Daily Devotion
November 27, 2025
Psalms 69:30-31 “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs”
We pause nearly everything on this Thanksgiving Day, except for cooking, and remember just how blessed we are. For those of us who attribute every good thing to the grace and kindness of God, thanksgiving naturally joins itself to praise. We know it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being, as Acts 17:28 tells us. The question in Psalms 116:12 comes to mind: What could we possibly give back to the Lord for all His benefits toward us? The truth is, He needs nothing. Nothing we could offer would repay Him for His mercies, and He does not expect repayment. Every blessing He gives comes freely to us, purchased fully by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Today’s passage reminds us that no sacrifice we could bring would please God more than a song lifted in praise and thanksgiving. Like me, some might say, have you ever heard me sing? Surely my voice cannot please the Lord. But He is not listening for polish or pitch. He is listening to our hearts. Praise swells up from deep within, and that is what reaches His ears. He invites us to sing to Him. Psalms 100:1-2 calls out to us, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. So perhaps today, between the turkey, ham, and all the sides, we could pause long enough to offer a simple song of praise to the One who alone is worthy. The God who provides every good thing. To praise His name with a song and to magnify Him with thanksgiving is a sweet offering that brings joy to His heart. We are all blessed far beyond what we deserve, and when this day of Thanksgiving draws to a close, the blessings of God will continue without interruption. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever, Hebrews 13:8. Psalms 30:11-12 says, Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Thanksgiving draws our attention back to the goodness of God, reminding us that His blessings flow freely because of Christ’s finished work. The Lord desires hearts that sing, voices lifted in gratitude, and spirits that rejoice in His kindness. Our praise pleases Him more than any offering we could place before Him. As we celebrate today, let’s remember that His blessings do not end with the holiday. They continue each day, for He never changes.
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November 26, 2025
Psalms 70:1 “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD”
There are moments in life when the only prayer we can pray is, “Lord, hurry. Please help me now”. David prayed this way more than once, and if we’re honest, so have we. It’s the cry that rises when a trial has gone on far too long, when the walls feel like they’re closing in, and every attempt to fix the problem has failed with our best efforts. Sometimes it’s a slow, grinding season that wears us down little by little. Other times it comes suddenly, like a bolt of lightning we never saw coming. A friend walks away. A doctor’s report shocks our world. A job disappears. Bills stack up. And the weight of it leaves us feeling trapped and desperate for deliverance. In the beginning, we pray with confidence. We believe God is listening, and we’re sure He’s shifting unseen things in our favor. But when the answer lingers, and the silence stretches out, faith wavers. The heart grows tired. Prayer feels feeble. And we begin to wonder why God doesn’t seem to be in the same hurry we’re in. Joseph surely tasted that feeling—doing right, honoring God, yet finding himself misunderstood, falsely accused, and forgotten. His story reminds us that long trials do not mean God has left; they mean God is still shaping the path ahead. Some say it’s wrong to urge God to act quickly, that asking Him to hurry shows weak faith. But Scripture gives us a different picture. David, the man after God’s own heart, cried out this very request. God never rebuked him for it. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. He sees the urgency of our need, the trembling of our hearts, and the ache of our weakness. We are His children, and casting our cares upon Him includes the moments when those cares feel overwhelming. The desperate woman in Mark 7 understood this well. She had no other answer, no other hope, and she fell at Jesus’ feet because only He could step into her crisis and help her precious child. Her urgency was not unbelief; it was faith—faith that He alone could do what no one else could. And Jesus honored that faith. When your heart cries, Lord, please hurry, you’re not failing in faith, you’re running to the only One who can truly help. God doesn’t despise your urgency. He hears it. He understands it. And in His perfect time, He answers. Keep coming to Him. Keep leaning on Him. Keep crying out to Him. Keep believing that the God who carried David, Joseph, and the desperate woman will carry you too, and He will not delay one moment longer than His wisdom allows.
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November 25, 2025
Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil”
Being angry is not a sin. It is simply part of being human. I’ve met people who insist they never get angry, and I never know whether they’re trying to project emotional perfection or making a quiet boast. Either way, I’ve never been able to join them in that claim. Scripture shows us plainly that even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, experienced anger. Mark 3:5 tells us that He looked around on the Pharisees with anger because of the hardness of their hearts. They cared nothing for the suffering man before them. They cared only for maintaining their authority and finding fault with Christ. His anger was stirred because their hearts were cold. God’s Word speaks of His own anger hundreds of times, so we should set aside the idea that anger is somehow beneath holiness. Spiritual maturity does include developing temperance, that steady self-control produced by the Spirit, but anger itself is not the sin. The danger comes when anger controls us rather than being brought under the rule of Christ. That is the heart of today’s instruction. When we feel anger rise, we must not let it push us into words or actions that displease God. The verse also warns us not to let anger settle into our spirit. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Unresolved anger smolders. It becomes bitterness, and bitterness becomes an opportunity for the enemy. The word “place” comes from the Greek topos, meaning a spot, a foothold, an opening: An opportunity. That’s what Satan looks for. He wants us to justify revenge, to respond in kind, to lash out, to lose control, and to let anger speak and act for us. Many of us can remember moments when anger pushed us farther than we ever intended to go. Been there, done that. But by the grace of God, we don’t live there anymore. Our identity is no longer shaped by our temper but by the truth of who God says we are. When the Holy Spirit leads us, when the Word steadies us, and when God’s will governs our reactions, we forgive, we bless our enemies, we make peace, and we trust the Lord to defend us. The devil finds no entrance in a heart yielded to Christ. Anger is not the enemy, but uncontrolled anger is. The Lord calls us to deal with it swiftly, honestly, and under the Spirit’s rule so the enemy finds no foothold. When we choose obedience over impulse, peace over retaliation, and trust over self-defense, we walk in the character of Christ rather than the chaos and anger of our emotions.
