April 30, 2026
2 Timothy 2:7 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”
The ability to understand from God’s view comes through the eyes of faith; eyes that are shaped by knowing and believing what God’s Word says. Scripture reminds us in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” When we settle that truth in our hearts, we begin to see differently. In every circumstance, God knows exactly where we are and what we face, and He is at work, even when we cannot recognize His hand. We declare that God is true no matter what the scene around us suggests. The Bible gives us example after example. People can walk on water: Peter did. People walk through intense fire unharmed: The three Hebrew boys did. People can spend the night in a den of lions and come out safe: Daniel did. David faced lions, bears, and even a giant and prevailed. Paul was bitten by a venomous snake and suffered no harm. These are not just stories; they are reminders that God is able to preserve, deliver, and sustain His people in ways that go beyond human understanding. Fear and uncertainty often rise when situations look hopeless, and that fear usually comes from seeing only with natural eyes. The enemy works to magnify that natural view, filling our thoughts with doubt, “what ifs,” and negative reasoning. At times, even well-meaning people can add to the confusion if they are speaking from human understanding rather than from faith. That only fuels uncertainty. But today’s verse points us in the right direction. “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding.” That’s words we can form into a prayer in every situation: “Lord, help me see this the way You see it. Give me understanding.” We are asking God to open our eyes, to help us put things together from His perspective instead of our own. And when He does, things begin to shift. We may not always see the full answer right away, but we gain clarity, steadiness, and peace. We are reminded that with the Lord, there is always a way through, always strength for the trial, and always wisdom for the moment. He is our Deliverer, our Protector, our Guide, and our Shelter. He knows how to help us, and He has invited us to ask for that wisdom (James 1:5). Understanding, as the verse implies, is the ability to put things together, to make sense of what we are facing. God doesn’t just give answers for moments of crisis; He gives understanding for all of life. And when He does, we are no longer ruled by what we see; we are assured by what we know to be true. We have understanding and wisdom that comes from the Lord.
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April 29, 2026
Psalms 136:26 “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
All twenty-six verses in this Psalm repeat the phrase, “For his mercy endureth forever”. And, at least fifteen other times, the phrase appears in the Scriptures, declaring the enduring mercy of the Lord. The Hebrew word for this is a picture of the vanishing point, described as: Beyond the field of vision of time or space, hidden or obscured from sight. That’s a staggering truth that brings us unspeakable joy: God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). We know what mercy means: To withhold deserved punishment or to provide assistance to those in need, especially when the person receiving it doesn’t deserve it. Consider Micah 7:18-19: “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” The Lord doesn’t take pleasure in punishing His creation, and in the scales of His justice, mercy always tips them in our favor. It’s all in the package of grace that He extends to us through Jesus Christ. Love, goodness, kindness, patience, grace, and mercy radiate from God to sinful man. The Bible says that He is, “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Stumbling, bumbling, and struggling people need to hear this, and Christians who have always seen God as vengeful, angry, and ready to squash them like a bug need this perspective. If the Lord tells us over 41 times in the Bible that His mercy endures forever, it’s clearly a point He wants us to get deep down in our spirits. If He repeated it over 3 dozen times, let’s hear what He is saying to us. And, not only does He want us to rejoice in His mercy, He wants us to show mercy to others. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). It was said of the Good Samaritan, when he had compassion on the wounded Jew and rescued him, that he showed him mercy (Luke 10:37). Why? Because Samaritans and Jews were enemies, but the Good Samaritan put all that aside, and mercy prevailed. My prayer today is that the Lord will help me grow deeper in the understanding of His mercy, and that He will convict me and guide me in times when I do not follow His example of compassion and mercy. “Lord, help me see Your mercy clearly, and help me always choose Your way to have mercy, show mercy, and be just like You. In Jesus’ name”.
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April 28, 2026
1 John 4:9-10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Our goodness does not lead us to God. The ultimate good would be to love God, but today’s verses tell us that we did not love God, but God loved us. It is in line with Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (shows, proves) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I love the way the AV says it in Psalms 16:2, “O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee”. The picture here is of the weakness of all our goodness: It might be a factor in our life on this earth, but it doesn’t qualify as goodness in God’s eyes. The Bible says in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. So, it’s not about us, coming into God’s presence on the merits of our good deeds and our moral codes. It’s about God Almighty loving us so much that He took on a human body and suffered and died in our place. The mystery of the incarnation includes the mystery of why God loves us so much. Sermons titled “Why I Love the Lord” could be preached from now until Jesus comes. But one titled, ”Why the Lord Loved Me”, wouldn’t even have a place to get started. Yet the Bible says in 1 John 4:19,” We love him, because he first loved us”. But the good news is, we are capable of loving God, and He has given us His word and His Spirit to help us love Him and to love others. When He gave the 10 commandments, the first two were that we are to love Him, and then love others. Jesus said those two are the foundation for the other 8, and the two are inseparable. The Bible says in 1 John 4:20-21, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” But it all emanates from God: He started it all by loving us when we were unlovable, incapable of loving Him, and sinking in our own sinfulness.
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April 27, 2026
Matthew 25:31-32 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”
I have written on this topic several times in these devotions, but feel compelled to address this subject again. The primary teaching for these verses is that they are not a parable, but refer to the remnant of nations at the end of the tribulation. The Lord will judge them to determine their role in the millennium. Nevertheless, they clearly reveal that nations are accountable to the Lord for their deeds. Scripture does not present God as dealing only with individuals, but also with entire peoples and cultures. When we look at the Assyrians and their capital of Nineveh, history records them as one of the most savage and ruthless nations ever known. Their own historical accounts describe unimaginable cruelty: They impaled bodies on stakes, severed their enemies’ limbs while still alive, and piled up the heads of the slain. They turned entire valleys into fields of blood and bones. Their terror spread far and wide, and for a time, they seemed unstoppable. Yet when Nineveh fell in 612 B.C., just as Nahum had prophesied decades earlier, that mighty empire collapsed. The nations that once feared them stood in awe that such power could be brought so low. It reminds us that the Lord not only judges individuals, but also nations. When Nineveh fell, so did Assyria. The judgment of nations is not something we often consider, but it is a consistent theme throughout Scripture. God weighs the character of a people, their values, their justice, their morality, and responds accordingly. Psalms 110:6 speaks of the Lord judging among the heathen, and Proverbs 14:34 tells us plainly, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” When a nation turns away from God’s truth and His will, it stands on unstable ground. When it begins to trust in its own strength, its technology, its prosperity, or its distorted sense of morality, it deceives itself into thinking it is beyond accountability. But no nation is beyond the reach of God’s judgment. Consider Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” A people founded on truth who later reject that truth, who are repeatedly warned yet refuse to turn, enter into dangerous territory. Proverbs 29:1 gives a sobering warning: “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” God is patient, but He is also just. What He requires of a nation is the same as what He requires of a person: humility, righteousness, and a willingness to walk in truth.
