Daily Devotion
October 27, 2025
Galatians 6:4 – “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
I believe we all have within us a sincere desire to do what is good. That desire is not something we stir up on our own—it comes from our faith in God and the quiet, steady work of the Holy Spirit shaping our hearts. When we read the Scriptures and see what ordinary people—men and women just like us—have done for the glory of God, it strengthens our faith. If God enabled them, He can enable us too. The stories of believers through the ages, and even those living faithfully in our own day, remind us that simple obedience, offered in love, can bear lasting fruit. Yes, there may be some who feel the need to showcase every spiritual act, as though good works must be seen to be meaningful. But I don’t believe that is the norm among those who sincerely love the Lord. The vast majority of God’s people are quietly serving—praying for others, giving, helping, supporting, encouraging—all unseen by the world but known by the Father. Today’s verse encourages us to “prove” our own work—to examine and measure our motives with honesty. Are we seeking recognition, approval, or sympathy? Or are we acting out of genuine love for Christ and obedience to His Word? David prayed, “Search me, O God… and see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). The Holy Spirit stands ready to help us do just that—gently, graciously, and truthfully. There is nothing wrong with enjoying encouragement. A sincere “thank you” or “well done” can lift the heart. But the more we learn to labor without depending on applause, the more we resemble our Savior. Scripture says of Jesus, “He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). He served in quiet places, among ordinary people, without demanding to be seen. Think for a moment of the mother who teaches her children and cooks for her family day after day, or the father who works faithfully to provide, or the church member who intercedes in prayer where no one hears but God. These are the kinds of works that Heaven sees and celebrates. Colossians 3:17 reminds us of the heart of the matter: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” When our labor is done for Him, we don’t need recognition. There is a quiet joy that settles in the soul, knowing the Father was honored.
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October 26, 2025
Psalm 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.”
This verse has often been described as “the downward spiral of compromise.” It does not begin with someone fully embracing sin, but with a subtle shift of direction. Notice the progression: walking… standing… sitting. At first, the person is still moving forward, but they begin to walk in the counsel of the ungodly—taking in advice, opinions, and values that are not rooted in the Word of the Lord. Then they stand in the way of sinners—no longer just hearing the world’s voices, but pausing, settling, and becoming comfortable among them. Finally, they sit in the seat of the scornful—taking their place as one who now speaks, argues, mocks, doubts, and even opposes the things of God. Sin rarely demands instant surrender. It works in slow and quiet steps. We live in a world overflowing with voices. Every screen, every conversation, every broadcast, every article, every scroll offers counsel. The question is not whether we are listening to counsel; the question is whose counsel are we listening to? The believer must learn to discern, because the ungodly speak persuasively, confidently, and constantly. Yet their counsel is void of the fear of God (Psalm 36:1). The righteous person recognizes that the path begins at the ear. What we listen to shapes how we think, and how we think shapes how we live (Proverbs 23:7). Looking back to a couple of our previous devotions, let’s again consider Lot, who “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). He did not move into wickedness all at once. He merely leaned his life in its direction. Something happened to him when he moved into Sodom. Instead of Lot influencing the people of Sodom, he was influenced by them. What began as a glance became a residence. The downward path began with the wrong counsel and cost him dearly. On the other hand, Daniel refused the king’s influence from the very beginning (Daniel 1:8). He did not walk in their counsel, nor stand in their ways. Because he guarded the entrance of his life—the counsel he allowed into his heart—he remained faithful and blessed in a corrupt environment. Psalm 1:1 teaches us that blessing is tied to separation—separation not from people, but from ungodly influence. The world will always offer opinions, philosophies, and attitudes that lead downward. But the child of God must guard the ear, the heart, and the direction of the feet. The blessed life does not begin by doing great things for God—it begins by refusing the counsel that leads away from Him. May we walk wisely, stand faithfully, and sit only at the feet of Christ (Luke 10:39).
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October 25, 2025
Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul spoke these words at Miletus when he called for the elders of the church at Ephesus to meet him there. He was speaking to them with a pastor’s heart, reminding them of the core message he had preached: “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse reveals the human response to the gospel. When someone hears the message of the cross and is drawn to Christ, there are two responsibilities: repentance and faith. Yet in our day, repentance is rarely mentioned. Instead, we hear a steady stream of teaching on grace, mercy, and God’s goodness—which are wonderful and true—but when emphasized without repentance, the message becomes incomplete. It is almost as if repentance has been treated as outdated, something belonging to another era. The thought of it makes us cringe and uncomfortable. But God has not changed. His holiness has not softened. His righteousness and severity has not adjusted to cultural comfort. Scripture still declares Him to be a God of consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). We love to hear of grace, but we avoid passages like Isaiah 66:15-16, which describe the Lord returning with fire and judgment. Many want a God who saves, comforts, and blesses—but not a God who confronts sin. But if we remove the gravity of sin, we remove the need for salvation itself. Jesus’ words are unmistakable: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3 These words were not confined to one people in one time. They speak to every soul. Repentance is not a work that earns salvation—it is the turning of the heart, the acknowledgment of sin, and the surrender of self. It is the door through which grace enters. Peter preached the same message in Acts 3:19: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” Repentance and faith are not enemies—one prepares the way for the other. To turn from sin is to turn toward Christ. The gospel declares both the love of God and the seriousness of sin. Grace is not cheap, and salvation is not casual. A softened call to repentance leads to softened faith. But the heart that bows in repentance finds mercy overflowing and forgiveness complete. Real faith is not just believing Jesus saves-it is turning from the old life to receive the new. Repentance and faith walk hand in hand, and together, they open the door to life in Christ.