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November 24, 2025
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”
The Bible often speaks of our lives in terms of paths and ways. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord said in Jeremiah 6:16, Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. The question is always the same: will we look to God in faith and walk in His way, or will we turn aside and follow another path? Our steps, our motives, and the object of our faith all reveal which direction we are taking. In this New Testament age of grace, the good way is the way of faith in Jesus Christ. It is the path shaped by His cross, His shed blood, His resurrection, and the promise of His return for His church. Every other way is ultimately the path of unbelief. It rejects Jesus Christ as Savior and leads to destruction. But today’s verse warns of yet another path within that same destructive road. It is a way that seems right. It looks good, feels reasonable, and carries an appearance of wisdom and promise. There are no warnings posted, nothing that looks dangerous. People walking this path feel safe and confident. If someone tries to caution them, they shrug it off as unnecessary or misguided. Yet its end is the same as the openly sinful path: death. One of the great ironies is that this deceptive way is often religious. It can be decorated with good works, spiritual language, and outward signs that appear to lead toward God. But Jesus warned in Matthew 7:22-23 that many will stand before Him boasting of their works, only to hear Him say, I never knew you. Outward religion is no substitute for genuine faith in the Son of God. There is one plain, safe, and certain way into heaven, and it is the way God Himself provided through Jesus Christ. When we look to Him, believe He took our sins upon Himself, and trust His finished work on the cross, we step onto the good way, the way of life. God sets before every person two ways: the way of life in Christ and the way that leads to destruction. Some stray paths look harmless, even wise, but without Christ, they all end the same. The Lord calls us to walk the good way by trusting in His Son. May we examine our steps, heed His Word, and rest in the certainty of the way that leads to life. Choose Jesus Christ and trust in Him as your Savior. His way does not merely seem right; it truly is right.
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November 23, 2025
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
When many people look at the Bible, they do not see it through the lens of today’s verse. They might respect it, admire it, and even call it the Word of God, yet they stop short of treating it as truly supernatural. That phrase, “is given by inspiration of God,” comes from the Greek word theopneustos—a word that appears only once in Scripture. It is tied directly to the words “all scripture,” meaning everything from Genesis to Revelation falls under its definition. Theopneustos means “God-breathed”—the very breath of God expressed in written words. We sometimes speak of Scripture in casual terms: “Paul said,” or “the writer of Hebrews wrote.” But when we pause long enough to consider the force of “God-breathed,” the language changes. It is not “Paul said.” It is “God said through Paul.” That is an eternal difference. And it is not only that God said these things long ago. His Word still speaks, because the God-breathed Scriptures are not bound by time. They share the same unchanging quality as Christ Himself, “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” They are “forever settled in heaven.” Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, the Bible says the Thessalonians received the preached message “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” To say that the Bible merely contains the Word of God, rather than is the Word of God, creates room for doubt about which parts may be trusted. But “all scripture” means each, every, the whole, and every individual word. When we receive Scripture as the very Word of God, it produces faith. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” And Jesus taught in Luke 8:11, “The seed is the word of God.” A seed works only when it is planted, believed, and allowed to grow. When we embrace Scripture as God-breathed, it yields faith, and faith pleases God. This trust, joined with a willingness to obey, sets us apart as true Bible-believers. Not Christians in name only, but followers of Jesus Christ who cling to His every word, knowing they are the words of life. God’s Word is not a human collection of religious thoughts. It is God-breathed truth, alive with His authority and power. When we receive Scripture as it truly is, the Word of God, it produces faith, shapes obedience, and nourishes spiritual life.
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November 22, 2025
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
As we enter the season shaped by the angelic announcement of Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”, we’re reminded how far the world seems from peace. Many are hurting. Many are angry. Countless souls do not know the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Yet James lifts our eyes to a different way—a wisdom that comes from above, a way of thinking and living that reflects the character of Christ Himself. Matthew described Him with amazing simplicity: “He shall not strive… nor cry… neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets” (Matthew 12:19). He would not argue, shout, or stir up contention. Paul echoed the same spirit when he counseled Timothy, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive (quarrel and argue); but be gentle unto all men,” (2 Timothy 2:24). This heaven-sent wisdom is meant to shape our hearts during these holidays—days that should stand apart as a time of gratitude for God’s blessings and wonder at the gift of our Savior. James reminds us in the previous verse that “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Jealousy, selfish ambition, and division never produce peace. They only cloud the mind and trouble the soul. But the wisdom that comes from God bears a different kind of fruit. It refines our motives. It softens our speech. It fills us with mercy, purity, and kindness. This is the wisdom that helps us forgive wrongs, overlook faults, and seek the stillness pictured in Psalm 23:2: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” When the Holy Spirit governs the heart, the only battles we fight are the good fight of faith and the daily struggle against the flesh that longs for its own way. As living sacrifices, we lay down bitterness, harsh words, and the hateful knives of sarcasm. Instead, we clothe ourselves with praise and let our mouths be instruments of encouragement, comfort, and blessing. Even those who oppose us witness a quiet determination to walk in peace and goodwill toward all. Is that unrealistic? Too idealistic? I don’t believe so. It sounds like the very heart of our God who loved us when we were unlovable, forgave us when we deserved judgment, and poured out abundant grace when our sin was deep. Wisdom from above is not just knowledge. It is Christlike character expressed in purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy. As the holidays approach, let’s ask the Lord to align our thoughts, words, and actions with His heavenly wisdom. Peace on earth, good will toward others.
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November 21, 2025
Ezra 3:11 “And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”
When Israel turned from the Lord and refused the warnings of His prophets, God allowed the Babylonians to conquer them. Jerusalem’s protective walls were torn down. The Holy Temple, once the very center of their worship, was destroyed. Many were carried away into a foreign land. For seventy long years, they lived without the place God had appointed for sacrifice, instruction, and communion. But the mercy of God endures. After those seventy years, the remnant returned, weary yet hopeful, ready to rebuild what had been lost. Today’s verse captures a moment filled with emotion—the day the foundation of the new temple was laid. It wasn’t the finished building. It wasn’t the glory of Solomon’s temple. It was simply the beginning. Yet they shouted with a great shout because a solid foundation meant a solid future. Jesus used the same image in Luke 6 when He described two houses, one built on rock and the other on shifting sand. The Lord said that the wise person not only hears His words but does them. That obedience digs deep, laying a foundation that stands unmoved when life’s floods rise and the winds beat against it. The foolish, however, build on whatever seems convenient or appealing at the moment. When storms come, and they always do, the whole structure collapses because nothing solid lies beneath it. So many begin life without any real foundation. They may work hard, dream big, and pour themselves into things that look promising on the surface, yet the entire framework rests on unstable soil. When adversity hits, everything they built comes crashing down. Others, whom Scripture calls “wise,” start with the Lord. They acknowledge Him in all their ways, make decisions shaped by His Word, and allow His truth to direct their steps. The Bible promises that such people prosper. Not necessarily with earthly abundance, but with stability, endurance, and fruit that lasts. A foundation rarely receives attention. People notice paint colors, landscaping, and decorative touches, but not the concrete beneath. Yet the unseen support is what determines whether a house survives the storm. In the same way, the quiet, often unnoticed structure of a life rooted in Scripture becomes infinitely more valuable than the temporary details that fade with time. A strong foundation is worth celebrating. Israel rejoiced when the temple’s foundation was laid because it marked the renewal of worship. In your own life, the foundation determines the future. Build on Christ’s words. Let obedience form the deep footings of your choices, your hopes, and your daily walk. Storms will come, but a life resting on the Rock will stand firm, unshaken, and fruitful for the glory of God.