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April 26, 2026
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The warning here, don’t be conformed to this world, has as its key, the word “conformed” which means, fashioned like, in the same pattern, and has as a root, the word “echo”. If our life is just an echo and a pattern of the world, it’s a shame because the Lord has a higher calling for us. Our old nature of the flesh is already programmed and predisposed by our intrinsic sin to blindly follow the drumbeat of this world like the rats followed the pied piper. The lie of the enemy is that we’re expressing our individualism when we’re really just groveling in sin like everyone else. God’s will is for us to be transformed, and this word comes from the Greek “metamorphoo,” from which we get metamorphosis. It means “to change the fundamental nature of” and is the same word used when Jesus was transfigured. The Bible says in Luke 9:29,” And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering”. God says our transformation happens when we renew our minds. By the new birth, we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and the Holy Spirit is our helper to change us into the new person God has purposed us to be. But the warfare in our mind, the battle for control of our thoughts, can only be won by the Holy Spirit. He uses the Word of God to sever out the old patterns and replace them with a completely new mind. Hebrews 4:12,” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. Much of motivational teaching is about changing behaviors, and changing our behaviors can be a good thing. But, the Lord has more for us because He will change who we are, and He does it by the power of His Word that changes our minds. From this renewed mind comes the transformation, the metamorphosis, into the new creature that no longer patterns and duck-walks after this world but follows after Christ. We are not the pig that was washed (Peter 2:22). Our nature has been fundamentally changed. Then we can discern, “prove” what God’s will is, and we have the nature and power to follow His will. That doesn’t mean the enemy throws in the towel. He still continues to fight against everything that belongs to the Lord, even though he has been defeated and his destiny is the lake of fire. But we no longer walk after the flesh because we have a new way of thinking, and we have been transformed.
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April 25, 2026
Matthew 26:27-28 “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
When Jesus died on the cross, His death did not save us because He was perfect, because He was the Son of God, or because He died as an innocent man. It was when His blood was spilled that God’s wrath towards our sin was appeased. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (forgiveness). This looks back to God’s Word in Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul”. Animals under the Law were offered as a sacrifice on an altar, but Jesus was offered on the altar of His cross so that His blood would cover the sins of anyone who will trust in Him as their Savior. It is not the cross itself that saves us, for if Christ had been tied to the cross and hung in the sun without food and water for several days until He died of dehydration and exposure, He would not have been the sacrifice for our sins. Notice what the scripture says in Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”. It is the blood of his cross that makes the difference. Certainly, it looks back to that day when the Lord gave the Word of hope to the Israelites. Their little lamb, the one that had lived with them in their home for four days, the innocent little lamb that they had touched and grown to love, had to be killed and its blood collected in a bowl. When its blood was swiped on the door frames of their houses, God would not pass judgment on them but would pass over their household. Nowadays, the blood of Jesus Christ is seldom mentioned even though it is the only thing that God allows to cover our sins. Not the goodness of God, the grace of God, or even the death of our Savior can forgive our sins: It is only the blood of Christ. Today’s verse is the foundation of our communion, and my prayer is that each time I raise the little cup to my lips, may I remember that nothing in the universe can save me except: “The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. 1 Peter 1:19
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April 24, 2026
Luke 15:13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
The parable of the prodigal son was not given to justify compromise, as if to say it’s ok to wander away from God because He will always forgive. Though the father did forgive his wayward son, much was lost along the way. There was real suffering, both for the son and for his father, before restoration ever came. But this parable shows us a hard but honest truth about life: none of us will live the Christian life perfectly. Even the great men and women of faith had their failures. Noah came off the ark and got drunk. Abraham fathered a child out of wedlock and later sent the woman and her son away. Isaac, fearing for his life, lied about his wife. Jacob was a deceiver. Moses was a murderer. Aaron led the people into idolatry. Samson consorted with a prostitute. David committed adultery and then arranged a man’s death to cover it. And then, there are centuries of Israel’s history with cycles of revival, rebellion, chastisement, repentance, and return, only to fall again. The Lord said their goodness was like a morning cloud and early dew; it appeared for a moment, then vanished. Knowing all this doesn’t excuse our sin, nor should it make us comfortable with failure. But it does strip away the false belief that God only accepts us when we do right and turns from us when we fail. That lie has discouraged many and driven some away altogether. This is why the new birth is so precious. We are not merely saved, we are made children of God and heirs with Him. Consider this: What kind of father only accepts his children when they do everything right and tells them that when they mess up, “I’m going to beat the living daylights out of you?” Or if they get in trouble, he kicks them out of the house and turns his back on them? That is not the heart of our Father. The rightly divided truth is found in 1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” We are called to live holy, to do what is right, and to follow hard after God. That calling has not changed. But when we do fail, and at times we will, we must remember the heart of the Father. Like the prodigal, we can return, knowing He is merciful, kind, and ready to receive. And, praise God, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who stands on our behalf in our times of weakness!
