Daily Word Capsule

DATE - February 28th, 2022 TOPIC - The First Shall Be Last BIBLE TEXT - [Jesus said,] “Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me.” - Mark 9:35-37 In this passage the disciples fussed and argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. The startling aspect of this argument is that it occurred shortly after Jesus informed the disciples that he would soon die. Not only did they miss an opportunity to comfort their leader, but they also missed the point entirely.  Christ had lived a selfless life as their example. He had taught them that he would die an agonizing death so that they, and generations after them, might live eternally. But they didn’t understand because their focus was on themselves. So

DATE - February 27th, 2022 TOPIC - Dealing with Our Doubts BIBLE TEXT - [The boy’s father said,] “The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” - Mark 9:22-24 The desperate father had already asked Jesus’ disciples to cast the evil, destructive spirit out of his son, but they had failed. It seems the father wasn’t the only one in the story struggling with doubt! The disciples, the Pharisees, and the crowd were filled with doubt and unbelief. Since the disciples lacked the faith to heal the boy, the father turned to Jesus, who responded in compassion and inquired not only into the boy’s condition but also into the condition of the father’s heart.  We need not be afraid to follow this humble man’s model and be honest wi

DATE - February 26 TOPIC - Recognizing God’s Presence BIBLE TEXT - When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came to argue with him. Testing him to see if he was from God, they demanded, “Give us a miraculous sign from heaven to prove yourself.” When he heard this, he sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I assure you, I will not give this generation any such sign.” So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake. - Mark 8:11-13 Jesus had just miraculously fed the multitude, yet the Pharisees demanded more signs, more miracles. Like them, we sometimes fix our hopes on miraculous, stupendous events: our ship coming in so that all our financial woes disappear in a moment, or our wheelchair-bound friend getting up to walk again. Jesus is just as able to do those things as he was to feed the five thousand, but what about the fact that the sun rises each morning or that God has given us

DATE - February 25th, 2022 TOPIC - Christ Our Bread BIBLE TEXT - About this time another great crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. And if I send them home without feeding them, they will faint along the road. For some of them have come a long distance.” “How are we supposed to find enough food for them here in the wilderness?” his disciples asked. “How many loaves of bread do you have?” he asked. “Seven,” they replied. - Mark 8:1-5 Jesus enlisted his disciples to help him feed the multitude of people gathered to hear the Good News. They had no idea how the hungry hoard could be satisfied; they had so little to offer them. But when they gave Jesus the resources they had, a miracle occurred, and there was plenty of food for everyone. Jesus asks us the same question today that he asked his disciples th

DATE - February 24th, 2022 TOPIC - Seeking God's Tender Mercies BIBLE TEXT - Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness. For troubles surround me—too many to count! They pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage. Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. - Psalm 40:11-13 Like the psalmist, each of us encounters seasons when we face not just one problem but waves of troubles that crash into our lives like breakers incessantly battering the shore. If we are not experiencing that now, we surely will somewhere down the road: Perhaps a child becomes chronically ill, or a teenager rebels and breaks our hearts. A mother may be diagnosed and move in with us so that we’re providing care 24/7, while juggling a stressful job, and finding ourselves assailed by financial difficulties and an unending need.  Our troubles pile up

DATE - February 23rd, 2022 TOPIC - God’s Wonderful Deeds BIBLE TEXT - O Lord my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. - Psalm 40:5 Remembering all the wonderful things God has done in our lives can produce so much gratefulness that we won’t be able to keep quiet about God’s goodness to us. We’ll spontaneously talk about his faithfulness and saving power to those around us (Psalm 40:10). But just as the Israelites quickly forgot the miracles God did for them when he delivered them from bondage in Egypt, we, too, can easily forget what God has done for us and begin to grumble and complain.  We tend to forget answered prayers or other “little things.” But throughout the Scriptures, we see reminders to remember what God did. When we recall and recite God’s goodness to us and praise him for it, we gain renewed hope for the future because we real

