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."

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

Our shout-out today goes to Scott Kacos and family. Thank you so much for partnering with us on Project23. We cannot do this without you. This is for you today.

Our text today is Judges 18:7-10.

Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?" They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land. As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."— Judges 18:7-10

The Danite scouts find Laish—a city that looks perfect. Peaceful. Prosperous. Secure. Everything their own land was not. And they instantly assume, "God has given it into our hands."

But notice—there's no record of prayer, no word from the Lord, and no evidence of obedience in the moments leading up to this. They mistake opportunity for confirmation. They see abundance and assume it's God's blessing. But it's fake faith—faith built on feelings, not on truth.

This is how counterfeit obedience works. It looks spiritual, it sounds hopeful, but it's driven by convenience and comfort, not conviction. Remember, the Danites didn't want to fight the Amorites for the land God gave them in Joshua 19. They wanted the easy win, and this was it. Easy victories frequently lead to empty lives.

We do the same when we chase the "Laish" in front of us:

The job that pays more but pulls us from church.
The relationship that feels good but bends God's truth.|
The comfort that whispers, "This has to be right, it's working."

But not everything that looks right is righteous. Sometimes what looks like God's favor is just avoidance in disguise.

When our faith loses its fight, it starts settling for false flags. And the Danites here traded commands for the convenient conquest—and then called it compliance. Real faith does not do this. It never chases comfort; it counts on God even when the command is challenging.

ASK THIS:

1. Where have you confused convenience with God's calling?
2. What's your "Laish"—the easy path that tempts you to compromise?
3. Have you been mistaking peace for permission?
4. How can you return to the ground God actually called you to claim?

DO THIS:

• Identify one area where comfort has replaced conviction.
• Choose faithfulness over feelings this week—even if it costs you ease.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, forgive me for chasing comfort and calling it faith. Teach me to obey You when the way is hard and to trust You when the road isn't easy. Give me real faith—not imitation peace. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Trust In God."