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April 23, 2026
Psalms 142:4 “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
These are the words of someone who is overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. That’s exactly what verse 3 says: “my spirit was overwhelmed within me”. Maybe this verse is not describing you today, but it is describing many who are all around us. Both Christians and non-Christians. Laura and I recently went to one of my doctor appointments, and during the consultation, the physician, a well-known surgeon, was using profanity and took God’s name in vain. I spoke up and gave God the glory for my situation, but we walked away bewildered that a man, obviously intelligent, skilled at what he does, and old enough to be a grandfather, would behave that way. The interesting thing is that I’d seen him before, wasn’t really sure if he was the one I wanted, and Laura and I had worked to get another doctor to replace him. Even my Primary Physician had scheduled me with a different surgeon, and that appointment had been confirmed. But when we showed up, the original doctor walked into the room. After the visit, Laura remarked that maybe God was looking into this man’s heart and appointed us to be there and witness to him. I started thinking, does anyone care for this man’s soul? Is anyone praying for him? Then, it became less about me wanting a less abrasive doctor and more about God’s will for us in this situation. God knows I’ve tried to get away from him, but can’t. So, Laura and I are resigned that while I’m being treated, we will care for His soul. After all, Jesus does. There are people just like him around all of us every day. Some seem to have it together, and others are falling apart. Does anyone pray for them, encourage them to Christ, and overlook their bad behaviors, addictions, and angry ways long enough to shine the light of Jesus Christ for them to see Him? People might love them, hate them, or ignore them, but does anyone care for their souls? Where will they spend eternity? Some of them, maybe even the doctor I mentioned, are not as they appear because, without Jesus, all people are craving a relationship with God in their inner being. Some put on a front of strength, but are actually living overwhelmed. I believe you, and I care for their souls. I believe the people who read these Daily Devotions on our website, and on Facebook, love people and want them to know Christ. We want those who are believers and yet battling with discouragement, sickness, addictions, and things that overwhelm them to be set free. We want those who do not know the Lord to know Him as their Savior and Lord. We care for their souls.
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April 22, 2026
Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
This verse looks back to Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not… for the LORD thy God… will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” These were among Moses’ final words to Israel, yet the Holy Spirit carries them forward into Hebrews and places them in the life of the church. That alone reminds us that God’s Word is not bound by time or audience. What He speaks, He intends to stand. Some argue that promises given to Israel do not apply to the church, but here the Lord Himself settles that matter. He brings this promise directly to believers today, and it becomes a well of deep comfort. At its core is the unchanging faithfulness of God: He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The word “conversation” speaks of our manner of life. “Covetousness” means the love of money, as in 1 Timothy 6:10, where we are warned that such desire leads to sorrow and spiritual ruin. In contrast, we are called to be content. The word carries the idea of setting a barrier, as though guarding the heart against the creeping dissatisfaction that always wants more. Why can we live this way? Because of who is with us. God’s promise is not just that He will provide, but that He Himself will be present. There will never be a moment, now or forever, when He turns away from His children. That truth steadies the soul. It removes the ground from under fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. The Creator of all things walks with us. Because of this, believers should not think, speak, or live like those who do not know the Lord. We have been changed by grace. God is for us, with us, and in us. Everything that comes into our lives passes through His hand, and He uses it for our good. Our words, thoughts, and daily walk should reflect that reality. We are not striving to become blessed, we are blessed already. These blessings flow through Christ, rooted in promises that reach all the way back to Abraham and are fulfilled in Him. So today, we rest in the goodness, faithfulness, and sufficiency of God. Tomorrow, we will rest there again. And this will continue without end, just as Ephesians 3:20 declares, “He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. The Lord did not lift us out of the pit to abandon us halfway. He did not rescue us to leave us empty or undone. He has delivered us from sin, death, and the fear of what lies ahead, and He will carry us all the way home.
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April 21, 2026
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Jesus promised peace, and He is called the Prince of Peace. Yet many who know Him as Savior still live in fear, doubt, and anxiety. This verse points us to where peace is found: In the mind. When our minds are “stayed” on the Lord, fastened, focused, established, and resting on Him, we are kept in perfect peace. It’s our nature to dwell on the very things that steal our peace, and turning our thoughts away from the turmoil of this world is a real battle of faith. We have all faced moments of trouble and uncertainty, when we felt alone and at the mercy of our circumstances. That may be common, but it is not where God intends us to remain. Jesus did not save us from death and eternal judgment only to leave us helpless here. He is our Deliverer, our place of rest, and our Shepherd who leads us beside still waters. So, how do we learn this pattern of peace? The verse gives us two anchors: a mind stayed on Him and a heart that trusts Him. A good place to begin is early in the day, setting our attention on the Lord (Psalm 63:1). Then, through every situation and decision, we stay aware of His presence, because He has promised never to leave us. We speak truth over our lives: “Lord, You are with me. You are keeping me. You are working all things for my good.” As the day unfolds, we keep turning back to Him, thanking Him for His perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18). In doing so, we are training our minds to walk in faith instead of reacting in fear. The second part of the promise explains the first: we have peace because we trust in Him. The word “trust” carries the idea of safety, confidence, and settled assurance in the one we rely on. This is the foundation of faith: Confidence in who God is and in the certainty of His Word. Without that, phrases like “walk by faith, not by sight” become empty words. But when we truly believe what He has said, our hearts find rest. When our minds are fixed on the Lord and our trust is rooted in His promises, we are kept in “perfect peace”. The Hebrew words are, “shalom shalom,” a double portion, a complete and steady peace that comes from Him alone. Peace is not found by changes in our circumstances, but in a settled mind and a trusting heart. As we willfully fix our thoughts on the Lord and rest in His promises, fear loses its grip. His peace is full, steady, and sure for those who stay their minds on Him.
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April 20, 2026
Lamentations 3:21-23 “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
There are some things we should forget. The scriptures tell us in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” These are the things that weigh us down: memories that discourage, things that caused us pain and sorrow, and regrets for things that cannot be undone. The enemy is quick to use such things to keep us bound to yesterday. People have wronged us. Life has not always turned out as we hoped. Some burdens feel unfair and hard to carry. But the Lord calls us to release those things, let the Holy Spirit free us from their grip, and to place all vengeance and regret into God’s hands. Paul is a good example. He described his own past in 1 Timothy 1:13 as a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. Yet by God’s grace, he was not defined by who he had been. And neither are we. Through Christ, we are given the freedom to leave our sins and failures behind. But while there are things we should forget, there are also things we must remember. Our text begins, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” What we choose to remember matters. When we turn our thoughts toward the goodness of God, joy and hope rise. All of us have seen the compassion and mercy of God displayed in our lives. We have enjoyed blessings, deliverances, healings, provisions, and abundant grace. If only we had kept journals of our prayers the Lord answered, miracles He performed for us, trials He brought us through, and situations He led us through step by step. If only those things were the substance of our memories, because they are the evidence that God is for us and working all things for our good. Every day, each new morning, His mercies are renewed. With every sunrise comes another opportunity to begin again, upheld by a faithful God. As Psalm 36:5 declares, “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” No trouble we face can outdo His care for us. The enemy would have us fix our eyes on what is wrong, but the Lord invites us to remember what is right: His unchanging faithfulness. When we do, it changes our speech, our outlook, and our expectations. Instead of dwelling on the battle, we begin to declare the victory. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope”.
