Friday, May 8, 2026

Bible in a Year: Job 39-40 | Matthew 22

I recently came across a picture of a place in India where two rivers merge.

When these rivers first meet, they don’t fully mix together. One runs clear, the other runs a little cloudy. They move side by side for a while, looking different, until their currents eventually overlap.

It reminds me of how we sometimes live, passing people every day, side by side, going the same way. Some of us live in freedom, while others carry burdens and pain from hardship or from events beyond their control.

But unlike these rivers that eventually flow together on their own and become something new, our lives won’t naturally merge without intention. We have to choose connection. We have to open our eyes to the people around us and step toward them if we want to make a difference.

Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Jesus spoke these words at the start of his ministry. He declared his purpose and the heart of God for people who are hurting, lost, and overlooked. Just as rivers join and transform one another, Jesus came to bring transformation.

He calls us to live in his image and enter into the lives of those around us - not remaining separate or indifferent - but letting his Spirit move through us to bring change, compassion, and restoration.

It’s easy to overlook those walking beside us when they act or live very differently from the way we do. But Jesus calls us to see people through his eyes and to be present in their struggles by living out his Good News.

Picturing those rivers meeting, I’m reminded that we’re not meant to run our race alone, just brushing past one another. Our lives are made to mix, carry each other’s burdens, and to give away what we’ve been given - grace, love, and hope.

If we let God’s Spirit move us, we can become part of someone else’s healing story. That’s the kind of impact I want my life to have.

Let’s not just watch the rivers meet. Let’s step in, get our feet wet, and let God do something new through us.

Questions:
Who in your daily life might be feeling overlooked or weighed down?

How has God used others to encourage or change you when you needed it most?

What keeps you from noticing the needs of others?

Next Steps:
Pause, look around, and notice those you may be overlooking. Share the Good News with them and make an impact.

Invite God in to help you see and respond to those around you as Jesus does.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see those around me who are hurting or in need. Give me your compassion to reach out and the courage to bring your Good News to them. Help me to not pass by, but to walk alongside others and share the hope and freedom you offer. Use my life to make a difference, just as you have made a difference in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek.