April 1, 2026; Week 5, The Prophesies of Zechariah, Betrayal

Read Jeremiah 15.15-21; John 18-21

““Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered …” (Zechariah 13:7a)

Disappointment: sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one’s hopes or expectations.

Sometimes when things are not going the way we think they should or God does not appear to be answering our prayers, we respond with disappointment, don’t we?

After the Shepherd was struck, the disciples scattered. They fled in fear and disappointment. Even after He rose and appeared to them several times, their expectations of what His kingdom would be and what following Him would be like were not coming to fruition. So Peter and most of the disciples went back to their old lives in disappointment; they went back to fishing.

Have you ever felt disappointment with God? I know I have. Disappointment tends to lead to separation from God. We no longer feel we can trust Him.

The prophet Jeremiah knew about disappointment. He thought he had done everything right. He consumed the Word of God like necessary sustenance. It became a joy and a delight to him. He was known as a man of God and a prophet; one who spoke for God and represented Him. He didn’t run around with the partiers; he remained humble, walking in righteousness. What was his reward?

He was persecuted. He endured the reproach of his countrymen. He was isolated and alone. He was filled with indignation at the way he was treated. His pain and loneliness were with him always. There was no relief. Going to God felt like going to a deceptive stream that promised to be a source of refreshing water but in reality, its refreshment was unreliable.

Jeremiah was disappointed with God. Sometimes God allows us to experience disappointment as a form of discipline.

“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”” (Hebrews 12:6)

God’s discipline is an expression of His love. For His discipline is intended to bring us back to Him. “If you return, then I will restore you”, the Lord said to Jeremiah. Jeremiah had allowed circumstances to separate Him from God. “If you return”. Jeremiah’s reward was God and following God. He only needed to return to God. The reward would come in God’s time and God’s way.

“I am with you to save you and deliver you”, God told Jeremiah. Notice He did not say “I will be with you.” He said He was with Jeremiah even though Jeremiah felt isolation from God. When we feel separation from God, the separation is on our part. God never goes anywhere. Our hearts do, and that is a betrayal of God’s faithfulness.

“And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”” (Mark 14:27–28)

Jesus had told the disciples that they would betray Him and be scattered. But He went on to say that after they betrayed Him and after His crucifixion and after He was raised, He would go ahead of them and meet them in Galilee. They might betray Him and leave Him, but He would not leave them. He knew they would leave Him but He was already making arrangements for their return and restoration.

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Jesus in Matthew 28:20b)

If you are feeling disappointment, return to Jesus. He is still there, waiting for you to return. He is always there and will never leave you nor forsake you. He is waiting on you. And He might have some breakfast for you (John 21.9).

March 30, 2026; Week 5, The Prophesies of Zechariah - Betrayal

Read Zechariah 13.7-9; John 18-20

““Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered …” (Zechariah 13:7a)

For a New Testament believer, this may be a very stinging prophesy. It is a prophesy about Jesus, the Christ; the Messiah. But it is also a prophesy about the disciples, all of them. And we will see, this is a prophesy about me … and you. This is a prophesy about betrayal.

This is a prophesy about Jesus because He is the Good Shepherd.

““I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”” (Jesus in John 10:11–18)

It is a prophesy about Jesus because He applied it to Himself.

“And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.” (Mark 14:27–31)

It is a prophesy about the all the disciples. We tend to think of only of Judas as a betrayer, but they all were. In response to Jesus’ words, good ole’ impetuous Peter blurts out his opinion of his own fidelity and that of the other disciples.

“These other guys may fall away, but not me Jesus. I won’t fall away. I love you too much Jesus. They might all fall away but I won’t. Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny you.”

Then the other disciples piped in, “Yeah, me, too, Jesus. Me, too.”

Later that same evening, in the Garden of Gethsemane, a mob led by Judas and made up of men sent by the chief priests and a Roman cohort of soldiers came and arrested Jesus. This wasn’t how the disciples thought it should happen. They knew what Jesus said, but not here, not now. They came in the middle of the night armed with clubs and spears and swords. And the disciples all fled.

“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56)

It was probably just a few hours after Jesus quoted Zechariah and the disciples all pledged their undying loyalty to Him. And they all fled.

Have you ever prayed for something for a long time, and the answer either did not come or it did not come like you thought it should. How did you react to that? Did you leave Jesus and push ahead in what you thought was best? Remember, the call was to “Follow Me”? Maybe you thought He wasn’t going to answer at all. How did that work out for you? That is betrayal. Until we are honest about our sin, we will never get past it. We have to be honest with ourselves. We can try to justify ourselves and cover up our sin with a little makeup but it is still just as ugly as ever. And, in case you didn’t know, Jesus isn’t fooled for a moment.

I don’t want to leave us without hope, so a little spoiler should help. Reread Mark 14.28. It is one of those “But God” passages I love so much in Scripture. Not literally, but I think you will see it.

Spend some time today meditating on what we have looked at. Are still pressing hard after Jesus, or have you fled? Thank Him for His love and His Word that guides us and is the fuel of our transformation.

March 23, 2026; Day 1 – The Prophesies of Zechariah - Brokenness

Read Zechariah 12.10-14, Acts 2

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)

We have already talked about how Biblical prophesy can be an already/not yet scenario. That is what we have here in Zechariah 12.10. The partial fulfillment of this prophesy was on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the eleven disciples in the upper room, followed by Peter’s sermon and the response of those who heard it. But complete fulfillment of the prophesy is yet to come. This prophesy gives us something to chew on in our own lives here and now.

This prophesy is about brokenness before God. Doesn’t that sound exciting? But truthfully, it should, because transformation doesn’t happen without brokenness. See, brokenness is the realization that you are nothing without Christ. It is the realization that you cannot be the god of your life because you will ruin it and you do not know what your purpose is. It is the realization that Jesus is everything, and without Him … you are ruined.

Last week we looked at Peter and how he realized his desperation for Jesus. He thought himself to be entirely self-sufficient. But he completely failed in his own strength and ability. The night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest; the night before He was crucified on a cross that should have been Peter’s … and mine … and yours, Peter bragged about his own strength. He said he would go with Christ into death itself. But he hid around the periphery of the illegal trial, wanting to see what happened but not wanting to be seen himself. And then, three times, he denied even knowing who Jesus was. The third time, the rooster crowed … and Jesus stopped and looked at Peter. Peter was cut to the core. He realized Jesus’ prophecy about him had just been fulfilled and that he had failed Jesus. Peter ran off and wept bitterly. He was broken.

Was being broken painful for Peter? I think so. I know it has been for me. But it is through this brokenness that Peter was being prepared for the transformation of Pentecost we read about in Acts 2.

Transformation cannot come but through brokenness. That means brokenness is really a good thing because it positions us for transformation.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

One of my life verses is Matthew 6.33. It was a verse that guided me and my decision making for over twenty-five years. But as I got older and began to look on our retirement years and, well, to be frank, He was not working it out like I thought He would or should. So I began to be concerned and, unknowingly, began to look at building my kingdom. I didn’t realize it at the time, but hindsight is 20/20 and that is what I see now.

About a year and a half ago, I took a job that paid significantly more than what I was making at the time. I reasoned that with that increase, I (notice that, ‘I’) could provide for our retirement years. I assumed that since the opportunity arose, it was of God. But really, it took me farther away from God and the service He called me to at Journey. I was building my kingdom.

About three months in, I was fired. I have never been fired from a job before in my life. I have always excelled in every job I had. And it was insinuated that not only did I not preform to their expectation, but I was probably not working as I should and so was effectively stealing from the company. I was devasted, I thought I was broken.

A month later, I was rehired with the company I used to work for, but now I have a different boss. One whom I do not see eye-to -eye with on many things. One whom I am learning to submit to and show respect to even though I do not agree with him, because really, Biblically, I am representing and serving Jesus, not him. (Colossians 3.23) The breaking continued.

Amidst all this, I began to sense we needed to be closer to Journey, the body of believers Jesus called me to serve. We began looking for a place to live closer to Journey. With the termination and returning to the old company, I became more convinced this is what God wanted us to do, because it was about building His kingdom and not mine and trusting the future to Him. We saw a property that was, from our perspective, amazing. The house was wonderful. The acreage was less than I wanted but it was doable. The next day, it came under contract to someone else. The breaking continued.

Several months later, we have found another property. It is not perfect in my eyes, but it places us closer to Journey and closer to what He is doing at Journey so we can contribute more to building His kingdom. We have prayed for this for almost a year and a half. But it is all going way too fast for me. There is so much still up in the air. I was and still struggle with being overwhelmed with all of this. The breaking continued.

A few days ago, I think I realized where I was and what I was doing. I was still worrying about building my kingdom and not focused on His kingdom. We have prayed over and over about this, but I am not trusting Him to answer my prayer in what would be the best answer possible. And God ONLY answers in what is the best answer possible.

I think (hope) the breaking is coming to an end. I trust that if this new home comes to be, it is in answer to prayer by my good, good Father. And if it doesn’t, it is because He has something else in mind for us. And that something else may not be what I am wanting or expecting, but it is for my best because it is from my Father who is absolutely good. (Matthew 7.7-11)

All of this is bringing me back to a closeness with God. Bringing me back to trusting Him, and His provision and His love. The trust that I walked in for over thirty years. See, God breaks us for our good, because He loves us and wants only the best for us.

Do you trust Him to break you?

Thank God for His provision in your life.

March 20, 2026; Day 3 – Desperate for Jesus

Read James 4, Luke 19.1-10

“Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.” (Luke 19:3–4)

In Jewish society, Zaccheus was probably considered the lowest of the low. Not only was he a sinner, he was also a tax collector. He worked for the Roman government exacting the taxes from his own people. Tax collectors also exacted their own pay by adding whatever they wanted on top of the taxes; keeping the overage for themselves. But not only was he a tax collector, he was a chief tax collector. He organized, trained and oversaw other tax collectors. He may have even extorted money from those under his administration.

But now he was also desperate for Jesus.

He heard Jesus was coming to town and he ran to see Him, willing to just see who He was. He did this at his own peril, because tax collectors were despised and hated. It would be easy in a large crowd to attack Zaccheus and get away unseen. Zaccheus knew this but he was desperate to see Jesus.

Are you desperate enough for Jesus to put yourself at risk to obey Him?

Zaccheus had another problem. He was vertically challenged. I can relate. He couldn’t push through the crowd and he couldn’t see over them. So he ran ahead of the crowd. Jewish men typically didn’t run anywhere. It would be undignified and difficult in a robe. But Zaccheus was desperate.

Zaccheus found a tree to climb and climb he did … in his robe. Zaccheus humbled himself to run in a robe and then climb up a tree in a robe just to see Jesus. He was that desperate.

When Jesus saw him, He knew what was going on. Zaccheus was under conviction and he knew that Jesus was what he needed. He wanted to see Jesus from a distance, but was not ready to commit yet. Zaccheus needed a little nudge of grace.

“When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”” (Luke 19:5)

Jesus reached out to Zaccheus where he was in his sin. Jesus knew his name. He said He “must” stay at Zaccheus’ house. He must because this nudge of grace was what Zaccheus desperately needed. It was grace because of who Zaccheus was. It was grace because Zaccheus didn’t deserve it. Zaccheus responded to the grace shown him.

“Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”” (Luke 19:8)

This wasn’t a works-based salvation where Zaccheus earned his salvation. This was a demonstration of a transformed heart. Zaccheus was no longer a selfish, greedy tax collector. He was now a repentant sinner with compassion for those he had defrauded and a generosity that flowed from understanding how much he had been forgiven. Zaccheus was letting go of his past and who he was and was embracing his new life as a disciple of Christ.

What are you holding on to that keeps you at a distance from Jesus? Are you desperate enough for Jesus that you will let it go and embrace Christ?

