January 16, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, January 16.
There are many different ways to study the Word of God. If you’re a student of the Bible (and if you’re reading this devotion, you probably are) you’ve probably tried a few of them. One way is to simply read the Bible through. But even this simple method has variations. You can, of course, read in a straight line from Genesis to Revelation. I’ve done that a couple of times. But there are plans, easily found online, that jump from section to section - a few verses from the Books of History, then a couple of Psalms, then a chapter from a Gospel. I much prefer this method. As they say, “variety is the spice of life!”
But another Bible study method involves “camping out” in a section - spending a few months in Genesis, a few seasons in Romans, a few years in Revelation! Lately, I’ve been camping in the Minor Prophets. Why do we refer to them as “minor”. Not because they have less wisdom, but because they have less length. The four “majors” - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel - fill 167 chapters. The twelve minors just 67. But within their chapters we find major words of truth. Perhaps you might choose to spend some time with the Minor Prophets. Here’s a single verse from each, to whet your appetite.
Hosea - Return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your sin.
Joel - Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Amos - Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Obadiah - The pride of your heart has deceived you.
Jonah - You are a gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Micah - What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly.
Nahum - The Lord is slow to anger but great in power.
Habakkuk - I will stand at my watch tower; I will keep watch to see what God will say to me.
Zephaniah - The Lord your God is with you. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Haggai - I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord.
Zechariah - When I called, they would not hear. So, when they called, I would not hear.
Malachi - Bring all your tithes into the storehouse. See if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it!
Amen!
Meet you back here on Monday,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