DATE - February 22nd, 2022 TOPIC - Our Days Are Numbered BIBLE TEXT - Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath. - Psalm 39:4-5 The average life span of a mayfly is a brief twenty-four hours. A rare number of them reach ancient status, living up to fourteen days, but some live only two hours. This tiny winged insect is born, reaches maturity, mates, and dies in just one of our days! It would seem foolish to us for the mayfly to waste even one moment in light of such a short life span.  To an eternal God our life is but a brief flash, yet we often flit along like the mayfly, acting as if we have unlimited days in front of us. Our time on earth is brief, and each moment has potential. It is only when we view time through God’s eyes that we can truly understand how preciou

DATE - February 21st, 2022 TOPIC - Just Trust Me BIBLE TEXT - She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed! . . . While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’s home with the message, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.”Mark 5:27-29, 35-36 In this amazing chapter of Mark’s Gospel we read of two miracles Jesus performed: the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage (Issue of blood) and the raising of Jairus’s daughter from the dead. The doctors had given up on the woman, taken all her money, and instead of healing her had left her worse than before. Yet with just the touch of her finger on Jesus’ robe, all the blood dri

DATE - February 20th, 2022 TOPIC - Share Your Story BIBLE TEXT - When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” - Mark 5:18-19 The demon-possessed man roamed the land of the dead, living in a cemetery because the living feared him. Loose chains hung from his body where he had broken free from his shackles, but his spirit was still in captivity. Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man, and his tormentors fled in response. It is no wonder that the man begged to follow Jesus. His home held only painful reminders of the misery he had endured. Yet Jesus encouraged him to stay behind and to tell others what had happened. He knew that the testimony of this healed man would have a great impact on those who were once witnesses to his agony. It isn’t easy to live in a place where painful memories

DATE - February 19th, 2022 TOPIC - Seed Sowers BIBLE TEXT - The farmer I talked about is the one who brings God’s message to others. - Mark 4:14 In West Africa people customarily sing as they work in the fields. They lift their voices as they plant in anticipation of the harvest. Perhaps this is how the farmer in the parable appeared as he walked through the field. As he tossed seed, it fell in various types of soil—some hard, some weedy, some shallow, and some good and fertile. Not once did Jesus describe the farmer as anxious; rather, he portrayed the sower as faithfully carrying out his job. Sometimes we treat evangelism as a heavy burden. Instead of cheerfully scattering seed everywhere, we become soil testers, trying to determine whether or not the seed will flourish even before we plant. We hover over the tender shoots, trying to thwart weeds. When a seed doesn’t produce the desired fruit, we may declare ourselves failures as farmers. But God has called us to plant

DATE - February 18th, 2022 TOPIC - No Contest BIBLE TEXT - Don’t worry about the wicked. Don’t envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. - Psalm 37:1-4 When evil people prosper, it may cause believers to ask why. It doesn’t seem fair that the wicked succeed and live long to an extent when the righteous struggle, but we can’t judge prosperity by the world’s standards. Much of what society considers success is temporary and shallow.  God offers lasting rewards. He gives joy that overflows in spite of circumstances. He grants abundant peace in the midst of chaos. He offers comfort when we grieve and guides us when we are lost. We serve a God who knows everything about us and still loves us. That same God understands the desires of our hearts. How then can we compa

DATE - February 17th, 2022 TOPIC - God’s Unfailing Love BIBLE TEXT - Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 36:5-7 It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In today’s verses the psalmist uses just a few words to paint some dramatic pictures. With a series of metaphors this psalm describes some of the many blessings for believers because of God’s character: His ever faithful, ever loyal love is truly “out of this world” because it is so great that it reaches beyond the clouds and heavens.  The Lord’s righteousness is as steady as the highest mountains, and his judgments are as deep as the ocean. But the metaphor that gives us the greatest insight into the hea

DATE - February 16th, 2022 TOPIC - Taking Sin Seriously  BIBLE TEXT - If you bring a sheep as your gift, present it to the Lord.Leviticus 3:7 Sin was serious business for the ancient Israelites. The sacrifices they placed on the altar were spotless, prized animals, to remind the people of the high cost of their sins. To sacrifice an animal, the priests killed it and drained its blood. This reminded the people that the animals were dying in their place. Since Christ died on the cross, we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices because Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins! Oftentimes we offer God a mumbled prayer asking for forgiveness. We forget that God offered his perfect Son, whom he loved and prized. When we sin casually, we ignore the fact that Christ carried the weight of our sins on his shoulders as he bled and died. When we fail to ask for forgiveness, we miss the opportunity to receive mercy as we sit in the presence of a holy