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October 24, 2025
Genesis 13:11-12 “Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
Lot has been mentioned in several of these devotions recently because he represents many people of this generation. In Luke 17:28-30, Jesus used the days of Lot to describe the unbelief and moral decay that would characterize society before His return. Even when judgment was imminent, the people of Sodom ignored all warnings. They continued their wicked lifestyles and carried on with business as usual—right up until the fire of destruction began to fall. In the final hours before Sodom’s devastation, Lot attempted to warn his sons-in-law, but he had no influence over them. Genesis 19:14 says, “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” What a tragic picture—his voice carried no weight because his life had long blended in with the sinful culture he was trying to escape. The first four words in today’s passage— “Then Lot chose him”—reveal where Lot’s heart truly was before he ever moved into Sodom. From the place where he and Abraham stood, he could see the lush Jordan Valley stretching out before him. The land was rich and fertile, “well-watered everywhere” (Genesis 13:10), resembling the garden of the Lord. When Abraham offered him the choice of territory, Lot eagerly selected what appealed to his eyes. He knew that Abraham had the call of God upon him. He had witnessed his uncle’s faith—leaving his home in Haran at seventy-five years old, following God’s promise to an unknown land (Hebrews 11:8-10). Lot could have said, “Uncle Abraham, I want your wisdom and advice to help me choose what God wants for me.” But that was not his heart. Instead, he followed sight over faith. The well-watered plains of Jordan and the prosperous cities of the plain drew him away from the life of separation and faithfulness that Abraham modeled. It was a costly decision. When the smoke of Sodom finally cleared, Lot had lost everything except his two corrupted daughters and a lifetime of regret. Abraham, on the other hand, kept walking by faith. He pitched his tent in Canaan and built his altar to the Lord. He looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, and in due time, he received the promises and blessings that come to those who live by faith (Romans 4:20-21). Lot’s story is a sober warning to every believer about the danger of our choices. The world often offers us its “well-watered plains”—appealing opportunities that promise comfort and prosperity but lead to spiritual compromise. Faith, however, looks beyond the visible to the eternal.
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October 23, 2025
2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
Have you ever been tangled up in a situation you didn’t know how to get out of? The word entangleth comes from the Greek emplekō, meaning to be caught in a net—trapped and unable to break free. It paints a picture of a soldier caught in undergrowth, hindered from completing his mission. In Genesis 13, Lot separated from Abraham and chose the well-watered plains of Jordan. His first step was to pitch his tent toward Sodom, and before long, he was living in Sodom. Eventually, the angels of the Lord had to pull him out of the city before its destruction. But the effects of his entanglement lingered—his descendants, the Moabites and Ammonites, became enemies of God’s people (Genesis 19:30–38). Jesus gave a similar warning in Luke 14, where a man made a great supper and invited many guests. Yet one by one, they began to make excuses—property to inspect, oxen to test, a marriage to attend. Each was too caught up in life’s affairs to accept the invitation. The man hosting the supper represents the Lord, who invites all to the celebration of His grace. Paul’s words remind us that if we want to please our Commander, we must stay clear of the entanglements that keep us from God’s best. These distractions rarely trap us suddenly. Like Lot, we edge closer step by step—one small compromise, one divided loyalty—until we find ourselves bound in a web of misplaced priorities. But Christ came to set us free (John 8:36). He doesn’t lead us into things that rob our peace, damage our families, or separate us from His will. Instead, He calls us away from compromise, addiction, and every weight that slows our spiritual progress (Hebrews 12:1). Sometimes, when I walk around our yard, I see grasshoppers and other insects caught in spider webs. If they’re still alive, I take a stick and set them free. Watching them fly away is a small reminder of what the Lord does for us—He frees us from the snares that hold us captive and restores our ability to move forward in His purpose. A soldier cannot fight effectively while tangled in civilian affairs. Likewise, believers cannot serve Christ fully when ensnared by worldly distractions. Freedom comes through surrender to Christ, who alone can cut away the cords of compromise and set us walking in His liberty. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” — Galatians 5:1
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October 22, 2025
Mark 5:35-36 “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”
Jairus was an overseer of the synagogue, much like a modern pastor. His daughter was gravely ill, and the Bible says he went to Jesus, fell at His feet, and pleaded, “My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” Most of the religious crowd in Christ’s day scorned Him, and we are not told what Jairus thought of the Lord before his daughter’s sickness. But sometimes circumstances soften even the hardest heart. Jairus needed something more than religion—he needed the power and compassion of Jesus Christ. As Jesus made His way toward Jairus’ house, a messenger arrived with devastating news: the child had already died. Before despair could take root, Jesus immediately spoke words of life and hope: “Be not afraid, only believe.” How often do we also receive news that shakes us to the core? There are times when it seems all hope is gone, when the natural evidence says it’s too late. Jairus’s heart surely sank—he had been hoping for healing, not resurrection. Yet Jesus’ words carried the very breath of heaven. He was calling Jairus to resist fear, along with its companions—doubt, hopelessness, and grief—and to stand firm in faith. Faith believes when circumstances shout otherwise. It looks beyond the report of the doctor (Isaiah 53:1), beyond the loss that breaks the heart, beyond the door that has closed. The eyes of faith are fixed upward, trusting in the One who can make a way where there is none (Isaiah 43:16-19). Jesus was urging Jairus to trust Him regardless of the message he had just heard. Our God is still the God of the impossible (Luke 1:37). His command remains the same today: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus is Lord of all—Lord over every sickness, every setback, and every sorrow. He raised Jairus’s daughter from death, and He alone has the final word in every situation we face. When faith is tested and fear presses in, remember that Jesus’ words are not suggestions—they are divine imperatives full of power and promise. He does not deny the reality of pain or loss, but He calls us to see beyond it, to trust that His presence changes everything. Whatever you face today, hear the voice of the Master saying, “Be not afraid, only believe.” The situation may appear hopeless, but Christ’s authority reaches beyond what the eye can see. Trust Him—He still brings life where there once was death, and hope where there once was despair.
