authorship of Scripture and reminds us that all of us—except our Lord Himself—have the propensity toward great sin.

08/11/2024

August 2024: Seeking Answers (The Book of Job)

In Job 1, the Lord asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” This question was addressed to the adversary. However, as students of God’s Word, we should “also” consider Job. This month we will do more than consider him as a person, we will also walk with him through his pain.

https://moodybible.canto.com/direct/document/p9km0ctkk137rbmu3n8892qn3f/vEzD8HuKFAHUeAesMY0wcU7XuNI/original?content-type=application%2Fpdf&name=TIW_AUG_2024.pdf

07/01/2024

07/01/2024 (Mon.) God's Promise (Genesis, Part 2)

Today we begin our study of the second half of the book of Genesis. Please visit the following link to download the daily devotional from Today In The Word.
Please keep up your daily devotion with the Word, meditate and live it, and share your applications with others. Blessings!

https://moodybible.canto.com/direct/document/dva4cet7u92tb8j7dn1sqktg0f/hnjAG-1rnmPgdfXCnAznu7QnmaI/original?content-type=application%2Fpdf&name=TIW_JUL_2024.pdf

06/30/2024

6/30/2024 (Lord's) Assurance of God's Presence (Matthew 28:16-20)

As we come to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we see the resurrected Jesus gather His disciples on a mountain in Galilee (v. 16). Here He delivers what has been called the Great Commission. This was a significant crossroad for the disciples, and they would rely on Jesus to help them with their next steps.

Jesus challenges them to step out of their comfort zone, to “go and make disciples of all nations” (v. 19), and then, He gives them the assurance they need. He promises His presence: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (v. 20). Jesus’ promise brings both comfort and strength to His disciples. He assures them, and us by extension, that no matter what challenges we face in following Him, we are not alone.

Matthew at the beginning of the Gospel stated that Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (1:23). Now in the last verse we come full circle. This last chapter about Jesus’ death and resurrection echoes many of the themes that were introduced in Jesus’ birth narrative—not only that God is with us, but that Gentiles would be included in God’s plan (v. 19).

As Christ’s followers, we are to venture out into the world, to make disciples and to baptize in His name, all with the comfort of the Lord’s unending presence. As we step out in obedience, let us take to heart the blessing of the Lord’s presence “with us” not only for today but for all our tomorrows as well.

Are you ready to obey God’s command to “go and make disciples”? How does the assurance of His presence help you to take your next step?

06/29/2024

6/29/2024 (Sat.) His Presence At The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10)

This month we have been focusing on the presence of God theme in the Gospel of Matthew. But in an ironic twist the theme of the Lord’s presence in this passage is highlighted by His absence (v. 26)! The absence of Jesus’ body from the grave is not only a powerful demonstration of the Lord’s victory over sin and death but is also a valuable lesson about His presence.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary visited Jesus’ tomb at dawn (v. 1). To their shock, an angel of the Lord was present, having rolled back the stone (v. 2). It was such a shocking site that all those present, including not just the women but also trained Roman guards, quivered in fear (vv. 4–5).

Next, the angel gave the women a message that changed everything: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (v. 6). We can be sure that emotions collided in these women’s hearts. Jesus, whom they loved and thought they had lost, was alive! Overwhelmed with both fear and great joy, they ran to deliver the good news to the disciples (v. 8). As they were running away from the tomb it was then that the Lord personally appeared to them, and they clasped His feet and worshiped Him (v. 9).

The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful reminder of God’s presence. The Lord is with us, and His presence is our ultimate source of hope, joy, and life!

What did the women expect to find during their visit to the tomb? What did they discover instead? How does this scene bolster your own faith?

06/28/2024

6/28/2024 (Fri.) God's Presence At The Cross (Matthew 27:45-55)

Imagine the profound reaction of those present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Witnessing this event no doubt shook onlookers to the core, leaving them both numb and awestruck. Matthew records one such reaction of the Roman centurion. In the face of Jesus’ death, the man was struck by God’s presence, leading him and others present to declare, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (v. 54).