DATE - February 15th, 2022 TOPIC - His Purpose, Not Mine BIBLE TEXT - This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. - Mark 1:4 John the Baptist’s camel-hair cloak should not be confused with the luxurious, woven garments found in upscale stores today. His was most likely a tanned, hairy hide held together with a leather belt. He did not preach in the comfort of a temple but baptized in the stark setting of the wilderness.  He was well known for his not-so-gentle speeches. His diet was meager, consisting of locusts and wild honey. Though these facts alone set John apart from other religious men, it was his single-minded dedication to his calling that etched his name in history. John never forgot his purpose. When John’s disciples left to follow Jesus, his loyal friends complained bitterly, yet John assured them that

DATE - February 14th, 2022 TOPIC - The Promised Help BIBLE TEXT - The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. . . . The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:15, 17-18 Someone once said that when we sail through life without a trial or a sorrow, we may slide by without knowing Jesus, but in our suffering we discover true fellowship with him. God never promised us a problem-free Christian life, but this psalm gives us several assurances about how God responds to us when troubles come.  He promises his watch care, his attentiveness to our cries for help, his closeness, and his deliverance. Even the fact that we are counted among “those who do right,” or “the righteous,” and are thus eligible to receive this promised assurance is a result of the finished work of Christ on the

DATE - February 13th, 2022 TOPIC - Freedom from Fear BIBLE TEXT - I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. - Psalm 34:4-5 These verses tell us that although fear is a normal, human reaction to danger or crisis, God has an antidote for our fear. We may fear death, failure, or people. We may be frightened about taking a new step, fearful of suffering, or anxious about what may happen tomorrow. Whatever the circumstances, we don’t have to be ashamed of being afraid or stuff our fears down inside and try to look brave. The very fear that plagues us can cause us to press into God’s presence.  He invites us to pray to him and lay down our fears instead of being paralyzed by them, to fear and revere him (David mentions this fifteen times in Psalm 34) instead of anything or anyone else. An amazing thing happens when we give God our fears: in return

DATE - February 12TH, 2022 TOPIC - God's Amazing Power BIBLE TEXT - The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. - Psalm 33:13-17 Sometimes it seems as if the forces of evil are winning and godless rulers and superpowers are dominating our world. But these verses remind us of who is really in charge and calling the shots: the Lord Almighty. The same God who created the world with a word can shatter the plans of the nations and thwart all their schemes.  No matter how out of control things may appear, God’s plan remains in place. He is running the show and knows the end from the beginning. No one is higher or mightier than the Lord! He governs our world, his

DATE - February 11th, 2022 TOPIC - A Special Meeting Place BIBLE TEXT - Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in their tent entrances. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at the entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. - Exodus 33:8-9 The people lingered outside their tents, watching, waiting for the moment when the tent closed around Moses. It was evident that wondrous events were taking place within the confines of the tabernacle. The Israelites worshiped from a distance as their leader sat in the presence and glory of God and spoke to him as a man speaks with a friend. There are times when we may feel as if a vast distance separates us from God. There are moments, even days, when it seems as if we are standing outside our own tent, watching as others embrace spiritual intimacy with God. Yet the good news is that we don’t need to

DATE - February 10TH, 2022 TOPIC - LORD Forgive Me BIBLE TEXT - When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. - Psalm 32:3-4 There are many reasons that we hide our sin from God. It might be that we don’t want to face our shortcomings or that we are ashamed. Unconfessed sin weighs heavily on us because we do not have the means to forgive our own sins. Rest assured that God seeks us when our sin separates us from him. The Holy Spirit follows us into the hidden places to draw us back to a place of safety. The wonderful thing is that we don’t have to run from God when we have fallen short of his standards. He paid a costly price—the sacrifice of his own Son— to redeem us from our sins. Wouldn’t it be better to run to him and lay our sins at his feet than to continue to carry such a heavy burden?  Take a few moments and allow God free rein in your heart. Ask him to reveal any are