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. … Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:7-8, 10)

Being desperate for Jesus means humbling yourself before God. It means abandoning your sin and purifying your heart. He will meet you were you are at and give you the grace you need.

March 19, 2026; Day 2 – Desperate for Jesus

Read James 4, John 21.1-17

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7)

Peter … a guy maybe more like us that we care to admit. Or maybe it is just me. Impetuous … headstrong … speaking and acting before really thinking about it.

On the night of Jesus’ arrest (John 13) we see this playing out. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper and then starts to wash the feet of His disciples. At first, Peter refuses to allow his feet to be washed to allow it, “Never shall You wash my feet!” … a moment of false humility. Jesus explains that unless Peter allows Him to do what the Father has commanded Jesus to do, then Peter can have no part with Him. So Peter blurts out, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” As if to say, “Oh, I am more committed than all these who only had their feet to wash.” And he blatantly said as much later that evening.

“Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”” (John 13:37)

“But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.”” (Matthew 26:33)

“But he (Peter) said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”” (Luke 22:33)

He doesn’t sound so humble now. Jesus knows the truth about all of us.

“Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.” (John 13:38)

Jesus’ prediction played out later that night, during Jesus’ false trial. (John 18) But even before this fulfillment, when the mob came to arrest Jesus, Peter rushed ahead of Jesus, pulled out his sword and cut a man’s ear off, as if he would single-handily defend Jesus against the Roman cohort, which was usually around 600 men. But Jesus was committed to the Father’s will; He healed the man and said:

“… “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”” (John 18:11b)

During the illegal trial, Peter milled around outside of it; wanting to see what happened but not wanting to be seen or noticed. And, just as Jesus said, three times Peter denied being a follower of Jesus. The last time, he began cursing and swore he did not even know Jesus. And the rooster crowed. Jesus, in the midst of the trial for His life, immediately turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22.61). And Peter, no longer the proud, self-assured braggard, runs away weeping in conviction.

Have you ever been broken before the Lord? It’s not fun.

Jesus is convicted of a capital crime in an illegal Jewish court, crucified, buried and rose three days later, just as He had told Peter and the other disciples. He had already appeared to all the disciples. Yet Peter is still walking in his own strength. He decides to go back to his old way of life of fishing. Peter and some of the other disciples go out in a boat and fish all night and caught absolutely … nothing. He must have felt like an absolute failure. He had failed Jesus. He had failed the other disciples. And now he failed at fishing; the one thing he knew best.

On their way back to shore, a Man they did not recognize called out and asked if they had caught anything. They replied they had not. The Man instructed them to cast their net one more time and assured them they would then find a catch. And a catch they did indeed find; one hundred and fifty-three large fish!

That’s when John realized who the Man was. Perhaps he recalled a similar incident, one where Jesus called him and Peter and others to follow Him (Luke 5). Perhaps Peter would remember that in a moment.

“It is the Lord.”

Peter immediately jumps up, puts on his robe, dives into the water and swims faster to the shore than six grown men could row the boat it.

Desperation is the realization that Jesus alone is the only hope we have and the answer we need for life. It’s the realization that if we don’t get to Him, nothing else matters and nothing else will be right.

Have you come to that realization yet?

Jesus, being Jesus, cooks breakfast for His disciples. He then carefully and loving restores Peter as His disciple. A disciple who would preach boldly at Pentecost where 3000 were saved. One who would stand steadfastly before the Chief Priest declaring who Jesus was without concern as to what they might do to him. This is the same impetuous, headstrong disciple Jesus restored.

This is how Jesus is with all us impetuous, headstrong followers who, in desperation realize He is what we really need, and return to Him.

Are you desperate for Jesus? If you are, He is waiting at the fire with some breakfast ... and some forgiveness.

March 17, 2026; Day 1 – Desperate for Jesus

Read 1 Peter 1, Philippians 3.7-21

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:8)

Have you ever been desperate for something? Have you wanted something so badly that you would give up other things to obtain it?

How about Jesus? Are you desperate for Jesus? Do you hang on His every Word? Is the time of devotion something you long for and look forward to with anticipation? Is prayer something you desire just to be with Jesus and hear His ‘voice’. Or have they become just another box you try to check off every day of things you ‘have to do’?

In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus dictates letters to seven churches. The first letter is to the church in Ephesus. This church was theologically sound and pure. This was a stable church that endured the trials and temptations of life.

But there was one problem; they had left their first love. They no longer burned with passion for the things of Christ like they did when they were new in the faith. Yes, they were theologically pure and stable but it had become old hat and maybe even a point spiritual pride. They did not think they needed Jesus like they did in the beginning because they had it figured out. They were not so much following Jesus any more as they were just going through the motions.

Is that where you are spiritually?

Another letter went to the church at Laodicea. Jesus said they were neither hot nor cold; they were only lukewarm. And that made Jesus sick to His stomach. So much so that He wanted to literally vomit them out of His mouth.

How does water become lukewarm? I can think of only two ways. One is it was hot but became exposed to cold water or air until it cooled off. This is like a believer who started out on fire for Jesus and the things of Christ but has allowed the things of this world and the flesh to cool his passion for Christ and godly living.

The second is it was cold to begin with but became exposed to hot water or air maybe from a fire until it heats up a little. This is like someone who is trying to live the Christian life on his own without ever being truly saved. He has the look and even the talk of a true believer but there is no regeneration; no transformation or indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

How does a church become like these? It starts with the individual members of the body and spreads like a cancer.

Are you desperate for Jesus?

Paul considered everything of this life to be of no value compared to surpassing value of knowing Christ. He willing gave up everything to know Christ more and to follow Him. He used the things he suffered to drive him closer to Jesus because he realized in that suffering how much he truly needed and wanted Jesus.

Are you desperate for Jesus?

Pray a prayer expressing your passion or lack there of for Jesus. Thank Him for His great love for you.

March 6, 2026; Day 4 – Prophesies of Zechariah

Read Zechariah 3 and 2 Peter 3

“‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”” (Zechariah 3:8–10)

The ‘not yet’ part of this prophesy. “My Servant” and “the Branch” are references to the Messiah, Jesus, whom God did not send for approximately 500 years. And in those years, for the most part, Israel continued in rebellion against God. Approximately 100 years later, with the writing of Malachi, God closed off prophesy; He ceased to speak to the nation. There was not another prophetic word given for 400 years and the time of His Servant, the Branch.

And even the coming of Messiah does not finish this prophecy because the nation of Israel rejected Christ and are still in rebellion to this day. But there will come a day when God will “remove the iniquity of that land” and there will be peace in Israel. But we all know that is not today. That is yet future. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 11.

Likewise, there is a “not yet” to the completion of our salvation because our salvation is not for this life only but for eternity. There will come a time when God will completely destroy this universe with fire and intense heat so hot the very elements will melt. And then, praise His name, God will create a new universe with a new earth. One similar to the old because both were created in righteousness. But in the new one, righteous will dwell forever. There will be eternal peace and we will be in His presence.

That is something to look forward to; something to ponder and be thankful for. But in the meantime, what are we to do?

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless … but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:14, 18)

We are to continue to walk with Christ. We are to grow closer to the One who saved us. We are to renew our minds with the Word and to be transformed into the image of Christ. We are to remain steadfast and obedient.

Sometimes, I think we do not spend enough time meditating on the new heaven and earth and the joy and fullness we will know then. But on the other hand, we must be careful we do ‘become so heavenly minded we are of no earthly good.’ Thinking on the fulfillment of our salvation gives hope but we do not and should not wait for that fulfillment to grow closer to Christ and become more Christ-like.

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

We can and should experience eternal life here and now. This is not a preparation for the heaven. This is a fulfillment of God’s plan.

Thank God for the hope of a new heaven and new earth and meditate on it. Walk in the fullness of Christ today and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.

March 5, 2026; Day 3 – Prophesies of Zechariah

Read Zechariah 3 and 2 Peter 3

“And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.” (Zechariah 3:6–7)

In Biblical prophesies, there are usually an ‘already (or immediate), not yet’ to their fulfilment. The same is true in what Christ has done for us, an ‘already, not yet’.

In Zechariah 3, the Lord told Joshua that if he were obedient to walk in the ways of God and serve God, he could walk in free access and fellowship with God. Since Joshua is representative of Israel, this was the promise given to Israel. Their obedience and submission to God would in fact restore them to the place as God’s people and His emissaries to the world. This place of privilege and fulfillment flowed from their obedience. That was the immediate fulfilment of this prophesy.

Part of the ‘not yet’ was the coming of Messiah; Jesus the Christ. God promised to bring “My Servant the Branch”. In prophesy, Messiah was sometimes referred to as the Servant of God and the Branch of David, among other names. So this is promise of something and Someone to come.

In our Christian walks, there is also a ‘already (or immediate), not yet’. Today, we will look at some of the already.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans 8:1–9)

Fellowship with God is restored, because there is no longer any condemnation of us, as believers for we are in Christ. God no longer sees the filth of our sin; He only sees the perfection of Christ. We are freed from the bondage of sin and the fear of death. What the Law couldn’t do because of the weakness of our flesh – God did! We could never achieve the righteousness the Law demanded so God imputed it us in His Son; Christ Jesus. Jesus came in our likeness, experiencing all the temptations we experience yet was without any sin, thus condemning sin in the flesh and fulfilling the requirement of the law by imputing or giving us His righteousness. This is already true of you and me as believers.

Our fellowship is maintained as we walk not according to the flesh but according to Spirit. To walk according to the flesh is to focus on the flesh and the things of this world. To walk according the Spirit is to focus, set your mind, on the things of the Spirit. It is to fill your heart, mind and life with the things of the Spirit. It is to walk in obedience to the Spirit. Christ has already made that ours.

And like Joshua, it is maintained through our obedience; that is walking in the Spirit.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

I love this verse! We show our love to Christ through our obedience; through walking in the Spirit. In turn, He and the Father do not have to discipline us, instead they pour out their love on us and dwell with us. They walk with us through life as we walk with them. This is not a distant thing where a servant walks in humiliation somewhere behind the King. It is the King walking with the servant as a friend. Obedience is not something to dread. Obedience is joy and life!

Thank the Father today for doing what neither we nor the Law could do. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit and walk in the joy of obedience today.

March 4, 2026; Day 2 – Prophesies of Zechariah

Read Zechariah 3 and 2 Peter 3

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.” (Zechariah 3:3–5)

In this vision, Joshua the high priest was literally standing before the Lord in clothing covered with human excrement. This was symbolic of the filth and uncleanness of sin. Under the Law, the high priest had to make sacrifices for himself before he could come in the Holy of Holies, the place where the presence of the Lord was. But here, Joshua, representative of the nation of Israel, was under grace. The Lord had plucked them out of the fire; He had brought them back to the Promised Land, out of exile for their rebellion against Him.

But being under grace does not take the stench of our sin away from the nostrils of God. There is a cleansing necessary. Notice the Lord did not command Joshua to go and clean himself up. That a mistake so many make today. They try to clean themselves up so they can come to God. Instead, even as saints who still choose to sin, we can only come before God and receive His cleansing.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11)

We were washed and set apart to God, we were justified in the name of the Jesus the Christ at salvation. It is something He did for us. But the picture of Joshua was not just in his first coming to the Lord. Israel had been God’s people for hundreds of years before God disciplined them and sent them in exile. God had been patient with them, wooing them back to walk in His righteousness. This is a picture of them coming to God with habitual sin; sin where they say “Sorry”, only to return to it. This is not only a picture of a saint who still chooses to sin but of one who has a sin problem.

But there is hope in Christ. God is patient with His children.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9–10)

Confessing our sin before God is not simply like a criminal’s confessing a crime on TV where he admits his crime. Confessing means admitting our sin and agreeing with God on the absolute sinfulness of it. We tend to have this view of our own sin as not being so bad. We want to put some perfume on it so it does not seem so vile so we can feel better about ourselves. But before God, our sin is the stench of human excrement in His nostrils.

