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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 19:16-23.

"And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites. And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, 'Where are you going, and where do you come from?' He said to him, 'We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of the Lord, but no one has taken me into his house. We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything.' And the old man said, 'Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants; only, do not spend the night in the square.' So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank. As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him." And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. " — Judges 19:16-23

This passage offers a flicker of hope—an old man who shows compassion to strangers when no one else would. But even here, courage is mixed with compromise. He welcomes them in, yet his warning is chilling: "Only, do not spend the night in the square." The city of Gibeah, once belonging to God's people, has become so corrupt that hospitality has turned to hostility.

The tragedy of Gibeah isn't just the wickedness of its men—it's the silence of its good ones. Evil thrives when the faithful grow fearful, when believers retreat instead of resist. The old man does what's comfortable, not what's courageous. He shelters the Levite, but he never confronts the culture.

This same paralysis infects our world today. We see evil advancing—violence, perversion, confusion, and godlessness—but too often, we stay quiet. We fear rejection more than judgment, conflict more than compromise. We've become polite in the face of sin.

But our silence in this time is not neutrality—it's surrender. When good men stay silent, evil speaks louder. When the righteous sit back, the wicked will take over.

God is still calling his people to stand—to speak truth even when it costs, to show courage even when it's unpopular, to defend righteousness even when the world mocks.

Don't just be kind—be courageous. Have courageous confrontations. Because courage changes the course of a nation. Gibeah would one day rise again under Saul as Israel's first capital—a reminder that when one good man steps up to lead with conviction, God can redeem even the darkest places.

ASK THIS:

1. Where are you choosing comfort over courage?
2. What sin in your culture or circle have you been silent about?
3. How can you confront evil with both truth and grace?
4. What would bold obedience look like for you today?

DO THIS:

• Replace fearful silence with faithful action—pray, post, or stand for righteousness where others won't.
• Lead by example in your home: confront sin lovingly, not passively.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, give me the courage to speak when it's easier to stay silent. Help me confront evil with both conviction and compassion. Let my words and actions bring light where darkness reigns. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Stand In Your Love."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 19:10-15.

This story forces us to look beyond names and appearances. Israel still carries God's name, but their hearts are far from Him. It's the same challenge for us today—to be a people whose lives reflect the heart of the God we proclaim.

"But the man would not spend the night; he rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him. When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, 'Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.' And his master said to him, 'We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel; but we will pass on to Gibeah.' And he said to his servant, 'Come and let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night at Gibeah or at Ramah.' So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. And they turned aside there, to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night." — Judges 19:10-15

The Levite refuses to stay in Jebus—a pagan city—because he assumes it's unsafe. Instead, he chooses Gibeah, a city of Israelites, his own people. Surely, among believers, he'll find refuge and righteousness. But he doesn't. He sits in the open square, and no one takes him in.

This is more than a travel story. It's a tragedy of misplaced trust. Gibeah should have been a beacon of hospitality and faithfulness. Instead, it's a spiritual wasteland—Israelite in name but pagan in practice.

We see the same pattern today. Many cities, schools, and even churches bear names that sound holy—"Trinity," "Grace," "Bethlehem"—yet they reflect none of the God they claim to honor. Their doors are open, but their hearts are closed. Their signs declare faith, but their culture denies it.

And if we're honest, it's not just the cities—it's us. Too many believers bear Christ's name but live as practical atheists. We talk about faith, but we don't depend on it. We proclaim grace, but we don't extend it. We wear crosses but carry none of their weight.

Like Gibeah, we've confused proximity to truth with obedience to it. And that deception is deadly.

It's not enough to claim the name of Jesus; our lives must reveal His nature. Our words, our choices, our homes, and our churches should bear the evidence of His transforming power. The world doesn't need more people who simply bear God's name—it needs a people who embody His heart. Authentic believers who live what they profess, reflect His character, and restore His reputation in a watching world.