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October 21, 2025
Isaiah 60:1 — “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
The words “Rise and shine” have been used through the years as a morning wake-up call, and most people don’t realize they’re from the Scriptures. It’s a reference to the light of God, as declared in 1 John 1:5: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Psalm 104:2 speaks of the Lord, saying, “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment.” Those who do not know God, who do not walk in His ways or trust in His Word, have no idea what this means. Some professing Christians think it’s mere symbolism or poetic language. But all who have had their eyes opened to the darkness of sin and unbelief—those who have seen the world as it truly is through the truth of God’s Word—understand it in its fullness. Look at verse 2 in today’s passage: “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” The light spoken of here comes from the glory of the LORD, and there are examples of this throughout Scripture. In Exodus 34, Moses was in the presence of the Lord, and his face absorbed the light of God’s glory so that it shone. When Jesus was transfigured in Matthew 17, the Bible says, “His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” But the light of God’s glory is more than a physical manifestation. It is the illumination of the Holy Spirit when He comes within us and makes His presence known. What was once dark, obscure, and unknown becomes visible in His light of truth—as if a lamp were turned on in a dark place, revealing what the darkness had concealed. The light of the appearing of Jesus Christ into this world is declared in Isaiah 9:2: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” We need the glory of the Lord. Dead religion, apostate churches, and unregenerated, uncalled speakers masquerading as ministers of the gospel or messengers of hope possess only the glory of the world and the flesh. They speak smooth words but are described in 2 Peter 2:19: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” Accept only the genuine thing—the Light of the glory of God. When the Lord calls us to “arise and shine,” He is not asking us to create our own light but to reflect His. In a world covered in darkness, our task is not to curse the night but to walk in His light, letting the radiance of His glory shine through our words, our works, and our worship.
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October 20, 2025
Hosea 2:8
“For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.”
The Lord is speaking in this verse, referring to Israel as “she.” It continues the narrative where God portrays the nation of Israel as an unfaithful wife—one who has forsaken Him and chased after idols and the false religions of surrounding nations. Our own deceptive flesh, together with the whispers of the enemy, can likewise tempt us to look elsewhere—beyond what the Lord has provided—to something or someone we believe might bring greater happiness. The lie persuades people that they would be better off following the world’s ways and their own desires instead of the ways of God. In the book of Ruth, there was a famine in Israel, and a man named Elimelech decided to move his family from Bethlehem—“the house of bread”—to Moab, a place God had cursed. To him, it seemed a land of better opportunity. Yet what looked promising in the natural became a death sentence. Elimelech and his sons died in Moab, and only his widow Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth eventually returned to Bethlehem. Their story stands as a warning and a testimony: if we are patient in hard times, remain faithful to God, and look to Him for our sustenance and hope, He will never fail us. In today’s verse, the Lord said that Israel did not realize the offerings they sacrificed to Baal were the very blessings He had given them—corn, wine, oil, silver, and gold. How tragic that what God provided for their good was turned into instruments of idolatry and sin. This shows us how easily our hearts can misuse God’s gifts when we stray from His will. Drug trades, corrupt dealings, and wicked lifestyles are often paid for with money that still declares, “In God We Trust.” God gave humanity trees, iron from the earth, and the wisdom to create—and yet those same gifts were used to forge nails, fashion a hammer, and build a cross from the wood of His own creation, upon which they crucified the Creator Himself. Let us take inventory of all God has given us—our resources, our time, our strength, and our talents—and dedicate them wholly to Him with thankful hearts. May everything we possess be used to honor the One who gave it. Israel failed to recognize that every blessing came from God and instead used His gifts for sinful purposes. Likewise, we must guard our hearts, remembering that everything we have belongs to the Lord. Gratitude and faithfulness will keep us from turning God’s blessings into tools of rebellion.
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October 19, 2025
1 Timothy 6:14-15 — “Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
In 2003, the Newsboys recorded “You Are My King (Amazing Love)” with the words: “Amazing love, how can it be, that You, my King, should die for me?”. The refrain says: “You are my King. You are my King. Jesus, You are my King. You are my King.” All of us who trust in God our Savior bow in allegiance to the One called in today’s verse, “The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” The whole world is looking for answers, blaming each other, and many are boiling over with anger because they’re overwhelmed by the consequences of their sins. We’re reminded of Psalm 28:3: “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.” The word “mischief” there means “bad, good for nothing socially or morally.” You can look at the nations of the world, examine their leaders in the light of God’s Word, and mark where they stand concerning the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Sadly, many who profess Christianity do not portray the ways of God or urge their people to seek the Lord. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly identifies as an Orthodox Christian. But all that is about to change, and the Holy Word of God declares a day in the future when the following prophecy will be fulfilled: Revelation 19:11–13, 15–16 — “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” This world may not want a King, but they’re going to get One—whether they like it or not. Let everyone who names the name of Christ live in joyful submission to the King who reigns even now from heaven’s throne. Though the nations rage and rulers boast in their own strength, the day is swiftly coming when every crown will be cast at His feet, and every knee shall bow before Him. Let’s honor Him not only in word but in daily obedience, for the same Jesus who once wore a crown of thorns will soon appear wearing many crowns.
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October 18, 2025
Acts 16:29-31 “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
These verses come from the account of when Paul and Silas had been beaten and then thrown into prison for preaching the gospel. They were bound with chains as if they were murderers or dangerous criminals. But at midnight, instead of being discouraged, angry at their tormentors, or ready to backslide because God had allowed their suffering, they were praying and singing praises to God. The Bible says the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake that shook the prison. The doors flew open, and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer, terrified, was about to kill himself with his sword, thinking the prisoners had escaped. He knew he would be blamed and tortured to death by his superiors. But Paul called out, telling him not to harm himself, for no one had fled. Trembling, the jailer ran in, fell before Paul and Silas, and asked that eternal question: “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s answer is one of the great gospel promises in all of Scripture. It is simple yet powerful: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” What a promise! Salvation through faith in Christ alone — and the assurance that His mercy extends to our households. I often claim this verse when praying for our family, because it’s such a comfort to know the Lord’s saving reach includes them. Some may question this interpretation, but I believe it stands as firmly as John 3:16. The Holy Spirit placed it in Scripture for our encouragement, that we might hold fast to God’s promise when doubts arise about our loved ones’ salvation. When those doubts come, my wife and I pray, “Lord, Your Word says if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be saved, and our household. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior!” Why didn’t Paul stop with, “Thou shalt be saved”? Because the Lord delights to show mercy not only to us, but to our children and grandchildren as well. So, let us keep praying, keep interceding, and keep trusting God for our families. He knows where they are, He knows the condition of their hearts, and He alone has the power to draw them to Himself — just as He once drew us. It is never in vain to stand upon the promises of God. Just as Paul and Silas’ faith and worship opened prison doors, so our steadfast trust can move the heart of God on behalf of those we love. The same Savior who rescued the Philippian jailer still saves today. Keep believing, keep praying, and rest in the certainty that God’s saving grace can reach any heart — even in the darkest midnight hour.
