Our Daily Bread

Topic:The Knife Angel Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13–15 John 7:1–27 Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Isaiah 2:1–4 When knife crime rose across the United Kingdom, the British Ironwork Centre came up with an idea. Working with local police forces, the Centre built and placed two hundred deposit boxes …

Topic:The Smiling Jesus Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10–12 John 6:45–71 God . . . has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. Hebrews 1:8–12 If you were to play the part of Jesus in a movie, how would you approach the role? That was the challenge faced by Bruce Marchiano, who played …

Topic:Where Choices Lead Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7–9 John 6:22–44 The Lord watches over the way of the righteous. Psalm 1 With no cell service and no trail map, we had just our memory of a fixed map at the trailhead to guide us. More than an hour later, we finally emerged from the woods into the parking …

Topic:The Gift of Peace Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4–6 John 6:1–21 You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation. Luke 2:25–35 “I believe in Jesus and He is my Savior, and I have no fear of death,” said Barbara Bush, the wife of former US President George H. W. Bush, to …

Topic:What’s in a Name? Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1–3 John 5:25–47  was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph. Luke 3:31; 1 Chronicles 3:4–9 In God’s timing, our son Kofi was born on a Friday, which is exactly what his name means—boy born on Friday. We named him after a Ghanaian friend of ours, a pastor whose …

Topic:Tell Me a Story Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 24–25 John 5:1–24 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. Mark 4:26–34 Once upon a time. Those four words just might be among the most powerful in the entire world. Some of my earliest memories as a boy contain a variation on that potent phrase. My …

Topic:In Tune with the Spirit Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 22–23 John 4:31–54 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16–26 As I listened to the piano tuner work on the elegant grand piano, I thought about the times when I’d heard that very same piano pour out the incredible sound …

Topic:Under Construction Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19–21 John 4:1–30 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:11–18 They just repaved this road, I thought to myself as the traffic slowed. Now they’re tearing it up again! Then I wondered, Why is road construction never done? I mean, I’ve never …

Topic:Open Arms Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 15–16 John 3:1–18 In my distress I called to the Lord . . . . My cry came to his ears. 2 Samuel 22:1–7, 17–20 Saydee and his family have an “open arms and open home” philosophy. People are always welcome in their home, “especially those who are in distress,” he says. …

Topic:Learning from Little Ones Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 13–14 John 2 From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise. Matthew 21:8–16 When a friend and I rode into one of the slums in Nairobi, Kenya, our hearts were deeply humbled by the poverty we witnessed. In that same setting, however, different emotions—like …