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November 20, 2025
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus Christ is revealed in verse 14 as our great High Priest—our perfect, eternal Mediator—and today’s passage stands among the sweetest invitations in all of Scripture. It reads like a welcome sign hanging at the very entrance of God’s presence. Under the Levitical system, only the appointed high priest could step behind the veil and enter the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was, and that but once a year. Ordinary men and women, like you and me, were shut out. Not because God wished to distance Himself, but because sin demanded separation. That barrier stood for centuries. But when Christ offered Himself as the final sacrifice, everything changed. The veil was torn from top to bottom. The way into God’s presence was opened, not for a select few, but for all who have been washed and forgiven through the blood of the Lamb. Now the redeemed are invited, welcomed, to the throne of grace. The word boldly doesn’t mean brash or careless. It carries the sense of free and fearless confidence, of cheerful courage and unrestrained speech. We are not required to creep in timidly or whisper our needs as though intruding. The Lord Himself welcomes us. He urges us to come. And He promises that when we do, we will find mercy for our failures and grace for every single moment of need. I take that personally, and I love it! I need Him every day, and this promise tells me I am welcome every day. Our adversary works hard to make us doubt that. He whispers that we are unworthy, that our failings are too many, or that God’s promises apply to everyone else but us. He distorts God’s character and tries to stir fear where God offers assurance. But Scripture answers him plainly: “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people” (Psalm 149:4). The God who knows the number of hairs on our heads is not reluctant to hear us—He delights in it. The open door into God’s presence is not based on our performance but on Christ’s perfect priesthood. We are welcomed, invited, and encouraged to come boldly; Not because of our abilities, but because of what Jesus has done. The enemy may accuse, but God’s Word assures. When we feel weak or hesitant, let’s remember that the throne we approach is a throne of grace. We can come freely. Come daily. Come believing we are welcome and wanted there.
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November 19, 2025
Psalms 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Spurgeon once said, “Grace is God’s first gift, and glory is His last gift. Glory never comes without grace coming first, but grace never comes without glory coming last; the two are bound together.” His words ring true when we consider how tirelessly people pursue their own version of glory. We polish our appearance, accumulate knowledge, gather achievements, surround ourselves with possessions, and build networks to elevate our reputation. Yet Scripture tells us plainly in 1 Peter 1:24 that all human glory—no matter how impressive—disappears like a fading flower. What we call glory withers. What God calls glory endures. There is a different kind of glory available to the believer, one that does not originate in us but in the Lord Himself, the One who crowned humanity with glory in the beginning. Jeremiah reminds us what true glory is not: “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.” Instead, the only worthy boast is “that he understandeth and knoweth Me” (Jer. 9:23–24). To know the Lord, to truly know Him in His lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, is a glory no earthly honor can imitate. But such glory begins at one place only: the cross of Jesus Christ. We come there admitting our sin and deserving of death, placing our faith wholly in Jesus as Savior. From that moment forward, the cross becomes our boast. Paul wrote, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). He makes us heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, destined for a glory so bright that Jesus described it this way: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:43). Talk about glory restored! Yet the world does not see this as glory at all. To them, the message of the cross is foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18). Our faith is dismissed, our hope mocked, and our convictions ridiculed. But their rejection only sharpens our anticipation. For all the tribulation pressed upon us by the world, the flesh, and the adversary, we have the promise of 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.” 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
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November 18, 2025
Hebrews 13:13 “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”
The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, stood at the center of Israel’s worship. Once each year, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of a young bull for his own sins, and then the blood of a goat for the sins of the nation. After those offerings were made, the bodies of the slain animals were carried outside the camp and burned entirely. The people were cleansed for a year, and then the cycle began again. Year after year, the same sacrifices, the same reminders that sin had not yet been truly taken away. But our Lord Jesus Christ was taken outside Jerusalem to Golgotha, the place of a skull. There, He was nailed to the cross, pierced with a spear, His blood staining the cross, and falling to the ground. His offering did not repeat the shadows of the Law; it fulfilled them. The writer of Hebrews explains it plainly: the bodies of the sacrificial beasts were burned outside the camp, “Wherefore Jesus also… suffered without the gate, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood.” His sacrifice didn’t postpone sin; it removed it. It didn’t need to be done yearly; it was finished once for all (Hebrews 10:10–12). The first believers who read these words were Jews who had embraced Jesus as Messiah. To follow Him meant breaking fully with the old covenant system. They had to “go forth unto Him without the camp,” stepping away from the religious world that rejected their Savior. Doing so meant bearing His reproach; the scorn of family members, the hatred of religious leaders, and the loss of a familiar way of life. This speaks to us as clearly today as it did to them. Christ still calls His people to step outside anything that promises salvation apart from His blood. The world offers many camps—religion built on effort, philosophies built on pride, and beliefs promising self-made righteousness. But every path except faith in Christ’s finished work leads back to bondage. To follow Jesus is to abandon all trust in our own goodness, ability, or achievement, and to cling entirely to the grace, mercy, and forgiveness He freely gives. And yes, there is a reproach to it. The world still mocks a faith that rests wholly on a crucified Savior. But outside the camp, where Christ is, we find life, liberty, and a cleansed conscience that no earthly system can give. Today’s verse tells us to step away from anything that rivals Christ’s finished work. Just as Israel’s sacrifices pointed outside the camp, our salvation rests on the One who suffered outside the gate for us. To follow Him means letting go of spiritual substitutes, man-made efforts, and self-trust, choosing instead the path of grace. There may be reproach in identifying wholly with Christ, but there is greater joy in standing where He stands, trusting fully in the blood that sanctifies forever.