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October 17, 2025
James 4:6 — “But he giveth more grace.”
These five words contrast God’s amazing grace against our piles of sin, compromise, unbelief, and rebellion. It’s very similar to Romans 5:20, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The contrast between great sin and great grace is this: if sin had never entered creation, God’s abundant mercy and overflowing grace could not have been manifested. Forgiveness would have been unknown, and there would have been no need for God to become man in the person of Jesus Christ. Adam, Eve, and all their descendants (if they had had any) would have lived in perpetual innocence—without the glory of redemption. It’s a strange paradox, and quite a theological rabbit hole, that it took man’s sin to display God’s amazing grace. When I examine myself in the light of God’s Word, I’m immediately confronted with my depraved self. My sins, flaws, and imperfections might seem to be the measure of who I am. But against all that mess—contrasted with it—God gives more grace. We hear this same truth in the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:12–14: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” Think about that—one of the greatest Christians of all time described who he was before he was converted and attributed the change entirely to God’s grace. I love John 1:16, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” The phrase “grace for grace” means the supply is unending. It’s grace so stacked up, so ready in queue, that it will never run out. That’s what we have received along with the fullness of Jesus Christ. What is our honest response to this truth? The Holy Spirit reveals it in the words that follow today’s verse: “Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” We glory in God’s abundant grace, but we claim no pride in it. We remain in awe that our loving and merciful God loves us so much that He stood alongside us, experienced our pain and sorrow, saw us as we truly are, and took our place on the cross. Then, when He gloriously arose from the dead, He allowed us—by His grace—to take His place in a resurrection of life. He became like us so that we could become like Him. The only way I can say, “Thank God I’m covered by His grace,” is because when He reached for me, I was a wretched sinner. There’s that paradox again.
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October 16, 2025
Luke 17:32 — “Remember Lot’s wife.”
The Scriptures show us that Lot and his wife lived in a place of prominence in Sodom. When the angels came to the city to destroy it, they found Lot sitting at the gate of the city (Genesis 19:1). The custom in those days was that city leaders and prominent men sat at city gates to do business and greet people who were visiting. Lot and his wife had children and no doubt had done well for themselves materially. But when it came time for them to abandon all their possessions, their prominence in the city, and their married daughters, the angels told them to run for their lives and not look back. But in unbelief, the pull of Sodom and all she was leaving behind caused Lot’s wife to turn and look back. The Bible says she was transformed into a pillar of salt. As we believers move closer to the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ, today’s verse reminds us to think about Lot’s wife. We should not have a heart that longs for the things of this world—a divided heart that pulls us toward what this life offers. When I was pastoring and preaching revivals, I preached a sermon titled “Can You Leave Without Looking Back?” I was thinking about it this morning when I was outside walking the dog and looking around at the stuff my wife and I call our home. It reminded me of the words of our Lord Jesus in the three verses (29–31) that precede today’s verse:
“But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.”
The phrase “his stuff in the house” was what flashed through my mind, followed by today’s verse. I pray we can all live with thankfulness and great appreciation for all the Lord has blessed us with, but at the same time remain unattached to it—unlike Lot’s wife. The earth and “all the stuff” it contains will be burned up, and I encourage us all to never set our love on temporary things, no matter how wonderful they may seem in the moment. While we’re here, let’s love our families, cry out to God for the salvation and well-being of our children and grandchildren, and keep doing what’s right in God’s eyes. Let’s get ready to leave—either by death or by the coming of our Lord— ready to let go of this world, our eyes fixed on the One who calls us home, and never look back.
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October 15, 2025
Psalm 45:1 “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
I woke up this morning with the words, “My heart is inditing a good matter,” running through my mind. Which was strange, because I can’t remember the last time I read this Psalm, and I’m quite sure I’ve never taught it or used it in a sermon or devotion. It means my heart is filled to overflowing with good news, good thoughts, and beautiful, wonderful words. It’s a great way to start the day. At first glance, the Psalm seems to be speaking of a king like David or Solomon, and some people think it may have been written to celebrate Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter. But spiritually, clarity is given in verses 2–3, showing that the words point us to a King far greater than Solomon: “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.” It reminds us of the words of our Lord in Luke 11:31, “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” And then verses 6–7 shine the light on Jesus: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” These verses are quoted in Hebrews 1:8, where the Scriptures declare Jesus Christ to be far greater than all angels and the entire creation. Today’s verse tells us that the good news—the wonderful words spilling from the writer’s heart—is exaltation for the King of kings and Lord of lords. The deity of Christ is declared in verse 6, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever,” and again in verse 7, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Bible scoffers and false teachers have tried through the centuries to explain away these verses in their attacks on Christ’s Godhead. But it’s the same declaration echoed in Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” We have a King, and soon and very soon, He will be King of all the earth. My heart is inditing a good matter! May our hearts overflow today with worship and adoration for our glorious King. Let our tongues be as the pen of a ready writer, proclaiming His beauty, majesty, and eternal reign to a world that so desperately needs to hear of Him.