Confessing is agreeing with God that our sin, even as saints, is absolute rebellion again our God and King. We want to say ours is only a little sin but God says that even that sin, if that were all we had, demands punishment. If that ‘little’ sin was our only sin, it would still put Jesus on the cross.

Think about that for a moment.

Our confession takes care of our immediate sin. But what about going forward?

“But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—” (Colossians 3:8–10)

We put off the old self and put on the new self daily; a new self that is daily being renewed to come to a true knowledge of God.

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:20–24)

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)

Instead of choosing sin, we choose to put on Christ; to put on the new self which is in the likeness of God. A new self created in righteousness and holiness.

Pray that your sin would break your heart like it breaks the heart of God, agreeing with God to the absolute sinfulness of your sin. Then put on Christ so that all God sees when He looks at you is the perfection of Christ. And walk today in that new self, created in righteousness and holiness.

March 3, 2026; Day 1 – Zechariah 3

Read Zechariah 3, 2 Peter 3

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.” (Zechariah 3:1–3)

Zechariah 3 is a picture of God’s grace and mercy. He had made and chosen the Jewish nation to represent Him to all the nations. In Israel, the nations were to see the glory of God and what it was like to walk with Him rather than walk in sin. It was part of God’s promise to Abram when He called Him. God would make Abram into a great nation …

“… And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:3b)

This was part of God’s plan for the nation of Israel.

““I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” (Isaiah 42:6–7)

“He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”” (Isaiah 49:6)

But at every turn, they chose sin and the ways of this world over obedience to God and faith.

In this passage, the high priest Joshua represents Israel in their sin. They had just returned from exile because of their rebellion against God and, here, God was restoring them to their role as His priestly nation.

Satan (which by the way means ‘adversary’ or ‘accuser’) was right there pointing out their sin. That’s what he likes to do, point out and remind us of our sin. It’s interesting Satan never points out his own sin.

But the Lord Himself rebukes Satan. He stands up for His people. And reminds him that they are the nation He pulled out of destruction. As we walk through this chapter, we will see God’s forgiveness and restoration of His people and we will touch on the patience of God.

Chad was right in saying that modern day Christians like to scoff at the rebellion and unfaithfulness of Israel and think that we would do different if we were there … but would we? We just finished a sermon series on the Great Commission. Who are you making a disciple of Jesus? Who are you praying for that God would bring to Journey for Resurrection Sunday service to hear the gospel?

Israel continues to walk today in apostasy and rebellion. And God, though He has not forgotten them, has chosen the Church to fill the role of being a light to the nations and revealing His grace and glory.

“ … “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:8–10)

I included verse 8 because I want us to see something. In context, Peter is quoting from the Old Testament Scriptures how Jesus was the corner stone that everything God is doing is built on, but the builders, Israel, rejected Him. To them, He is “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence”. What does Scripture say is the reason they stumble? “Because they are disobedient to the word”.

In contrast to Israel, the Church is “…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession”. Each of these descriptions originally were in Scripture describing Israel, they now describe the Church. Meditate of these descriptions for a moment. What a gift God has given to us!

Why is the Church this chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation and a people for God’s own possession? To proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! God has plucked you and me from the fire of sin and chosen us to be His emissaries to a lost and dying world. What a privilege! What value and importance He gives to our lives!

Thank God for His mercy. Meditate on who He has chosen you to be today. And be careful to not stumble by being disobedient to His Word and become like Israel.

February 25, 2026; Day 2 – The Great Commission, Week 3

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations …” (Matthew 28:19a)

Disciples make disciples. A disciple simply put is one who learns from his or her Teacher and applies what the Teacher teaches and emulates the Teacher. A disciple wants to be like the Teacher.

What does obedience mean in your life?

The command in the Great Commission is “make disciples”. The other verbs only modify the command; they tell us how to fulfill the command. “Go” or as we are going through our life, we are to make disciples. That is the ‘when’ of making disciples. The ‘how’ is “baptizing” and “teaching”.

How is your obedience to this command? Put another way, are you emulating your Teacher in this command?

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

Are you being like Jesus? He, too, learned to be obedient as a human, with all it’s temptations and pitfalls. That’s right, He learned to be obedient.

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

Consider that for a moment. The temptation of being human is to do things your own way. Jesus did not give in to that temptation. Did you know that everything Jesus said and did was out of submission and obedience to the Father?

“So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.” (John 8:28)

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)

“So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” (John 7:16)

We looked at it last week but it bears repeating; if Jesus has a love language, it would be obedience.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments … He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” (Jesus in John 14:15, 24)

Disciples emulate their Teacher. Disciples make disciples. Whether you realize it or not, you are discipling everyone around you who knows that you profess Christ. You are either discipling them in how to be a disciple of Christ … or you are discipling them in how not to be a disciple of Christ.

God so loves you that He sent His Son into the world to teach you and to die in your place. Jesus so loves the Father and you that He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the Father and He learned His obedience through the things He suffered so that He could give you and me an example for us to follow. And He calls each of us to love those around us like He loved us.

Thank the Father for His love and the Son for His obedience and love. Emulate Jesus by walking in obedience and love today.

February 23, 2026; Day 1 – The Great Commission, Week 3

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Jesus in Matthew 28:20b)

Jesus ends the Great Commission with an incredible promise, that He, the divine King, would personally be with His disciples always. Think about that for a moment. Think about it from the perspective of the eleven disciples.

They had been present when Jesus was arrested, and they deserted Him. Later, Peter lingered on the periphery of His ‘trial’. But then he denied even knowing Jesus three times. John was at the trial also, secretly, not wanting to draw attention to himself. And then Jesus was crucified.

That we know of, only John was at the crucifixion. The others may have watched at a distance, not wanting to be associated with Jesus lest they, too, should be arrested. But they knew He had died.

It is interesting that none of the eleven was present to take the body of their Master and bury it. They had been with Jesus for over three years, following Him around the countryside. They heard his public sermons and His private lessons. They shared meals with Him every day. But none wanted to be associated with Him in His death. Jesus was buried by two other disciples, disciples that followed at a distance.

To be fair, I am not sure I would have been any different than the eleven. But I hope so. Would you?

But Jesus forgave them. And then promised to stand by them always and never desert them.

Before the birth of Jesus, Joseph, the espoused husband Jesus’ mother, had concerns about Mary and the unborn Child. He was not sure what to do or how to handle it. One night an angel came to him in a dream to reassure him. The angel told Joseph that the virgin birth of Jesus was to fulfill prophesy from Isaiah.

““Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”” (Matthew 1:23)

Of all the names given Jesus, I think Immanuel is my favorite. He is God with us. He is God who is with us in our human experience because He, too, was human. He knows what it is like to be us, only without sin. But He is also God with us as we go through the ups and downs of life. At the good times like a marriage or birth of a child, He is God with us. But at the hard times like c cancer diagnosis or death of a loved one, He is God with us.

But this promise of the Great Commission assures us that even when we desert Him; when we chose sin over obedience, when we chose expedience over service, He is God … with us.

There have been times in my life that feel I personally have failed Jesus. But He has always been God … with me.

That must have been a great comfort for the eleven, to know Jesus would always be with them. I imagine they thought back to that promise as they went through their lives and ministries. And then, as they each faced a martyr’s death. He is God with us.

As we live out the Great Commission, He is God with us in this as well. He is there to guide us and love us. And He is there to love others through us.

Thank Jesus for being God with you throughout your life. Rest in His abiding presence today. Share about His presence with others.

February 20, 2026; Day 5 – The Great Commission, Week 2 – A Disciple

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Jesus in Matthew 28:20b)

Being a disciple of Christ is demanding. G. K. Chesterton wrote “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Walking with Christ is not wanting or lacking in benefits in this life, but it is demanding. Jesus’ last line in the Great Commission is one of those benefits or rewards. Read it again above.

The Creator, Sustainer of the universe has promised His abiding presence to always be with … you. Always. You will never be alone or abandoned; He will always be with you. When all others abandon you, He will still be with you. When life is hard, He will be with you. When the diagnosis is negative, He is with you to comfort and sustain you.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (Jesus in John 14:27)

The world understands ‘peace’ as the absence of conflict. But the peace Jesus gives His disciples is an abiding peace, even in the midst of conflict. Yes, it is peace because of His abiding presence, but it is also peace because you can know that the God of the universe will take this adversity and use it for your good and benefit (Romans 8.28). You can know that God put limits on what Satan can do (Job 1 and 2). It is a peace of knowing that nothing that happens to you is a surprise to Him and He loves you and wants the best for you, although that might not be the easiest.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jesus in John 10:10)

Jesus gives us eternal life in the future, but in this life, He gives us life in abundance. Life that is full and rich. Life that is satisfying because in Him, we can live out what we were created for; fellowship with Him but also works He created you for and prepared for you to walk in (Ephesians 2.10).

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11)

A disciple of Jesus has His joy abiding in him or her through His Word. It is a joy that He manifests in us (Galatians 5.22-23). It is not a temporary joy but an abiding joy that comes from knowing His presence with you and love for you. It is a joy that can sustain us in difficult times. It is a joy that comes from belonging to the loving Savior who died that you might live.

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:9)

When Christ returns, He will come in judgment of this world. He will pour out the awful wrath of God on this world for all the sin. It will be a terrible time and is laid out in the book of the Revelation. But in Him, a disciple does not have to worry about that because the wrath for our sin was poured out on Christ on the cross. He endured the wrath due us so we do not have to. We are saved from that wrath!

Speaking of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”” (Revelation 21:1–7)

Nothing more needs to be said about this passage. Meditate on these words. And thank God for His never-ending grace toward you.

February 19, 2026; Day 4 – The Great Commission, Week 2 – A Disciple

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23–26)

Being a disciple of Jesus demands commitment. We must deny ourselves, our natural desires for ourselves and follow Him; being obedient to Him and His Word. We must be willing to take up our cross daily to follow Him. Denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily may include enduring ridicule at work to stand firm on Biblical principles. It may include swallowing our pride to share Christ and the gospel with our neighbor. It may include being willing to admit when we are wrong. It may include sacrificially giving to meet the needs of others. It may include sacrificing of your ‘free time’ to serve others or serve in the church. And it may include a lot more. But as you follow Him, He will show you exactly what that means for you. Obedience is huge in this. It keeps the line of communication open.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:34–35)

Being a disciple of Jesus demands commitment to love other believers. This, too, is part of denying yourself because this is a sacrificial kind of love. It’s to love as Jesus loved … you. Did Jesus wait until you were ‘good’ to love you? Does He love you now only when you get things right and act right?

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

He loved us even when we were unlovable. He still loves us when we are unlovable. Go, and do likewise so those around you will know that you are a disciple of Jesus.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

Being a disciple of Jesus demands a commitment to be fruitful. This includes abiding; living, dwelling in Him. It is a commitment to walk with Him daily, moment-by-moment. It means obeying Him and His Word.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (Jesus in John 15:4–5)

Being a disciple of Jesus demands a commitment to deny ourselves and submit to the Holy Spirit producing fruit in our lives and our character. It is fruit He produces, because it is fruit we cannot produce. It is the fruit of a renewed mind and transformed life. It is fruit that is evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives and of our obedient submission to Christ.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Being a disciple Christ is so much more than walking down an aisle at a church, praying a prayer and shaking everyone’s hand. It demands commitment to Christ, His Word and His Spirit.

This sounds daunting, I know. But this is the path to the greatest adventure you can be on. Tomorrow, we will look at some of the rewards of being a disciple of Jesus.

Thank God for His great love for you. Thank Him for the privilege of being a disciple of Jesus. Humbly walk in His Spirit today.

