Jim Gallagher

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ecclesiastes 3-4 & Galatians 1
Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 3- Like Animals 

Ecclesiastes 3:18
“I said in my heart, ‘Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.’”

Webster’s dictionary defines science as, “the accumulation of knowledge; particularly the knowledge gathered through the scientific method, which involves observation… Read More

Ecclesiastes 4- Unbreakable

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
... Read More

New Testament: Galatians 1- The World

Galatians 1:4
“Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father”

We spend a lot of time, effort, and energy, seeking to determine the will of God for our lives. Right now, many of us… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ecclesiastes 1-2 & 2 Corinthians 13
Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 1- How I See It

Ecclesiastes 1:2
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

Most of us have heard the description of optimism verses pessimism, where we look at the glass as either half full… Read More

Ecclesiastes 2- Where Are You Headed?

Ecclesiastes 2:24
“Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.”

A few years ago, I stumbled across a pretty cool website designed to help create photo albums. In a few minutes, I was able to design a picture book capturing a recent family trip. Ecclesiastes is a bit like a photo album, capturing the travels… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 13- Exams

2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

This verse carries two vital commands. First, we are told to examine ourselves, then we are told to test ourselves. Both carry the idea of looking at our lives in the light of the Word of God, to determine whether or not we are truly saved. Not all exams are of equal… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 41-42 & 2 Corinthians 12
Old Testament: Job 41- He Is A Big God

Job 41:1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

Job 40:15 “Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.” … Read More

Job 42- Poison

Job 42:10
“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

Job lost his health, wealth, family and friends, yet he “Did not sin nor charge God with wrong”(Job 1:22),No matter what the devil threw at him, he remained faithful to the Lord. When his wife told him he should curse God and die, he responded, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and … Read More 
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 12- Visions Of Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9
“ My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Every few years someone writes a book about how they died, went to heaven, and returned to tell about their experiences. The story usually includes something about radiant light, warm feelings, and the awareness of all their loved ones awaiting their arrival. The authors are heralded as experts on the subject of the after-life and their books often become best… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 39-40 & 2 Corinthians 11
Old Testament: Job 39- Bible For $100

Job 39:1
“Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth?”

Job was confused. He did not understand how God could allow so much suffering in his life. When God finally speaks to Job, He asks a… Read More

Job 40- Bad Things. Good People

Job 40:8
“Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?”

When Job’s counselors accused him of wrong, he began to justify himself before them. They claimed he was a sinner, so he declared his righteousness. As this argument continued to develop, Job’s justification… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 11- Qualified

2 Corinthians 11:23
“Are they ministers of Christ? —I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”

Part of the reason for writing this letter, was Paul’s authority as an apostle was being challenged. When he came to Corinth, Paul chose not to receive a salary from the Corinthian church, instead he worked with his hands, and received support… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 37-38 & 2 Corinthians 10
Old Testament: Job 37- His Thundering Voice

Job 37:5
“God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.”

Job is in the midst of a very confusing period in his life. He has been struggling to determine what God is doing, and why he… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 10- Weapons

2 Corinthians 10:3
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.”

The word ‘walk’ is a common idiom in the New Testament used to illustrate the way we live. Paul is reminding us that whether we are believers or not, we live… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 35-36 & 2 Corinthians 9
Old Testament: Job 36- God Is Great

Job 36:26
“Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; nor can the number of His years be discovered.”

God has gone to great lengths to ensure He is knowable by man. He gave us His written Word, took on the form of human flesh, and shines as a light through the lives of His followers. He has revealed Himself… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 9- Giving

2 Corinthians 9:7
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

As Paul was writing this letter, conditions in Jerusalem were very difficult. Persecution, famine, and perhaps a bit of … Read More 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 33-34 & 2 Corinthians 8
Old Testament: Job 33- Ransom

Job 33:24
“Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’. . .”

Jesus explained to the religious leaders, that while they searched the Scriptures thinking they would find life, in reality, the Scriptures testify of Jesus. In other words, we should be able to see Jesus throughout… Read More

job 34- Mr. Fix It

Job 34:16
“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words.”
Elihu was a young man considering the discussion between Job and his three friends. He listened meticulously to the arguments, and seemed to accurately… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 8- Full Of Grace

2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Grace is a beautiful word. We use it today to speak of the… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 31-32 & 2 Corinthians 7
Old Testament: Job 31- My Eyes

Job 31:1 
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?”

A covenant, like a treaty, is an agreement between two parties that results in peace. Job realized that he was at war, not with others, but with himself. The battle that raged within him… Read More

Job 32- Self-Righteous

Job 32:1-2
“So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, was aroused against Job because he justified himself rather than God.”

In the previous chapter, Job made a list of all the good things he had done. He speaks of being a good husband, caring for his employees, giving to charity, being a religious man and avoiding evil actions. These are all notable qualities and should be a part of our lives, but not… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 7- So Sad

2 Corinthians 7:10
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Unfortunately, sadness is a common feeling. We have experienced it in all its varying levels and intervals. We have had little things happen that caused us to frown and go quiet, and we have had deeper experiences that gripped us with sorrow and caused us to weep or even wail. Paul is speaking… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 29-30 & 2 Corinthians 6
Old Testament: Job 29- Memories

Job 29:2
“Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me”

My phone currently contains over 900 photos. Each one reminds me of something from the past few years. Most are pictures of my family or some fun activity we did together… Read More 
Job 30- Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Job 30:17
“My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest.”

One of the great quandaries we face in life is how to reconcile the problem of evil with what we understand about the nature of God. The Bible … Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 6- Temple Of God

2 Corinthians 6:16
“For you are the temple of the living God.”

Although this verse is tucked away in a passage not well trodden, this portion of the text is fairly well-known. It is not uncommon to hear this verse quoted, even among those who have not chosen to … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 27-28 & 2 Corinthians 5
Old Testament: Job 27- Watch Your Mouth

Job 27:4
“My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.”

Most of us understand there is certain speech that is ungodly, and therefore…Read More

Job 28- Mother Load

Job 28:12
“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?”

Job is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible. It may have been written as many as four thousand years ago. Job declares, during his day, men were involved in mining the earth in search of precious stones. He refers… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 5- Rewards

2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

A few years ago, I watched a very interesting story on the news. An armored vehicle, after leaving a local bank, had neglected to properly close the rear truck door. Upon making a turn, bags of money fell out of the… Read More