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October 14, 2025
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
This verse was a stronghold for me today as I was at the hospital, going through yet another scan. This time, another PET scan was performed because the last CT and MRI were both inconclusive. I had been declared cancer-free a few months ago, but as it is with cancer, even though it seems to be gone, there’s always a question hanging over you as to whether it will be gone for good. In my case, I was declared cancer-free after the first round almost five years ago, and then, three years later, in 2023, it returned. I have friends and some family who believe Christians should never get ill or have any kind of medical situation, and I respect them and their faith. I speak God’s Word over myself concerning my health and life, and I stand against illness in the name of Jesus. I’ve been anointed with oil in the name of the Lord, been on people’s prayer lists, and I believe many have prayed for my complete healing—just as I pray for them when they are battling illness or any other trial. But above all that, I know I have placed my life in God’s hands as best as I know how, and I trust Him completely as to what He will allow or what He has purposed for me. So, as I was lying in the PET scan machine, trying to stay perfectly still for the twenty or more minutes it takes for the scanner to do its work, I was at perfect peace. Because long before this scan—and before any of this trial began over five years ago—I had presented my body as a living sacrifice to Christ, as given in Romans 12:1. It’s on the foundation of Romans 14:8: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Within that surrender of body, soul, and spirit to the Lord, I have chosen life through the Lord Jesus, that I and my family might live (Deuteronomy 30:19). I have trusted in Psalm 91:14-16: “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” We will all face storms and trials we don’t understand. But perfect peace comes from the Prince of Peace and belongs to all of us who will keep our minds stayed on Him, trusting with childlike faith.
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October 13
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
We can get so caught up in the busy, never-ending cycles of daily life that eternity often seems distant and almost unreal. Our minds become filled with deadlines, duties, and distractions. Even as believers, we sometimes live as though this world is all there is. Yet Paul’s words in this passage pull our eyes heavenward again, reminding us that God has prepared things beyond imagination for those who love Him. What awaits us is so wonderful that no eye has seen it, no ear has heard it, and no heart has yet fully conceived it. Still, God gives us glimpses. By His Spirit, He lets us taste the joy and peace of His presence even now. The Holy Spirit whispers reminders of the life to come, the inheritance that “fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Every blessing we experience in this life is but a shadow of the greater glory that’s coming. When the Spirit fills us with peace in the middle of a storm, when He floods our hearts with love beyond understanding, or when He strengthens us in weakness, we’re seeing the firstfruits of those unseen things that God has prepared. Think of Abraham, who left all to follow God, not knowing where he was going, but believing there was a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Think of Israel entering the Promised Land after years of wandering, finding that every promise God made was true (Joshua 21:45). Think of David, who declared, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19). Each of those examples testify that God blesses His people both now and forever. But even the richest earthly blessings, answered prayers, divine provision, healing, peace, joy, are only foretastes of heaven’s abundance. The Spirit continually points us toward the eternal, urging us not to settle for the temporary things of this life. He calls us to lift our eyes from what fades and fix them on what endures. We need one another’s encouragement to stay focused on that finish line. The road gets long, and the world presses hard, but we press on together. Let’s remind each other often that the best is yet to come. Heaven is not a dream: it is our destiny. And while our eyes have not yet seen all that God has prepared, our hearts can already rejoice, for the Spirit has begun to reveal the glory that awaits all who love Him.
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October 12, 2025
John 2:13-16 “Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
When most people think of Jesus, they picture Him holding little children, speaking peace to storms, or offering forgiveness to the repentant. But in this passage, we see a very different side of the Savior — not gentle and quiet, but bold, zealous, and full of holy indignation. He entered the temple with a whip in His hand and fire in His eyes. The same hands that touched lepers and blessed the broken now turned over tables and scattered the coins of greed across the temple floor. This wasn’t an outburst of human anger but an expression of divine holiness. The temple was meant to be a place of prayer, worship, and communion with God, but it had been reduced to a noisy marketplace. What was sacred had become commercial, and what belonged to God had been mixed with the spirit of the world. Jesus could not and would not leave it that way. The zeal for His Father’s house consumed Him (John 2:17). Interestingly, this cleansing took place at Passover, the same time of year when, as a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus had stayed behind in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening, and asking questions (Luke 2:41-49). Then, He spoke of “My Father’s business.” Now, more than twenty years later, He stood in that same temple, still about His Father’s business. This time, not as a boy learning, but as the Son of God. The house that once amazed Him as a child now grieved Him as a man. This act of cleansing still speaks to us today. The temple in Jerusalem represented the dwelling place of God, but since Calvary, His dwelling has moved into the hearts of His people. Paul wrote, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Just as Jesus drove out the things that defiled His Father’s house, He desires to cleanse our hearts from the clutter of worldliness, selfish ambition, and sin. Our local churches, too, must be guarded from becoming houses of merchandise — places driven by programs, personalities, or profit rather than prayer and purity. Jesus still walks among the lampstands (Revelation 2:1), inspecting His temples and calling them to holiness. May we let Him cleanse whatever does not belong, so that His presence and power might again fill His house with glory.
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October 11, 2025
John 6:67-69 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
There came a time in Jesus’ ministry when the crowds that once followed Him began to drift away. They had eaten of the loaves and fishes and wanted more miracles, but when He began to speak of Himself as the Bread of Life and the need to eat His flesh and drink His blood, they murmured, saying, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). They wanted a Messiah who would meet their desires, not a Savior who would demand their hearts. When the truth became uncomfortable, they turned back and walked no more with Him. It is here that Jesus looked at the twelve, not in anger, but in searching love, and asked, “Will ye also go away?” There is something profoundly personal about that question. Every believer must face it at one time or another. When following Christ means losing comfort, reputation, or friends, when prayers seem unanswered and faith is tested, the Lord’s question comes softly but clearly, “Will you also go away?” Peter’s answer stands as one of the greatest declarations of faith in all the Bible: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” In that moment, Peter spoke for every true follower of Christ whose faith is not built on feelings or circumstances but on the unshakable conviction of who Jesus is. “And we believe and are sure,” he said, “that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is not shallow belief; it is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). It is faith that remains when others fall away, faith that sees beyond the present moment into the eternal promise. Jesus said plainly in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” There is nowhere else to go, no one else to trust, and no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The same Lord who asked the twelve still asks today: Will you also go away? And the answer of every redeemed heart must echo Peter’s: Lord, where else could we go? You alone have the words of eternal life. May that confession never leave our lips, and may our hearts remain steadfast, following Him with firm devotion until faith becomes sight and we see the Christ, the Son of the living God, face to face.
