February 2, 2020 | Esther 1:9–12 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue In literature, the “inciting incident” is an event that captures the reader’s attention and moves the story forward. Today, we read about the inciting incident in Esther’s story. Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He […]
February 1, 2020 | Esther 1:1–8 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The opening montage of The Great Gatsby movie from 1974 includes the following images: newspaper clippings from the society column, the façade of a stately mansion, silk monogrammed bedding, and a gold-plated vanity set, lying next to an opulent pocket watch and ring. Each camera […]
January 31, 2020 | Hebrews 13:20–25 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue This month we have been inspired by the examples of fellow believers. Each of them was committed to reading God’s Word and understood its transformative power. Evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody often said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our […]
January 30, 2020 | Acts 10:23–48 DEVOTIONS. This Month’s Issue Mary McLeod Bethune was the 15th of 17 children, the first of her parent’s children born out of slavery. Mary attended Moody Bible Institute in 1895, where she prepared for missionary service to Africa. Unfortunately, her application was denied by a mission board because of […]
January 29, 2020 | Exodus 4:1–12 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Dr. Erwin Lutzer served as senior pastor of Chicago’s Moody Church for 36 years. Preaching has been part of his life for decades, but many may not know that he had to overcome shyness. As a requirement to graduate from high school, students had to […]
January 26, 2020 | John 16:25–33 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Moody’s seventh president, Joseph M. Stowell, received plenty of attention growing up as a pastor’s kid. However, he admits it was not always the good kind of notoriety. Congregants expected the young Stowell to stand up straight and be an example. The young Joe would […]
BLOOD-BOUGHT GRACE January 25, 2020 | Romans 8:28–39 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue John Piper, author, speaker, and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, is known for his passion and zeal. Recently, he spoke on his favorite verse in the Bible, Romans 8:32. “When all is said and done, we owe every good in our […]
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES January 20, 2020 | Matthew 5:43–48 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Today in the United States we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. King is remembered for his non- aggressive demonstrations for civil and social justice, but he should also be remembered as a preacher, pastor, and theologian. His PhD was in […]
GOD, GOD . . . YES! January 19, 2020 | Revelation 19:1–9 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue William Culbertson served as Moody Bible Institute’s fifth president (1948– 1971). The former pastor was known as someone who deeply cared about the person in front of him and gave that person his undivided attention. Although an introvert, he […]
THE VINE AND THE FIG TREE January 18, 2020 | Micah 4:1–5 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The father of our nation, George Washington, was extremely private about his personal faith. But the President often used biblical references to express his belief that God was involved in guiding and protecting the United States of America. At […]