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April 19, 2026
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
When God tells us something in the Scriptures, it’s important. But when He tells us the same thing twice, it’s an alert. Today’s verse is repeated in Proverbs 16:25. It speaks about the deception of a path of life that has all the markings of being right, but the destination is destruction. In this dispensation of the grace of God, we know the right path, the path that leads to eternal life, is by faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says in 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The right way is the path of faith in Jesus. And, we know the other path of unbelief and its destination is destruction. Some people who travel life’s path of unbelief in Jesus as their Savior will straight up admit they know they’re not Christians, and that’s how it is. But the majority of unsaved people walk the path in today’s verse. They’ve convinced themselves that they’re ok, and that when they die, they say, if there’s a God, everything will be fine. We get that sense from the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told in Luke 18:11-12: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” When he looked over his life, everything seemed good, and his lifestyle seemed to prove it. But the Lord said the Pharisee was not right with God because he lived believing that his good works would save him. This little short devotion can’t scratch the surface of looking at all the things people say and do to prove they don’t need Jesus. They believe that if there’s a God, He will weigh their good deeds against their bad ones, and their good will be enough to save them. Some will claim their religious or “spiritual” beliefs as their right to eternal life. But everything apart from Faith in the Son of God is the way that seems right, and they all lead to death. Jesus is the Door, He is the hope, He is the Savior, and all who trust in Him will be saved. It’s as simple as that.
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April 18, 2026
2 Corinthians 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”
Before Paul’s conversion, his self-willed ambition was to destroy the church. The Bible says in Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Yet the Lord had called him for a very different purpose. Paul testified in Galatians 1:15-16 that God had separated him from his mother’s womb and called him by His grace to reveal His Son in him. His mission is further declared in Acts 22:14-15, that he would know God’s will, see the Just One, and be a witness unto all men. After his conversion, the Lord did not allow Paul to be taught the gospel by men. As he wrote in Galatians 1:11-12, the message he preached came by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that in God’s plan to establish the truth of salvation by grace through faith, and to pen much of the New Testament, Paul was one of the most important servants of the Lord. Yet even he was not invulnerable to pride. So he was “given” a thorn in the flesh to keep him humbled. When we think of a given gift, we rarely think of something painful, but the word “thorn” carries the idea of a sharp stake: something piercing and deeply distressing. It was so grievous that Paul repeatedly begged the Lord to remove it. But the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The Bible tells us this thorn was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him, meaning to strike with the fist. This reminds us of Job, whom Satan smote with sore boils (Job 2:7), and even of our Lord, who was buffeted and struck (Matthew 26:67). Though many have speculated about the exact nature of Paul’s affliction, the Bible does not tell us. What it does reveal is that Paul gained victory by submitting himself to the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, he declares, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then am I strong.” This account is not given to trouble us, as though such experiences are common for every believer. Few are called and purposed in the way Paul was. But it does help us understand why those greatly used by God may also endure deep trials. Paul, through whom God wrought special miracles (Acts 19:11-12), still lived with this affliction. He could be used to heal others, yet remain impaired himself. Only by the truth of God’s Word can we reconcile this. What seems contradictory to the natural mind is perfectly ordered in the will of God.
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April 17, 2026
Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”
These verses tell us that the grace of God brings us salvation, and it is also our teacher. The churches our family attended, and I grew up in, certainly taught that we should live righteously and godly. But their message was not from a point of grace, but from the fear of the wrath of God. The problem with the teaching of God’s wrath to make me do right is that it never worked. After eighteen years of it, every week and usually at least three times a week, I decided I couldn’t live right, walked away from it all, and never wanted to go back to church again. Oh, I tried to live righteously and godly growing up, but I kept messing up. I’d do right for a few days, and then I’d lose my temper, say things I shouldn’t say, think unholy thoughts, and by the teaching of our church, I was backslidden and shameful. After a while, I just gave up because while I thought other people must be doing ok, I got tired of trying. Look at what this verse is revealing: The grace of God is the goodness, love, and mercy of God that He gives us when we do not deserve it. That’s the grace that saves us, not our own attempts. Then we see here that it’s that message of grace that helps us turn away from all that is against God’s will, and embrace the things that honor the Lord, and make us better Christians. We begin to obey, not out of fear, but out of love, mercy, and compassion. We do right because we walk in God’s grace, and that grace guides us to imitate our Lord. The focus is not on sin, but on the Savior. The desire is not to escape hell because Christ already took care of that, but we desire those things that show our thankfulness for what the Lord has done for us. We want to please Him just as He wanted to please the Father. In some ways, I’m still just like I was when I was younger: I don’t always make good choices, I don’t always say the right things, and I don’t always think the right thoughts. But God’s grace is always with me, always teaching me, and always leading me to a place where I turn away from this world and my flesh, and desire to please the Lord. We’re saved by grace, taught by grace, secured by grace, and one day, grace will lead us home.
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April 16, 2026
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
The Bible is not telling us here to confess everything we do wrong to everyone. But it carries the sense of being open and honest about our stumbling and missteps. We always present Christ as the sinless, perfect One, and ourselves as always in need of God’s grace. But there is a time and place for us to come clean, especially when we do wrongs that harm others. Here’s the point: All of us have sinned, will sin, and fall short of God’s glory. And, as we openly admit our shortcomings, it’s a cleansing for us and our consciences as well as encouragement to others who may be battling the guilt of their failures. It’s a relief when we’ve failed, wishing that we had made better choices, and then hear our brother admit his imperfections and need for grace. Again, God is not telling us here to make public confessions of our failures unless those failures affect a group of people. J. Edwin Orr wrote, “If you sin secretly, confess secretly, admitting that you need the victory but keeping details to yourself. If you sin openly confess openly to remove stumbling blocks from those whom you have hindered. If you have sinned spiritually (prayerlessness, lovelessness, and unbelief as well as their offspring, criticism, etc.), then confess to the church that you have been a hindrance.” The words one to another are an encouragement to have a spouse, a good Christian friend, or a group to whom we can be accountable and them to us. Sadly, many Christians do not have that level of friendship with anyone that would allow them to be completely honest and transparent about their failures. The thought is connected to, “And pray for one another that ye may be healed. The word for healed here, “iaomai” is not only physical healing, but also spiritual. It means wholeness and was used by Jesus when He spoke in Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Confession helps us, strengthens us, and lifts the inward weight of sin. It unites us in the body because we connect with each other in our need for God’s love and mercy. It helps us pray for each other and beats down our pride, allowing humility to draw us to God and one another.
