IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 25

  Sunday Reflection: Loving Your Enemies After preaching the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us to love and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). But that can feel like an impossible task: Why are evil, broken people—especially those who harm blameless believers for professing faith—deserving of our prayers? Nonetheless, we should be encouraged to pray, …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 24

  God Is Trustworthy Matthew 10:29-31 As Christians, we put our trust in God’s unending divine love. But some days are harder than others, and we need to be reminded of the Lord’s character. We can trust Him because: He is perfect in wisdom. God sees the big picture and knows every detail, so He …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 23

  Judgment Day for Believers 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 Followers of Jesus need not fear judgment day; in fact, Christians can look forward to receiving rewards according to their deeds. But all people would be wise to understand what the Bible says about our approaching time of evaluation. How will judgment differ for believers and nonbelievers? …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 22

  Reassurance About Judgment 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 The Bible describes two kinds of judgments—one for those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ and one for those who do. For believers, judgment is an evaluation of the person’s life. While that may sound alarming, we can find comfort in these truths about our judge: …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 21

  Inheriting God’s Promises Hebrews 6:11-12 In the Bible, God made many promises because He loves to bless His children. But that doesn’t mean such blessings automatically belong to us. How can we claim His promises and petition Him with confidence? To test the needs we bring to the Lord, here are several questions to …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 20

  God’s Encouragement in Tough Times Judges 7:8-15 As inhabitants of a fallen world, we oftentimes face heartache, intimidation, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But as children of God, saved and secure in Jesus, we are never beyond the reach of the Lord’s encouragement. Sometimes it comes through Scripture or the timely words of a fellow …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 19

  When the Odds Are Against You Judges 7:1-7 Have you ever felt backed up against a wall with no way out? Although a situation like that is truly beyond what you can manage, it is not too big for God. In fact, if you could competently handle every difficulty that arose, then the credit …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 18

  Sunday Reflection: Praying for Persecuted Christians Each year more than 200 million believers around the world suffer for their faith—especially in many parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Where oppressive governments make Christianity illegal, churches are bombed and defaced, and followers of Jesus face imprisonment, torture, or even death for their beliefs. …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 17

  No Lone Rangers Ephesians 4:11-16 Perhaps you can recall the fictitious cowboy known as the Lone Ranger. He was a self-appointed guardian of the law who brought many outlaws to justice. Although he was actively fighting against evil, his independence is not a good example for Christians. When we trusted in Jesus Christ for …

IN TOUCH DAILY: OCTOBER 16

  Satan’s Strategy John 8:43-44 Deception is Satan’s trademark, and it’s nothing new. The very first book of the Bible tells of his trickery with Eve in the Garden of Eden: He planted seeds of doubt about God’s words by asking, “Indeed, has God said ... ?” (Gen. 3:1). And this is still the devil’s …