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November 17, 2025
John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus chose something as common as the wind to teach Nicodemus a truth far greater than anything he had ever encountered; A truth no classroom could unravel. We breathe the air every moment, yet we don’t really comprehend it. We can list its components and explain its movement in scientific terms, but once it begins to stir, it becomes a mystery again. A gentle breeze cools the heat of a summer afternoon. A winter wind can sting our faces and drive snow in blinding sheets. And at its strongest, that same unseen force can uproot trees and tear roofs from houses. I was reminded of this on Saturday while raking leaves. Every time I gathered them into a pile, a gust swept across the yard and sent them tumbling right back where they came from. I couldn’t stop the wind; I could only watch its effects. It brought this verse to mind: Jesus explaining the new birth to a man who knew the Scriptures yet struggled to grasp heavenly realities. Nicodemus couldn’t understand how a person could be “born again.” Jesus replied by pointing to something Nicodemus already knew well. We can’t see the wind, but we hear it, feel it, and watch its power at work. In the same way, we cannot see the Holy Spirit, yet His presence leaves unmistakable evidence. He convicts the sinner, draws the heart toward Christ, softens what once was hard, and reshapes the entire direction of a life. Nicodemus, a master in Israel, certainly knew the Spirit’s movements in the Old Testament —the strength given to Samson, the anointing on David, the words of the prophets. He knew the Psalmist’s question: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?” (Psalm 139:7). Yet Jesus gently rebuked him: “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” Earthly knowledge alone cannot understand heavenly work. The new birth is not something we figure out; it’s something God performs. We don’t need to understand every detail of the Spirit’s operation to believe His Word or trust His power. We simply see His effects: transformed lives, awakened hearts, renewed minds, and a walk that no longer follows the old path. The wind blows where it wills, and the Spirit works where He pleases. Our place is to yield, believe, and follow His leading. We may not understand how God’s Holy Spirit transforms a sinner or guides a believer, but we recognize His power in changed desires, new affections, and quiet obedience. May we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit today —ready to go where He leads, and thankful for the invisible yet undeniable evidence of His presence.
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November 16, 2025
Psalm 63:3–4 — “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”
David’s words remind us that God’s lovingkindness, His covenant mercy, His faithful grace, is worth more than breath itself. Because His goodness is greater than life, the natural response of a grateful heart is praise. Yet in our world, the name of the Lord is treated with casual contempt, spoken lightly, or used as profanity by those who do not know Him. Even ordinary conversations are often seasoned with irreverence. It’s startling how quickly people grow comfortable speaking carelessly about the One who created them. Sometimes when we turn on a program or a movie, hoping to enjoy and an hour or two of entertainment, as the story progresses, someone will blaspheme the Lord’s name. That’s always enough for Laura and me, and we shut it off. May God have mercy on a generation that fills their hearts and minds with words that take God’s name in vain. Scripture makes it clear that our speech matters. Jesus said plainly, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Words reveal the condition of the inner life. And He added that every idle word will come up again in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36-37). Jude echoed the same when he spoke of the “hard speeches” uttered against the Lord (Jude 1:15). Heaven does not treat such things lightly. But while the world misuses His name, God’s people are called to honor it. One of the simplest ways we do this is in worship, when our posture and our words together declare His worth. Psalm 134:2 urges us, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.” It is a humble, biblical act, one that pushes against the pride and self-consciousness of the flesh. Sometimes we hesitate, not out of rebellion, but because it feels unfamiliar. Yet raising our hands is simply a physical “Amen” to the truth of who God is. It is obedience, gratitude, acknowledgment, and surrender. And as long as we have breath, we can still lift our hands in His name. We also honor His name when we speak of His goodness in daily life. After Jesus delivered the man in Gadara, He told him, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee” (Mark 5:19). Testimony is praise. Every time we declare what God has done, how He guided, provided, protected, strengthened, convicted, comforted, and carried us, we exalt His name. We remind others that our help is not our own doing; it is the Lord who keeps covenant and shows mercy. So let us purpose that His name will not be neglected on our lips. Let it be heard in our homes, in our conversations, in our worship, and in our gratitude. His lovingkindness is better than life. And, because it is, our lips shall praise Him.
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November 15, 2025
1 Corinthians 10:10 — “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”
Israel’s story is one long reminder of how quickly our faith can drift when circumstances turn uncomfortable. After the Red Sea opened before them, after Egypt, the strongest empire on earth, was brought to its knees, and after God made bitter waters drinkable with the touch of a tree (Ex. 15:23–25), they soon entered another season of testing. And instead of remembering the God who had already demonstrated His faithfulness in unmistakable ways, they allowed their hunger to shape their theology. Their words in Exodus 16:3 reveal the true condition of their hearts: they longed for the “flesh pots” of Egypt, forgetting the whips, the bondage, and the long cries under oppression. It’s amazing how some trouble can make us forget the faithfulness of yesterday and exaggerate the comforts of what God has already delivered us from. Israel rewrote their past to justify their complaining. They blamed Moses and Aaron, but God made it clear; they were murmuring against Him (Ex. 16:7–8). The real issue wasn’t food. It was unbelief. It was the refusal to interpret their circumstances through the promises of God rather than through the emotions of the moment. The Lord had sworn to bring them into a good land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8). Their path to that promise was guided by the pillar of cloud and fire—visible proof they had not been abandoned. Yet discomfort erased memory, and hunger silenced gratitude. Instead of saying, “The God who defeated Egypt will feed us,” they said, “Why did You bring us here to die?” Their perspective was completely upside down. The Bible warns us that murmuring is not a small matter. It distorts spiritual vision. It turns trials into personal indictments against God’s goodness. It blinds us to the mercies that surround us. And worst of all, it drags our hearts away from faith. That is why Philippians 2:14-15 calls us to “do all things without murmurings” so that we may shine as lights in a dark world. Complaining darkens the believer’s witness; gratitude strengthens it. Israel was never in danger of starving; God was already preparing manna to fall from heaven. The blessing was on the way, but their murmuring kept them from enjoying the moment before the miracle. How different their story would have sounded had they bowed their heads and said, “Lord, You delivered us before, and You will sustain us again.” The Holy Spirit is still teaching us every day to unlearn the habits of the flesh—to swap complaint for praise, anxiety for expectation, and resentment for remembrance. Faith looks at a wilderness and says, “My Shepherd is here.” And when our hearts choose gratitude over murmuring, we honor the God who has never once failed His own.
