Our Daily Bread

Topic:An Old Clay Pot Bible in a Year: Exodus 19–20 Matthew 18:21–35 We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I’ve acquired a number of old clay pots over the years. My favorite was excavated from a site dated during Abraham’s time. It’s at …

Topic:Friendship Bench Bible in a Year: Exodus 16–18 Matthew 18:1–20 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11 In the African country of Zimbabwe, war trauma and high unemployment can leave people in despair—until they find hope on a “friendship bench.” Hopeless people can go there to talk with trained “grandmothers”—elderly …

Topic:Guiding Children to God Bible in a Year: Exodus 14–15 Matthew 17 Continue in what you have learned . . . how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:14–15 An outspoken atheist believes it’s immoral for parents to teach their children religion as though it were actually true. He even claims that parents who pass along …

Topic:The Greatest Mystery Bible in a Year: Exodus 12–13 Matthew 16 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15 Before I came to faith in Jesus, I’d heard the gospel preached but wrestled with His identity. How could He offer forgiveness for my sins when the Bible says only God can forgive …

Topic:No Line to Love Bible in a Year: Exodus 9–11 Matthew 15:21–39 I have made you and I will carry you. Isaiah 46:4 Sometimes when my Labrador retriever wants attention, he’ll take something of mine and parade it in front of me. One morning as I was writing at the desk with my back turned, Max snatched my wallet and …

Topic:Waiting with the Turtle Bible in a Year: Exodus 7–8 Matthew 15:1–20 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 Every fall, when the painted turtle senses winter coming, she dives to the bottom of her pond, burying herself in the muck and mud. She pulls into her shell and goes still: …

Topic:Demonstrating Grace Bible in a Year: Exodus 4–6 Matthew 14:22–36 You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 “In moments where tragedy happens or even hurt, there are opportunities to demonstrate grace or to exact vengeance,” the recently bereaved man remarked. “I chose to demonstrate grace.” Pastor Erik Fitzgerald’s …

Topic:Where Are You Headed? Bible in a Year: Exodus 1–3 Matthew 14:1–21 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” 2 Samuel 12:7 In northern Thailand, the Wild Boars youth soccer team decided to explore a cave together. After an hour they turned to go back and found that the entrance to the cave was flooded. Rising water pushed …

Topic:Clean Containers Bible in a Year: Genesis 49–50 Matthew 13:31–58 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred corrodes the container that carries it.” These words were spoken by former Senator Alan Simpson at the funeral of George H. W. Bush. Attempting to describe his dear friend’s kindness, Senator Simpson recalled how the forty-first president …

Topic:When God Intervenes Bible in a Year: Genesis 46–48 Matthew 13:1–30 Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm. Psalm 105:15 In a poem titled “This Child Is Beloved,” Omawumi Efueye, known affectionately as Pastor O, writes about his parents’ attempts to end the pregnancy that would result in his birth. After several unusual events that prevented …