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April 15, 2026
1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
In our nation, even the vilest of offenders are given shelter away from the elements of the weather. They are served food daily and offered opportunities for recreation and education. Not so with our Lord, because though the Romans did not invent crucifixion, they perfected it to be the most horrible punishment imaginable. Perhaps this answers part of the question as to why Jesus came to us at the point in history when Rome ruled the known world. It is possible that only the suffering and pain of a perfect, sinless human sacrifice by crucifixion could turn God’s wrath from sin. It leaves us with the thought: Praise the Lord, He did it all for us. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. When we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we see Him beaten, tortured, and suffering the pain of the cross, all the while looking beyond all that to what lay ahead. Our Lord knew how everything in God’s plan and purpose would one day come to an earthly end. He set His eyes on that while He was being betrayed, arrested unjustly, beaten unmercifully, condemned and humiliated, and then nailed to the cross to suffer as no man has ever suffered. Today’s verse tells us He suffered for our sins so that He might bring us, reconcile us, to God. He saw us, those who are saved by His blood, with Him in glory, sharing eternity with God as heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ. The Lord showed us that sometimes, when our load is heavy to bear, when we are in a trial that is causing us pain, or our difficult situation seems to have no solution, we can look ahead in faith, knowing that the Lord has allowed our situation. What seems grievous in the moment is part of God’s plan for us: Not to be crushed under an unbearable load, but to emerge better than we were. We hear the words of Job in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”. The sufferings of our Lord brought us into right standing with God. For the Savior, His sufferings and sacrifice brought Him glory. Philippians 2:8-9 “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”.
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April 14, 2026
Psalms 27:11 “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”
Today’s verse is a prayer and begins by asking the Lord to “Teach me thy way”. This is a prayer that occurs often in the Psalms such as Psalms 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth”, and Psalms 25:4-5, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” This simple prayer looks to God because His ways are perfect, and when we follow His ways, we are greatly blessed with a better life. The Bible says in Psalms 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” When we walk in our own ways, following our own wisdom and thinking, or when we live by the mandates and advice of this fallen world, we shouldn’t be surprised when we can’t find a place of peace. But the ways of God lead us to a better life pictured by Psalms 1: 3, ”And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The second part of today’s prayer, “lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies”, is asking the Lord for a smooth, level life because we will always have enemies. We’re not asking God for an easy life, but one where we don’t have so many ups and downs. Another meaning for the word translated plain, is safe. This sounds like the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10, where he prayed for God to “keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” The enemies mentioned are people who are hostile and opposed to us. These are prayers we should pray often, and the Lord put them in the Bible to show us that He is willing to help us live with more joy, more gladness, more peace, and a greater depth of His presence. He knows who our enemies are, and He knows what they scheme against us. When He leads us, and we follow His ways, the path takes us to still waters where He restores our souls. He leads us in paths of righteousness, and even when we walk in the presence of our enemies, he prepares a table of blessing for us. We talk about being led by the Lord, directed by His Holy Spirit, and walking in His ways. A good place to start is by praying the prayer in today’s verse daily.
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April 13, 2026
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
To glory in something means a sense of triumph or victory, to feel or express great pride, joy, or satisfaction regarding an achievement, an attribute, or a status. It’s usually accompanied by bragging or maybe by someone else pointing out our glory. But when people get glory, the Bible says in 1 Peter 1:24, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away”. In our world, movie stars, music stars, rich people, and others like athletes sometimes sit on thrones of glory: people are their fans, their name appears often in the news, and they sometimes live lavish lifestyles. The recent release of the Epstein files uncovered the filth that had been hidden behind the public glory of many men the world honored for years. Note the words, “And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass”. Earthly glory doesn’t last. But the Bible says we can receive glory that is eternal: 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” This is the glory that today’s verses reference. When we seek the glory that comes from God, it’s a heavenly glory unknown to the glory hounds of this world. Even though it might seem strange, the Bible says in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”. When we seek the glory of the cross of Jesus Christ, we are choosing a stance that sets us apart from anything this world sees as glorious. The world condemns our identity with Jesus, and we condemn this world’s pattern of glory. What becomes glory for us is a life that exalts the Lord, one that seeks not its own glory but the honor of Him who alone is worthy of such glory. And because God has not ordained us to glory in the things of this world, He gave us this promise: Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
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April 12, 2026
Psalms 116:1-2 “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”
This Psalm is part of what is known as the Egyptian Hallel, a group of Psalms traditionally sung at the close of the Passover meal. That means these very words were likely sung by our Lord and His disciples on the night He was betrayed. As they joined their voices together and spoke of their love for God, the time for the suffering of the cross was already drawing near. The words of this Psalm do more than express devotion: they quietly foreshadow the agony for Jesus that would unfold before the night was over. Just a few verses later, we read, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.” Not long after singing this, Jesus entered into the Garden of Gethsemane, where His soul was “exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38). There He cried out to the Father in deep agony, bearing the weight of what lay ahead. And all of it, every moment of sorrow, every drop of anguish, was for us. The opening words, “I love the LORD,” call to mind the great commandment: that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Yet when we are honest, we must admit that our love for the Lord often falls short. It wavers, it weakens, and it is sometimes crowded out by lesser things. But His love for us is faithful, perfect, and beyond full comprehension. From His side, it is difficult for us to grasp why He loves us at all. We bring nothing of value to Him. Even our best intentions are often followed by failure, disobedience, and forgetfulness. But from our side, the Psalm gives us a simple and profound reason for love: “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice.” He hears us. He listens. Despite our inconsistency, despite our wandering hearts, His ear is still inclined toward us. The language paints a tender picture—God bending low, as it were, giving His full attention, like a loving parent who quickly responds to the cry of a child. Because He hears, the Psalmist declares, “therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” That is both a statement of devotion and a pattern for life. We pray because He listens. We continue because He is faithful. Our calling upon Him is not based on our worthiness, but on His faithful love for us. Our love for God, imperfect as it is, is rooted in the reality that He first loved us and continues to hear us. Even when we fail, His ear remains inclined toward His children. Bless the Lord, O my soul. And, all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.