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November 14, 2025
Judges 6:36–38 “And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.”
It looks like Gideon was a man of weak faith. After all, the Lord had already given him a clear sign in verses 17–21, speaking to him personally and assuring him that he would lead Israel to victory over the Midianites. Yet Gideon still wanted another confirmation. And after God answered his request in today’s passage, Gideon asked again for a third sign; And the Lord, patient and faithful, granted it. It would seem that if the Lord God Almighty spoke to us that we would take Him at His Word, and immediately trust Him and obey Him. But most of us are just like Gideon. Christians sometimes speak of “putting out a fleece” when facing difficult decisions, a phrase drawn from this very story. What we really mean is that we want confirmation, often more than once. Our imperfect faith looks at trouble heaped upon trouble and longs for proof before we move forward. When our journey winds through dark valleys or uncertain turns, the good fight of faith doesn’t always feel good. We want assurance at every step. Gideon’s task was enormous from any human perspective. He saw himself as too unskilled, too insignificant, and from the wrong background to be a mighty leader. Yet when God has spoken, all human weakness becomes irrelevant. His purpose will stand, and He will accomplish it through the vessels He chooses. It’s worth noting that despite Gideon’s hesitation and stumbling faith, God includes him in Hebrews 11: The “Faith Hall of Fame.” The Lord may not always give us the confirmations we think we need, but He honors the smallest spark of trust. Simple, childlike faith rests in this: that He is with us, He will never forsake us, and He understands our humanness better than we do. Even through the valley of the shadow of death, His strong right hand upholds us with power and grace. Gideon’s story says that weak faith is still faith when it looks toward God. The Lord’s patience with Gideon shows His mercy toward all who struggle to believe. We may not always receive visible signs or outward proof, but the greatest confirmation of all is His abiding presence. Trust that when God speaks, He will bring His Word to pass: through our weakness, not apart from it.
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November 13, 2025
Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
When David was king of Israel, there was no temple yet. The Ark of the Covenant rested in a tent-like structure in Jerusalem known as The Tabernacle of David. Yet even so, the presence of the Lord hovered over the mercy seat of the ark, and to David, having God’s presence was the most wonderful thing on earth. There is a subtle hope woven into this verse in the phrase, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.” The doorkeepers in those days were descendants of Korah, who had led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16. God judged that uprising by opening the ground and swallowing the rebels, yet the sons of Korah did not share in their father’s sin — and they were spared. It was these descendants, who later served the Lord faithfully as guards at the doors of His house, to whom David addressed this psalm, as seen in verse 1: “A Psalm for the sons of Korah.” What a testimony this is to the mercy and grace of God! He provides a way out of the failures and sins of our families and does not hold us chained to their guilt. Never listen to the lies of the enemy that you are a bad seed and doomed to your family’s flaws. The Lord is our unfailing hope! But the meaning is clear — it is better to serve the Lord humbly as a doorkeeper in His house than to live in the luxury and corruption implied by the “tents of wickedness.” David longed to be near the Lord’s presence, for that is where the glory and power of God was revealed and His Word enshrined. The Holy Spirit draws each of us to that same place — a life lived truthfully and humbly, filled with a thirst for God’s presence. Yet many have chosen to follow the call of the world over the call to humble service, trading the sacred for the self-serving. They have set aside the quiet honor of standing watch at God’s doors for the fleeting pleasures that feed the flesh. But praise be to God for those who still serve Him faithfully, unnoticed by many, yet highly favored by the Lord. True joy is found not in the prominence of our position, but in the presence of our Lord. The humblest service done in His house, or anywhere His presence guides us, is far greater than any ease or pleasure found in the world. May our hearts echo David’s longing — to be near the Lord, to dwell in His presence, and to serve Him faithfully wherever He places us.
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November 12, 2025
Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith”
Barnabas—born Joses but nicknamed by the apostles—carries a title few in Scripture are given: “Son of encouragement.” His life stood out so clearly, so consistently, that the Holy Spirit led Luke to carve his character into the eternal record. He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. When I read this description, I can’t help but feel an urge to grow into that kind of believer—steady, trustworthy, and marked by the Spirit’s presence. Scripture doesn’t use the word good here in the theological sense that belongs uniquely to God alone. Rather, it speaks of Barnabas’ disposition—his integrity, helpful nature, and the uprightness that guided his decisions. The word carries the sense of pleasant, honorable, joyful, excellent, and sound in character. It paints a picture of a man whose inner life had been shaped by Christ so thoroughly that goodness naturally flowed from him. Our Lord explained this principle plainly in Matthew 12:35: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” The things we see on the surface—our words, our habits, our reactions—reveal what has been stored inside. If we wonder where all the deception, greed, corruption, and cruelty that’s so common in the world come from, it all comes from evil hearts that made people bad. It’s from hearts that have not been transformed. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a Senator or a crack dealer; without inward goodness, their outward life will tell the truth. Barnabas’ life shows what God can do with a heart yielded to His Spirit. He shone so brightly for Christ that the Lord saw fit to preserve his example for every generation that followed. And the beauty is this: none of us are disqualified from becoming the same kind of person. Past mistakes do not bar the door. Old failures don’t cancel God’s work in us. By His grace, we can still become good men and women whose lives ring with integrity, kindness, excellence, and moral purity. Barnabas was not only a good man; he was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Those three things are intertwined, and if we desire and receive the filling of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18) and grow in our faith in God and His Word, we can’t help but be good people. Let’s look again at what the Lord said of him, and let’s let Barnabas’ example remind us that goodness is not accidental—it is the fruit of a Spirit and faith-filled heart. Proverbs 12:2 “A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.”
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November 11, 2025
Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.”
The writer of Hebrews reaches back and quotes Proverbs 3:11: “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction.” When the Holy Spirit connects passages like this, it’s worth pausing. He’s highlighting a truth He wants anchored deeply in our hearts. As believers, we know that God has a plan for our lives. We say it, we believe it, and many days we rejoice in it. But to walk in that plan, the Lord must guide us, and guidance nearly always involves correction. We do this without thinking when we drive a car, making constant small movements of the steering wheel that keep us in our lane and out of danger. Without those tiny adjustments, we’d be in a mess. Pilots understand this even more. A jet can be aimed toward an airport thousands of miles away, but without adjusting the controls, the plane will never land where you intended. Headwinds, crosswinds, turbulence, storms—these all require steady hands and continual course corrections. Yet the pilot isn’t angry when he adjusts the controls. He’s simply committed to arriving safely at the right destination. Most of God’s corrections are just like that—not harsh chastisements but gentle nudges, quiet reminders, subtle turns of the heart. He is not an irritable disciplinarian waiting to punish every mistake. He is a compassionate Father, committed to shaping Christ in us. Our struggle often comes from assuming we don’t need correction—that we know how to navigate the Christian life on our own. But that’s not the case. This is why verse 11 speaks so honestly: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” Correction never feels pleasant in the moment. It presses on our pride and reminds us that we are children being trained, not experts in charge. Yet God attaches a promise to His correction—a precious outcome. When we receive His instruction and respond in obedience, the result is righteousness and peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but the settled peace of walking in alignment with His will. His corrections are not meant to break us down, but to make our lives better. Hebrews 12:5 calls us to remember that God’s correction is part of His loving commitment to our growth. Our Father shapes our path through gentle, persistent guidance—not out of anger, but out of compassion. Though His corrections may feel uncomfortable in the moment, they anchor us in righteousness and lead us into peace. Let every nudge, every conviction, every redirect remind us that we are deeply loved and being faithfully led toward His good and perfect will.
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November 10, 2025
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
If you’re anything like me, you know how stubborn our minds can be. It races, wanders, and grabs hold of worries, headlines, irritations, and half-formed fears with surprising speed. Maybe it’s the pace of the world we’re living in, the speed of our technology, or simply the way our minds tend to latch onto what feels urgent. But whatever the reason, getting our thoughts under control is tough. That’s why this verse is challenging. It lifts our gaze from the anxious mess of daily life and points us toward the character of God. The world bombards us with a steady stream of negativity, but the Lord calls us to intentionally dwell on what aligns with His nature. And He never commands what He does not empower. Just one verse earlier, we’re promised that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v. 7). Paul echoes this in Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” The battle for peace is fought largely in the mind. The heart eventually follows what our thoughts feed on. When we continually take in the world’s frustrations, its fears become ours. But when we dwell on the truth of God’s Word, His peace begins to fill us in ways that simply defy explanation. Scripture gives us examples of this disciplined, God-anchored thinking. David battled discouragement yet turned and said, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?… hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:5). Isaiah assures us that the one whose mind is stayed on the Lord is kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Even Jesus, when tempted in the wilderness, responded not with emotion but with Scripture—anchoring His thoughts in what was true rather than what was felt or suggested. Is this kind of Christ-shaped thinking possible in an age filled with anger, anxiety, and constant distraction? If it weren’t, the Lord would not call us to it. But it is not automatic. It requires trust in God’s Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and a willing heart that says, “Lord, teach me to think Your thoughts.” Little by little, as we practice turning our minds toward the things of God, His peace begins to guard our hearts and minds like a strong, faithful shield. Our thoughts rarely drift toward Christ on their own; they must be guided. Philippians 4:8 is a map for mental peace. As we think on what is true, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy, God’s peace settles in and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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November 9, 2025
Matthew 21:28-29 “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.”
Jesus gave this parable to show the contrast between two groups standing before Him. On one side were the publicans and prostitutes—men and women with reputations so stained that the religious crowd considered them unreachable. On the other side were the religious leaders, polished on the outside and proud of it, certain they represented God because of their position and ritual obedience. Jesus’ parable turned it all around. The ones who claimed to honor God refused His invitation; the ones who had openly lived in sin heard His call, repented, and followed Him with humble hearts. The first son represents those who once lived far from God. He said no to the father at first. Yet something turned inside him. He reconsidered his father’s command, changed his mind, and went. Jesus used this picture to show that the door of grace stays open to anyone willing to turn. Faith and repentance aren’t complicated or wrapped in religious ceremony—it’s simply a heart-changing course toward God. The second son represents those who speak spiritual words but lack obedience. He said all the right things. He sounded agreeable. But when his father’s will required action, he refused. His profession had no life behind it. Jesus’ audience would have understood the point clearly: God looks not at the words we say about Him, but at the trust we place in Him. Empty professions have never saved a soul. For us, this parable is both a warning and a hope. It reminds us that obedience begins with the heart, not the lips. And it comforts us with this truth: as long as life remains, there is room to turn back to God. We think of our loved ones—those who seem uninterested, those who have wandered far, those we pray for with quiet tears. The story of the first son assures us it is not too late. Hearts can still soften. Minds can still change. The Spirit of God continues His quiet, persistent work, urging souls toward faith in Christ. Each Sunday, when the pastor preaches the gospel and pleads for anyone who has never trusted Christ to do so, I often wonder who might be wrestling with that inward pull. I remember my own moment well—the Spirit’s unmistakable tug, the conviction of sin, the sweet relief of calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture still holds out the same invitation today: “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). And again, “now is the accepted time… now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
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November 8, 2025
1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The “natural man” Paul describes is who every one of us was before salvation—before the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to the things of God and took up residence inside us. Once we’ve walked with the Lord for a while—surrounded by Scripture, by worship, by fellowship, by the quiet daily work of grace—it becomes easy to forget that unbelievers simply cannot see what we see. Their understanding is darkened, not because they are willfully dense, but because spiritual truth requires spiritual sight. Without the Spirit, the gospel with its call to repentance and salvation and true worship of the Holy One seems strange, unnecessary, or even foolish. Paul’s words here can be restated this way: Those without the Holy Spirit cannot hear, receive, or recognize spiritual truth. They dismiss it because it lies outside of what the natural mind can grasp. Only the Spirit gives such sight. This is why Jesus’ statement in John 6:44 is so vital: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” The drawing of the Father is carried out through the Spirit, who awakens, convicts, and brings life where there was none. We sometimes assume that if we simply walk someone through the familiar ABCs of salvation—admit, believe, confess—and help them repeat a prayer, that the mechanics alone will save them. But salvation is not produced by formulas or words. Unless the Spirit illumines the mind and draws the heart to Christ, the message will fall on ears that cannot hear and soil that cannot yet receive seed. Jude 1:19 describes those who are “sensual, having not the Spirit”—people who process life only through human reasoning or emotion, not through spiritual understanding. Jesus reaffirmed this truth when He said, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth (brings to life); the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). The Word of God is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), and it is the Spirit who gives it power in the human heart. Salvation itself—why some respond and others do not, why certain words pierce one soul and pass by another—remains a holy mystery known fully only to God. But Scripture leaves no doubt: the new birth is entirely a work of the Spirit. And this is our hope. For those in Christ, Romans 8:9 declares, “Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” The Spirit within us lifts us out of what we once were—bound to natural sight—and gives us light, life, and the ability to understand the things of God. Spiritual truth is never grasped by natural wisdom or human effort. Only the Holy Spirit can open the heart to Christ and make God’s Word living and clear. This truth keeps us humble in our witnessing, patient with unbelievers, and grateful for the grace that awakened us. As the Spirit draws, convicts, and illumines, He leads us out of the natural man and into the life and freedom found in Christ alone.
