DAILY READING Malachi 3:1-4 REFLECTION   God's Justice By Terry Gustafson “It’s not fair!” It seems like that is one of the first sentences that a child learns and continues to use from then on! We all have a natural tendency to want justice. But if I am really honest with myself, I want justice for others, but mercy for me. Are we really prepared for God to exact His justice? In the verse preceding today’s passage ( 2:17 ), the prophet accuses the people of wearying the Lord with their...

DAILY READING 1 Peter 1:17-25 REFLECTION   Resident Aliens By Terry Gustafson I have had the privilege to live and work in other countries for extended times. I remember feeling very out of place when we lived in Japan for four months. I knew that I was not like all the other people on the train on my way to work. I looked different and I did not understand the language. The recipients of Peter’s letter were also “strangers in the world” ( 1:1 ), dispersed across several Roman provinces...

DAILY READING 2 Samuel 7:1-17 REFLECTION   The Davidic Covenant By Terry Gustafson If I were to ask you to name your list of the 5-10 most significant / impactful chapters in the Bible, I suspect each of you would have a different list. Perhaps you might include one or more of the following chapters: Genesis 12, Exodus 20, Isaiah 53, Matthew 5, John 1, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 13, or Revelation 21. Regardless of which ones you might choose, I really doubt that 2 Samuel 7 would be on...