Daily Reading Week 18
Sunday
Jeremiah 3
Discover:
After King Solomon passed away in 931 B.C., the nation of Israel split into two parts: the northern kingdom, still called Israel, and the southern kingdom, known as Judah. Sadly, both kingdoms struggled to stay faithful to God. But Israel, in particular, turned away more quickly, chasing after other gods. Because of this, in 722 B.C., God allowed the powerful Assyrian empire to bring judgment on Israel. The result was devastating—many Israelites were taken away from their homeland, and the northern kingdom came to an end.
But even in the midst of judgment, God’s heart remained tender toward His people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, He called out to them: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful” (Jeremiah 3:12, NLT). God longed to restore them, promising that if they returned to Him, He would bring them back to their land. He even said, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).
These “shepherds” weren’t just religious leaders—they were the kings and rulers, the ones responsible for guiding the people. Unlike the corrupt leaders mentioned earlier in Jeremiah 2:8, these new shepherds would truly care for the people and lead with wisdom and integrity. (Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “shepherds” is sometimes translated as “rulers,” especially in the NLT.)
Today, when we hear the word “shepherd,” we often think of pastors—and rightly so, since “pastor” actually comes from the Latin word for shepherd. But in Jeremiah’s time, shepherds included anyone in a position of leadership. That means this message applies to more than just church leaders. Whether you lead in your family, your workplace, your community, or your church, you’re a kind of shepherd too.
So how can we be the kind of shepherds God desires? It starts with our hearts. In Jeremiah 3:15, the phrase “after my own heart” literally means “like my heart.” To lead well, our hearts—our thoughts, decisions, and desires—need to reflect God’s heart. Truly godly leaders are shaped by God’s Word, guided by His Spirit, and supported by His people. When our inner lives are aligned with His, we can lead others with grace, wisdom, and love.
Respond:
1. In what areas of my life am I in a position of leadership or influence, even if I don’t hold an official title?
2. Is my heart aligned with God’s heart in the way I lead and care for others?
3. How am I allowing God’s Word, Spirit, and community to shape my inner life?
Monday
Proverbs 22
Discover:
The book of Proverbs is filled with timeless wisdom—guiding principles that reflect how life generally works when we walk in God’s ways. But it’s important to remember that Proverbs offers us principles, not promises. These verses describe what is ordinarily true, not what is guaranteed in every situation.
Take Proverbs 22:6, for example. It encourages parents to raise their children in the ways of the Lord, and many have clung to this verse with hope. But some faithful, godly parents have experienced the heartbreak of watching a child stray from the path. Does that mean the verse isn’t true? Not at all. It means we must read it with wisdom and grace.
None of us parent perfectly. We all fall short of the ideal. Yet, Scripture and history show us that when children are raised in faith, surrounded by the love of Christ and the community of believers, they often grow to remain faithful. It’s not a formula—it’s a pattern. And it’s one that invites us to trust God with both our efforts and our outcomes.
So today, whether you’re a parent, a mentor, or someone who influences the next generation, take heart. Your faithfulness matters. Keep planting seeds of truth, love, and grace. And trust that God is at work, even when the results take time to grow.
Respond:
1. How do I respond when the outcomes of my faithful efforts—especially in parenting or mentoring—don’t turn out as I hoped?
2. In what ways am I intentionally planting seeds of faith in the lives of those I influence?
3. Am I allowing grace—for myself and others—when things don’t go according to plan?
Tuesday
1 Thessalonians 2
Discover:
In the early days of the church, the believers in Thessalonica heard some pretty harsh rumors about the Apostle Paul. Some accused him of being just another smooth-talking teacher trying to make a profit. But Paul gently reminded them in his first letter that those accusations didn’t hold up. He hadn’t flattered them or asked for money. Instead, he lived among them with integrity, showing them what a godly life looked like.
But Paul wasn’t just a role model—he was also a teacher. In fact, he described himself as a father to the Thessalonian believers, encouraging them to live in a way that honored God, who had called them into His kingdom and glory. That’s a powerful image: a loving father guiding his children toward a life that reflects their heavenly calling.
There are a few important takeaways here. First, Paul’s instruction was deeply moral—he was helping them understand how to live in a way that was “worthy of God.” Scripture consistently calls parents, especially fathers, to teach their children God’s truth and values. Paul took that responsibility seriously, offering personal guidance to each believer, not just general teaching.
Second, Paul didn’t wait to start this kind of instruction. Even though he was only in Thessalonica for a few weeks, he began teaching right away. That shows us something important: the message of Jesus and the way we live in response to it go hand in hand. You can’t separate the gospel from the call to live a godly life.
Finally, Paul says that living this way is “worthy of God.” That doesn’t mean we earn our place in God’s kingdom by being good enough. Rather, it means that when we belong to God, our lives should reflect His character. We’re called to walk in righteousness—not perfectly, but consistently, growing in godliness day by day.
Respond:
1. In what ways does my daily life reflect the character of God to those around me?
2. Am I open to receiving moral and spiritual guidance, like the Thessalonians were from Paul?
3. How can I be more intentional about growing in godliness, even in small, everyday choices?
Wednesday
Proverbs 29
Discover:
Emotions are a beautiful part of how God created us—real, raw, and deeply human. They help us connect, empathize, and experience life fully. But as with any powerful gift, they need wisdom to guide them.
We’ve all been there: saying something in frustration we wish we could take back, reacting out of hurt, or letting anger lead the way. Proverbs 29:11 doesn’t tell us to ignore our emotions or pretend they don’t exist. Instead, it invites us to steward them—to respond with wisdom rather than react in haste.