February 18, 2026; Day 3 – The Great Commission, Week 2 – A Disciple

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” (John 8:31–32)

Reading His Word is vital to our spiritual growth, but continuing in it doesn’t end there. Abiding in His Word; living in it means it is a part of your life. In the last series, we looked at Romans 12 where Scripture commands us to let ourselves be transformed by renewing our minds (Romans 12.2). Abiding in His Word means letting it renew our minds; change the way we think. And renewing our minds transforms our lives; it changes our actions.

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:21–25)

The Word is like a mirror that shows us who we really are. It shows how we are growing in Christ-likeness but it also shows where we still need to change. And, I have found, it shows us where we were once doing well in our spiritual journey but have now maybe slacked off. It shows us where we thought we were doing well, but we were only scratching the surface. James writes we need to doers of the Word and not merely hearers who hear or read the Word and then continue to live as we always have lived. We need to obey what the Word says. People who merely hear the Word and do not obey it and put it into action see who they really are in the mirror of the Word and immediately blow off that reflection and realization so they can continue living life their way. James writes that these people are deluding themselves.

You can fool some of the people all the time. You can even fool yourself some of the time. But you cannot fool God any of the time. And your actions and how you live your life speaks louder than your words.

James writes that when we look into the perfect law and abide in it; live in it, we become effectual doers of the Word and not merely hearers. An effectual doer is one who is producing the desired effect of the Word. The Word is not something God intended to be read merely as good literature. He intends it to renew our minds and transform our lives and through this transformation we are blessed and happy. The Word’s desired effect is to shape us into the image of Christ.

Many years ago, Gary Chapman wrote a book called “The Five Love Languages”. In it, he basically laid out that we each receive or understand love in one of five general ways. And learning what your spouses love language is helps you to express love to him or her in a way they can receive and understand. I think Jesus may have a love language, too.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”” (Jesus in John 14:21)

If Jesus has a love language, it is obedience. It is us being effectual doers of the Word. And when we obey; when we become effectual doers of the Word, we abide in the love of the Father and the Son. And Jesus will reveal Himself to us in greater depths. That is a true blessing.

Thank the Father for His Word and all it means. Thank Him for how He loves you where you are but loves you too much to leave you there. Instead, He desires to transform you through His Word into the image of His Son. That is what He created you for, to be His image bearer. Go out today and be that image bearer.

February 17, 2026; Day 2 – The Great Commission, Week 2 – A Disciple

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” (John 8:31–32)

In Bible times, a disciple spent most of his time with his Rabbi. He lived with him, ate with him and traveled around with him to listen to his teaching.

How much time do you spend in the Word?

Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine”. The Greek word translated ‘continue‘ literally means ‘to remain, abide, dwell, live’. It is the same Greek word translated abide in John 15.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)

How much time do you spend in the Word? How much time does the Word spend in you?

The Word is the place we can learn about Jesus. A disciple in Bible times followed his Rabbi around and listened to him teach. The Bible is where we can follow Jesus around and listen to His teaching. And it’s not just the Gospels or even just the New Testament where we can meet Jesus.

““You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” (Jesus in John 5:39)

“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Jesus in Luke 24:27)

The entire Bible is about Jesus!

Reading the Word is not a drudgery, it is a privilege. We get to spend time with the Creator of the universe and with our own Savior! We get to listen to His teachings and hear what He wants us to know about Himself. We get to learn what He is like. That is what disciples do. That’s why we should dwell in the Word.

The Word is where we find the truth and Jesus said the truth will set us free; free to be the people we were created to be. Free from bondage to sin and death. Free to have life and life in abundance. It is also what the Spirit uses to sanctify us; to shape us more in the image of Christ.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (Jesus in John 17:17)

Thank the Father for the gift of His Word. If you do not have a Bible reading plan, start one because we all need to dwell in the Word. But also let the Word dwell in you. Meditate throughout the day on what you have read. Commit verses that really speak to you to memory. They will become places of comfort and security.

February 16, 2026; Day 1 – The Great Commission, Week 2 – A Disciple

Read Matthew 28.16-20

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations …” (Matthew 28:18–19a)

We don’t really have disciples like there were in Jesus’ day. In Bible times, people would attach themselves to a popular teacher and follow him around the countryside as he taught. They would listen to his messages and teachings and probably take notes. And then after years of doing this, they would then go out as a teacher themselves. In Greece, they would follow a great philosopher, learning his philosophy on life. In Judea, they followed Rabbis, religious teachers.

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18–22)

Disciples would abandon their previous lives to follow their teacher. We do not think of discipleship this way but that is what true discipleship it about. We give up our time to follow Jesus, learn from Him and about Him.

The word translated “all” in verses 18-20 could also be translated “whatever” or “whoever” depending on the context. So an expanded translation of verse 18 could look like this – “Whatever authority exists has been given to Me. If it existed in the past, it is Mine. If it exists right now, it is Mine. If it will exist sometime in the future, it is Mine. Whatever authority is on earth, it is Mine. Whatever authority exists in heaven, it, too, is Mine.”

The call to be a disciple of Christ demands obedience. Here He commands his disciples to make more disciples. But what, exactly, is a disciple? What does a disciple look like?

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

A disciple of Christ is someone who growing to be like Christ.

So this begs a question … are you a disciple of Christ?

If your answer is ‘no’ or you are not sure, then I beg you to get in touch with Chad, or Robert or one of the elders as soon as possible to learn how you can become a disciple of Christ. This is an all-important issue.

If your answer is ‘yes’, are you growing to be more Christ-like everyday? Did you know that is God’s will for you?

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;” (Romans 8:28–29)

Mankind was created, both male and female, to be image bearers for Him in His world. (Genesis 1.26-27) That image was marred by sin. God in Christ is restoring that image; that likeness to Christ. But that demands commitment on our part. Commitment to follow Him in our lives. To learn from Him in His Word. And commitment to obey Him.

Thank the Father for loving you enough to want you in His family; to want you to be like His perfect Son. And He gave you His Spirit to help you and guide you. Walk in that likeness today, and show others His love.

February 13, 2026; Day 4 – The Great Commission, Week 1

Read Luke 10.25-37

“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you … Go and do the same.”” (Jesus in Luke 10:33-35, 37b)

Unlike the priest and the Levite, the Samaritan saw the beaten and naked man and had compassion on him. This compassion moved him to help this stranger. He took of his own resources and used them to help a stranger. He pour oil and wine on the wounds to cleanse them and then took of his own clothing to make bandages for the stranger. Apparently, the Samaritan then unloaded his donkey and carefully put the man on it. Carrying the load the donkey had carried, the Samaritan walked ahead of the donkey and took the stranger to an inn, rented a room where he continued to take care of this stranger. The Samaritan then took his own money, two days wages, and gave to the innkeeper and asked the innkeeper to take care of the stranger and promised to return to reimburse the innkeeper if it cost him more than the two denarii.

In His earthly ministry, Jesus often felt compassion for the people around Him. And each time, that compassion moved Him to help the people.

“Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” (Matthew 20:34)

“Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”” (Mark 1:41)

““I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat”. … And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand were there; and He sent them away.” (Mark 8:2, 8–9)

But His greatest act of compassion was the salvation He provided by going to the cross in our place and being raised from the grave for our justification and eternal life. He saw our need and was moved to act.

““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

He gave of Himself for our benefit.

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:28)

“He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

That’s what agape love is; a sacrificial love. That’s the kind of love the Samaritan showed to a stranger in need.

“Go and do the same.”

February 12, 2026; Day 3 – The Great Commission, Week 1

Read Luke 10.25-37

“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,” (Luke 10:33)

“And who is my neighbor?”

The priest wasn’t a neighbor to the man beaten, stripped, robbed and left for dead. Nor was Levite. So who was to be an example of a loving neighbor?

The lawyer as well ad the crowd were probably expecting a Jewish layman; a common man. Because loving your neighbor should not be limited to the religious clergy.

But this is where Jesus’ parable became scandalous. “But a Samaritan …”

Jesus chose someone hated and despised by “good” Jews. Samaritans were considered half-breeds at best, not like “good” Jews. They only accepted the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. But really this was only a veneer to cover their idolatry. Galilee lay to the north of Samaria and Jerusalem and the rest of Judea to the south. The Jews despised the Samaritans so much that a “good” Jew who was traveling north to Galilee or south to Judea would walk miles out of his way to go around Samaria rather than walk straight through. Marriage between the two groups were strictly forbidden. And the animosity was shared by both groups.

This was the example Jesus chose to demonstrate who a neighbor was. It wasn’t the “good” Jewish priest or Levite who should neighborly love. It was the despised Samaritan who was from a people that despised the Jews. This is the hero of the parable.

The love the Scriptures was calling the lawyer, the Jewish crowd, and us to is a love that knows no boundaries and no borders. It’s a love that sees another person in need and, when possible, reaches out to meet that need. When possible … not when convenient, not when socially acceptable.

Let’s turn this a little because Jesus used a despised Samaritan to demonstrate neighborly love; a Samaritan the lawyer would have never considered helping lest he defile himself. But let me ask you, who is your Samaritan? Is it the homosexual … the alcoholic or addict … a person of Arabic descent or another race … a coworker who is not as “good” as you?

While loving God with all of ourselves and loving other people is not the way to eternal life because none of us can do it perfectly. It is a way of life; a way we are called to live.

Thank God that His salvation and ask Him to show you where you fall short of the Great Commandment. And show some love to the Samaritans in your life.

February 11, 2026; Day 2 – The Great Commission, Week 1

Read Luke 10.25-37

“But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”” (Luke 10:29)

The lawyer must have felt some point of conviction, even as he gave the right answer. We can be theologically correct and still practically wrong. It’s not how much of the Bible you know that is important, but how much you live out; how much the Word has and is transforming your life. (Romans 12.1-2)

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was 17 miles long. It was a steep descent of 3,300 feet. It was known as a dangerous road. There were all kinds of twists and turns and places for robbers to hide.

Visualize this with me for a moment. A man was descending the road when robbers jumped him, robbed him and beat him half to death. He may have been a wealthy man, since they took even his clothing, and left him naked, for dead on the road.

Along comes a priest on his way to Jericho. A priest who was involved in temple service, the giving of sacrifices and teaching the Law and worship. When he sees the man, beaten and naked, he goes to the other side of the road and continues on his journey.

Then comes a Levite, possibly returning home after his term of service at the temple. Levites assisted the priests in temple service. He, too, saw the man; robbed, beaten and naked. And again, he too, crossed to the other side of the road to go around the man.

These men knew the Law. The knew the Scriptures they had. They taught or helped teach the Scriptures. They had been busy serving in the temple. They were probably considered good Jewish men. But they left the man for dead.

Some have suggested they did not want to become defiled and ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But they didn’t even go to the man to see. Instead, they crossed to the other side and passed on by.

Remember, you can be theologically correct but practically be completely wrong. These two men would probably have given Jesus the same answer as to what the Law said as the lawyer. Yet they did not live it out. They did not love their neighbor as they loved themselves. They were more concerned with their agenda and looking religiously good than giving of themselves to help a kinsman; a fellow Jew.

Serving in the church is vital. With Journey going to two services later in March, we need even more people to step up and serve. But we cannot forget love. The lawyer did not fail to keep the commandment because of a lack of information, but because of a lack of love. What we do in church is truly vital and important. But what we do and who we are outside of church reveals who we truly are and so is more vital; more important.

“If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2–3)

Love must be our motivation in everything we do. Without love, our service is just for ourselves. It’s to fulfill an obligation or to appear good and righteous instead of the other person.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (Jesus in John 13:34–35)

Who can you be a neighbor to today? Who can you show love towards? Our love for each other reveals who we are to the world far more than just our service. Especially when we love as Christ loved us.

Thank God for His great love towards you in sending His Son to serve you in going to the cross in your place. And walk in that sacrificial love today.

February 9, 2026; Day 1 – The Great Commission, Week 1

Read Luke 10.25-37

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

A lawyer, a man steeped in Jewish law, one whom studied the law and knew it inside and out, wanted to test Jesus. The Law was all about what a Jew was to do and not do. So he asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.

Jesus turns his question back on the lawyer. In essence saying, “You are the expert in the law, you tell Me what the law says.” The lawyer replies with a combination of Deuteronomy 6.5 and Leviticus 19.18. These verses had long been accepted as a summary of sorts of the law. If the lawyer were to do this, he would live.

And that’s the problem. He couldn’t. No one can.

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” (Romans 3:19–24)

That is the part of the law the lawyer missed. The law shows us our need for grace.

Where are you today? Are you still trying to earn God’s favor? Are you still trying to justify yourself before Christ, as the lawyer tried to do?

Thank God for His grace today and the gift of salvation. And walk in that grace today.

January 30, 2026; Day 3 – Practical Transformation, Week 4

Read Romans 12.9-13

“not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” (Romans 12:11–13)

When we become involved in something new, whether it’s a new job or hobby, we typically start out on fire and enthusiastic. And then, over time, our enthusiasm can wane and cool off. The same can be true for our service to the Lord. But Scripture urges us not become lazy in our service but to be diligent and fervent in spirit. We should be relentless in our pursuit of Christ, as He was relentless in His pursuit of us. Remember, being a living sacrifice that is acceptable to God and renewing our minds are daily practices in serving the Lord.

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Jesus in Luke 9:23)

It’s that humble spirit we must endeavor to maintain. We must not become comfortable and lazy in serving the Lord but fervent and on fire for Him. How can we do that?

By rejoicing in the hope of Christ. Hope that He is with us through all things. Hope that, one day, He will in fact return and restore this world. Hope that we have an eternal home in heaven with Him. It is this hope that fuels our perseverance through tribulation. It is the hope of a renewed mind that is being transformed by His Spirit and His Word.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”” (Jesus in John 16:33)

Tribulation will come. But devotion to prayer and holding to the hope of Christ gives us the courage to remain faithful in service. Prayer fuels our hope and is a vital part of renewing our minds because that is where we can set our minds on God and His perspective and direction. Remember, prayer is not about getting my will done in heaven, it’s about getting God’s will done on earth.

We serve God best through serving others. It’s the sacrificial and brotherly love that drives us to support our brothers and sisters in Christ when tribulation has come their way. It is giving to them a hand up rather than a hand out. And it is evidence of a renewed mind and transformed life.

Prayerfully thank God for the hope He gives us. Walk in that hope today.

January 29, 2026; Day 2 – Practical Transformation, Week 4

Read Romans 12.9-13

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10)

In giving yourself daily as a living sacrifice to God and having a renewed mind and a transformed life, Scripture moves from that agape, sacrificial love that should characterize our entire life to a familial, brotherly love for fellow believers. We are to have that devoted, mutual affection for each other.

I know in my family, while we might argue and fight with one another, we were and are quick to come to the aid of each other. We may not see each other or even be in contact with each other on a daily basis, there is still a deep, abiding love for each other that never changes. That is the kind of love we are to have with one another. Jesus described it this way.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:34–35)

How did Jesus love us? That is how we are to love one another. Our love for each other should drive us to look out for and serve each other no matter the cost to ourselves. Our love for our fellow believers should be so warm and strong that it sets us apart from other groups of people. It should be uniquely deep within the church. Paul wrote that we should “give preference to one another in honor”. The NASB has a footnote in in verse 10 that expounds this part as we should “outdo one another in showing honor”.

The world tells us to look out for #1. It wants to conform us into its image of putting ourselves before others, but, with renewed minds and transformed hearts, we learn to honor others. In fact, we learn to honors other believer more than ourselves.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3–4)

We learn to honor our fellow believers as more important than ourselves. Their needs and feelings are more important to us than our own. That is not only counter-cultural, it is world shaking. And this takes a renewed mind and transformed heart. It is something we learn.

“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;” (1 Thessalonians 4:9)

It is something taught to us by God and His Word. It is not natural and it is something that grows within us as we walk with Christ. And it is world changing.

Prayerfully thank God for His love for you and look for a fellow believer you can love on today.

January 28, 2026; Day 1 – Transformation, Week 4

Read Romans 12.9-13

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

In view of God’s many mercies toward us, it is only logical that we, as Christ-followers, present our bodies daily as living and holy sacrifices to God. To do this, we need minds that are being renewed daily; minds that think and see differently than the way this world wants us to think and see. With minds being renewed day by day, we will know what the will of God is.

What does that look like?

But before we get to that, let me ask you something. Have you presented body as a living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable to God today?

Last week, we looked at spiritual gifts and how they are part of this transformation. But these gifts are variable and different for each of us. Oh, we may have several people in our body that have the same gift and some who have several gifts in common. But not every one will have the same gift.

Starting in verse 9, Scripture begins to flesh out how this transformed life will look. And, logically, Scripture starts with love because love, as we saw in 1 Corinthians 13 last week, substantiates all that we do. And because love permeates the rest of Romans 12.

Love here is the translation of the Greek word agape. In general, it is the only Greek word used for God’s love toward us. It is a sacrificial love. It moved God to give the world, not what the world wanted but what it needed, His Son to die to provide the forgiveness of our sin (John 3.16).

This agape love was demonstrated on the cross of Calvary.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

It’s the kind of love that only wants the best for the object of its affection. That’s why it hates what is evil and clings to what is good. Sincere love hates the sin and evil of this world, because sin ultimately brings pain and death. It starts with hating the sin within ourselves. To do otherwise would be hypocrisy.

“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)

The worlds definition of love is ‘how I get my needs met’. Agape is a love that asks, “How can I meet the needs of others?”

Living this out is difficult and counter cultural. That’s why it takes transformation and a renewing of our minds. But loving like God loves is possible.

“… because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5b)

God has poured His love generously into our hearts, not just a little bit but generously. In 1 John 4.8, Scripture tells us that God Himself is love. It is not just that He loves, but He is love. So when He poured generously His love into our hearts, He was pouring Himself.

Prayerfully thank God for His many mercies and His grace in loving you and pouring His love and Himself generously into your heart. Walk today in that love and look for avenues where you can be a conduit of that love to others.

January 22, 2026; Day 4 – Transformation, Week 3

Read Romans 6-8, 1 Corinthians 13

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6–8)

Each of us, as believers, have a different spiritual gift or gifts. It is a grace gift given to us. That’s almost redundant, isn’t it? Grace, by definition, is receiving something you did not earn, which, by nature, would be a gift.

I think Scripture presents it this way to emphasize the point. Your gift(s)is an expression of God’s grace toward you which flows from His great love for you. It is not something you earned, but something given to you out of love. So we are to use that gift accordingly; in light of the fact that it is given us out of God’s grace. It is not to be used to elevate ourselves or puff up our egos. When we exercise our gift(s) according to the fact they are a grace gift to us, they become a grace gift to others. Think about that for a moment.

And that brings us to sincerity because what motivates our serving reveals how we see our service.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3)

If we are motivated to exercise our gift(s) out of anything but love then it profits no one, including ourselves. Chad spoke of a joy in serving where you are gifted and in His power. Burn out comes from working outside of our gifting and not from love. But when our serving is motivated by love, it is a joy and is eternal.

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away…But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)

Read that again, slowly.

The words of Scripture say it simply and beautifully. That’s how our exercising of our gift(s) should look. When we serve motivated by this kind of love, it is a joy to us and a gift to others. There will be a time when our gifts are no longer needed. But the love we’ve expressed goes on into eternity.

“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Prayerfully thank God for His grace gift to you. If you are still unsure of what that is, continue asking Him to reveal it to you. Walk in love today, and that will be your gift to others.

January 21, 2026; Day 3 – Transformation, Week 3

Read Romans 6-8, Romans 12.3-8.

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6–8)

In light of the mercies of God, which includes the grace gift or Spiritual gift given to each of us, we are to exercise those gifts according to that gift. We talked about this Sunday, but if you do not use a muscle with regularity because of injury or other reasons, what happens to those muscles? They atrophy; they waste away. Scientist have noted a link between the lack of exercise and activity in a retiree and a relatively short post-retirement lifespan. Those whose retirement consist of planting themselves in a recliner tend to die in a short quicker than those who remain active. In a similar way, a church body where all her members are not exercising their grace gifts according to its purpose, tend to grow weak and die. We need each other.

One of the biggest reasons believers do not pursue their gifts or do not try to use them in the church is because most do not think themselves as worthy or adequate for service. Let us look at a passage of Scripture that is often used to address spiritual arrogance, and that application is correct. But I want to look at it from another angle.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

In the way the world works, it is the brightest and best that achieve great things. But that is not the way it always works in the kingdom. Oh, God can and does sometimes use the brightest and the best. But look again at what is in Scripture:

“…not many wise… not many mighty, not many noble …”

God can and does use the brightest and the best … but not many.

The ones God chooses are the ordinary, the weak, the base and despised. It is not always about our natural abilities. In fact, it is often our natural inadequacies and weaknesses that qualify us. And we are just as chosen by God as those with natural abilities because God gets more glory through our weaknesses than through our natural strengths. Then it is through His power and gifting that us ordinary folk are used and we boast in Him.

Prayerfully thank God that He choses and uses ordinary folk … like me and you. Ask Him to reveal to you what your spiritual gift is. Prayerfully read again, through the partial list of gifts in Romans 12.6-8.

January 20, 2026; Day 2 – Transformation, Week 3

Read Romans 6-8, Romans 12.3-8

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly …” (Romans 12:3–6a)

I want to go back for a moment to having “sound judgment” about ourselves and about gifts in general and about our gifts in specific. Paul uses what should be a familiar analogy because he uses it so often, that of comparing the church to the human body. He writes that just as our physical bodies have many different members (hands, feet, eyes, mouths, etc.) and each member has a different function that is vital to the over all function of the body, the church body has many members, yet we form one body in Christ. And the connections goes deeper than you might think at first glance because we are “individually members of one another”. There is a mutual dependence of each one on each one. I need you to exercise your gifts as much, if not more than you need me to exercise mine. Journey cannot function as God desires unless we all, with sound judgement, recognize our gift or gifts and exercise that gift (s).

Ideally, I need my mouth to eat food and drink liquids for my physical body to function properly. But my mouth needs my feet to bring me in close proximity to the food and drink. And I need my hands to put the food and drink in my mouth in order for my mouth to do its function. Spiritually, we need each other; we are mutually dependent on each other. This further lead us to having sound judgement about ourselves and our gifts.

In Matthew 20.20-28, Matthew recounts James and John getting their mother to ask Jesus for special consideration for her sons, namely that they might sit one on His right hand and one on His left in His kingdom. They were thinking more highly of themselves than they should. Read Jesus’ response.

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:25–28)

The body of Christ is different than the world, we operate differently. We are not to seek a position to elevate ourselves but to understand we are most valuable to the kingdom when we humbly serve everyone else with our gifts. We looked at this briefly yesterday, but it is worth another look.

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Our gifts are to used in service to everyone else, just as Jesus came to serve us in dying our death on the cross and rising for our justification.

Meditate on how you might serve Christ more by serving your brothers and sisters in Christ. Prayerfully read through the list of gifts in Romans 12 and continue to ask God to reveal to you how you might serve the body of Christ.

January 19, 2026; Day 1 – Transformation, Week 3

Read Romans 6-8, Romans 12.3-8

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:1–3)

In light of the mercies of God toward you and me, it is only logical that we present our bodies as living sacrifices to God daily. And that we do not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed daily more and more into the image of Christ. But we must be careful not to think more highly of ourselves. Instead, we are to have sound judgment of ourselves in light of what God’s Word says. That sound judgement is part of the renewal of our minds.