You may live in a city with a Christian name, attend a church with a cross on its roof, or post Bible verses online—but the real question is: Can anyone tell that Christ lives in you?

ASK THIS:

1. Where are you relying on reputation instead of righteousness?
2. Does your life reflect the name of Jesus or the nature of the world?
3. How can you model true hospitality, generosity, or holiness this week?
4. What's one step you can take to live as an authentic believer today?

DO THIS:

• Examine one area of your life where your actions don't align with your beliefs.
• Let your name—and your home—reflect the character of the God you claim to follow.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, make me more than a name-bearer. Let my faith be real, my actions be righteous, and my home be open. Keep me from the hypocrisy of hollow religion, and make me a living witness of Your truth. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Evidence."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 19:4-9.

"And his father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, 'Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.' So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, 'Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.'" — Judges 19:4-9

This scene feels harmless—two men eating, drinking, laughing, and delaying their journey. But beneath the surface, the nation reveals itself to be completely desensitized to holiness.

The Levite and his father-in-law are Israelites, descendants of Abraham, men who should know the covenant and honor the Lord. Yet there's no mention of prayer, no reflection on repentance, no concern for God's will. Only indulgence. Self-gratification. Endless feasting and comfort.

They look like men at peace—but it's not. It's the peace of distraction, not devotion. The peace of full bellies and empty hearts.

And notice where they are—Bethlehem, "the house of bread." A place that should symbolize God's provision has become a house of pleasure. These are supposed to be God's people, yet you can't tell them apart from the world around them. Today, the same confusion fills our culture. Christians binge what the world watches, laugh at what the world listens to, and chase the same comforts and conveniences. The line between the sacred and the secular has blurred so much that many can't tell the difference.

But Jesus never called us to blend in—He called us to stand out. To live holy. To look different. To love differently. To lead homes that don't reflect the world, but reflect Christ.

Bethlehem may have been filled with Israelites, but their hearts were filled with idolatrous activities. And if we're not careful, our homes can become just as spiritually hollow.

Stop living like the culture and expecting God's continued approval. Your Godliness begins with you at home. If you want the world to see the difference, they need to see it first in you.

ASK THIS:

1. Where has comfort made you spiritually lazy?
2. Can others tell by your life that you belong to Christ?
3. How does your home reflect holiness—or worldly habits?
4. What's one way you can lead your family to live differently this week?

DO THIS:

• Lead your family in one act of obedience—read Scripture together, serve a neighbor, or repent together in prayer.
• Ask God to make your home a holy contrast to the culture.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, open my eyes to the ways I've looked like the world. Strip away my comfort and awaken my conviction. Make my home distinct, my faith courageous, and my heart devoted fully to You. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Set Apart."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 18:30-31.

And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh. — Judges 18:30-31

The tribe of Dan ends their story with idols, not inheritance. They set up a fake priesthood, a false religion, and call it "faith." It looked spiritual—but it was hollow. Everything they built was founded on force, not faith; ritual, not repentance.

What began as one man's compromise became a tribe's tradition—and a nation's decay.

And that's exactly where we stand today. We've kept the symbols of faith but lost the substance. We sing about Jesus but live as if His Word no longer defines truth. We've traded repentance for relevance and holiness for acceptance.

The signs are flashing, and time is running short. Our culture isn't collapsing because evil is stronger—it's collapsing because truth is weaker. The light has dimmed. The Church has grown quiet. We've learned to tolerate what we should confront and bless what we should repent of.

But this is not the time to coast. It's time to come back. Not next year. Not after things "settle down."
Now.

Because a nation that forgets God doesn't lose Him overnight—it loses Him one compromise at a time. The tribe of Dan thought they secured their future, but they only secured their judgment. And if we keep drifting from the truth, we'll do the same.

God is calling His people.

It's time to return to the Lord while there's still time.

ASK THIS:

1. What signs of drift do you see in your own heart or church?
2. How can you personally help call others back to truth?
3. What step of repentance could you take today?