Think of emotions like fire. When controlled, fire brings warmth, light, and even joy. But when left unchecked, it can burn and destroy. God doesn’t ask us to extinguish the fire of our feelings—He invites us to bring them to Him. In His presence, anger can turn into understanding, and pain can be transformed into healing.
Every time we pause to pray before reacting, we give God space to work in us. That pause is powerful. It’s where grace enters, where wisdom grows, and where peace begins.
Respond:
1. When I feel strong emotions like anger or hurt, do I tend to react quickly or pause to seek God’s guidance first?
2. What helps me stay grounded and wise when I’m emotionally overwhelmed?
3. How can I invite God into my emotional life more intentionally?
Thursday
James 1
Discover:
It doesn’t take long in the Christian journey to realize that not everyone who says they follow Jesus actually lives like they do. Sadly, some people carry the name “Christian” but don’t show the fruit of a life changed by Christ. Their lives may lack the ongoing pattern of turning back to God and walking in obedience to His Word.
The truth is, it’s not enough to simply profess faith—we’re called to possess it. Real faith isn’t just about what we say; it’s about how we live. This theme runs throughout Scripture, and the book of James really leans into it.
James reminds us that genuine faith always leads to a changed life. It’s not about earning God’s love through good behavior, but about showing that His love has truly taken root in our hearts. When faith is real, it shows up in how we respond to life—especially in how we treat others and how we handle our emotions.
Today’s passage is a turning point. It shifts from how trials refine our faith to how true faith expresses itself in obedience. James tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,” because human anger doesn’t produce the kind of life God desires.
This isn’t about the righteousness we receive through Christ—that’s a gift. James is talking about the kind of right living that reflects God’s heart. When we’re too quick to judge or speak without understanding, we risk letting anger take over in ways that don’t honor God.
So what does authentic faith look like? It listens well. It’s patient. It seeks to understand before reacting. And it desires to please God in every area of life—not to earn His love, but because we already have it.
Respond:
How do I typically respond when I feel misunderstood or frustrated—am I quick to listen, or quick to speak?
In what areas of my life is God inviting me to live out my faith more visibly and consistently?
What helps me slow down and respond with grace instead of reacting in anger?
Friday
Ephesians 6
Discover:
When we think about the fifth commandment—“Honor your father and your mother”—it’s easy to assume it’s just about how children should treat their parents. And while that’s certainly part of it, there’s more to the story, especially when we look at it through the lens of the New Testament.
In Ephesians 6:1–4, Paul reminds us that this commandment still stands strong in the new covenant, but he also helps us see that it speaks to parents just as much as it does to children. Yes, children are called to obey and honor their parents—but parents are also called to lead in a way that makes that obedience a joy, not a burden.
That doesn’t mean parents should avoid discipline or let everything slide. Instead, it means raising children with wisdom, love, and patience—helping them want to follow God, not just forcing them to behave. As the old commentator Matthew Henry put it, our children are “pieces of ourselves,” and they deserve to be guided with tenderness and care.
This means setting clear expectations, explaining the reasons behind rules, and making sure consequences are fair and understandable. It’s not about punishing in anger, but about teaching in love—just like God does with us. He shows us the right path, warns us of the consequences, and disciplines us with purpose and grace.
And there’s another important piece: we must be careful not to place heavy, unrealistic burdens on our children. Jesus warned against the kind of legalism that crushes people under rules they can’t carry. If we’re too rigid or controlling, we risk pushing our kids away from faith rather than drawing them toward it. At the same time, we shouldn’t shelter them so much that they’re unprepared for the real world.
In short, honoring goes both ways. As parents, we’re called to create an environment where honor can grow—through love, clarity, and grace.
Respond:
1. As a parent or mentor, am I creating an environment where obedience and respect are encouraged through love and understanding?
2. Do I take time to explain the “why” behind my expectations and corrections, helping others grow in wisdom rather than just compliance?
3. Am I guarding against legalism or overprotection in my parenting or leadership, trusting God to prepare others for the world while still pointing them to Him?
Saturday
John 2
Discover:
Sometimes we forget that there’s a big difference between us and God—not just in power, but in what’s right for each of us to do. Theologians call this the Creator-creature distinction, and it’s a helpful way to remember that what’s appropriate for God isn’t always appropriate for us.
Take worship, for example. God has every right to call us to worship Him—He’s the Creator of everything! But we, as His creation, don’t have the right to demand worship for ourselves or to worship anything else. That’s made clear in Scripture.
This distinction also helps us think about emotions like anger. We know from Scripture that both God the Father and Jesus express anger. So anger itself isn’t automatically sinful. But does that mean we can be angry in a righteous way too?
To answer that, we can look at Jesus. He’s fully God and fully human, and He lived a perfect, sinless life. If Jesus got angry—and He did—then we know there’s such a thing as holy, righteous anger. In fact, if Jesus had sinned in His anger, He couldn’t have been our perfect Savior. But He didn’t. His anger was always just, always right.
In today’s passage, Jesus gets angry at the money-changers in the temple. Why? Because they were turning a sacred space into a marketplace, taking advantage of people, and crowding out the one area where Gentiles could come and pray. Jesus wasn’t just angry as the Son of God—He was also angry as a perfect human being who cared deeply about God’s house and God’s people.
So what does this mean for us? It means that anger isn’t always wrong. There are times when it’s right to be upset—when we see injustice, exploitation, or disrespect for what’s holy. But our anger, unlike Jesus’, can easily go off track. That’s why we need to be careful, prayerful, and guided by the Spirit.
Respond:
1. When I feel angry, do I pause to ask whether my anger reflects God’s heart—or my own frustration or pride?
2. How can I learn to express my emotions—especially anger—in a way that honors God and builds others up?
3. Are there situations in my life where I’ve stayed silent when I should have spoken up for what’s right?