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November 7, 2025
2 Chronicles 20:15 “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
A vast army of the combined forces of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir was marching toward Jerusalem with one goal: to destroy God’s people. Jehoshaphat could have panicked, or scrambled to form alliances, or thrown together a last-minute battle plan. But he didn’t. He was a godly king, and in a moment of impending danger he did the wisest thing any leader can do—he sought the Lord. He called the people of Judah together at the temple. Men, women, and even the children gathered as one. There Jehoshaphat prayed one of the most honest and humble prayers in Scripture. He rehearsed God’s power, remembered God’s promises, and then admitted the truth every one of us eventually faces: “We have no might against this great company… neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (vv. 6–12). The scene that follows is incredibly moving. “And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children” (v. 13). They stood still: waiting, watching, listening. And into that quietness the Spirit of God moved upon a man named Jahaziel, who spoke the words of today’s verse: “Be not afraid… for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Jehoshaphat didn’t know what to do, but God did. God always does. There will be moments in our own lives when the odds seem just as impossible. We face things we can’t reason our way through, fight our way out of, or even understand. Troubles come that don’t respond to our usual fixes. Pressures mount, fears whisper, and strength fades. And like Jehoshaphat, we finally pray, “Lord, I have no power against this situation. I don’t know what to do. But my eyes are on You.” That’s not a weak surrender to some inevitable end we’re ill-prepared to face, that’s faith. Scripture repeatedly tells us that God fights for His people. Exodus 14:14, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace,” and Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When we stop trying to be our own savior, we make room for the Savior to step in. The battle was never ours to begin with. It has always belonged to God. When Jehoshaphat lifted his eyes to the Lord, God lifted the burden off his shoulders. The same God who fought for Judah fights for His people today. Turn your eyes upon Jesus; The battle is His.
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November 6, 2025
Daniel 3:15 “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king, ruling over one of the greatest empires in world history. He was a ruthless conqueror, a man whose word meant life or death for anyone under his rule. He worshiped many pagan gods, believing they had granted him the strength to wage war and to build his mighty empire. But when he came up against Jehovah—the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth—everything changed. Today’s verse shows us the arrogance that filled his heart. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden image he had erected, Nebuchadnezzar threatened, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” His words echo those of Pilate when Jesus stood before him in John 19:10: “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” Jesus responded, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” The rulers of this world often believe they answer to no one. Pride blinds them into thinking their power is self-made and their authority untouchable. But as Nebuchadnezzar learned, the hand that gives power can also take it away. Before his downfall, he boasted in Daniel 4:30, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built… by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Yet, while the words were still in his mouth, a voice from Heaven declared, “O king Nebuchadnezzar… The kingdom is departed from thee.” Scripture warns that a day is coming when all human pride will crumble. Isaiah 2:11 says, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that any power he held was given from God. Pilate thought he held Jesus’ fate in his hands, but the One he condemned rose from the dead in great power and victory. The world’s rulers rise and fall, but only one Kingdom endures forever—the Kingdom of God. Like Nebuchadnezzar, men still boast of their strength, wealth, or authority, forgetting that every breath they take is a gift from the One who formed them. As believers, we are not to fear the arrogance of this age, for the same power that raised Jesus from the tomb lives within us. When we face fiery trials, we do not stand in our own strength, but in the power of the risen Christ who delivers, sustains, and reigns forever.
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November 5, 2025
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
Paul wrote this epistle to the church at Thessalonica, reminding them that he had taught, comforted, and cared for them like a father does his children. It’s the shepherd’s heart within him—the same spirit of compassion reflected in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. When love motivates God’s servants, and not the pursuit of ministry as a career or a way to pay the bills, blessings always follow. The lives they touch are changed in ways that dead religion or human talent can never produce. Paul also wrote about certain individuals posing as spiritual leaders but filled with arrogance and pride. In 1 Corinthians 4:19-20, he warned, “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” The “word” he refers to here isn’t the Word of God, but unanointed human speech— lacking the Holy Spirit’s presence. In this Laodicean age, we’ve grown so accustomed to lukewarm religion that many have forgotten what it’s like to taste hot, holy bread fresh from heaven’s oven. When we do, it crushes our pride, pierces our hearts, and draws us to God in holy conviction. It produces what David described in Psalm 51:17: “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” The encouragement in today’s passage is that we “walk worthy of God.” That means living as true representatives of the One who delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and placed us into the Kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). He rescued us from death, saved us from hell, and made us His own children. Therefore, we are to live separated from the sin of this world and fully identified with His goodness and grace. We stand tall for His glory, unashamed of our testimony, just as the psalmist declared in Psalm 40:2-3: “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” God is worthy—and by His blood, He has made us worthy. The calling to “walk worthy of God” is not about perfection but direction—our daily steps reflecting the One who redeemed us.