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October 10, 2025
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
There’s something precious and powerful about true friendship. It’s not about convenience or what someone can get out of the relationship; it’s about love that endures through every season. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times,” not just in the good times or when you’re easy to love, but at all times. That includes the times when life is messy, when we fail, when we’re not at our best, and when others walk away. When Proverbs says, “a brother is born for adversity,” it doesn’t only mean a sibling by blood; it’s pointing to that Christian brother or sister who stands with you in your darkest moments. These are the ones God places in your life to help carry your burdens (Galatians 6:2), to pray with you when you can’t find the words, and to speak life when everything around you feels dead. Even Jesus knew both the beauty and the pain of friendship. When Judas stepped forward in the garden and greeted Him with, “Hail, Master,” betraying Him with a kiss, Jesus looked at him and said, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” (Matthew 26:50). The sting of betrayal had to pierce deeply, yet Jesus did not answer hate with hate. He called the betrayer friend. Love doesn’t change its nature just because someone else changes theirs. David felt that same heartache when someone close turned against him. He wrote in Psalm 55:12-14, “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it… But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” The pain of being wounded by someone you trusted runs deep. It’s easier to brace for an enemy’s attack than to heal from a friend’s betrayal. But God still calls us to love. True friends reflect His heart. They don’t tear down or criticize; they build up and speak peace. They don’t magnify your flaws; they remind you of God’s grace. They don’t disappear when trouble comes; they hold your arms up like Aaron and Hur did for Moses (Exodus 17:12). We are the body of Christ, and the mark of His disciples is love (John 13:35). In a world full of offense and betrayal, let’s choose to be the kind of friend who loves at all times. Let’s speak words that heal, encourage, and restore. Because in the end, the truest proof that Christ lives in us is that we love one another: Through the calm and through the trouble.
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October 9, 2025
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Walking in the light is more than simply trying to live a good life. It’s living with open hearts before God, allowing His truth to shine into every corner of who we are. The light exposes, but it also heals. When we walk in the light, we stop pretending that we have it all together and start allowing the Spirit of Christ to show us the things that need His touch. To walk in the light is to live in truth and be filled with the Holy Spirit so that His power and presence reveal both our weaknesses and His grace. We turn away from the darkness of this world, its worldview, its way of thinking, and its interpretation of what it means to live. It is the daily choice to step away from the shadows of bitterness, guilt, and pride, and move into the warmth of Christ’s forgiveness and love. When we live this way, something beautiful happens: fellowship. The same light that exposes sin also clears the fog that separates us from one another. In the light, we can forgive, understand, and love one another because we are standing together in the same grace. The blood of Jesus not only cleanses us from all sin but unites us as members of the same family: redeemed, restored, and walking together in the brightness of His truth. The Bible gives us examples of this light-filled fellowship. When the early believers in Acts 2 gathered daily in one accord, breaking bread and praying together, they were walking in the light. When David cried in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart,” he was choosing the light over hiding his sins. When Peter wept after denying Christ and was later restored, he stepped out of darkness into grace, and from that moment on, he walked in the light of forgiveness. Every day we are invited to do the same. We don’t have to walk alone, and we don’t have to walk in the dark. Jesus has made the way clear and His light leads us, His truth sustains us, and His blood cleanses us. Let’s walk together in His light, remembering that it not only reflects Christ Jesus our Lord, but joins us together as one family by the love of our Savior.
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October 8, 2025
Luke 19:12–14
“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”
The Lord gave this parable to show what His followers are to do during His absence and how we are to live while waiting for His return. The nobleman represents Jesus, who has gone into a far country, Heaven itself, to receive His Kingdom and will one day return in glory. But before leaving, He gave His servants both resources and responsibility and commanded, “Occupy till I come.” The word occupy does not mean to sit idly by and simply exist. It means to be busy, to do business, to carry on the Master’s work until He comes again. Every believer has been entrusted with something from the Lord: Time, talents, spiritual gifts, opportunities, and influence, and we are expected to use them for His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom. The Lord never intended His people to be idle or unfruitful, but active participants in His divine purpose. When Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day,” He set the example for all who follow Him. Paul echoed this truth in 1 Corinthians 15:58 when he said, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” There is no retirement in the service of the King. As long as we have breath, we are to occupy: Stay faithful, stay steadfast, stay about the Master’s business. Practically, that means being diligent in prayer, faithful in worship, generous in giving, and courageous in sharing our faith. It may mean teaching, serving, encouraging, visiting the sick, or simply being a light in a dark place. Whatever the assignment, the call remains the same—Occupy till I come. But notice the reaction of the citizens: “We will not have this man to reign over us.” That spirit of rebellion still fills the world today and can even contaminate the hearts of believers. Many people reject Christ’s rule, wanting the blessings of God without the authority of His Lordship. Yet their refusal does not change the truth: Jesus is King, and He is coming again to reign in righteousness. Before we can enter into the blessings of heaven, we must stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of our works. The Lord’s command still stands, clear and urgent: Occupy till I come. Stay at your post, work faithfully, watch expectantly, and live daily as though He might return this very hour.