DO THIS:

• Pray daily this week for revival—in your heart, home, and church.
• Speak truth where others have grown silent.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, wake us up. Stir Your people to repent, return, and rebuild on truth. Let revival start in me—and spread before it's too late. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Revive Us Again."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 18:25-29.

And the people of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household." Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home. But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first. — Judges 18:25-29

The Danites finally get what they wanted—a city, a priest, and a name. From the outside, it looks like triumph. But it's all built on theft and deceit. They conquered Laish not through faith, but through force.

God never told them to take this land. They took it because it was easy. They called it "God's will," but it was just willpower.

That's how sin disguises itself: it borrows the language of faith to bless the work of the flesh.
The Danites built a city on the illusion of success. But anything built on disobedience will eventually collapse.

We have all done this: We push instead of pray. We manipulate instead of trusting. We use strength, strategy, and spin to get what we want—and then call it God's blessing. But real victory never comes by force.

It comes by faith. Faith waits when force demands. Faith obeys when ambition rushes. Faith surrenders when pride insists.

The tribe of Dan won a city—but lost its way. Don't lose your way, do things God's way.

ASK THIS:

1. Where have you been pushing by force instead of walking by faith?
2. Have you ever mistaken human success for God's blessing?
3. What would it look like to stop striving and start trusting?
4. How can you rebuild what's been done your way, God's way?

DO THIS:

• Pause before your next decision—ask, "Am I forcing this, or is God leading it?"
• Read Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."

PRAY THIS:

Lord, keep me from building by force what You've called me to build by faith. I don't want hollow victories or false success—only what's done in Your strength and truth. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Wait On You."

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

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. And Merry Christmas to you all.

Our text today is Judges 18:21-24.

So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them. When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, "What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?" And he said, "You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, 'What is the matter with you?'" — Judges 18:21-24

The Danites march away from Micah's house with his idols, his priest, and his faith-for-hire religion. Micah chases after them and shouts, "What's the matter with you?"

It's the right question — but no one in this story has the courage to answer it.

The Danites should've said, "Our cowardice." They were too afraid to claim the land God gave them, so they stole what belonged to others. Disobedience bred desperation, and cowardice turned into theft.

The Levite should've said, "My ambition." He left Micah's house not because of conviction, but because the job offer was better — more people, more influence, more recognition. His ministry was a career move, not a calling.

But neither the Danites nor the Levite can face their sin. So when Micah asks, "What's the matter with you?" they flip it back: "What's the matter with you?" That's what sin always does — it deflects instead of reflects.

We do the same thing.
When confronted, we defend. And we say, "I'm just under a lot of stress."
When corrected, we justify. And we say, "At least I'm not as bad as them."
When convicted, we rationalize. And we say, "God knows my heart."

But the heart is exactly where the problem lies. Like the Danites, our disobedience starts small — fear, laziness, pride — until it grows into actions we can't explain or admit. And like the Levite, ambition can masquerade as ministry until the applause becomes louder than obedience.

But the question still stands: What is the matter with you?

This question is not intended to shame you, but to awaken you. To make you stop running long enough to face what's hiding in your heart. Because until you name the sin, you'll keep defending it. The Danites justified their sin all the way into idolatry. But God calls us all to something better: to stop deflecting and start repenting.

ASK THIS:

1. When was the last time you blamed someone else instead of owning your sin?
2. What's harder for you to confront—cowardice or ambition?
3. Have you ever used "spiritual" excuses to justify disobedience?
4. How can confession restore courage and integrity in your life today?

DO THIS:

• Ask the Spirit to reveal one area of your life where you've been justifying sin.
• Write down the excuses you've used to defend it—then confess them one by one.
• Replace justification with repentance.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, help me stop deflecting and start confessing. Reveal the cowardice or ambition hiding in my heart, and give me the courage to face it with repentance and faith. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Refiner."