DAILY READING John 4:1-26 REFLECTION   Why Her? By Gene Pierce Today’s passage is John’s record of Jesus’ conversation with a woman of Samaria, the first time in John’s gospel that Jesus claims to be the Messiah. Jesus had been turning water into wine, baptizing many and clearing the Temple, but this conversation crosses a big, big line. Why does John include this particular person as the first to hear this powerful claim?  Her contemporaries might have described her as an irreligious,...

DAILY READING Ephesians 3:14-21 REFLECTION   What Do You Pray For By Gene Pierce The Apostle Paul lays out his prayer for the church at Ephesus: that the Ephesian believers (and us by extension) would know God's love. God's really big -- unbelievably big -- love. Verse 16: Paul prays ... that God may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  --- Believers have Christ working from the inside out in his...

Daily Reading Luke 2:1-20 Reflection Joy for All Nations By Gene Pierce Luke beautifully tells the story of Jesus’ birth in a crescendo of facts, climaxing with the angels announcing this Child would “bring good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  As someone who is a blend of German, Irish and English DNA, I am very, very, very happy to be part of “all the people.”  (No doubt you are very happy, too.) This global blessing was fulfilled in humble ways. God also fulfilled His...