What a way to start out a discussion about spiritual gifts. We need sound judgment of ourselves as we consider our spiritual gifts. Some people see spiritual gifts as a means power or prestige. Some think they do not have any spiritual gifts; that some-how they are not good enough to have a spiritual gift. But neither of these reflect sound judgement from a renewed mind that is informed by Scripture.

What is your spiritual gift? Do you believe you can have spiritual gifts?

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7)

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)

We are each given a demonstration of the Spirit’s presence in our lives: we call it a spiritual gift or gifts. There are a variety of different gifts but they are given to us individually by the same Spirit. There are a variety of service given through these gifts, but the service is given to the same Lord. There are a variety of results from these services given through these gifts but it is the same God working out His purposes.

Scripture does not say we are awarded these gifts through earning them. They are gifts to let you know the Spirit is at work in and through your life. He distributes these gifts as He wills, but distribute them He does.

There is no room to gain power or prestige. These are gifts given us. And the results of the exercise of these gifts is a work of God, for His glory.

And to say the God who spoke into existence everything that now exists cannot use you or me is a great act of arrogance. He saved us with the intention of working through us in His world and His plan.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10)

Pray thanking God for saving you and gifting you for His glory. If you do not know what your gift is, begin to prayerfully ask God to reveal that to you. If you do know what you gift or gifts are, humbly walk in them today.

January 16, 2026; Day 4 – Transformation, Week 2

Read Romans 4-5

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

“Garbage in, garbage out.”

This is a concept in computer science which means simply that if you program a computer with flawed information or inputs, you will always get flawed results or outputs. There is no way a computer can calculate a correct answer or result if the data put in is incorrect.

While our minds are not technically computers, the concept holds true to us. What information or data we put into our minds directs and shapes the pattern of our lives. That is why Scripture says that transformation starts with renewing our mind; changing the way we think and changing how we think about things.

At salvation, you had to change the way you thought about yourself (you were a sinner), your condition (you needed a Savior), and even about God and who He was because before salvation, you were your own god.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed a prayer for the disciples with Him but it was a prayer for you and me as well. It is often referred to as His High Priestly Prayer and is recorded in John 17.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“Sanctify” means to make holy. The means of our sanctification or transformation from who we were to who He wants us to be is God’s Word because God’s Word is truth.

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4–7)

The mechanism of our transformation is the work Holy Spirit in our lives. He takes God’s Word and uses it in our lives to transform us from the inside out. But He doesn’t put the Word there, that is our job. Remember, Monday we saw that if we are spiritually the same today as we were at salvation or even a year ago, then something is wrong. What is wrong is that we have been using the wrong inputs. We have been using the data of this world.

Garbage in, garbage out.

We need the power of the Word of God in our lives.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word is not static; it is living and active. It works in our lives to transform us as Spirit uses it and applies it.

If the only input of the Word you get comes on Sunday morning and there is no transformation, then you are not putting enough of the Word in your life. The Spirit cannot use in our transformation what is not there to use.

Pray thanking God for the gift of His powerful of Word. Thank Him for the gift of His Holy Spirit whom He poured out richly in our hearts. Thank Him for His desire to transform us into the image of His Son.

January 15, 2026; Day 3 – Transformation, Week 2

Read Romans 4-5

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

We’ve talked about the external pressures of the enemy and this world to conform us into what their image. Scripture says the solution to that is “to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What we think; how we think; what we focus on; all these functions of the mind are like a rudder on a ship. They guide and direct the course of our lives. Our minds were corrupted by sin. Before you start thinking, “Oh, my mind isn’t so bad”, read how Scripture describes our minds before we were saved.

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:17–19)

“Oh, that wasn’t me, I wasn’t like that.” Read the first part of verse 17 again.

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirt and with the affirmation of the Lord Jesus Christ is telling us to “walk no longer as the Gentiles also walk”. That was me ... and you.

Before salvation, we all walked in the emptiness and worthlessness of our mind. Our understanding was darkened by the enemy (see 1 Corinthians 4.3-6). We were excluded from the life of God by our own ignorance and the hardness of our hearts.

How do you change ignorance? You educate.

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:20–24)

We learned about Christ. We heard about Him. We were taught in Him. That was the start of changing our ignorance of God. But it doesn’t end there.

We are to lay aside our old self and be renewed in our minds and put on our new self that is in the likeness of God, a self created in righteousness and holiness. That is more of our presenting ourselves daily to God as living and holy sacrifices. That is a daily choice. If you want to know how doing this will look practically, read the rest of Ephesians 4.

Jesus did not save you and me to leave us in the futility of our sin. He saved us to transform us into someone who is holy and righteous, in the likeness of God and acceptable to God. But we have to be willing participants in that transformation, which we will look at tomorrow.

Pray and thank God for accepting you where you were in your sin, but loving you too much to leave you there. Thank Him for revealing Himself to you in order to save you.

January 13, 2026; Day 2 – Transformation, Week 2

Read Romans 4-5

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Are you the same person you were five years ago? I’ll wager none of are the same, we have all undergone some kind of change. Five years ago, we were in the middle of the Covid pandemic. I think that pandemic changed the way we all thought about life, the government and even the people around us. The fact is none of remain the same year after year after year.

What are you allowing to shape the pattern of your life? Are the changes in you from who you were five years ago shaped by the pressure of the world (read Satan) or are those changes part of the transformation God’s Spirit is working within you?

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Paul is not talking about something that has the potential to happen. He stating a simple fact. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation. Transformation starts at salvation, but it is a continuing process all of our lives. It is often referred to as sanctification.

So let me change the question a little again. Are you more like Christ today than you were when you were saved? … than you were five years ago? … than you were last year?

If transformation isn’t happening, then something is wrong, because you are a new creation in Christ with the Spirit of God dwelling with in you. But there are choices you and I have to make on a daily basis. Those include presenting our bodies as living sacrifices that are acceptable to God and that starts in the mind. We have to resist and reject the pressure of this age that wants to conform us into its own image. And we have to transformed daily into the image of our new creation, the image of Christ, by renewing our mind.

What fills your mind?

What we put in our mind directs our path. With what are you filling your mind?

Pray, thanking God for your new life in Christ. Ask Him to help you renew your mind. Maybe start that process by memorizing Romans 12.1-2.

January 12, 2026; Day 1 – Transformation, Week 2

Read Romans 4-5

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

What shapes your life? Maybe a better question is what do you allow to shape your life? We all like to think that we are independently minded, but we are all influenced by our environment; by what is going on around us.

Paul writes that we are not to be conformed to the pattern of this world. “Conform” speaks of pressure from the outside that shapes and molds us externally; molds the outward pattern of our lives.

Chad shared some interesting stats Sunday. There is over 460 billion dollars spent on advertising in the US every year. Over $19,000 will be spent today to influence us; to conform us into the image the world wants us to be. Think about that for a moment.

Now think about this: that pressure to conform is external; it comes from outside of you and outside of me. Why? Because there is something greater living within us. That is God’s Holy Spirit.

Jesus promised His indwelling before He went to the cross.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16–17)

The Spirit was given to the Apostles at Pentecost and now resides within believers.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Let me ask you again, what are you allowing to shape your life? Is it this world? Because this world is temporary, it will end one day.

Think about the influences in your life. What gets the most of your time?

Pray, thanking God for His indwelling Holy Spirit.

January 9, 2026; Day 5 – Transformation

Read Romans 1-3

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

When you come across something new that is amazing, you naturally want to share it with others. I like to garden and whenever the opportunity to share about a new plant or really good tool or a better method comes along, I am quick to share.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10)

Peter is not writing about something that is potential. He is declaring what is. We are a chosen race. God has taken each of out of whatever race we may have been born in and formed us into a united race of people. We are no longer a part of that race we were born into but are a chosen race of God’s people.

We are a royal priesthood. We are no longer separated from God by our sin, but are brought into His royal family as priests to serve and minister before Him In Judaism, it was the priests who primarily had the privilege of serving and presenting the sacrifices to God. But now we are His priests and that is why we have the privilege to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to Him daily. It is not the pastor’s job to make sacrifice for us, we are all priests and have the privilege to serve God personally.

We are a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. We are God’s people first and foremost. We serve and obey and follow Him first and foremost. We are set apart by God for God.

God did all this so that we would have the privilege of proclaiming His excellencies. We are to proclaim His mercies toward us to a lost and dying world that does not have the privilege of being God’s people. It not something we can get puffed up about because we did nothing to cause it. It is all His mercy to us; His excellencies.

Meditate on these mercies of God and present your body as a living and holy sacrifice. And go out looking for opportunities to share God mercy.

January 8, 2026; Day 4 – Transformation – Logical Service of Worship

Read Romans 1-3

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Worship. Does it matter how we worship God? The Bible says it does.

Our English word worship speaks of feelings or expressions showing our reverence and adoration of God. It comes from an Old English word meaning to acknowledge the worthiness of God for that reverence, adoration and the respect due Him. But the Greek word Paul uses takes worship beyond the emotional or even intellectual to physical service like someone hired for a job or the physical service of a slave.

Worship is to be more than a feeling; it is a lifestyle.

In the Old Testament, God specified how formal worship should look. What offerings were required and sacred assemblies and feasts and festivals. But He also rejected the Israelites formal worship when it was not reflected in their lifestyles.

““I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:21–24)

““When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”” (Isaiah 1:12–17)

Let me bring this to the year of our Lord 2026. True worship is not to be limited to what happens in a building on Sunday morning. In fact, worship is not complete until infuses how we live outside of Sunday morning.

And, in light of all of God’s mercies toward us, the only rational or reasonable completion of the worship of Sunday morning is to daily present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God. Our Sunday service to God is not complete until it becomes our Monday service to our neighbors. That service to others is informed and directed by the Word of God.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Jesus in John 14:15)

Going back to our definition of the English word worship, our reverence and adoration (love) of Jesus is expressed fully and completely by obeying His commandments.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”” (John 14:21)

There is an intimacy with Jesus that only comes through obedient worship of Him. Our worship cannot be true and complete if it is limited to Sunday morning. That’s why we need transformation.

Present your body as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God this morning. And then go out and complete your worship by obediently serving your neighbor.

January 7, 2026; Day 3 – Transformation – “…present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice …”

Read Romans 1-3

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Because of God’s many and great mercies towards us, Paul urges us to give ourselves as living and holy sacrifices to God. A sacrifice is something dedicated wholly to the glory and worship of God. This is not something that comes naturally to us because of our fallen nature which had us enslaved to sin.

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16–18)

We are born with the fallen nature. Sin was natural to us. What’s the old saying, “Sinners sin because, well, they are sinners.” We were enslaved to sin. But in Christ we are freed from that bondage to serve righteousness. But because of the sin natural that is still within us, we have to choose righteousness. We have to present our bodies, our lives, as living and holy sacrifices to God. We are now, not sinners, but saints; ones set apart for God. But we have to choose to submit to His rule in our daily lives. And, in Christ, we are freed to choose that, sinners cannot walk in that righteousness.

Oh, that I might wake up tomorrow and the sin nature would be gone. But that is not how it is, not yet, but one day when I enter Heaven. I can so relate to what Paul wrote in another part of this epistle.

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:24–25)

We have to choose daily to be living and holy sacrifices, sacrifices that are acceptable to God. We have to choose to be completely dedicated to the purposes of God in our lives. Lives that then affect everything and everyone we come in contact with because we are not our own.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

We are His. But we have to choose to live as His. We have to choose to glorify Him in and through our bodies with our lives. That means accepting our circumstances and living in them in such a way that we glorify Him. We should be the best, most loving spouse and parent possible. We should be the hardest working, most conscientious employee at work. We should live to serve God by serving others. But the first step is choosing to live for Him … and not ourselves … daily. Daily because the sin nature is not completely dead. Daily because we will fail at times to live this way, but that was yesterday and today we choose to be a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.

Meditate again on the mercies God has shown you. And present your body, your life, as a living and holy sacrifice to God, set apart for His glory and His purposes.