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October 7, 2025
Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”
The Jews who heard the gospel of Jesus and had faith in Him as the Messiah were severely persecuted by their fellow Jews. The Bible says in verses 32-33, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used”. They suffered physical abuse and were mocked, shunned, and also attacked because they fellowshipped with the likes of Paul and other believers. These new Christians had left behind their religious traditions, family acceptance, and social standing. Some had lost their possessions, their jobs, and even their freedom. The temptation was strong to turn back—to return to their old religion and customs where they could be safe and accepted. It’s in this setting that the writer of Hebrews urged them not to give up their faith, not to throw away their confidence in Christ, because their endurance would bring a reward. Faith is easy when life is comfortable, but when storms come, when trials make us afraid, and when pressure and opposition from people bear down on us, the temptation to surrender can feel overwhelming. The word “confidence” in this verse speaks of bold assurance—a settled trust that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised. The writer reminds us there is “great recompense of reward.” The Greek word for recompense means a repayment, a just compensation. God is keeping track of every tear, every battle, every act of faithfulness, and He will reward those who stand firm. History is filled with those who refused to give up their faith even when the cost was great. The apostles endured imprisonment, scourging, and death rather than deny Christ. The early believers in Rome worshiped in catacombs, singing hymns while the empire hunted them down. Their courage was born from faith that looked beyond the trial to the eternal reward. Patience, or endurance, is the bridge between believing and receiving. God doesn’t always deliver us quickly; sometimes He allows the fire to refine us. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.” The crown isn’t just for martyrs—it’s for every believer who refuses to give up when life gets hard, who keeps praying when heaven seems silent, and who continues to walk with God even through pain. When discouragement whispers that it’s useless to keep believing, remember these words: “Cast not away your confidence.” God is faithful. He sees your struggle, He knows your weariness, and He promises that after you’ve done His will, you will receive the promise. Let’s stand firm and never surrender our faith. The reward is coming.
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October 6, 2025
Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”
Those words remind us that the way we handle small things determines what God can trust us with later. Some people want to do great things for the Lord, like preach to crowds, lead ministries, or make a big impact. But God often begins by testing our hearts in the small, quiet places. If we’re careless with the little things, how could we handle greater ones? Think about David. Before he ever stood before Goliath, he was a young shepherd caring for a few sheep in the wilderness. No one saw the long nights he spent protecting them from lions and bears, but God did. His faithfulness in those small tasks prepared him to stand before kings and lead a nation. Joseph, too, was faithful as a slave in Potiphar’s house and later as a prisoner in Egypt. Because he remained loyal to God when no one was watching, God raised him up to rule over Egypt and save his family from famine. It’s easy to overlook the small things, but the small things are where faithfulness is proven. A kind word spoken to someone who feels forgotten. A prayer whispered for a neighbor. A tithe faithfully given, even when it feels like a drop in the bucket. A willingness to serve in places where no one notices or applauds. These small acts might seem insignificant, but in God’s kingdom, they carry great weight. Jesus said even giving a cup of cold water in His name will not go unrewarded (Matthew 10:42). Sometimes we wonder why God hasn’t opened a bigger door for us. It could be that He’s waiting to see what we’ll do with the door that’s already open. Will we keep a humble heart? Will we be faithful when the work seems unnoticed? God measures greatness not by the size of the task, but by the faithfulness of the servant. Zechariah 4:10 says, “Who hath despised the day of small things?” God delights in beginnings that seem small because He sees what they can become. What looks little in our eyes may be the very thing that builds our character and prepares us for the greater work He has planned. So wherever God has placed you today, whether it’s words of encouragement to a coworker or neighbor, teaching a small class, visiting the sick, praying for others, or quietly giving behind the scenes, do it with all your heart. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” God sees every act of obedience and faithfulness, and in His perfect time, He will reward it. Be faithful in the little, and He will make you ruler over much.
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October 5, 2025
John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, she was coming to draw water that had been the source for many generations. It was a necessary daily routine to carry home water that would satisfy physical thirst. When she started out that day for her water, she had no idea she would meet the Messiah who would use her physical need for water to speak to her about a need within us all: Living water that quenches the deepest thirst of the soul. Every human heart is thirsty. We try to satisfy that thirst with success, relationships, pleasures, or possessions, yet we remain empty because those wells eventually run dry. But when Jesus enters our lives, He opens within us a spiritual well—a source of heavenly refreshment that continually flows from His Holy Spirit. This is the well of eternal life and blessings that the Holy Spirit produces within us. Joy, peace, and comfort flow day by day. In John 7:37-38, “Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This water is not contaminated, stagnant, or bitter. It is the power of the Holy Spirit within us, active, overflowing, and abundant. It doesn’t depend on outward circumstances but springs from the inward presence of God. In a world that is dry, barren, and devoid of spiritual truth, His Spirit brings heaven down to us and refreshes us again and again. The well of eternal life that Jesus promised the Samaritan woman is not just about life after death: It begins the moment we believe. God gives us eternal life and opens up a relationship with Him through Christ (John 17:3). It is the divine life of Christ living within us, sustaining us, transforming us, and promising us a future where thirst will be no more. Revelation 21:6 speaks of this same promise: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely”. Every day, we are invited to draw from this well. We do so through prayer, through the Word, and through fellowship with God’s Spirit. To everyone who thirsts, remember that the invitation still stands. Jesus offers living water that never runs dry. Come to Him, trust in His death, burial, and resurrection. His promise is: ”I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely”.