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April 11, 2026
Psalms 77:7-9 “Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”
Most of us can understand the words of today’s verses because we’ve been through times when we felt like God had forgotten us. We were still trusting, trying to do what was right, and praying for help. But there was no answer, no encouragement, and no matter how hard we tried to knock on heaven’s door, it all felt in vain. Maybe it was the death of someone dear to us, or a time of sickness for us or a loved one. Perhaps someone abandoned or betrayed us, or it could have been a time we were bound by an addiction or suffering from depression. But no matter what it was, all of us can tell a story of a time or times when we were so overwhelmed it seemed like the end of our world. The answer to all the questions in today’s verses concerning the feeling that God has forgotten us and let us down is a resounding NO! It’s just a season, a valley of trouble, but the Lord will faithfully bring us out. The Bible says in Psalms 30:5, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. We don’t know how long the night season we’re in will be, and while we are in it, we may be weeping, battling unbelief, and holding on for dear life. But morning will break, the dawn of a new day will arise, and joy will return because God never leaves us, never forsakes us, and never fails to bring us through and out of our troubles. A lot of these devotions are encouragements for troubled times, and maybe that’s because of the long valley Laura and I have been traveling through. But we get responses from a lot of people who are going through trials we can’t imagine, and they are looking to the Lord in faith, believing for the victory. The Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, always on the prowl, looking for people to destroy. But our weeping is just for a period of time: It will be followed by joy, and in fact, in His presence, there is fullness of joy. Let’s claim our victories by faith, even if we can’t yet see the expected end. The Lord said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Can you say, “Amen, let it be so!”
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April 10, 2026
Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Jesus spoke these words to Peter at their passover meal, right before He was arrested. It’s a sobering insight into the spiritual battle that rages against us, unseen by our eyes, but well known to our Lord. Satan had singled out Peter as someone he needed to destroy, perhaps because he had observed the boldness and tenacity of his faith, and also because he was often close to Christ in important moments. Satan already had his hooks into Judas, and Jesus said he wanted to sift Peter like wheat, meaning to crush and overthrow, and in this case, separate him from the Lord. The enemy is not playing games: He’s trying to kill, steal, and destroy God’s creation, and he is especially attacking those who belong to Christ. But I love the Lord’s words to Peter when He said, “I have prayed for thee”. We are not on our own in the battle with the wicked one, and the promise of God that comes to my mind here is Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” When Jesus spoke these words to Peter, He knew that in just a few hours, Peter would turn away from the Master, and even curse and deny that he even knew the Lord. God sees us in our weakest moments, times when we are far from His will and walking away from Him, and yet He is faithful in His love for us. He is determined and has purposed that we will overcome, and like Peter, that in the victory He brings us, we will help others who are fighting the fight of faith. It’s easy to label Peter as a traitor, a denier of Christ, and a failure as a disciple. But God gave him the keys to open the door of salvation to the Jews in Acts 2, and to the Gentiles in Acts 10. Despite Satan’s plans to crush him, God’s plans never failed, and Peter turned completely to the Lord as Christ had prophesied in today’s verse, “And when thou art converted”. The word for converted, “Epistrepho”, means to turn back, to return to the worship and will of God. The enemy is real, and his attacks are sometimes fierce; designed to crush us and separate us from our Lord. But Jesus is our intercessor, standing up for us, and the Holy Spirit will never fail us. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will win this war.
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April 9, 2026
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
People can hear our declaration of faith, but they can’t see the faith. What they see, is what we do. If we live by faith, and our actions are in line with God’s Word, then what we do is a witness not only to what we believe, but to the One we serve. Today’s verse follows the words of our Lord, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house”. We talk about being light to this dark world, we sing about it (This little light of mine), and we know we are called to tell others about the Savior. But without good works, our words fall on deaf ears. If we are not doing what is right after we’ve identified ourselves with Jesus, we are more damaging to the cause of Christ than if we didn’t say anything. Good works, doing justly or doing what is right, are the essence of our daily lives and are the foundation of our personal integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change. Someone said that integrity is doing what is right even if no one is watching. Jesus said our good works are our light, and when people see that light, it points them to God. Also, good works make better families, communities, neighborhoods, and nations because they provide a foundation of safety and trust that safeguards who we are, where we live, what we possess, and our personal liberties as citizens. While good works can’t save us, James 2:17 says,” Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”. Almost all those serving time in jails and prisons are there because of their lawlessness. This is why we teach our children the Ten Commandments and instruct them in the truth of doing good. When we do what is right, saved or not, it’s a better life because our good deeds shelter us from the consequences of lying, cheating, stealing, and so on. Good works, doing what is right, is the evidence of our faith, and that evidence brings people to God. My prayer for myself today is, “Lord, help me to do what is right, even when it’s hard, because I know what I do speaks louder than what I say. Use me to point others to You. In Jesus’ Name”.
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April 8, 2026
2 Corinthians 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
In the verses that precede this one, Paul wrote about times we are troubled on every side, confused, and facing afflictions. In that light, if we look only at the things which are seen, the things that are in this present world around us that we see and experience, we can be discouraged. We might be tempted to think, “Is this all there is”? There are times when it’s hard to find joy and a good way forward. We can all get stuck in what seems to be seasons and cycles of sorrow and suffering. We have to make a conscious effort to turn our thoughts and attention, as this verse speaks about, to what we look at: Away from the problems, and to the One who will bring us deliverance. When our only reality is the here and now, some call that being realistic, and I’m not saying that we should ever deny the facts of this life. But by faith, at every moment and in every season, there’s another view that’s more real than the one we’re in: It’s a view of what we can’t see yet, but one that has lasting substance. The Bible sometimes uses the word “substance” for reality, as in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. The substance and evidence of faith become our reality and our facts when we remind ourselves that whatever we are facing, whatever is afflicting us, is temporary. As some have said, their favorite phrase in the Bible is, “And it came to pass”. Steam and fog are real: they can be seen and experienced, but they soon dissipate. I just clicked the “confirm appointment” on a text message about another lung scan this Friday. That will be followed by a consultation with a Thoracic Surgeon. It’s hard for me to say, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord” for this. But as a believer, I must do what I’m writing about here: I fasten my eyes and thinking on the facts that everything in this life, including the body I live in, is temporary. Jesus redeemed my soul, and He will redeem this body with one that’s glorified. The reality, the substance of this one now, is temporary. But I’m looking for and waiting for one that’s eternal. The time I have left to live in this one, what Paul called “The life that I now live in the flesh”, I will live for the glory of God. But it’s just for a little while. The best, the eternal one, is yet to come.
