Jesus teaches the importance of persistent prayer, using the parable of the persistent widow to encourage believers to keep praying and not lose heart, even when justice seems delayed. This story reminds us that God is not like the unjust judge; He is attentive and compassionate toward those who cry out to Him day and night. The call is to remain faithful in prayer, trusting that God hears and will respond, even if the answer is not immediate. In a world where discouragement can easily set in, this parable challenges us to persevere, believing that God’s justice and care are sure. [13:51]
Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have grown weary in prayer? Can you bring it before God again today, trusting in His justice and care?
All scripture is described as “God-breathed,” living and active, meant to teach, convict, correct, and train us in righteousness, shaping us continually as we engage with it. The scriptures are not just ancient words or human interpretations, but are inspired by the Holy Spirit, alive and moving in every generation. Approaching the Bible is an ongoing process, where each reading can bring new insight, challenge, and encouragement. The call is to take scripture seriously, allowing it to shape our beliefs, actions, and understanding of God’s will, knowing that it is the plumb line for truth in a world full of competing voices. [22:30]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Reflection: When was the last time you allowed scripture to challenge or correct you, rather than just confirm what you already believe? How can you open yourself to its transforming work today?
In a culture shaped by algorithms and echo chambers, believers are called to intentionally seek out truth, discerning what aligns with God’s word rather than simply accepting what is most comfortable or familiar. The world offers countless messages—through social media, advertising, and even well-meaning voices—that may reinforce our preferences but not necessarily God’s truth. True discernment requires humility, a willingness to listen to different perspectives, and a commitment to measure everything against the standard of scripture. This practice helps prevent us from being swayed by false teachings or empty promises and keeps our hearts anchored in what is real and lasting. [19:48]
John 8:31-32 (ESV)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Reflection: What is one belief or opinion you hold that you need to examine in light of scripture today, rather than just accepting because it feels comfortable or familiar?
Scripture not only teaches but also convicts and corrects, calling us to “straighten up” from self-centeredness and sin, and to realign our lives with God and neighbor. The process of correction is not about shame, but about being lovingly redirected from paths that curve inward toward ourselves, back to a posture of openness to God and compassion for others. This ongoing work of the Spirit through scripture helps us recognize where we have strayed and empowers us to live in a way that reflects God’s heart. Embracing correction is a sign of spiritual maturity and a willingness to grow in Christlikeness. [24:45]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Reflection: Where in your life do you sense God calling you to “straighten up” or realign your actions and attitudes? What practical step can you take today to respond?
God’s approval is found in loving Him wholeheartedly and caring for “the least of these,” rather than seeking validation from worldly success, comfort, or the approval of others. The scriptures consistently reveal that what pleases God is not outward achievement or status, but a heart that loves God and a life that serves and uplifts neighbors, especially the vulnerable. In a world that offers many false standards of success and fulfillment, believers are invited to root their identity and purpose in what God values most. This reorientation brings freedom and clarity, guiding us to live lives that are truly meaningful and pleasing to God. [27:35]
Micah 6:6-8 (ESV)
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to seek the approval of others or the world? How can you intentionally seek God’s approval through acts of love and justice today?
In a world where algorithms shape what we see and hear, it’s easy to become trapped in echo chambers that reinforce our own perspectives. The challenge is to discern what is true amid a flood of voices, opinions, and even misinformation. Just as social media and technology feed us what we want, we must be intentional about seeking out a broader, more balanced view—both online and in real life. This means listening to those with different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs, so that our understanding of truth is not limited by our own preferences.
Yet, even as we seek out diverse perspectives, there is a foundation that remains unchanging: the scriptures. Paul’s words to Timothy remind us that all scripture is “God-breathed”—alive with the Spirit, not just static words on a page. The scriptures are meant to teach, convict, correct, and train us in righteousness. This is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. Each time we return to the Bible, we are invited to learn something new, to be challenged, and to be shaped more fully into the people God calls us to be.
The Greek nuances of Paul’s letter deepen our understanding. Teaching is ongoing; conviction is about holding fast to truth even when culture shifts; correction is about straightening ourselves out from self-centeredness; and righteousness is about living in a way that is approved by God. The stories of scripture—especially the Hebrew Bible—show us what God values: exclusive devotion to God and care for the vulnerable. Jesus distills this into loving God and loving our neighbor.
In a culture that constantly offers false promises of salvation—through success, achievement, or self-improvement—the scriptures stand as our plumb line. They challenge us, call us to straighten up, and remind us that our ultimate approval comes from God, not from the world. The invitation is to engage deeply with scripture, to let it shape us, and to use it as our guide in discerning truth in a noisy world. Find a translation that speaks to you, and let the living Word encourage, inspire, and support you in your daily life and ministry.
Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) — > And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) — > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
What is your algorithm like? Have you ever thought about your algorithm? The things that roll onto your social media feeds, the Facebook ads, the things that pop up again and again. If you see dog videos over and over again, it probably means that at some point in your history of scrolling, you decided to watch that dog video and find it adorable, and so the algorithm gave you more. If you ever searched for a new Bible, you probably found that for the next six months you got ads for Bibles, despite having bought one right after your Google search. If you watch recipes, or fitness plans, or whatever it might be, a political speaker, those things are going to pop up more for you. That's the algorithm. They give you what they think you want to see. But how do we maintain a balanced view of things? How do we figure out what the true truth is when our algorithm is set to just give us what we want, and what we know, and what we love? [00:14:08] (64 seconds) #algorithmAwareness
All scripture is inspired by God. And is useful for teaching. For reproof. For correction. And for training in righteousness. A few of you might even have that just bored in here. Because this particular passage tells us about what our scriptures are. They are not just words on a page. They are not just someone's interpretation of God. They are inspired. And that is beautiful. [00:20:07] (25 seconds) #godBreathedWord
To correct yourself is to straighten up and look to God and look at your neighbor in the eye. So when our scriptures are inspired and God breathed, they are there to tell us to straighten up again. We've gotten curved into ourselves. We've gotten into sinful paths and sinful patterns and we need to straighten up again. And the scriptures will call us out on that. Not just other people. Call us out on that. [00:24:48] (31 seconds) #righteousnessEducation
We have to intentionally keep our eyes on our scriptures and keep our heart and mind and soul on our God to keep us on the right path, to discern truth. That is our standard, our plumb line, our way to measure. Is this truth or are you just telling me what you want me to hear? [00:28:34] (21 seconds) #standInScripture
It's really hard to walk into this world. There are messages of salvation and messages of hope and healing, but they're all false. If you just do this fitness plan, if you just do this nutritional plan, if you just raise your kids to go to great colleges, if you just make that last career move and you rise in the ranks and you become that highest thing you want to do, if you reach your success, then you're saved. Then you've made it. Then your life has meaning. False prophets. False teachings. [00:29:06] (38 seconds) #findYourBibleTranslation
Our scriptures, our God-breathed scriptures, are going to challenge us. They're going to teach us. They're going to call us to straighten up. They're going to convict us to hold true to them. And they're going to teach us about what will make God's approval. Because we're not seeking the approval of this world, we're seeking the approval of God. [00:29:44] (23 seconds) #embraceScriptureDaily
So I encourage you to go onto Google and be bombarded with six months of ads to get yourself a new Bible or to pull out an old Bible, and to be strengthened and lifted up for the hard work of ministry, because each and every one of you is doing ministry out in this world. So use the scriptures to encourage you, inspire you, and support you in this path. [00:31:05] (24 seconds)
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