The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 2:13. There's a kind of truth you can pick up in a classroom, and then there's the kind you can only receive from the Spirit Himself. Paul makes that distinction in one verse that's easy to skim past but huge in meaning. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. — 1 Corinthians 2:13 Paul is saying something simple and weighty: You can't learn spiritual truth without the Spirit who teaches it. Human wisdom can teach: strategies skills principles common sense logic reasoning But it can't teach spiritual reality. You can study Scripture academically and miss its power. You can memorize a verse and miss its voice. You can hear a sermon and miss the Spirit who's speaking. Why? Because what Paul taught wasn't merely information — it was revelation. It wasn't human insight dressed up in religious language. It was truth carried by the Spirit to people awakened by the Spirit. And that changes everything for you today: If the Spirit lives in you, you can understand what the Spirit wrote for you. This is why some verses suddenly come alive. Why conviction hits at the perfect moment. Why Scripture feels personal at times. Why you can sense when something is true—even before you can fully explain why. It's not vibes. It's not intuition. It's not "being deep." It's the Spirit doing what Jesus promised — leading you into truth. So the next time you open the Bible and something clicks. Or you hear teaching that hits differently. Or you sense clarity you didn't have a moment ago. Remember this: That's not you being smart. That's the Spirit being faithful. DO THIS: Before reading Scripture today, pray one sentence: "Spirit, teach me what I can't learn on my own." Then read slowly and notice what stands out. ASK THIS: Have you been trying to understand spiritual truth with human effort alone? What Scripture has the Spirit been highlighting in your life lately? How might your Bible reading change if you expected the Spirit to teach you? PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, You are the One who teaches truth. Open my mind, soften my heart, and help me understand what You've written for me today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Spirit of the Living God"

SUMMARY: Everything feels unstable right now—and it's not just political. When authority is contested, truth is negotiable, and order fractures, fear fills the gap. This video exposes why human systems can't carry the weight of our peace—and why the church must return to bold submission to the unchanging authority of God's Word (Psalm 119:89). REFLECTION & SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What makes instability feel more personal than political? 2. Why does contested authority produce fear—even for people who avoid politics? 3. Where do you most often look for peace when the world feels chaotic? 4. Why can't human systems carry the weight of ultimate hope? 5. How does Psalm 119:89 challenge our assumptions about truth and authority? 6. What happens to a nation when moral law becomes selective or negotiable? 7. In what ways has the church confused silence with faithfulness? 8. Why does avoiding conflict often lead to greater confusion? 9. What does it look like to stop outsourcing moral leadership? 10. Where is God calling you to live, speak, or stand more clearly right now?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. Many believers think they're supposed to have everything figured out. Like they should instantly know God's will, instantly understand Scripture, or instantly sense the "right" next step. But Paul is incredibly honest here: You can't figure out God on your own. And you're not expected to. These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. — 1 Corinthians 2:10–12 Here's what Paul is saying in everyday language: You don't have to guess your way through life because He's leading you. The Spirit understands the depths of God. The Spirit lives in you. And the Spirit reveals what you would never discover on your own. You're not trying to "crack the code" of God's will. You're doing life with the One who knows God's thoughts perfectly. That means… You're not abandoned. You're not stumbling in spiritual darkness. You're learning, listening, and being led. Sometimes it's conviction that won't let go. Sometimes it's clarity that cuts through confusion. Sometimes it's peace that makes no sense on paper. Sometimes it's Scripture lighting up right when you need it most. None of that is random. None of that is coincidence. None of that is guesswork. When the Spirit is leading, you don't have to guess—only follow. You may not always feel Him leading. But you'll always see the fruit of His leadership as you walk with Him. This is the quiet confidence Paul wants for you: Not certainty in yourself. But certainty in the One who guides you. DO THIS: Before your next decision—big or small—pause and pray: "Spirit, lead my thoughts right now." Watch the clarity or peace that follows. ASK THIS: Where do you tend to make decisions without inviting the Spirit in? What's one situation where you need His leadership today? How has God led you recently in ways you didn't notice at the time? PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, thank You for leading me. Quiet the noise around me and help me hear Your voice today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Spirit Lead Me"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 2:6-9. One of the hardest parts of following God isn't obedience. And it isn't sacrifice. It's the waiting in the dark—the moments when you can't see what God is doing, and it feels like nothing's happening. Paul speaks right into that tension. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." — 1 Corinthians 2:6–9 Paul is pulling back the curtain a little: God wasn't just working in Jesus' crucifixion—He was working in a way no one could see, no one could predict, and no one could imagine. That's what makes this passage so powerful: God often does His greatest work in ways you can't see. While the rulers mocked Jesus… While the crowds jeered… While Rome felt victorious… God was quietly overturning death, sin, hell, and history. That's what Paul means by "hidden wisdom." God was doing more in that moment than anyone realized. And the same is true in your story. You might feel stuck. You might feel overlooked. You might feel like nothing is changing. You might feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. But God's wisdom doesn't operate on your visibility. His plan isn't powered by your ability to track it. He is working in places you can't yet see. When you can't see what God is doing, you can still trust what God is preparing. And what He's preparing is bigger, deeper, and more intentional than anything you could design. He's not late. He's not absent. He's not inactive. He's simply working in ways you can't see yet. DO THIS: Take two minutes today with your hands open—literally. Say, "God, I trust You even when I can't see what You're doing." Let the posture preach to your heart. ASK THIS: Where does it feel like God is doing "nothing" right now? How has God surprised you with unseen work in the past? What would trusting God's hidden wisdom look like today? PRAY THIS: Father, when I can't see what You're doing, steady my heart. Help me trust Your hidden wisdom and rest in what You're preparing. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Way Maker"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Ever feel like you're not impressive enough for God to use? Like your words aren't sharp enough… Your story isn't dramatic enough… Your personality isn't bold enough. Paul's right there with you. In fact, he leaned into it. And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 Paul didn't show up in Corinth polished. He showed up shaking. No stage presence. No masterful rhetoric. No powerful delivery. He chose unimpressive on purpose. Why? Because he wanted the Corinthians to see what happens when God takes something small, simple, ordinary—and turns it into something impossible to ignore. That's what God does: He takes the unimpressive and fills it with undeniable power. Paul stripped his message down to the center point of history: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. No clever tactics. No persuasive flair. Just the gospel in plain sight. And the Spirit lit it on fire. This is the part we forget: The power was never in Paul's performance. It was in Paul's dependence. Your weakness isn't the barrier—it's the invitation. When you step forward trembling, God steps forward strong. When you open your mouth with nothing fancy to say, the Spirit supplies the power. When you choose to be faithful instead of impressive, God makes your life impossible to ignore. Unimpressive people. Filled with an unstoppable God. That's how God has been changing the world since the beginning. DO THIS: Keep Jesus at the center of one conversation today. Don't try to sound impressive—aim to be faithful, clear, and surrendered. ASK THIS: Where do you feel pressure to "perform" spiritually? What does it look like for you to embrace weakness instead of hide it? How might God want to show His power through your simplicity? PRAY THIS: Jesus, take every unimpressive part of me and fill it with Your strength. Make my words and my life impossible to ignore because Your Spirit is at work through me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Holy Spirit"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. There's a quiet pressure most people feel — the pressure to be enough. Strong enough. Wise enough. Disciplined enough. Spiritual enough. Successful enough. And when we're not? We hide it. Or we hustle to make up for it. Paul ends this opening chapter with a truth that cuts through all that pressure: And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." — 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 Everything you're trying to be on your own? Christ already is for you. You don't become wise by trying harder — Christ is your wisdom. You don't become righteous by earning it — Christ is your righteousness. You don't become holy by sheer effort — Christ is your sanctification. You don't redeem your past with better days ahead — Christ is your redemption. He is everything you're not. And everything you can't be without Him. And Paul says this so you'll stop doing the one thing that ruins your joy: Stop boasting in yourself. Start boasting in Him. Because the gospel flips the script: Your weaknesses are not liabilities — they're invitations. Your limitations are not failures — they're reminders. Your shortcomings are not final — they're places Jesus fills. This whole chapter has been Paul saying, "Look at how God works… and look at how God chooses… and look at who God saves…" And now he says, "Look at why." So no one can boast. And no one can say, "Look what I did." It's all Christ. It's always been Christ. It will always be Christ. Christ is everything you're not —and everything you need. DO THIS: Take five minutes today and thank Jesus out loud for being each of these in your life: your wisdom your righteousness your sanctification your redemption Name them slowly. Let gratitude reset your heart. ASK THIS: Which of these four truths do you most need to rest in today? Where are you still trying to "boast" in your own strength? What changes when you truly see Christ as your righteousness? PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are everything I can't be without You. Be my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Some of the most defining moments in life aren't victories. They're the moments you were overlooked. Not chosen. Not impressive enough. Not the one anyone expected to matter. Paul actually wants you to remember those moments — because they're the key to seeing how God works. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 God doesn't choose people the way the world does. He's not scanning for the polished, the pedigreed, or the popular. He looks for the humble. The ones without a platform. The ones without the résumé. The ones the world doesn't even see. Why? Because God loves turning the unpicked into the proven. God picks the ones nobody picks to prove what only He can do. That's the gospel pattern: The weak shame the strong. The foolish confront the wise. The overlooked carry the truth. The small things become his strategy. You weren't chosen because you were qualified. You were chosen because Christ was qualified. And in Christ, your story becomes his showcase. Your weakness becomes his window. Your life becomes his evidence. So don't resent the places where you feel overlooked. Those are often the very places where God grips your life the tightest and displays his strength the loudest. DO THIS: Write down one weakness you usually hide — then ask God to use that exact weakness as a platform for His strength today. ASK THIS: Where do you feel overlooked — and how might God use that? What weakness in your life might actually be a doorway for God's power? Are you comparing yourself to others instead of trusting God's calling? PRAY THIS: Jesus, thank You for choosing what the world overlooks. Turn my weakness into a platform for Your strength. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Grace to Grace"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:22-25. Some people miss God's answer because it doesn't look like the answer they wanted. The Jews wanted signs — power on full display. The Greeks wanted wisdom — arguments polished like marble. Everyone wanted something impressive. But God didn't send a performer or a philosopher. He sent a crucified Savior. Not what they asked for… but God gave something better. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. — 1 Corinthians 1:22–25 The cross offended the Jews because it looked too weak. It confused the Greeks because it sounded too foolish. But God wasn't trying to meet their expectations. He was trying to save their souls. What the world thought was weak was actually the strongest thing God ever did. What the world thought was nonsense was actually the smartest plan ever made. And that's the point Paul is driving home: When people demand what they want, God often gives what they need. And what He gives is always better. You don't always get the miracle you ask for. You don't always get the explanation you crave. You don't always get the clarity you think would settle your heart. But God is not short-changing you. God gave something better — and He still does. He gives a Savior who breaks sin, not just symptoms. A cross that delivers, not just dazzles. A gospel that transforms, not just entertains. What people expected would've helped for a moment. What God provided changes eternity. DO THIS: Say this today: "Christ is the power and wisdom I need." ASK THIS: Where have you wanted God to work your way instead of His way? What expectations of God do you need to surrender today? When has God given you something better than what you asked for? PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are the wisdom and power of God. Help me trust Your plan even when it doesn't match my expectations. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Jesus Paid It All"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:18-21. Some things only make sense after they save your life. Before that? They sound like nonsense. That's how Paul describes the cross. To one group, the message of Jesus crucified is the power of God. To another, it's foolishness — a ridiculous idea wrapped in impossible claims. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. — 1 Corinthians 1:18–21 Paul is drawing out a tension we still feel today: The cross sounds like nonsense… until it saves you. The world hears weakness. You hear rescue. The world sees defeat. You see freedom. The world mocks the message. You're living proof of its power. And that's the point Paul is making: God didn't design salvation to impress the world. He designed it to expose the emptiness of human wisdom and highlight the strength of divine grace. Sometimes following Jesus is going to feel like stepping into "a sense of nonsense." Not because the cross is foolish — but because the world around you is blind to its beauty. So don't be surprised when obedience looks odd. When forgiveness feels unreasonable. When holiness makes you stand out. When trust seems unexplainable. When truth gets labeled as narrow or outdated. You're not walking in nonsense. You're walking in God's wisdom, even if the world can't see it yet. What looks like nonsense to the world is the very thing God uses to save it. So stay steady. Stay centered. And let the message of the cross shape your courage today. DO THIS: Say this today: "The cross is God's power at work in me." Let this declaration reset your confidence when doubt creeps in. ASK THIS: Where do you feel pressured to make your faith look more "reasonable" to the world? How has God used the message of the cross to rewrite your life? What part of following Jesus feels most like "nonsense" to outsiders? PRAY THIS: Jesus, give me the courage to trust the power of Your cross even when it looks foolish to others. Help me walk in Your wisdom with boldness and joy. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lead Me to the Cross"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:10-17. The argument started small. They always do. A comparison here. A subtle jab there. Then suddenly the whole church in Corinth was splintering into camps — Paul's camp, Apollos' camp, Peter's camp, even a "we only follow Christ" camp said with a smug twist. Division never screams at first. It whispers. Then it fractures. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. — 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 Paul doesn't tiptoe around the problem. He hits the heart of the issue. Because when people start attaching their identity to personalities rather than to Christ, unity dies. And Paul slices through the noise with one sharp question: "Is Christ divided?" Of course not. But when Christ isn't at the center, people start choosing sides. Here's the truth Corinth needed — and we need: When Christ is at the center, we won't take sides. Pastors don't unite the church. Preferences don't unite the church. Personalities don't unite the church. Only Jesus does that. So why are the names of your pastor, your preferences, and your personalities so important to you? But when Christ becomes the main thing again. The sides disappear. Comparison fades. Pride quiets. Unity rises. So let this settle deep today: If Christ stays at the center, division loses its power. And said another way — because we need the reminder — When Christ is truly at the center, we refuse to take sides. DO THIS: Reach out to one believer today — someone outside your usual circle. Send encouragement. Build a bridge where a wall once stood. ASK THIS: Where have preferences quietly replaced Christ as the center? Who do you tend to "follow" more closely than Jesus? Is there a person you need to reconcile with for the sake of unity? PRAY THIS: Jesus, keep me centered on You alone. Quiet my pride, crush my comparisons, and make You the center of everything I follow and everything I love. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Make Room"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. What do you do when you feel like you're slipping spiritually? When your habits wobble… your prayer life dips… or your confidence takes a hit… and you wonder, "Is God tired of me yet?" Paul answers that fear before the Corinthians even think to ask it. He starts with gratitude. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. — 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Paul sees their future before he addresses their failures. He knows what's coming in this letter: division, immorality, lawsuits, confusion, and spiritual immaturity. But he doesn't start with their mess. He starts with grace—the grip of His grace that won't let go. God's grace started this. God's grace sustains this. God's grace will finish this. You're enriched. You're gifted. You're sustained. You're kept guiltless. And none of this hangs on your performance. It hangs on God's faithfulness. When you feel shaky… His grip stands steady. When you feel weak… the grip of His grace that won't let go holds you tight. If you belong to Jesus, He's not letting go—ever. DO THIS: Say this out loud today: "God will sustain me to the end." Repeat it until it sinks deeper than your doubt. ASK THIS: Where do you feel spiritually "weak" right now? How does knowing God will sustain you change your confidence today? What gift or grace has God given you that you've forgotten to use? PRAY THIS: Jesus, thank You for holding me with a grace that refuses to let go. Give me strength, confidence, and faith for today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "He Will Hold Me Fast"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 1:1-3. Have you ever forgotten who you are? Not your name. Your identity. The core of who God says you are. Because life has a way of chipping at that, doesn't it? One comment from someone who doesn't really know you… One failure you can't stop replaying… One season where you feel more worn out than useful… And suddenly you're questioning everything. That's exactly why Paul opens this letter the way he does. He doesn't start with correction. He starts with identity. Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 Corinth was a moral circus. A city where everything was loud, proud, fast, and compromised. But Paul looks straight at this messy church and says, You're God's people. You're sanctified. You're called saints. Not because they earned it. Not because their behavior proved it. Because Jesus did the work and placed His name on them. And here's the takeaway for you today: Culture doesn't get to name you. Christ already did. You are: Sanctified — set apart by God. Called — chosen for His purposes. Blessed — grace and peace belong to you. Paul says all that before addressing a single issue… because identity always comes before behavior. When you remember who you are, you start living like who you are. DO THIS: Speak your identity out loud today. "I am sanctified in Christ and called by God." Say it before you walk into work… before you see your family… before you face that thing that makes you doubt yourself. ASK THIS: Where have you let the culture tell you who you are instead of Christ? What false label do you need to lay down today? How would your decisions change if you fully lived like a "called saint"? PRAY THIS: Jesus, remind me today who I am in You. Strip away every false label and anchor my heart in Your grace. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Who You Say I Am"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:24-25. And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. — Judges 21:24-25 We've reached the final words of the Book of Judges, and they sting with truth: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It's a haunting refrain that sums up an entire generation that forgot God. They had the covenant, the law, and the land—but they abandoned the Lord who gave it all. This wasn't just a national problem—it was a personal one. Each man, each family, each leader turned inward and made his own truth. They didn't reject God outright—they simply replaced Him with self-rule. And that is the ultimate definition of rebellion. We see the same story unfolding today. People still do what is right in their own eyes. We redefine truth, rebuild idols, and rewrite morality—and then dance in the streets celebrating that we have "No King." We glorify rebellion as freedom, and self-rule as enlightenment, forgetting that the absence of God's authority always ends in moral collapse. But the story doesn't have to end this way. Judges ends in darkness—but it points to the dawn. From this chaos would come a King—first Saul, then David, then Solomon, and finally Jesus—the true King who reigns in righteousness. He doesn't just judge the world; He redeems it. So as we close this book, let's not repeat Israel's mistake. Let's remember the Lord—His Word, His ways, His works. Let's be people who live by conviction, not convenience; who follow truth, not trends; who walk by faith, not sight. To everyone who's walked through Judges with us—thank you. You've faced hard truths and found God's mercy in the middle of them. My prayer is that this journey has stirred your faith and strengthened your resolve to follow Him. Take this truth into your homes, churches, workplaces, and nation. Don't live as if there is no King—live as if your King is coming soon. If you've been part of this series, leave your first and last name, city, and state in the comments below. Let's celebrate what God has done and commit together to live differently. ASK THIS: How has the Book of Judges challenged my view of faith and obedience? In what ways have I done what is right in my own eyes? How can I help my family remember the Lord in daily life? What does living under the reign of King Jesus look like for me this week? DO THIS: Take time to reflect on what God taught you through Judges. Write one takeaway you want to carry into the next season of life. Share this series with a friend who needs to rediscover God's truth. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for the lessons of Judges. Help me remember You when the world forgets. Keep me from doing what is right in my own eyes and lead me to walk faithfully in Yours. You are my King, my Judge, and my Redeemer. Amen. PLAY THIS: "King of My Heart."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:21-23. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'" And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them. — Judges 21:21-23 Israel found a way to move on—but not to make it right. They buried the mess instead of confessing it. What started as a battle for justice ends in a festival of deception and abduction. It's a tragic cover-up wrapped in religious ceremony. They thought the problem was solved, but nothing was healed. They won the battle, but lost thousands of brothers. Their sin was buried—but not gone. When we bury sin, it doesn't disappear; it festers. We might hide it beneath success, busyness, or excuses, but buried sin always resurfaces. It's like sweeping dirt under the carpet—sooner or later, someone lifts the rug, and everything hidden spills out. We do this all the time. We ignore the conflict instead of confronting it. We hide our struggles instead of confessing them. We mask pain with performance, hoping time will heal what only repentance can restore. But here's the truth: you can't bury what God wants to heal. Israel needed confession, not cover-up. They needed repentance, not rationalization. And so do we. If you've been burying something—anger, bitterness, guilt, or sin—it's time to uncover it before God. Confession doesn't expose you to shame; it opens you to grace. God can only heal what you bring into the light. So lift the rug. Let God sweep the room clean. Don't live with lumps under your life—bring them to the One who can make all things new. ASK THIS: What sin or issue have I been hiding instead of confessing? Have I mistaken covering up sin for moving on? What "carpets" in my life need to be lifted before God? How can I create space for honesty and healing this week? DO THIS: Ask God to reveal anything you've been burying in your heart. Stop sweeping things under the rug—let grace do the cleaning. PRAY THIS: Lord, I've hidden what You want to heal. Expose my heart with Your light. Help me confess what I've buried and receive Your grace instead of guilt. Don't let me live with sin under the carpet—cleanse me completely. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come to the Altar."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:16-20. Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?" And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel. Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters." For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin." So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah." And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards and watch. — Judges 21:16-20 Israel is trapped in a cycle of compromise. They made one foolish vow, then another plan to fix the fallout, and now they're crafting another workaround to solve the mess they created. They're solving a spiritual problem with sinful logic. It's a dangerous pattern: one bad decision leads to another. And instead of repenting, Israel rationalizes. They think their cleverness will fix what only God's grace can heal. We've all done this. Maybe it's a bad business decision that we try to cover with another risky one—hoping to fix our losses instead of facing our mistakes. Or maybe it's a spiritual shortcut: compromising truth to keep peace, lying to protect reputation, or bending God's Word to justify our behavior. The deeper we dig, the more we sink. This is the danger of human reasoning apart from divine guidance. When we try to solve sin with sin, we multiply destruction. The Israelites thought they were preserving the nation, but they were only proving how far they'd drifted from God. This passage reminds us why we need a Righteous Judge. Because left to ourselves, we'll always judge wrongly. We justify what God condemns and condemn what God forgives. But there is One who judges rightly—Jesus Christ. He alone can make sense of our chaos and turn our regret into redemption. You can face His judgment now—through repentance and faith—or later—by your own unrighteousness. The choice is yours. Today, if you've been living on your own logic, lay it down. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Let His righteousness cover your wrongs and guide your next decision. ASK THIS: Where have I tried to fix a spiritual problem with human reasoning? What's one area where I need to stop rationalizing and start repenting? How can I invite Jesus into my decision-making today? Do I trust His righteousness more than my logic? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've been solving problems without God's guidance. If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, do it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for trying to fix spiritual problems with sinful logic. Help me to stop leaning on my understanding and start trusting Your wisdom. I surrender to Your righteous judgment and receive the grace You offer through Jesus Christ. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Jesus, Have It All."

After 1960, America didn't just experience cultural drift—it experienced legal formation. SUMMARY:  Over the last sixty years, a series of landmark legal decisions quietly reshaped America's moral framework—moving the nation away from historic Christian convictions on life, marriage, sexuality, and authority. These shifts didn't just change laws; they retrained conscience. And if the law has been forming minds, the church can no longer afford to stay silent. 