Date - February 9th, 2022 Topic - Sweet-Smelling Incense Bible Text - Each evening when [the priest] tends to the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation. Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. - Exodus 30:8-9 The priests in the Old Testament nurtured the tender flame—symbolic of the prayers of the children of Israel—to make sure the fire didn’t smolder and die. They burned only special incense on the altar so that the continual sweet fragrance wafted before God. Today we no longer have to burn candles or incense when we come into God’s presence because we can freely fellowship with him anywhere. Yet sometimes we place other things on the altar and allow the busyness of our days to cause our prayer life to smolder. We lose precious one-on-one time with God.  When we pray, we connect with the Lord and climb into the shelter of his love. It

Date - February 8th, 2022 Topic - Are You Listening? Bible Text - Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.Matthew 25:34-36 This passage of Scripture always reminds us of what is important to Jesus and how he wants us to join him in his work on earth. It is so easy to be busy doing many things: taking care of our households, a business or ministry, or projects we’re interested in. But then it also becomes easy to miss the thing that’s most important: extending mercy to the “least of these,” caring for those who are hungry, poor, sick, or imprisoned. Our response to these needs doesn’t affect only our future, eternal destiny. It also affects our present prayer life. Praye

Date - February 7th, 2022 Topic - You’re in Management Bible Text - The master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.” - Matthew 25:26-27 We are all managers to some degree. Students manage their time so they can study to make good grades. Parents manage their homes and children. Business owners manage employees and company operations. Some of us even attempt to manage our checkbooks! We also have a responsibility to manage our talents. God has gifted some of us with creative talent; others he has given a talent for teaching or for playing musical instruments. Others are leaders who have the ability to motivate and encourage people to action. Still others are gifted artists or athletes. You may think your own talent seems small in comparison with those of other people, but does t

Date - February 5th, 2022 Topic - Worship the Lord Bible Text - Give honor to the Lord, you angels; give honor to the Lord for his glory and strength. Give honor to the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.Psalm 29:1-2 David had seen a powerful thunderstorm sweep across the land and attributed it to the power of the Lord. In this psalm, he calls on the angels and all God’s people to join him in ascribing honor and glory to the Lord for his strength, his glory, and his holiness. “Give God the credit for the great things he does! Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness!” he urges us.  David knew that the greatest thing in all our lives is to worship God. That’s what we were created to do. When we give honor to God, he blesses us and lights our path. When we look at his glory and holiness, he gives us his perspective, and everything else pales in comparison. But when our busyness pushes worship aside and our focus gets of

Date - February 3rd, 2022 Topic - On the Brink of Burnout  Bible Text - “This is not good!” his father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” - Exodus 18:17-18 Moses not only led thousands of people in a hostile environment but also served as judge in every argument, small or large. When Moses’ father-in-law saw that Moses stood all day listening to the minor complaints of the people, he counseled him to slow down before he burned out. Moses wisely heeded the advice and delegated tasks to other capable leaders. This allowed him not only to rest in body but also to refresh himself spiritually so that he could accomplish the calling God had laid on his heart. Sometimes we get caught in the same trap as Moses. It is easy to convince ourselves that no one can do the job quite like we can. Yet delegation is the most effective form of leadership. It fosters maturity in potenti

Date - February 2nd, 2022 Topic - God Can Do It Again! Bible Text - When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn’t drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means “bitter.”) Then the people turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. - Exodus 15:23-24 It had been only days since the children of Israel watched the cloud and the pillar of fire hover between them and the camp of the Egyptians who were pursuing them. The cloud had protected the Israelites during the day and the pillar of fire had provided warmth and light at night while plunging their enemies into darkness. Then they had watched as the breath of God parted the Red Sea, so they could cross on dry land, and then brought the wall of water crashing down on their enemies. Yet when the children of Israel faced thirst, they complained and murmured, wondering out loud whether God had brought them to the desert to die. How could t

Date - February 1st, 2022 Topic - A Tale of Two Sons Bible Text - [Jesus said,] “What do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.” - Matthew 21:28-30 In the parable of the two sons it seems that both sons were disobedient. One offered eloquent promises, but his actions revealed a heartbeat of rebellion. The other son was openly defiant but later realized his error (“changed his mind”) and returned to work in the vineyard. Jesus was teaching his disciples that they should not base their opinion merely on outward appearances, for there is no protective facade when we stand before an omnipotent Father. There is also a second lesson in this parable. Just as God discerns deceitful or rebellious hearts, he also recognizes those who ret