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John 4:1-26

The Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:1-26, is such a familiar passage. I don't know how many messages I've heard or lessons I've read that deal with these verses. Now the fact that I'm very familiar with this passage is a good thing, but if can also work against me if I'm not careful. Here's why. You see, when I'm really familiar with a story, my tendency is to just skim over it. Not today, however. There was no speed reading and I was very intentional in looking at and considering all that was going on in this passage.

So read through this passage again and as you do pay attention to how Jesus interacts with and responds to this woman. What do you see? What does this passage show us about how Jesus will respond to us? Tami W.

John 13:36-14:7

Jesus tells us "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1). A simple command yet one that we, many times, struggle to put into practice. Well, I can be pretty good at hanging on to my concerns and troubles and I'm guessing you probably do that sometimes too? So let's take Jesus at His word.

What can we do today to put this verse into practice--to give up our burdens, our concerns, and those things that frighten us? What does not letting your heart be troubled look like? Tami W.

Hebrews 9:1-14

Today Hebrews 9:1-10 gives us some insight and details of the regulations for worship for God's people in Old Testament times (before Jesus). Then we get to Jesus and there is a complete and abrupt change. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (vs. 11-13). Wonderful verses that let us know our salvation is all because of the blood of Jesus.

So what does Jesus death on the cross, the shedding of his blood, mean for you? How can you draw on and use Jesus' sacrifice to help you as you go about your day? Tami W.

Luke 23:32-49

Prior to Jesus coming to the earth and dying on the cross for our sins, God's people lived under the law and through that law their access to God was accomplished through the priests. (We'll read about this in detail tomorrow in Hebrews 9:1-14). God's dwelling place was a tent or temple (depending on the time in history) and the temple was divided into sections with the innermost section being the most holy place to which only the high priest had access once a year. The high priest would enter and offer a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. The divider, or barrier, between the most holy place and the outer section was a veil or curtain. Luke 23:32-49 is about Jesus' crucifixion and when we get to verse 45 it tells us that "the curtain of the temple was torn in two." That tearing, which was from top to bottom, was the result of Jesus death on the cross. The moment that took place, we were given access to God through Jesus Christ. He (Jesus) made the final sacrifice and is now our mediator. The days of sacrificing the blood of animals are over.

We've never lived under the law and the requirement of making blood sacrifices. So even though we can read and understand what these requirements were, we've never experienced them. So for a lot of years, I didn't' fully grasp the symbolism and significance of the tearing of the veil. And then at some point, I fully got it, the light bulb came on, and I was amazed, humbled and so thankful for what Jesus did for me.

So would you take some time today to thank Jesus for what he did for you? Then, think about the full and free access we have to God through Jesus. What can we do to take full advantage of it? Tami W.

Psalm 115:1-18

The opening call in Psalm 115 is to give God the glory for the sake of His steadfast love and faithfulness (vs. 1). This is such a good psalm, full of reminders of who God is and how we need to trust and rely upon Him in all circumstances. (How about an "amen" to that?) I was really drawn today to verses 9-11. So I went back and read them again but substituted my name in certain places to make it more personal. This really helped me focus on putting God first as I headed out for the day. Here's what I did and I thought you might like to try it too?

O (put your name here), trust in the Lord! He is your help (put your name here) and your shield. . . .(put your name here) fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is your help and your shield.

So what can you do today to let the Lord know that you trust in Him and that you believe He is faithful to be your help and shield? Tami W.

P.S. Dr. Kroll starts a new weeklong series today on Back to the Bible called The God You Need to Know. We'd love to have you join us for today's study.