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October 4, 2025
2 Timothy 2:9 “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound”
The Apostle Paul preached the gospel of hope, salvation, and the love of God. For that, he was attacked verbally and physically and locked up in prison like a criminal. It was the actions of a world that rejected the truth and desperately tried to silence God’s messenger. Sound familiar in today’s world? If it ever seems that evil is winning, that Christians are going to be silenced, and the light of hope will sputter out, don’t believe it. This world will always have the light of truth, God will always have a people who will honor Him, and everything will always be fully under God’s command and purpose. Even during the tribulation, when the antichrist will try to erase the name of the Lord and God’s people completely from the earth, God will have a remnant who trust in Him and preach His message of salvation. In today’s verse, Paul was saying that they could beat him, humiliate him, and throw him in jail, but none of those things would stop the message. He said, “The word of God is not bound”. It’s unstoppable, and heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will never pass away. Some people scoff at God’s Word, so-called “scholars” rise up and attack its inerrancy, and some declare they’ve found flaws in it. They sell their books, attract a few people to their lectures, and persuade the gullible to support them and be their disciples. But the Word of God, like a hammer, still beats the rocks of unbelief to pieces, and smashes through its opponents, unstoppable (Jeremiah 23:29). The Word of God is unbound, but everything that exists will always be bound by the Word of the Lord. Even nature operates within the bounds God set”: Jeremiah 5:21-22 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? Saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? Today’s devotion is just a few lines to give honor to God’s Word, the very thing Jesus used to defeat the devil. Read it, study it, believe it, and speak it. Turn away from all those who mock it and cast doubt on its supernatural power. Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4).
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October 3, 2025
Psalms 51:6 “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom”
The prophet Nathan confronted King David about his sins, and David received the rebuke. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:10, “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool”. David not only received Nathan’s reproof, but he humbled his heart and cried out to God for mercy. This verse is part of David’s prayer when he repented and asked the Lord to forgive him. God doesn’t accept our words of penitence unless they come from our hearts. He wants truth that comes from deep within us: From the very fountain of our soul and spirit. Some churches teach their members to confess their sins to a church official, and that official then tells them they are forgiven and what to do or say as an act of their repentance. But the Bible says in Hebrews 4:14,15, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. And in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. No earthly human can forgive sins, only our Lord, and He doesn’t need anyone else to stand in for Him. David received the rebuke of Nathan, but went to God with his penitent heart and plea for mercy and forgiveness. I’ve heard several people in the past few days, some in person, and some on the internet, from other countries, remark that there is an awakening of God’s people. Some see it as a revival, others that it may be the Lord calling as He did through Moses in Exodus 32:26, “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me”. The Holy Spirit is urging us to turn our backs on this wicked, immoral age and sincerely turn to God. A part of that turning is to seek the Lord from our hearts, not just with our words. Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said in Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”. It points back to the prayer we mentioned in another devotion, Psalms 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. Let’s pray it again and again until we are sure that what’s deep within us, even in our hidden parts, is right with God.
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October 2, 2025
Romans 4:18,20-21 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be”. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
In the Bible, faith and hope are inseparably linked. Although they might seem to be the same, they are different in that faith operates in the here and now, even though it may look to the past for a foundation. But hope looks with anticipation to the moment faith becomes a present reality. Today’s verses tell the course of Abraham’s faith after he received God’s promise, and the fulfillment of that promise didn’t happen right away. Perhaps right after God spoke the promise, they had excitement, believing at any moment it would come to pass. But time passed, and they started wondering when it would be. Days, weeks, months, years, and decades passed with no sign of God keeping His promises. They even tried to help God out by Abraham having a child with Sarah’s maid. But that wasn’t God’s plan, and it created a mess. Then Abraham and Sarah became old people, well past the child-bearing stage of life, and it looked like either they had misunderstood God or maybe He had changed His mind. But when it seemed all hope was gone, Abraham laid hold on hope and believed in God’s Word despite the years of no answer, their aging bodies, and their human disappointments. When there was nothing left to hope for and no rational reason to hope, Abraham still hoped and believed. It’s sad when we stop believing in God’s promises because we don’t see an answer to prayers we prayed for, or things didn’t work out the way we hoped. I’m not sure why some people, in the same vein as Abraham, dig deeper than reason, logic, and common-sense dictate. They hold fast to God’s Word and refuse to let go when others release their grip of faith. Losing Scripture-based faith can cause us to become bitter against what we once said we believe, and sometimes we will replace Bible faith with faith in something else-usually human ideas that make sense to our intellect but are devoid of Scriptural faith. But we hear the tenacity, the unwavering determination to trust God, no matter what happens, in the words of Job. Pushed to his limit, dealing with circumstances he had no answer for, and being advised by judgmental, calloused “friends”, he declared in Job 13:15, perhaps through clenched teeth, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”. Do you hear that, and does it resonate deep within you? If so, you’re walking in the steps of faithful Abraham, the father of faith, justified by faith, and waiting in hope for God to keep all His promises.
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October 1, 2025
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”
When we were born again, the Holy Spirit came to live within us. One of the many blessings He brings is the power to recognize sin and to turn from it. Jesus, speaking of the Holy Spirit, said in St John 16:8, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin”. The word reprove means to reveal, convict, and expose, and refers to not only the conviction that comes when we are confronted with our sins to lead us to salvation, but also that He is always pointing us to God’s best for us by shining the light of truth into all our situations. But not only does He expose sin, He empowers us to refuse to come under its sway. In previous devotions, we looked at Romans 6:17-18, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness”. Freedom from sin is possible because we now have a new nature that desires God and reaches to Him. Our spiritual eyes have been opened, and by the Holy Spirit, we hear and understand God’s will for us. This is the reason our Heavenly Father speaks to us as His dear children in today’s verse, encouraging us to live apart from sin and sinful ways. He hates sin, and when we are filled with His Spirit, so do we. Again, it’s not striving for sinless perfection to gain God’s favor, but living under the influence of the Spirit to be more like Christ. And yet, we do fail and fall short of God’s will. When we do, Jesus is our advocate, our intercessor who stands for us, representing us before the Holy, righteous, and Almighty Judge. The phrase “He is the propitiation” means that He is the sacrifice that took our place, paid our sin debt for all sins past, present, and future. God honors that sacrifice and forgives us. I love the words, “Also for the sins of the whole world”. Praise the Lord! There is the hope, the assurance that God’s grace is greater than all our sins, and that He is reaching out with the gift of eternal life to anyone and everyone who will look to Jesus and trust in Him.
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