January 6, 2026; Day 2 – Transformed “… by the mercies of God …”

Read Romans 1-3

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

What motivates your acts of service? Is it fear of getting on God’s “bad side”? Don’t get me wrong, a reverential fear of God is a good thing. But it is a bad motivator.

Why do you come to church? Why do you give offerings, or read the Bible or pray? What is your motivation? Is it to check a box and get on God’s “good side”? Isn’t that just another way to call fear?

“Therefore …” It’s like a welcome sign drawing us back to what Paul was teaching in the previous eleven chapters. Like what we looked at yesterday in Romans 3.21-25. How Jesus is the propitiation of our sin. He is our substitutionary sacrifice. How His death satisfied the wrath of God toward us and brought us back into God’s favor.

Paul wrote that our motivation should be the mercies of God toward us. You may want to argue that love should be our motivation and you would not get an argument from me. But I would suggest that our love for God comes in view His mercies toward us because His mercies flow from His great love for us.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4–6)

“But God …”

I really love that phrase. I was spiritually dead in my transgressions, not someone else’s but mine. I was exactly where my sin riddled heart led me to be. “But God”! His rich mercy that flows from His great love, not mediocre or moderate, but great love with which He loved me, moved Him to make me alive! I could stop there because that in and of itself is enough but my great God didn’t stop there. He made me alive in Christ and then seated me in the heavenlies with Christ. He did all that for you, too. Think about that for a moment.

Being afraid of God and of loosing His favor or trying to earn His favor is a very poor and wearisome motivator. Especially since you already have it. He has seated you and me in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. We are not waiting in line hoping to get a glimpse of the Savior. We are already seated, not just near Him, but with Him. That is just positionally now, but will be fully fulfilled in glory. And Paul’s certainty of it led to write it in the past tense; it’s already happened, we just have not seen fulfillment of it. And it is still a reality we can walk in today.

Mercy has correctly been defined as not giving someone what they deserve. But in studying for this devotion, I found a definition I really like. Mercy is “compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or person in one’s power.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10)

There is one word I want to point out that each of these verses have in common – “while”.

While we were still helpless and could do nothing for ourselves spiritually, Christ died for us. We were and still are completely within the power of God and He would be completely within His rights to judge and condemn up. Yet He moved with compassion to our rescue.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, settling once and for all time how much God truly loves us. He provided for our forgiveness, even though we did not deserve it and still do not. He provided for our redemption while we were still dead in our sin.

While we were still His enemies, fighting hard against Him, He showed us compassion and forgiveness by reconciling us to Himself through the death of Christ and once again, God does not stop there. He reconciled us through the death of Christ and then saved us through the life of Christ, while we were still His enemies.

“Therefore”, let these mercies and the million others in Scripture motivate you to love and service to God and to daily present your bodies as living and holy sacrifices of worship to God. Sacrifices that acceptable to Him.

Present your body as a living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable to God this morning. And let these words of the prophet Jeremiah guide your prayers and worship.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22–24 ESV)

Why are His mercies new every morning? Because we need His mercy every day and He lovingly gives it to those who seek it.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Walk in the light of His mercies toward you and you will never grow weary in loving or serving Him.

January 5, 2026; Day 1 – Transformation

Read Romans 1-3

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

“Therefore …”

Did you read the daily assignment Chad gave us for this week, Romans 1-3? Hopefully you did. Because if you did, you are beginning to understand what ‘Therefore” is there for. Like with most of his epistles, Paul starts out laying out what God in Christ has done for us, and then he transitions to what our response should be in light of what He has done. Romans is no different and chapter 12 is that transition point.

Paul lays out how mankind has rebelled against God. How, even though they knew He was (is) God through His creation, they rejected and rebelled against Him preferring to give their worship to His creation, rather than to the Creator. So, because they rejected Him, He gave them over to their sin.

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28–32)

Paul does this in a very general, generic way. But then he starts to tighten the circle. We are generally okay with this kind of generic statement about mankind, because, after all, we are not really like that, are we? We are not really that bad, not like “they” are. We love our relative righteousness where we compare ourselves to the worst of ourselves and we judge we are not that bad. But Paul starts to tighten the circle.

“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds:” (Romans 2:5–6)

We like to think that “their” sin is really heinous but ours, well ours are just little “mistakes”. But that is not true. All our sin is an affront to the holy and righteous God, just as Hitler’s is and just as Bin Laden’s are. We like to minimalize our sin but “there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2.11). We “are all under sin” (Romans 2.9b), and are deserving the wrath of God.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

We live in a very entitled society, where we tend to believe we deserve the good things in life. But Scripture tells us, that because of our own individual sin, we individually deserve … death. That is not just “they”. That is us … me and you.

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” (Romans 3:21–25)

“But God …”

We were sinners in rebellion against God, but God offered us a righteousness through faith in Christ whose blood was a propitiation with God. His blood, His death, won us favor with God. His blood satisfied the wrath of God that we earned and were entitled to.

“Therefore …”

If you have not already, present your body as a living and holy sacrifice to God because of His mercy to you; to you personally and individually. Spend some time worshipping the Creator who has shown you and me more mercy than we deserve.

December 26, 2025; Day 4 – The Fulfillment of Hope

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

Read Romans 8.18-25

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

Hope, the confident expectation of something better based on the character of God and His promises.

But what can we expect? For what are we hoping?

When we put our faith in the Savior of Christmas, we experience what Paul says are “the first fruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8.23). We have the comfort of forgiveness of our sins. We have release from the shame and guilt associated with those sins. We are reconciled to God and justified before Him, saving us from His wrath that is to come. We have His love poured out in our hearts by His Spirit, the Spirit that now resides in us permanently. (See Romans 5.1-11) We have the privilege of intimately and experientially knowing God and Jesus, His Son (John 17.3). We can walk daily in the “love, joy, peace patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” that His Spirit produces in our lives (Galatians 5.22-23).

But these are only “the first fruits”! Life in a fallen world is hard. And even with these first fruits, we still experience hardship and suffering. But these current hardships and sufferings, they “are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8.18). Hope of this future glory causes all of creation to groan for its fulfillment because all of creation was cursed in the fall of man (Genesis 3.17-19). Creation is subjected to futility; it cannot be what God originally created it for. It is enslaved to corruption and groans and suffers the ever-increasing pains like those of childbirth, longing for the freedom that will come when that final glory is revealed in the children of God.

But what is that final glory going to be like? I don’t think we can know it all (1 Corinthians 2.9). But Scripture gives us some snapshots of what it will be like.

While now we can intimately and experientially know God and Jesus, His Son, then we will be like Him and see Him as He is in all His glory (1 John 3.2). Imagine that, seeing Him face to face; basking in the radiance of His glory for eternity! But that is not all!

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” (Revelation 21:3–7)

I started to go through this and highlight the important parts, but I realized I would have to highlight almost every single word. God will dwell among us in a more tangible and intimate way than He does now. It will be like it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden where He would come down in the cool of the evening to walk with them. Maybe He will have a little lemonade or sweet tea on the front porch with us. We shall live in the fullness of being His people, something that we only have a taste of now and even that taste is sweet. There will be no more tears, no longer any death, no longer any mourning or crying or pain. All those things and the sin that caused them will pass away. We will never be tempted by anything again. We will live eternally in the fullness of being a child of God.

And the really great thing about it is I don’t think these words express the full awesomeness of it. I, too, am groaning for that day.

Worship the Babe of Christmas who is your Savior and meditate on the glory to come that He graciously provides for you. And always remember, Hope Has Come!

December 25, 2025; Day 3 – A Secure Place for Hope

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

Read John 1.9-11

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Hope, the confident expectation of something better based on the character of God and His promises.

How can we know that Christ is a safe place to put our hope? How can we know our hope will not end in disappointment?

I could probably write all day and not exhaust the reasons. But let me give you one reason, and that is John 1.14.

To fully appreciate what John wrote, we need to go back to verse 1.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The eternal Word (Logos in Greek), who not only was with God in the beginning, but He was actually and fully God. He was Divinity. He was the Creator God who just spoke and everything came into being. Apart from Him, nothing came into existence. (John 1.3)

This eternal and divine Logos was the true Light of the world. How could anything less than He be the true Light? He made made the world. He came into the world to enlighten every person. He made the world but the world did not recognize Him and rejected Him.

This eternal and divine Logos … became flesh. We preachers like to use flowery terminology and say things like, “He put on flesh and blood”, leaving the idea He could one day take it off. But John destroys such terminology, because Jesus, the eternal and divine Logos, became flesh. He is now eternally flesh and blood. He can never take it off.

Becoming flesh, He now eternally understands our weaknesses and frailties. The writer of Hebrews wrote He was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4.15). There is no area of temptation you have experienced that He cannot now relate to. Your temptations are not somehow unique to you. He understands.

This eternal and divine Logos, that condescended to becoming flesh, further condescended to dwell among His creation. He lowered Himself to leave the glory of heaven, to be born in a dirty stable and live out His life among those who would reject Him and hate Him.

There is so much more I could write about this, but I want to end here with one final point. He did this for me … and for you.

It is vitally important to you and to me that the eternal and divine Logos became flesh. In the Garden, it was flesh’s sin that caused the rupture in fellowship with God. We caused the divide. So the onus, the responsibility, to mend that relationship is on us, not on God. God did nothing wrong. But because of our sin and our fallen state, we could never bring that reconciliation. We are unable to pay for our own sin. So the eternal and divine Logos became flesh, like us, but never sinned, unlike us, so that He, in His flesh, could make reconciliation on our behalf with God. He had to do it for our sakes because we could never do it ourselves and because He loved us so much.

Jesus is the only place our hope is completely secure. After all, look what He did to earn that trust.

Worship the Babe of Christmas and walk in hope, knowing your hope is secure in Him.

December 24, 2025; Day 2 – Hope For the Future

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

Read Matthew 1.18-25

Our working definition of hope is the confident expectation of something better based on the character of God and His promises. It includes waiting for His timing and His methods.

In Biblical times, a betrothal was the first step in marriage, similar to our modern custom of engagement. But it was much more than engagement. It was a covenant or contract between the family of the girl and either the soon to be husband or his family. It included a payment to the family of the girl, not to purchase her but to compensate the family for her lose to the family income and the lose of her future children. This was given publicly, in front of witnesses. This payment also served to ratify the covenant. The betrothal was a legal agreement in which the couple were considered husband and wife, without physical consummation. It was so legally binding that the couple were usually referred to as actual husband and wife and could only be dissolved by something tantamount to divorce.

So imagine what must have gone through Joseph’s mind when Mary told him she was pregnant. How would you feel if your spouse cheated on you? While Mary did not cheat, that had to be what Joseph assumed and what the community would assume.

Basically, Joseph had three options. One was to publicly divorce Mary, similar to the public betrothal. It would include a public pronouncement of Mary’s apparent sin of adultery, humiliating her and her family. The second option wasn’t much better. He could divorce her quietly and secretly. It would end the relationship without the public declaration and shame. It was a more compassionate option and the option Joseph was leaning toward.

Before Joseph could act on his plans, an angel came to him in a dream. The angel addressed him as ‘son of David’, perhaps to remind Joseph he was in the Davidic line, to which the promised Messiah, the Christ, was to come. The angel assured Joseph that the Child in Mary’s womb was in fact conceived in her by the Holy Spirit, just as Mary had told him. How mind blowing that must have been. The angel told Joseph this Baby was the promised Messiah that Joseph and all of Israel had looked for for many years. The angel instructed Joseph to name the Child Jesus, which means Savior, because He would save His people from their sins.

Wow! Imagine what all must have gone through Joseph’s mind. A Baby conceived of the Holy Spirit? How would he explain that? The Messiah and Savior of His people? How would he raise the Boy? I mean, would you want the responsibility of raising God’s Son, the Savior of the world?