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April 7, 2026
Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
In the preceding verses of this chapter, the Apostle Paul speaks about God’s big plan through the ages for the nation of Israel and the Gentiles, and sums it up with this verse of praise. Adam Clark commented on this verse, saying, “It is strange that, with such a scripture as this before their eyes, men should sit down coolly and positively write about counsels and decrees of God formed from all eternity, of which they speak with as much confidence and decision as if they had formed a part of the council of the Most High, and had been with him in the beginning of his ways!” The verse and the one that follows, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?”, are paraphrased from the Old Testament, and point us to God’s greatness in all His ways. Job said, in Job 11:7-8, “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?” God loves us and came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, a form we can understand. Yet He is unsearchable, and even as He reveals Himself to us in His Word, we have nothing to compare Him to and no way to understand His being. In an earthly sense, it would be like a toddler hanging out with a genius nuclear physicist. The toddler brings nothing to the table in understanding the realm of nuclear physics. We bring nothing to our relationship with God that helps Him or contributes to who He is. He is not becoming something, He is not on a personal journey, and we have nothing by which we can instruct Him or make Him better in any way. Our part in all of this creator/creation bond is just that we are what we are by the grace of God. God alone is the beginning and end of all that exists, and it is His will and purpose that is moving all creation to its culmination. Our purpose must be found in Him; in living created in His likeness and fulfilling His will. Like the toddler, we learn to trust the Lord because He is everything, and our past, present, and future are completely in His hands. When we consider Revelation 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”, we get insight that whatever pleasure and goodness we receive, it is but a shared part of the primary purpose of creation: That is, all that exists is for God’s pleasure.
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April 6, 2026
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
When we show mercy, we reflect the very heart of God. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles 16:34, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever”. Our Lord echoes this truth in Luke 6:36: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” In today’s verse, a part of the Beatitudes, Jesus puts mercy at the very center of His message. But Micah 6:8 opens the matter further. God does not just call us to show mercy; He calls us to love mercy. On this level, it isn’t about just being kind and nice to people, but it reaches to the depth that God reaches when He shows us His mercy. In our natural, unregenerate state, we want, and sometimes expect mercy for ourselves, yet are often reluctant to give it to others. We want forgiveness, patience, and compassion, but struggle to extend the same. That’s because mercy is not native to the human heart. It must be formed in us by the work of the Holy Spirit. When we have the power, or believe we have the right, to retaliate; yet choose compassion and forgiveness instead, we are walking in Mercy. When we are merciful, we do not seek revenge or pass judgment. We forgive though we have been wronged. It is not just being polite or generous; it is a costly grace. True mercy gives up something real: our pride, our rights, our demand for justice. There is a difference between kindness and mercy. We may give to someone in need and call it mercy, but often that is simply kindness. Mercy goes further and answers wrongdoing with forgiveness. It repays injury with compassion. It doesn’t demand what is deserved, but shows grace. God could compel us to act mercifully, but what He desires is far greater. He desires a heart that delights in mercy. He wants us to rejoice when mercy prevails, even when it costs us personally. For when mercy triumphs, God Himself is put on display. Justice has its place, but it cannot do what mercy does. It is bound together with God’s goodness, kindness, compassion, and grace. We rejoice in the mercy God has freely given to us. Our salvation stands as a testimony to it. In a lot of cases, showing mercy will mean just holding our judgmental tongue, refusing to join others in belittling or berating another, and refusing to demand an apology or recompense when we’ve been wronged by another. But to love God and walk in the steps of our Savior, means to love mercy, practice mercy, and let this be who we are, not just what we practice.
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April 5, 2026
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Today, on this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Around the world, believers look back to that day when Jesus conquered death and gave us life. The importance of the resurrection is given in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins”. Christ arose bodily: The tomb was empty. Years ago, when I was a young preacher and first starting in the ministry, I was invited to preach at a local church. That night, as I preached, I spoke of the hope of a bodily resurrection for believers, just like our Lord Jesus. The people in the church immediately stood up and started singing and praising so loudly that I couldn’t speak over their volume. Confused, I assumed they were caught up in the Spirit, and I ended my sermon. The pastor stood, and a few minutes later, he dismissed the service. It was only later that I found out the truth. Their pastor didn’t believe in a bodily resurrection and had brainwashed his congregation with his heresy. He instructed them that whenever someone came to their church and began preaching that God will bodily raise the dead, they were to stand and “shout the speaker down”, that is, drown out his words by feigning to be led by the Holy Spirit in worship and praise. What an unmitigated mess. In today’s verse, at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus presented Himself as the resurrection and the life and asked Martha, “Believest thou this?” A few minutes later, the Lord resurrected Lazarus bodily from the grave simply by commanding him to come out. A few days later, a bodily resurrected Lazarus ate dinner with the Lord, and I believe all that is true. How about you? Do you agree with these words: I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was crucified in my place and for my sins. I believe He was buried in a tomb and three days later, He arose from the dead. If you believe those words and have never asked Jesus to save you, why not right now, pray this simple prayer: “Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You died and rose again. I repent of my sins, and ask You to forgive me, and come into my heart. I confess that You are my Lord and Savior”. If you prayed that simple prayer, then tell someone that you prayed to Jesus and that you believe He forgave you and saved your soul.