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:13-15. Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them. And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them. And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. — Judges 21:13-15 Israel finally shows compassion—but it's a compassion built on tolerance, not truth. They pity the Benjamites, the very tribe they destroyed, but their compassion leads to compromise. They offer peace while perpetuating the very rebellion that tore the nation apart. This is tolerant compassion—a mercy that ignores righteousness. It feels good in the moment, but erodes conviction over time. It's a love that refuses to speak the truth, fearing rejection more than rebellion. We see this same pattern today. Our culture preaches compassion without boundaries. We're told to affirm rather than confront, to love without leading, to sympathize without speaking truth. And too often, the Church imitates it. Take one example: modern parenting. Out of love, some parents avoid disciplining their kids, afraid of hurting their feelings or damaging the relationship. They mistake permissiveness for grace. But in doing so, they create confusion instead of character. Compassion without correction always leads to collapse. The same is true in our faith. When we tolerate what God calls sin, we're not showing love—we're abandoning it. True compassion tells the truth even when it costs us something. Real love doesn't lower the standard; it leads others toward it. God's compassion never compromises His holiness, and neither should ours. The most loving thing we can do is to speak truth with grace, extend mercy with conviction, and love others enough to call them toward repentance. Don't settle for tolerant compassion. Be the kind of believer who loves with both courage and clarity. ASK THIS: Have I mistaken tolerance for compassion in my relationships? What's one area where I've avoided truth to keep peace? How can I show compassion without compromising conviction? Who needs to experience both grace and truth from me today? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've tolerated sin instead of confronting it. Pray for courage to speak truth in love this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to love like You—full of grace and truth. Give me compassion that doesn't compromise and courage that doesn't condemn. Let my mercy lead others to Your righteousness. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Build My Life."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:8-12. And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction." And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. — Judges 21:8-12 Israel acts again—but this time, their "solution" becomes another sin. They justify violence against Jabesh-gilead in the name of the Lord. They think they're defending God's honor, but they're only protecting their pride. They're fighting in God's name, but not His way. This is what happens when holy causes lack holy character. When our zeal for righteousness outweighs our humility before God, we end up doing more harm than good. We can fall into the same trap. We correct our kids, our spouse, our coworkers—even fellow believers—with truth, but without grace. We demand compliance, not conviction. Take parenting, for example. We may demand respect but do it with the wrong tone and from the wrong heart. We call it discipline, but sometimes it's really control. We want peace in the home, but we're seeking comfort, not character. We want change, but not through compassion. When we correct without compassion, we create scars instead of growth. The words may be true, but they wound because they weren't spoken from love. The Israelites thought they were defending holiness, but they were only displaying hypocrisy. They were right about God's standards—but wrong about His heart. God doesn't just care about what we do; He cares about how we do it. If truth is our sword, then love must be our handle—or else we cut people we were meant to heal. So check your tone. Examine your heart. The goal isn't compliance—it's Christlike character. Don't fight in God's name without living in His way. ASK THIS: When have I fought for a good cause but in the wrong way? How does my tone reveal my heart in conflict or correction? Where might I be seeking compliance instead of compassion? How can I reflect both truth and love in my leadership or parenting? DO THIS: Ask a loved one how your tone impacts them—then listen with humility. When you feel righteous anger, slow down and seek God's heart before reacting. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me fight for truth without losing Your heart. Teach me to correct with compassion, to lead with humility, and to love like You. When I'm tempted to fight in Your name, remind me to walk in Your way. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God, Turn It Around."