From: February 1, 2026
“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”?’” (Matthew 21:42 ESV).
Matthew wrote to a primarily Jewish audience to present Jesus as the promised Messiah and rightful King. In this scene, Jesus responded to the chief priests and Pharisees who had challenged Him with the question, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Rather than defending Himself with human credentials, Jesus pointed them to Scripture. By asking, “Have you never read…?” He exposed both their ignorance and their resistance. The religious leaders claimed to stand on biblical authority, yet they failed to recognize that their rejection of Jesus fulfilled Psalm 118. Throughout His ministry, Jesus used this same kind of question on several occasions demonstrating His settled conviction that Scripture is the authoritative Word of God. Though He lived in perfect submission to the Father, He also consistently upheld the written Word as God’s voice. Their issue was not access to Scripture, but unwillingness to truly read it with submissive hearts.
We may have multiple Bibles in our homes, yet never open them and apply their words to our hearts. Jesus’ question confronts us personally: Have we never read the Scriptures? We read many things each day, but do we read God’s Word with attention, humility, and obedience? If Jesus appealed to Scripture, then we must place ourselves under that same authority. When questions arise about our beliefs, choices, or direction, we can turn to the Bible. We don’t stand over the Word to judge it; we sit under it to be shaped by it. Every time we open the Bible with open hearts, asking the Lord to speak to us through His Word, He is faithful to speak to us . So we answer Jesus’ question by returning again and again to read and study the Scriptures.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for neglecting Your Word or treating it lightly. Give us eager hearts to read, understand, and obey the Scriptures. Help us live joyfully under Your authority and treasure Your voice above all others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 1, 2025
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near” (Exodus 13:17 ESV).
Why did God lead the Israelites the long way around to the Promised Land? He wanted to give them time to grow in their faith before facing warfare with the Philistines. God led them like a coach preparing an athlete for a contest. He put them in front of weaker opponents before taking on a real contender.
Sometimes we struggle with why it’s taking so long to see our God-given dreams come to reality. But perhaps God is preparing us. If He gives us bigger responsibility too soon, we may fail because we are not yet prepared for it. Perhaps God is taking us the long way around for our own benefit.
So don’t become impatient. Enjoy the journey. Keep believing. For God Himself leads those who humbly follow Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we grumble along the way, wondering when we will finally arrive. Help us to enjoy the journey, knowing that You are leading us. Strengthen us for today. We trust You with tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 1, 2024
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV).
The apostle John wrote, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Surely love is the chief trait of God’s character. Yet, the Scripture also teaches that God hates sin. Why? Because sin breaks our relationship with Him and with one another. God hates that which would threaten the relationship He desires with those He loves.
The Lord’s emotions are both infinite and pure. There is no “shadow of turning” (James 1:17) in Him. He loves and He hates. Both passionate extremes are red hot in Him, yet always under His righteous control. Our emotions are mere muddy rivulets compared to the raging torrent of His zeal. Do not make the mistake of limiting God’s love to a narrow band of syrupy sentimentality.
When we speak of God’s love, we must include the terrifying whole of His passion. His love covers the entire spectrum of feeling that produces both a heaven and a hell. Do not think to mute God’s full register of feeling by removing hate from its range. When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, God’s love flows to and through us, so that we begin to love what He loves and hate what He hates. There is no inconsistency in this, for both extremes of feeling are present in Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to love what You love and hate what You hate. Fill us with Your Spirit and Your zeal this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 1, 2023
“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land” (Exodus 13:17 NLT).
Why did God lead the Israelites the long way around to the Promised Land? He wanted to give them time to grow in their faith before facing warfare with the Philistines. God led them like a coach preparing an athlete for a contest. He put them in front of weaker opponents before taking on a real contender.
Sometimes we struggle with why it’s taking so long to see our God-given dreams come to reality. But perhaps God is preparing us. If He gives us bigger responsibility too soon, we may fail because we are not yet prepared for it. Perhaps God is taking us the long way around for our own benefit.
So don’t become impatient. Enjoy the journey. Keep believing. For God Himself leads those who humbly follow Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we grumble along the way, wondering when we will finally arrive. Help us to enjoy the journey, knowing that You are leading us. Strengthen us for today. We trust You with tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 1, 2017
The chief priests and elders were the recognized religious authority in Israel. Yet, Jesus taught without their stamp of approval. Their authority came from men, but Christ’s came from God. If only they would have listened to His teaching, they would have recognized God’s approval upon it. But to listen and believe would have required them to humble themselves and accept His authority as Lord. Isn’t this the real problem for most?
From: February 1, 2016
This explains why the Israelites went the long way around to get to the Promised Land. God felt they needed time to grow in faith before facing warfare. God led them like a coach preparing a fighter for a match. He put them in front of weaker opponents before taking on a real contender. Sometimes we struggle with why it’s taking so long to grow or to see the dreams that God has given us, come to reality. But perhaps God is preparing us. If He gives us the bigger responsibility too soon, we may fail because we are not yet prepared for it. Perhaps God is taking us around the long way.
From: February 1, 2015
Using the “rejected stone” imagery from Psalm 118, Jesus applied it to the Jewish religious leaders and their rejection of Him. Since they had rejected John the Baptist as the forerunner and had also rejected Jesus as the Messiah, they would be rejected by God and His kingdom would be “taken” from them. The chief priests and Pharisees did not bear the “fruits” of the kingdom. They had not repented of sin and accepted the Christ as their Lord and Savior, therefore their rejection of the Son would result in them being rejected by the Father. Even when they heard these words of warning from Jesus, they did not repent, but only became more determined to kill Him. And to what “nation” was the kingdom of God to be given? It was given to a holy nation, a nation without borders or end, to a house made up of those who accepted Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, and became themselves “living stones” in His temple (Read 1 Peter 2:4-10). Those who accept the Son, have life in the kingdom. Those who reject Him, do not (1 John 5:12).