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April 4, 2026
Malachi 3:16 “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”
We self-reflect during the Holy Week of Easter because what Jesus did, including His resurrection, brings personal salvation. God reaches out to us individually and saves us one by one. We visualize ourselves with Him as He suffered, see ourselves nailed to His cross, and rejoice as we rise with Him, defeating sin, death, and the grave. But as we consider today’s verse, we see ourselves joined with other believers, and the Lord taking notice of our fellowship. It says that as we meet together and speak of the things of God, the Lord records it in a “book of remembrance”. When I think about it, it brings Psalms 133:1 to mind: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”. Our world stresses individualism, and that’s not bad as part of who we are because it means we are personally responsible for our choices, and we will appear as individuals at the Judgment Seat of Christ. But we are also members of the body of believers, visible members of an invisible spiritual organism. We’re a family, children of God, and united by all the things that happened this Easter week. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the power that makes Ephesians 4:4-6 such a wondrous thing: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”. God didn’t make us to be alone, and this is evident in the creation of Adam. Adam was perfect, lived in a perfect garden, had everything he needed, and had the companionship of God. But God said it wasn’t enough because God said, it’s not good for man to be alone”. This refutes the statement we often hear, “The Lord is all I need”. Studies of interpersonal relationships are showing that while we are the most connected generation that has ever existed because of social media, we are also one of the loneliest and most depressed, and getting worse. Let’s reflect on the church, united by the Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and let’s strengthen the ties that bind us to each other. Let’s pray for each other, comfort each other, and, as today’s verse tells us, speak often to each other, lifting up the name of the Lord.
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April 3, 2026
Luke 23:42-43 “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
The two thieves, crucified on either side of our Lord, represent us all. The majority of the world can be seen in the one who spoke out against the Savior in unbelief. The Scripture says he “railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” The word “railed” comes from the Greek word blasphemeo, the root of our word blaspheme. The name of the Lord is blasphemed continually; people swear, mock Him, and attribute His work and creation to a cosmic accident. Humans, made in the image of God, are said to be mere animals instead of the reflection of a gracious, wise, and loving Creator. That thief, in his dying moments, chose to dishonor the Creator of all things and sneered at the only One who could give him hope and life. It is no different today with people who hear the message of truth, stop their ears, and walk away in unbelief. The hardened human heart, depraved and unclean, apart from faith and the grace of God, has no desire but to reject the Word of God and choose death rather than life. But the other thief looked at Jesus in a different light and believed He was no ordinary man. He called Him “Lord” and asked for mercy, looking ahead to the coming kingdom. What a statement, and what a request. Dying beside the Christ, believing Him to be who He said He was, this criminal reached out in faith in the final moments of his life. In doing so, he found Jesus still doing exactly what He came to do, as declared in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” For those who think they have gone too far in sin to be saved, or that they have waited too long and missed their opportunity, let them learn from this scene. Jesus didn’t say, “Well, fellow, it’s too late. You’ve passed up too many chances, and you’ve lived too long in life’s gutter for me to forgive you”. Instead, He said, “Verily (truly) I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” And just like that, a lifetime of sin and shame was washed away. This thief, who was crucified a sinner, died a saint. He stands as a testimony to us all that the words of 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”, are the summation of it all: Christ saves all who come to Him by faith.
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April 2, 2026
Luke 22:48 “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”
In Matthew’s account of Judas betraying the Lord, he tells us that Jesus called him “friend”. Several years ago, Michael Card wrote the lyrics in a song that addressed this: “Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord? And why did he use a kiss to show them? That’s not what a kiss is for. Only a friend can betray a friend; a stranger has nothing to gain. And only a friend comes close enough to ever cause so much pain”. Spurgeon said of this, “He must be betrayed by his friend, that he may bear the utmost depths of suffering, and that in every separate circumstance there may be a well of grief”. When we see it on this level, that Judas was chosen by Jesus to be a disciple, that he followed Him for the years of the Lord’s ministry and was with the other eleven when the Lord sent them ministering throughout Israel, it speaks to us about the pain that others can bring to us. It also speaks to us about the pain we can cause when we dishonor people. But other layers in this reveal more about the complexity of the moment. Jesus knew Judas wasn’t a true friend, and early in His ministry, He said these words in John 6:64,” But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him”. When He called Judas a friend, He used the word “hetairos”, which means: one who labors in a common field or endeavor, but not necessarily for the same purpose or reason. Other places in the Bible, close friends that are endeared and beloved to each other, as appearing in Luke 7:34, “a friend of publicans and sinners”, are designated by the word “philos” which means: dear, close, affectionate, and denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling. Judas will always be a part of the Easter story, and our Lord’s submission to the murderous, scheming, religious leaders, including the sickening betrayal by a disciple, will always be reminders that when God came down to visit people, they wanted Him dead. It’s a mystery how Judas was chosen, spent years with Jesus, witnessed His power, and heard His teaching. He saw the kindness and goodness in Christ, yet his conscience became seared, and his heart hardened to the point where he joined with those who hated and despised our Lord. As we consider the Lord’s crucifixion this week, let’s never forget that our Savior died all alone. Even His Father turned away, and Jesus suffered it all because of His love for us.
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April 1, 2026
Romans 10:8-9 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Today’s verses point us to the wonderful simplicity of the gospel. Our faith in what the Lord offers does not originate in ourselves; it comes by the Word of God. Even these plain truths have been clouded by confusion. Some twist these simple verses, telling people that some of them are “believing in their heads and not in their hearts”. By the time these legalists finish bashing and confusing people with this craziness, whole congregations lose sight of the pure truth of what God promised. H.A. Ironside said it like this: “The heart is simply another term for the real man. The apostle is not trying to draw a fine distinction, as some preachers do, between believing with the head and believing with the heart. He does not occupy us with the nature of belief; he does occupy us with the object of faith. We believe the message that God has given concerning Christ. If we believe at all, we believe with the heart. Otherwise, we do not really trust”. God has made His Word near because His purpose is to save. He has not hidden the way, and He has not made it complicated. As 1 Timothy 2:4 declares, He “will have (desires) all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Notice the order: hear the Word, believe what God has said concerning His Son, confess Him as Lord. And what follows? “Thou shalt be saved.” This is not a process of human effort, but a work of divine grace. The new birth is not achieved; it is received. The Lord never intended for believers to be crushed under the weight of man-made religion, endless rules, lifeless orthodoxy, or guilt-driven performance. He has called us to something altogether different: peace, joy, freedom, hope, and a living faith in His promises. “The word of faith” is not a slogan for an invented doctrine. It simply means that God’s Word produces faith. It carries within it the very power needed for us to believe, to confess, and to receive the gift of everlasting life. His word is near us, readily available, and doesn’t have to be channeled through a religious leader with multiple doctrinal degrees. God is planting it in our hearts from wherever we hear it, like in this little devotion, and the Holy Spirit is bringing it to our mouths if we will but just declare it. His Word is near you. Receive it, believe it, and confess it. And do not let anyone complicate what God has made so wonderfully clear.