Landing Spot
The impala, a member of the antelope family, is able to jump up to ten feet high and thirty feet in length. It’s an incredible feat, and no doubt essential to its survival in the African wild. Yet, at many impala enclosures found in zoos, you’ll find that the animals are kept in place by a wall that’s merely three feet tall. How can such a low wall contain these athletic animals? It works because impalas will never jump unless they can see where they’ll land. The wall keeps the impalas inside the enclosure because they can’t see what is on the other side.
As humans, we’re not all that different. We want to know the outcome of a situation before we move forward. The life of faith, however, rarely works that way. Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul reminds them, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). But that doesn’t mean we’ll know His outcomes beforehand. Living by faith means trusting His good purposes even when those purposes are shrouded in mystery.
In the midst of life’s uncertainties, we can trust His unfailing love. No matter what life throws at us, “we make it our goal to please him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).
Buckling Up
“The captain has turned on the seat belt sign, indicating that we are entering an area of turbulence. Please return to your seats immediately and securely fasten your seat belt.” Flight attendants give that warning when necessary because in rough air, unbuckled passengers can be injured. Secured in their seats, they can safely ride out the turbulence.
Most of the…
The Peace and Promise of Christmas
Jesus is the peace and promise of Christmas! Discover more about God's gift to the world as you read these 10 Christmas reflections from Our Daily Bread.
The Story in the Manger
Today’s Bible Reading: Luke 24:13–27
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. -Luke 2:12
Martin Luther, the German reformer who turned the religious world upside down, was both courageous and complicated. He spoke truth to power in ways that made his generation uncomfortable, yet he also spoke with great wisdom. Luther…
Imminent Arrivals
Today’s Bible Reading: Luke 1:26–38
Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. -Luke 1:28
Our family had gathered for lots of food and for catching up with each other. Mark, our youngest son, had arrived early with his wife, and he told his mom he wanted to pray for the meal. We found that a bit surprising, as Mark was…
Imagination
Today’s Bible Reading: John 1:1–14
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. -John 1:4
My friend, the late Steve Bly, was uber-creative. Steve had a special knack for writing Christian Western fiction. He could constantly spin characters and stories out of his head that were, at the same time, incredible yet fully believable.
One of Steve’s fun things to…
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Today’s Bible Reading: Acts 2:29–35
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. -Acts 2:32
When I was a boy, I saw the film The Greatest Story Ever Told—a cinematic retelling of the life of Christ. The movie boasted an all-star cast that included Charlton Heston as John the Baptist, David McCallum as Judas Iscariot, John Wayne as…
Our Powerful Destiny
Today’s Bible Reading: Acts 2:14–28
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. -Acts 2:24
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, two “star-crossed” (negatively destined) lovers from rival families are drawn irresistibly to one another. But events conspire against them, first to inspire their love and its…
Mission Impossible
Today’s Bible Reading: John 17:20–26
I have made you known to them. -John 17:26
In the Mission: Impossible film series, agent Ethan Hunt is always given a seemingly insurmountable task. The challenge is presented with this stark option: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it . . . .” Of course the fate of millions is at usually stake, and the resulting drama keeps…