Friday, September 4, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Numbers 25-28 | 2 Corinthians 8

I grew up in a small town right here in Northwest Ohio. In the summer, I could walk to either end of the road, and there would be a corn, bean, or wheat field.

As a kid, my imagination ran wild with dreams of leaving all that behind to move to a "big city" - a city I'd see on TV that was bustling with people, crowded sidewalks, towering buildings, public transportation, and all the excitement that came with it. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I'd say without hesitation, "move to a big city." That answer felt certain until one day someone responded with a sentiment that stuck with me: "Why would you want to go somewhere bigger? Bigger cities just have bigger problems.”

In truth, they weren't wrong. However, whether a place is big or small, every community has its own set of challenges. The real question is not which place has bigger problems - it is how we respond to the problems in front of us. Some problems are obvious and right on the surface for everyone to see, while others are buried a little deeper, waiting for someone to notice and help solve them for the good of those who live there.

John 16:33
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

In the middle of all these challenges, there is hope. For those of us who follow Jesus, we can trust him to have all the right answers and solutions for any problem we face, no matter the size or complexity of the place we call home. Because Jesus is in control of any crisis we find ourselves in, that hope holds and that perspective changes everything. It invites us to see our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and communities as places where God is already at work.  

So wherever God has planted you, whether that's in a tiny town or a large city, seek peace in your place. The point is not the size of the place but the faithfulness of the people in it. Remember, God uses ordinary people in ordinary places to make an extraordinary difference. 

Your presence matters, and your everyday faithfulness can help transform your community in ways you might never expect.

Questions:
How can you join what God is doing right where he's placed you?

Is there a problem on your street, in your building, or among your neighbors where your curiosity and willingness to help could make a difference?

Next Steps:
Take one practical step this week to engage in a community activity. If you don't know where to begin, be intentional about serving in your community by signing up for a project at September's Second Saturday Serve.

Prayer:
Father, I trust that you control all the visible and hidden problems in my town, community, and neighborhood. I believe you have overcome the world, and I know you never stop working for our good. Please guide and direct my steps so I can do my part in praying for, serving, and loving those around me. Help me to shine your love wherever I’m placed. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 13:35
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

Written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek Church.