Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to John Andreas from Delano, CA. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your support helps reach men and women with the Word. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 10:1-12:

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” — Mark 10:1-12

The Pharisees weren’t genuinely curious—they were trying to trap Jesus. They bring up divorce, hoping he’d contradict Moses. But Jesus flips the question. He doesn’t begin with the law. He goes back further than the law. He goes back to God's original intent in the Garden.

“Moses allowed it because you were selfish and covenant breakers—unlike God.”

This marriage issue is not about the law or the lines we draw around the law. It’s about spiritual condition. Before divorce fractures the marital covenant, hardness fractures a heart. Jesus shifts the conversation from technicalities to theology. From loopholes to love. He basically says, “Let’s talk about what God intended, not what is permitted because of your fallen condition.”

Marriage wasn’t designed to be disposable. It was designed to be durable. A covenant made between two people and God where two become one and stay one through sin, struggle, and sanctification.

This is why Jesus makes this bold and sobering statement about remarriage and adultery. It’s not to heap shame on us for our mistakes but to reveal the sacredness of marriage and the seriousness of our selfish and hard hearts.

Our culture celebrates personal happiness above covenant faithfulness. But Jesus reminds us: the problem isn’t the institution—it’s the condition of the hearts permitted by the culture. So let's elevate the covenant. Check your heart. Is there pride? Bitterness? Self-righteousness? Indifference?

You're not going to "fix" a marriage by pointing fingers and drawing lines with a hard heart. You fix a marriage by submitting to the covenant, softening your heart, and surrendering to Jesus. If you are married, surrender something today. If you are not, remember marriage is an unchangeable covenant, not an amendable contract.

#HeartCheck, #MarriageMatters, #Project23

ASK THIS:

1. What excuses do we make for failing to fight for faithfulness?
2. Why do you think Jesus points to creation instead of law?
3. How can hard-heartedness show up in small, subtle ways?
4. What would it look like to forgive or pursue your spouse like Christ?

DO THIS:

Today, take five minutes to ask God where your heart has grown hard—in marriage, friendships, or faith. Then invite him to soften it.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, I confess the places where I’ve let my heart grow hard. Soften me again. Teach me to love as you first loved me—faithfully and sacrificially.

PLAY THIS:

“Lead Me”

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Joel Walls from Maben, MS. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is making disciples who are rooted in truth. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 9:42-50:

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” — Mark 9:42-50

Jesus doesn’t play soft when it comes to sin.

In this text, he uses graphic language—cut it off, tear it out—to drive home a very real spiritual point: sin is serious, and tolerating it is dangerous. Not just for you but for those around you. Jesus opens with a sobering warning: if your actions lead another believer astray—especially the spiritually vulnerable—it’s better for you to be tossed into the sea than to face the judgment coming.

Then, he shifts from how we affect others to how we deal with sin in ourselves. His command? If your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin—cut it off. Tear it out. Deal with it drastically.

Why? Because sin always over-promises and under-delivers. It offers comfort, control, or pleasure—but it ends in bondage. And Jesus loves us enough to say that freedom is worth the fight. Even if it costs you something. Even if it’s painful.

So, what do you need to cut off? A relationship? A habit? A secret? If something is leading you to sin—don’t manage it. Don’t excuse it. Don’t rename it.

Cut. It. Off.

Jesus isn’t trying to make your life harder—he’s trying to set you free. Holiness is always costly. But hell costs more. Let go of what’s holding you back from real life. Not tomorrow. Not when you’re ready. Now. Because freedom is worth the fight. And then, be salty, my friends.

#FreedomInChrist, #FightSin, #Mark9

ASK THIS:

1. What am I tolerating that Jesus calls me to cut off?
2. Have I downplayed a sin that’s damaging others?
3. Where have I justified what Jesus would challenge?
4. What would freedom look like if I let go of what’s holding me?

DO THIS:

Name the sin or weight that keeps returning—and take a bold step today to remove access to it.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, show me what needs to go. I trust your way leads to freedom—give me the courage to cut off anything keeping me from you. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“No Longer Slaves.”

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Frank & Peggy Pittenger from South Bound Brook, NJ. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping deliver God’s Word with clarity and conviction. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 9:38-41:

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.” — Mark 9:38–41

On this July 4th, we celebrate freedom. But as followers of Christ, we know there’s greater freedom—a freedom not won by force but by grace. Today’s text challenges us to think beyond our own independence and toward interdependence within the body of Christ.

John comes to Jesus with a complaint. “Someone outside our circle is casting out demons in your name. Let's shut him down.” And Why? “Because he is not following us.” There it is. Not Jesus. Us.

This wasn’t a case of false teaching—it was spiritual tribalism. A turf war. And Jesus rebukes it. “Don’t stop him… the one who is not against us is for us.”

Jesus is widening their perspective. Kingdom work doesn’t always come through your group, your denomination, or your favorite leader. The Spirit of God is not limited to our preferred lanes.

That said, Scripture is clear—not every spiritual-looking person is worth following. Some use Jesus’ name without his authority. And we must test fruit, not just flash (see Matthew 7:15–23). But that’s not the situation here. This was real fruit. Real ministry. Just outside the disciples’ bubble.

Jesus reminds them: “Even a cup of water given in my name won’t go unrewarded.”

That’s how far God’s grace and reward go. Even the smallest act, if done for Christ, is noticed and honored. So here’s the question: Are you more loyal to your camp than you are to Christ?

Don’t let your spiritual pride become a spiritual roadblock. Don’t gatekeep the kingdom. Celebrate gospel work—even when it’s not from someone in your inner circle.

And on this day of national independence, remember this—our unity in Christ is what makes us truly free.

#FreedomInChrist, #KingdomUnity, #Mark9

ASK THIS:

1. Have I mistaken group loyalty for Christ-centered unity?
2. How can I discern real gospel fruit from false appearances?
3. Do I rejoice when others succeed in ministry?
4. Where might pride be limiting my kingdom vision?

DO THIS:

Encourage someone doing faithful work for Christ outside your usual circles.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, help me celebrate your work—even when it doesn't come through me. Free me from pride and expand my heart for your kingdom. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Build Your Kingdom Here.”