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:4-7. And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?" — Judges 21:4-7 Israel's problem deepens. They made a vow in anger, and now they're bound by it. They're trying to clean up their mess while making it worse. Their words sounded spiritual—"We've sworn by the Lord"—but they were driven by emotion, not discernment. This is what happens when Passion Proceeds Prayer. Their zeal outpaced their wisdom. They acted out of impulse instead of insight, and the result was pain. Passion Proceeds Prayer when we react instead of reflect, when we speak instead of seek, and when we move before we meditate on God's Word. They vowed something God never asked of them, and now they're trapped by their own words. How often do we do the same? We make promises in the heat of emotion—swearing we'll never speak to someone again, or vowing to fix something in our own strength—without first consulting God. We act out of guilt, fear, or pride and call it conviction. Here's the danger: a vow made in haste can become a chain that binds us for years. God calls us to wisdom, not impulse. Proverbs 19:2 reminds us, "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way." We rush into commitments—relationships, ministries, purchases, or words—because it feels right in the moment. But faith isn't about feeling; it's about following. God's Spirit leads through patience and prayer, not panic and pride. If you've made promises without wisdom, you don't have to stay trapped by them. Bring them to God. He's not waiting to condemn you—He's ready to redeem your mistakes. The cross of Christ covers not only our sins, but also our rash decisions. Today, slow down. Seek His will. Let your next vow be this: "Lord, I will wait for Your wisdom before I move." ASK THIS: When was the last time I made a decision without praying first? What promises or commitments might God be asking me to revisit? Do I trust God's timing enough to wait for His direction? How can I grow in patience before I act or speak? DO THIS: Take five minutes before every major decision this week to pause and pray for wisdom. Write out one hasty vow or promise you've made and surrender it to God. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for the promises I made without Your wisdom. Teach me to pause, pray, and wait for Your leading. Give me patience that listens and faith that follows Your timing, not my emotion. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Wait On You."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:1-3. Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?"  — Judges 21:1-3 Israel weeps. They mourn the destruction they caused, but their tears are not repentance—they're regret. They're not asking, "What did we do wrong?" but "How did this happen?" The difference may seem small, but it's everything. Regret is sorrow over consequences. Repentance is sorrow over sin. Israel doesn't confess their rebellion or seek God's direction. They simply grieve what they've lost, not what they've done. We do the same thing. We cry over the fallout but ignore the cause. We mourn broken marriages, fractured friendships, or spiritual dryness—but we rarely look inward at the pride, anger, or idolatry that caused it. Here are a few reasons why we avoid dealing with the heart of our sin: Pride. We don't want to admit we were wrong. Shame. We believe our sin defines us. Fear. We're scared of what repentance might cost. Control. We still want to manage the situation instead of surrendering it. Comfort. We prefer the illusion of peace over the pain of change. But regret doesn't bring freedom—repentance does. Regret keeps you chained to the past, while repentance opens the door to grace. The only way out is through confession, humility, and faith in Jesus. So say it with me: I'm done with regret. I'm done living in sorrow that never changes me. I'm done replaying my mistakes while ignoring the Savior who redeems them. Jesus didn't just die for your sin—He died for your shame, your guilt, and every ounce of regret you still carry. If you're tired of replaying the pain and ready to be renewed, it's time to stop asking "why" and start asking "what now, Lord?" In the comments below, share your step toward repentance—your decision to confess, turn from sin, and trust in the grace of Jesus. He's not done with you yet. And if today you're ready to move beyond regret, I want to invite you to take a simple step of faith—type "I'm done with regret" in the comments below as a public declaration. Let that phrase be your line in the sand, your confession that you're turning from sin and coming home to the grace of Jesus, who died for both your sin and your shame. ASK THIS: Am I more upset about the consequences of sin or the sin itself? What has regret kept me from fully surrendering to God? Which of the five reasons above do I relate to most? What would real repentance look like for me today? DO THIS: Write down one area where regret has replaced repentance—and confess it to God. Say it out loud: I'm done with regret. Then walk in that truth today. PRAY THIS: Lord, I've spent too long living in regret instead of repentance. Search my heart, expose my sin, and lead me to the freedom that only comes through Jesus. Today I declare, I'm done with regret. Thank You for dying for both my sin and my shame. I surrender it all to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Because He Lives."