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November 4, 2025
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
The “yoke of bondage” in this verse refers to any attempt to approach God—or stay in relationship with Him—through our own deeds. Some have mistakenly taught that it speaks mainly of sin, but the context makes it clear that Paul is warning against something else. The believers in Galatia had accepted Christ for salvation, yet some were drifting back into old doctrines that taught a person had to keep parts of the Law of Moses to remain right with God. Peter addressed this same issue in Acts 15:10 when he said, “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” He was confronting those who insisted that Gentile believers must follow certain Jewish traditions in addition to faith in Christ. When Paul says “stand fast,” he’s calling us to plant our feet firmly, to resist anything that tries to shake us from the truth of grace. It’s the picture of a soldier holding his ground when an opposing force presses in. We’re up against powerful ideas that challenge the sufficiency of salvation through faith alone. It’s not only the danger of mixing Old Testament law with New Testament grace; it’s also the everyday belief many people hold—that if they’re good enough, kind enough, or at least better than most, God will accept them. But Jesus set us free from that exhausting burden. In Him, we don’t have to prove our worth; we simply rest in what He’s already done. Notice that Paul calls it the liberty, not just liberty in general. There are many promises of freedom in the world, but they all come with hidden conditions or temporary relief. Only in Christ do we find the freedom that God promised long before Jesus’ birth. Isaiah 61:1 foretold it: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me… to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Salvation isn’t earned by our efforts, nor is it sustained by them. Christ purchased our freedom with His precious blood. And as Hebrews 10:14 declares, “By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Christ’s liberty is not partial or conditional—it’s complete. The law could never save; it only revealed sin, and our efforts can never save us or keep us saved. Today, stand firm in the freedom Jesus won for you. Rest in His finished work, and don’t let anything convince you that His grace needs your help.
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November 3, 2025
Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”
David wrote this psalm during a time when he was being harassed by enemies. He says in verse 4, “They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.” Most of us have had moments like that—times when someone didn’t like us, spoke against us, or made life harder than it needed to be. And if it wasn’t people, it might have been circumstances or trials that seemed to block every path forward. Today’s verse gives us Holy Spirit–inspired advice: Look to the Lord in those times. The words, “wait thou only upon God,” in Hebrew, carry the sense of silently and patiently trusting Him alone to act. It means waiting—not in worry, not in frustration—but with quiet confidence that God will come through. Why can we wait like that? Because we can expect Him to help us, answer our prayers, and show Himself strong on our behalf. Three times in this psalm, David calls the Lord his rock, and that title runs throughout Scripture. In that region, rocks offered rest, shelter, shade, and protection from enemies. It’s no wonder the old hymn says, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” Modern worship songs echo the same truth: The Lord is my rock. We expect God to be unshakable, faithful, and eternally strong. We expect Him to hear and answer prayer. We expect Him to keep His promises and never change. David also calls the Lord his refuge, his salvation, and his defense. So, he speaks to his own soul—to his deepest self—and says, “Be still. Wait quietly for God to move.” Sometimes we’re like the woman in the Gospels who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had tried everything, spent all her money, and still had no cure. But when she reached out in faith and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole” (Mark 5:34). She had reached the point where her expectation was from Him alone—and that’s when her healing came. David understood that same truth. When everything else failed, his hope and expectation were still in the Lord. And ours should be too. When we face opposition, discouragement, or delay, God calls us to wait quietly and expectantly for Him. When we find ourselves confronted by people who are determined to be our enemies, He is our Rock—faithful, strong, and never late. Waiting on Him isn’t wasted time; it’s faith in motion, trusting that He will act when the moment is right.
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November 2, 2025
Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
The words we speak, and how and when we speak them, can be a wonderful and beautiful thing. That’s the picture given in today’s verse. Golden apples displayed in a setting of silver brings to mind a work of art, designed to be both attractive and meaningful. God isn’t telling us to use flattery or clever manipulation, but rather the opposite: He calls us to use wisdom—to speak the right words, in the right way, at the right time. When we use our words to encourage those who are struggling, sincerely thank those who’ve helped us, or offer the consolation of friendship to the weary, we don’t need to speak too much; just the right words at the right time. Even kind and reconciling words spoken to our enemies are a biblical prescription for peace. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The world often thinks that saying more gets results; think politicians! But Scripture teaches otherwise. Proverbs 10:19 warns that when we talk too much, we can easily slip into speaking wrongly. We might exaggerate, gossip, insult, or let pride taint what should have been wholesome conversation. But when we choose our words carefully, guided by the Holy Spirit, our speech can bless others and reflect the heart of Christ within us. When someone is hurting, we can ask God for wisdom to speak words that lift their spirits and remind them that He is with them in their troubles. Not as a sermon or a lecture, but as words flowing from genuine compassion. And when we notice someone quietly doing good for the Lord—serving faithfully without recognition—we can speak words of appreciation and encouragement. Those small, sincere comments can mean more than we realize. One study found that the average person speaks about 16,000 words a day (Dr. Matthias Mehl, University of Arizona). What if we asked the Lord for wisdom and self-control to use that astounding number of words for good? What if, as believers, we took seriously that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21) and made conscious choices to speak life, restoration, and blessing? It would be just as Scripture describes, like apples of gold in settings of silver. Our words have power. If we use them carelessly, they wound and cause harm; spoken wisely, they bless and heal. Today, let’s ask God to help us speak with grace, truth, and compassion. People are God’s creation, and just as He uses His Word to draw them to Himself, we can use our words to reflect His goodness and grace.
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November 1, 2025
Revelation 22:17
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
From the beginning of the Bible in Genesis—with its picture of a perfect garden followed by humanity’s tragic fall into sin—through its pages filled with the rise and fall of nations, the failures of God’s people, and the triumphs of the faithful, the Word of God ends with a gracious invitation for all people to come to the Lord. The Old Testament closes in Malachi 4:6 with a warning: “Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In contrast, the New Testament ends in Revelation 22:21 with a blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Between those two bookends—curse and grace—runs the story of redemption. Though Scripture warns of sin’s destructive power and its eternal consequences, it also reveals the unbroken thread of God’s mercy woven through every book. From beginning to end, God calls mankind to look to Him, trust in Him, and walk in His ways. Notice in today’s verse that the invitation to come is extended to “whosoever will.” This echoes 1 Timothy 2:4: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” and 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord… is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The message is unmistakable—salvation is available to all who will come. This call is especially directed toward those who are spiritually thirsty. It echoes Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” Our Lord Jesus also spoke to this same thirst, saying in John 7:37: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” The thirst He spoke of is not physical but spiritual—a deep longing within every soul for peace, forgiveness, and fulfillment that only Christ can provide. Through the centuries, some have wrongly taught that salvation is reserved only for a chosen few. Yet the Word of God consistently declares otherwise: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The Savior’s invitation has no boundaries of race, background, or past sin—it is open to all. The only condition is willingness. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells one story—God’s invitation to come. The Spirit still calls, the Church still echoes that call, and the promise still stands: whoever is thirsty may come and freely drink of the water of life. The door of grace remains open until the Lord Himself closes it. Have you heard His call today? If so, don’t delay—come.
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