Daily Scripture Blog

Love. We’ve all but worn out the word. This morning I used love to describe my feelings toward my wife and toward peanut butter. Far from identical emotions. I’ve never proposed to a jar of peanut butter (though I have let one sit on my lap during a television show). Overuse has defused the word, leaving it with the punch of a butterfly wing.

Biblical options still retain their starch. Scripture employs an artillery of terms for love, each one calibrated to reach a different target. Consider the one Moses used with his followers: “The LORD chose your ancestors as the objects of his love” (Deut.10:15 NLT).

This passage warms our hearts. But it shook the Hebrews’ world. They heard this: “The Lord binds [hasaq] himself to his people.” Hasaq speaks of a tethered love, a love attached to something or someone. I’m picturing a mom connected by a child harness to her rambunctious five-year-old as the two of them walk through the market. (I once thought the leashes were cruel; then I became a dad.) The strap serves two functions, yanking and claiming. You yank your kid out of trouble and in doing so proclaim, “Yes, he is as wild as a banshee. But he’s mine.”

In this case, God chained himself to Israel. Because the people were lovable? No. “GOD wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors” (Deut. 7:7–8 MSG). God loves Israel and the rest of us because he chooses to.

by Max Lucado

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.

Lamentations 3:25 (New Living Translation)

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:25 (New International Version)

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.

Lamentations 3:25 (The Message)

As we grow in our new authority in Christ, it is sometimes tempting to tell God what to do. Have
you ever detected such an inner attitude? Resist it and wait on him!

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3 (New Living Translation)

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

Psalm 5:3 (New International Version)

Every morning
I lay out the pieces of my life
on your altar
and watch for fire to descend.

Psalm 5:3 (The Message)

How do you greet a new day? Whether you’re thankful for the sunrise or dreading the burdens that come with it, remember that God is waiting to hear from you. Will you let him help you through?

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.

Luke 6:37 (The Message)

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37 (New King James Version)

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37 (New Living Translation)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4 (New American Standard Bible)

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4 (New Living Translation)

Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next.

Romans 15:4 (The Message)