Thursday, August 20, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Ecclesiastes 5-6 | 1 Corinthians 13

Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 

Raising children in a world filled with ideas different from our own is no easy task. Though my daughter is grown now, I still remember the day she came home from elementary school, absolutely convinced that if she studied her science book, it would mean she didn’t believe in Jesus. 

That conviction didn’t appear out of nowhere. She and her friends had heard from classmates about what might happen if they learned too much about science. Together, they drew a line - what they thought was a line between faith and scientism - and decided to boycott anything that might “pull them from the Lord.” 

Moments like these remind me how easy it is - for both children and adults - to cling tightly to what we “know.” When we think we know it all, we tend to hold our convictions as if certainty itself is a virtue. 

But conviction and certainty aren’t the same. Conviction can anchor us in truth, while certainty can harden our hearts, close our ears, and cloud our vision.

It’s tempting to trust that our perspective is the full picture. Our experiences and long-held beliefs can feel so solid that we forget how limited our view might be. 

Whenever we rush to judgment or cling too tightly to our own understanding, we close ourselves off from deeper wisdom. But redemptive love calls us to keep our hearts open. Wisdom grows when humility keeps us teachable - always ready for God to adjust our vision and help us see with greater compassion and truth. 

Ultimately, I was able to work through my sweet daughter's conviction that our trust isn’t in science itself, nor in rejecting it, but in the One who created all things - including science. 

Let's all practice leaving room to see clearly, and resist the urge to assume we already know it all. 

Jesus doesn’t call us to draw the dividing lines the world tries to shape for us. Instead, he invites us to be open, to keep learning, and to remain humble enough to know the difference between what we think we know and what we’re still being taught. 

Questions:
When was the last time you learned something important from an unexpected person or place?

How might humility change the way you listen to others - especially those who see things differently? 

Next Steps:
Pray, and ask God to show you any places where certainty has closed your heart or mind. Invite him to soften those places and teach you something new.

21 Days of Prayer | Today’s Focus: For Our Schools 

Prayer: 
Dear God, you said to let the children come to you, showing that you have a big heart for children. I pray for the safety of the children, teachers, staff, and administrators as they embark upon a new school year. I lift up the district leaders as they make crucial decisions, that you would grant them great wisdom. Cultivate patience and collaboration between parents and teachers, guarding them against bitterness and strife with each other. Help our schools be places where students feel loved, cared for, and inspired to grow. May your followers be a positive influence in their local schools, reflecting the hope that we have in you. In Jesus' name, 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.