At the cross, God’s presence was both obscured and powerfully revealed. It was obscured in the darkness and in Jesus’ cry of abandonment. Verse 45 says that “darkness came over all the land.” At the same time, it was revealed in the earth-shaking events that followed Jesus’ last breath when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open” (v. 51). It was also seen in the transformative impact of Jesus’ death on those who witnessed it (v. 54).

The crucifixion narrative in Matthew 27:45–55 isn’t easy to process, but it bears a potent truth about God’s presence. God is there even during the deepest darkness and the most excruciating pain. As we contemplate the cross today and the powerful events surrounding Jesus’ death, let us be awestruck by God’s profound love and presence. May this reverence move us to declare, like the centurion did, our faith in God.

What did the Roman centurion declare about Jesus? Why did he say what he did? What things led you to declare that Jesus is the Son of God?

06/28/2024

6/27/2024 (Thurs.) Sharing His Presence (Matthew 26:17-30)

In our passage Jesus has such a farewell dinner. What is usually called the “Last Supper” was part of a Passover celebration (v. 17). During the meal Jesus breaks the bread (v. 26), representing His body which was to be sacrificed on the cross, and pours out a cup of wine (v. 27), symbolizing His blood to be shed. He then shares these elements with His disciples, inviting them to partake in this ritual meal as object lessons of His sacrifice, His love, His presence. The whole meal provided a remembrance of His presence among them, but at this point Jesus states that He will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until they are all physically reunited again in the Father’s kingdom (v. 29).

When we participate in communion, not only is the Lord the original host of this ordinance, but He also directs our attention to a future time of observance when we will all be together with Him and He will once again partake of the fruit of the vine in celebration of our physical unification with Him in the “Father’s kingdom” (v. 29).

The Last Supper serves as a powerful symbol of God’s love and presence. Jesus, on the eve of His crucifixion, chooses to dine with His disciples, sharing with them not only the Passover meal but ultimately Himself. In His words and actions, He reveals God’s intimate, sacrificial love for humanity and the reality of the Lord’s presence in our midst.

What do the elements of the Lord’s Supper represent? What does it mean when we participate in a communion service?

06/26/2024

6/26/2024 (Wed.) God's Presence in Watchfulness (Matthew 24:42-51)

In Matthew 24:42–51, Jesus calls us to a state of constant watchfulness in the light of His coming physical presence. Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of being prepared. Like a homeowner who doesn’t know when a thief might strike, we must stay alert (v. 43). We are encouraged to keep our spiritual house in order and stay alert for the signs of His coming.

In addition, the parable of the two servants urges us to use our God- given gifts wisely and responsibly (vv. 45–51). The faithful and wise servant, who is ready when his master returns, is contrasted with the wicked servant, who lets his guard down. Jesus states that the master “will come on a day when he does not expect him” (v. 50).

The Lord’s presence is not just a comforting past experience or simply a future hope. Rather, it’s an everyday reality that calls us to a higher standard of living in the present. In the busyness of our lives, we may be tempted to become like the unwise servant, complacent, and negligent of our duties. But the Lord calls us to live differently—to stay awake, keep watch, and act responsibly.

Living with anticipation transforms us. It turns our waiting into watchfulness, our complacency into alertness, and our responsibilities into acts of faithfulness, not rituals. Ask yourself today how eagerly you are looking for the return of Jesus. Seek tangible ways that the Lord’s presence can empower you to stay awake, live wisely, and remain faithful.

What changes would you make if you knew the Lord would return today? What would shift? What would you stop? What would you begin?

06/25/2024

6/25/2024 (Tues.) God's Presence in Serving Others (Matthew 25:31-46)

Here, in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (vv. 31–40), Jesus surveys all the people from all nations, separating them into two groups: sheep and goats (v. 31). One is given “eternal punishment” the other “eternal life” (v. 46). Jesus uses a unique method to tell one group from the other; and He identified with “the least of these”—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner (vv. 35–39). When we act in love to them, we encounter the living Lord Himself. By neglecting them, we turn our backs on Jesus and risk incurring future punishment.

Jesus calls us to be people of compassion. God’s presence is not only found in expected places, for example where we regularly meet to worship with other believers, but also through our humble acts of kindness toward others. We are to cultivate a heart of compassion toward “the least of these” (v. 40) because when we do reach out to those in need around us, we are doing it as if the recipient was Jesus Himself. The words of Jesus are both sobering and enlightening: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (v. 40). Jesus’ presence, then, is intricately intertwined with our actions and interactions with others, especially those on society’s margins.

What was your reaction to the parable of the Sheep and the Goats? Which group better reflects your actions toward others? How can you cultivate a heart of compassion?

06/25/2024

6/24/2024 (Mon.) God's Yearning Presence (Matthew 23)

In Matthew 23, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, longing to gather its inhabitants as a hen gathers her chicks, but they were unwilling (v. 37). This vivid imagery reflects the depth of God’s longing to protect and comfort His people. It’s a poignant reminder of God’s constant, enveloping presence that we sometimes resist. Jesus agonized over their rejection, yet His arms remained open and His protective presence ever available.

The passage is filled with warnings regarding the Pharisees. Again and again, Jesus calls them “hypocrites,” “snakes,” and a “brood of vipers!” (vv. 13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29, 33). He warns of the results of their blatant disobedience. The passage concludes with Jesus’ prophetic words: “For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (v. 39). This is not only a prediction of Jerusalem’s dark future because they were not willing to embrace Him but also an invitation open to any who will recognize and welcome Him.

There is a striking contrast between the strong words aimed at the Jewish leaders and the warm, intimate image of a hen gathering her chicks (v. 37). We are reminded of God’s intimate, protective, and loving embrace—a holy longing for us to be in fellowship with Him. It’s a call to come home, to step into the circle of His love, and to experience the fullness of life within His presence.

What does the image of God as a parental bird mean to you? What does this image teach us about our relationship with Him?

06/23/2024

6/23/2024 (Lord's) Eternity in His Presence (Matthew 22:23-33)

In Matthew 22:23–33, Jesus confronts those who were misunderstanding something important. The Sadducees were a wealthy and powerful religious group. They believed in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and emphasized individual free will. They also did not believe in life after death, so their question to Jesus was dishonest. They questioned Jesus about marriage, hoping to trap Him (v. 23). Their question revealed that they did not fully comprehend what happened after death and what it would be like to be in God’s presence for eternity. Jesus responded by affirming the reality of the resurrection and the eternality of God’s presence. He corrected their misunderstanding: “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (v. 32). The apostle Paul tackled this issue in 1 Corinthians: “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (20:15).

The Sadducees needed guidance and clarity. God’s presence is not limited to our earthly existence; it’s eternal, encompassing both the now and the everlasting. His presence spans beyond our temporal understanding into an eternal reality. This knowledge should inspire awe, devotion, and joy in us and motivate us to dig deeper into His Word and seek to live more fully in His presence.

Jesus was critical of those who “do not know the scriptures or the power of God” (v. 29). It reminds us not to take lightly the privilege we have been given of reading and learning from God’s Word.

What did the Sadducees believe? Why were they wrong? What are some popular ideas about God and eternity in our culture that are antibiblical?

06/22/2024

6/22/2024 (Sat.) Living in the Presence of a Just God (Matthew 21:1-17)

The welcome Jesus received was dramatic and significant. “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,” and the people greeted Him, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (vv. 8–9).

But the next scene was not so positive. When Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem, He found it had been transformed into a bustling marketplace. He refers to it as a “den of robbers,” far from its true purpose as a “house of prayer” (v. 13). His response is immediate and dramatic. Jesus overturns the money changers’ tables and drives out those buying and selling (v. 12). Following this, the blind and the lame came to Him and He healed them (v.14). Through His actions, Jesus was reasserting that the Temple is to be a space for healing and communion with God, not for exploitation and personal economic advancement.

The Temple scene dramatically displays the power and righteousness of God’s presence. It calls us to honor what is sacred, and to have reverence for God’s presence in “His house.” Just as He healed the blind and the lame, Jesus invites us into the healing and wholeness that only His presence can bring. For believers, the presence of God is to be respected as a sacred space, a peaceful refuge from the clamor of the world. Let’s treasure His presence, honor Him with our prayers today, and lay aside our personal agendas.

What things in your life make “quiet time” with Jesus difficult? How can you prioritize and protect your time with the Lord?

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