In the hope of Messiah, Joseph chose the third option. He took Mary as his wife. He bore the public humiliation of the community who did not understand and most probably ridiculed him for his choice. He did it because of the promise and hope of the Messiah. Joseph chose to trust in the character and person of God over what his eyes saw and his community thought. And over what the future might hold.

Joseph’s hope moved him to obedience, as Biblical hope always does. He could not have had any idea of what the future held in raising the Son of God, but he chose hope for his future.

What do you trust in for your future? Is your hope in the unchanging character of God and His promises, not matter what you are confronted with in life? Or is your hope in what the world tells you and what you can understand and ‘control’? The only sure focus of hope is the Biblical hope. What’s the old saying, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future.”

Walk in the hope of Messiah. Not just for this Christmas season, but for life.

December 23, 2025; Day 1 – Hope

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

Read Isaiah 9.2-7

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Hope has come. Do you walk in Hope? Our Bible-based definition of hope is the confident expectation of something better based on the character of God and His promises.

In Isaiah, God was punishing the nation of Israel for their arrogance and rebellion. They were His chosen people whom He mightily brought out of slavery and brought into a land flowing with milk and honey. But they chose sin over salvation. Over and over in their history, the Israelites chose sin and rebellion against God and over and over He would send other nations to punish them and ultimately drive them back to Him.

I know, idiots, right? Because you and I, we are way too smart to do anything like that, aren’t we? Yeah, right.

The Assyrians are coming to punish the nation of Israel. They were killing people and oppressing the people. There was great darkness on all the land. But God didn’t want them to be without hope, even in their punishment. He promised deliverance and abundance to come.

In this promise is hope for all mankind. It would be ultimately fulfilled with the coming of Messiah; the Christ. His deliverance would not be just from an oppressive nation, it would be a deliverance from sin and shame and guilt. It started that first Christmas, in a stable in Bethlehem. It will be completed on His return

But in the meantime, we can walk in this hope, because it is based on the unchanging character of God and His promises. In this darkened world, let Jesus and His Word be a Wonderful Counselor for you.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Rest in the security of the Mighty God who has promised to never leave nor forsake us.

Jesus said “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Trust in the love of the Eternal Father who demonstrated His great love for you by sending His Son to die on a cruel cross in your place, even while you were in hostile rebellion against Him.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10)

Let the peace of the Prince of Peace comfort you, even in the midst of turmoil because He is with you and has overcome all the turmoil this world can bring.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

After all, Hope has come!

December 19, 2025; Day 4 – Jesus Saves Us From Death and into Abundant Life

Read Romans 6.8-23

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

In Jesus, the Hero of Christmas, we have life. Adam gave us sin and death, but Jesus gives us life. And not just life, He offers life in abundance.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

What does that look like?

In Romans 6, Paul gives us a picture of the abundant life. It is life of obedience to God and His Word. Formerly we were slaves to sin but now we can be slaves to righteousness. We don’t like that idea of being a slave but we are. We are either a slave to the world and sin which leads to death or a slave to God and righteousness which leads to sanctification and life. Keep in mind, the Author of the Bible is also the Author of life. You can try to argue with His Word but that just proves who you are enslaved to. Remember what the serpent asked Eve in the Garden, “Did God really say…”.

Did God really say …

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17–18)?

And did He really say …

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:22–23)?

Yes, He did.

The abundant life starts with obedience to the teaching of the Word of God. Let’s look at the weight of importance Jesus puts on our obedience.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

So if we are not working to conform our lives to His Word, we apparently …?

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

Obedience brings revelation of God and Jesus. In John 17.3, Jesus said the very essence of eternal life in knowing God and Jesus intimately and experientially. This knowledge comes through obedience that brings revelation.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

Obedience brings intimacy with God and Jesus. They make their home with you. What a beautiful picture.

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

Obedience positions us to make our home in the love of Jesus, just as Jesus’ obedience positioned Him to be at home in the Father’s love. There can be no more secure place, no more satisfying place than to make our home in Jesus’ love and have Him make His home with us, walking daily, moment by moment with the God of the universe.

Sounds a lot like Adam’s experience in the Garden of Eden before the fall, doesn’t it?

Meditate on these words of Jesus today. Jesus offers you abundant life. Walk in it today.

December 18, 2025; Day 3 – Jesus is the Hero of Christmas

Read Romans 5.12-21

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

Let’s recap yesterday a little. Adam sinned and his sin was then imputed to our account; it was credited to our account. And we proved that imputation was correct when we sinned at the first opportunity that presented itself; whether it was being disobedient to our parents, selfish with our toys, or mean to a sibling. We all took that first opportunity to prove we were in fact, sinners. We were sinners who needed a Savior; a Hero for our story.

We all probably know John 3.16 and it has often been described as the Gospel in a nutshell; a summation of the gospel. And it is. But I think Romans 6.23 is also the gospel in a nutshell.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

In Romans 5, we saw what Adam’s sin brought us. Now let’s contrast that with the free gift.

The free gift is completely different than Adam’s sin. Through Adam’s one sin, death came to mankind; it reigned over mankind. But the grace brought by one Man. Jesus, abounded even more. Our condemnation came from one single sin, before which there was only righteousness in the world. But after many sins, thousands of years of sin, this free gift arose justifying many through one act of righteousness.

Through one man’s single rebellion, death reigned. But through one Man’s single act of righteousness, His obedience “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2.8), and the abundance of grace He brought, life reigns in Him, our Hero.

He came in the darkest of times, when sin and death ruled and He stood in opposition and righteousness bringing justification and life to all men. But it took His obedience to the cross to bring that righteousness and life. He willingly and knowingly went to the cross and died for us. The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus, the Hero of Christmas.

He gives that life to those who believe, remember John 3.16?

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” (Romans 4:5)

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

As in Adam, sin is imputed to us. In our Hero, Jesus, the Christ, righteousness is imputed to us. We didn’t earn it or develop it. We receive it. It is credited to our account and we actually become the very righteousness God in Him. I told you there was an imputation we should cherish. The Hero of Christmas justifies the ungodly, credits His righteousness to our account, making us the very righteousness of God that we might have eternal life in Him.

Hope has indeed come.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Worship the Savior of Christmas for the life He gives you.

December 17, 2025; Day 2 – Do I Really Need a Savior?

Read Romans 5.12-21

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

The baby Jesus is the Hero of Christmas because He came as Savior of mankind.

We don’t like to think of ourselves as needing a Savior, do we? After all, we grownups and can take care of ourselves. And we are American grownups; Americans who have a history for pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and moving forward. We respect and honor those with that kind of fortitude. But we love movies like the Marvel movies or the Lord of the Rings where there are “other” people (not us) who cannot pull themselves up but need a hero to save them. Perhaps we like those movies because, somewhere deep inside, we know we need saving.

We don’t like the thought that we need a Savior. But we do. We need a Savior to be our Hero. Why? Because of sin.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12)

Adam opened the portal for sin to enter this world by choosing to sin against God and eat the forbidden fruit. The result of sin entering this world is death also entered. Adam’s sin, and the resulting death, was imputed to all mankind; all Adam’s descendants. His sin was charged to our account, even before we sinned.

At first glance, that may sound unfair. After all, how can we be charged with sin before we sin? Let’s not dive into a deep discussion of the theology of this. Let’s, instead, keep it simple. Did you, did I, not in fact sin when given the first opportunity to sin? Does that not demonstrate that, as uncomfortable as it might be, the imputation of sin is, in fact, justified? We were charged as sinners and then we proved ourselves to be sinners. If you are still unsure of the ‘fairness’ of this, I invite you to stay tune for the next couple of days because there will be another imputation you will like; another crediting to your account of what you have not earned that you will cherish.

What does this imputation mean? It means that death reigns over mankind, even over those who have not sinned in the same way as Adam (Romans 5.14a). So that, by Adam’s one sin, many died (Romans 5.15a). Mankind was put under the judgement of God through Adam’s one transgression, resulting in condemnation (Romans 5.16a, 18a). Through Adam’s one act of disobedience, we were all made sinners; rebels against the Sovereign of the universe who spoke everything into existence (Romans 8.19a).

You and I were sinners by birth, based on our inheritance from Adam. We were under the condemnation of God even before we actually sinned, because of that inheritance which we in turn proved to be justified when the opportunity of sin presented itself. And the result of this imputed, inherited and illustrative sin, we were under the reign of death; both physical and spiritual.

And there is nothing we ourselves can do about it. No matter how self-sufficient we think we are, we cannot get ourselves out what our ancestor Adam put us in because we, though our own actions, prove this what we have earned.

We need a Hero to rescue us. We need a Savior.

Let’s end with Romans 6.23 because in it, we see our hopelessness in and of ourselves. But we also see the hope of our rescue. We see a Hero is on the scene and hope has come. And that the baby of Christmas is also the Hero of Christmas.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Spend time today reflecting on the hopelessness of your situation without Christ and the glory of the first Christmas gift, the gift of Jesus who brought grace and hope to all mankind. And worship the Hero of Christmas.

December 16, 2025; Day 1 – Who’s Your Hero

Read Luke 2.8-20

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10–11)

We all love Marvel movies, don’t we? We love stories where every thing is going wrong and the trains have all run off the track and there is one or a few who selflessly fight and work to make things right again.

In the “Endgame” movie, the character of Tony Stark (Ironman) gives his life to fix a broken world. It was a great movie. The entire Avenger series were great movies. But they were just movies. They all had great hero characters and story lines that pulled you in. But they were just movies; works of fiction.

What is the Christmas story about to you? Is it just about a man and a pregnant, teenage girl? Is it just about a baby miraculously conceived in the girl and being born in a stable and laid in a manger?

There is something more, much more in the Christmas story. There is a Hero. He is the ultimate Hero. Yes, He is that baby miraculously conceived, born in a stable of all places and lain in a manger. But He is still a Hero.

Even though this baby was born to people of humble means, He is so much more than His station in life.

He is … Savior.

He … Christ.

He is … Lord.

Lord willing, we will look into these more in the coming weeks, but this week we will look at Jesus as Savior.

Is Christmas time a time of celebrating your Savior? Or is it just a time to celebrate with friends and give presents to your loved ones and get presents back? There is nothing wrong with those activities, unless you loose sight of the greatest gift ever, the One who was given that first Christmas. Have you “opened” that gift yet? If not, I’d love to have a conversation with you.

Pray and thank God for the greatest gift ever given. And begin to meditate on the baby Jesus who is the Hero of Christmas … He is a Savior.

December 5, 2025; Day 3 – Putting On The New Self, part 3

Read Colossians 3.12-17

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Pe 2:9–10)

Once we put off the old self, we must put on the new self. What does that look like? What are we to clothe ourselves in?

Before he gets to what we must put on, Paul reminds us of our motivation, as he has done throughout this epistle. God has chosen us and, according to Peter, made us into a new race. We are no longer ‘Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman’ (Colossians 3.11), we are God’s people; ‘a chosen race.’ We are no longer Caucasian, African-American, Black or Hispanic. We are God’s People. A race of royal priests and a holy nation; set apart by God and for God; His own possession. We were once in darkness, but He called us out of that darkness and into His marvelous light. We had not previously received mercy for our sin but in Christ, we have received mercy and grace.

Since we are now God’s chosen people, holy and beloved, we need to live according to that truth. We must put on compassion; that heart-felt concern for the suffering of other. The root word means to suffer with; thus we are to feel toward others suffering as if we, too, are suffering. Just as the compassion of Jesus toward us.

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." (Mt 9:36)

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15)

We must put on kindness; the thoughtful consideration of the need of others manifested in acts of benevolence, even when the kindness is undeserved. Just like the kindness of Christ toward us.

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," (Tt 3:4–5)

We must put on humility of mind and heart. This where we don’t think more of ourselves than we should. Instead, we put the needs of others before our needs (Philippians 2.3-4). Just as Christ thought more of your needs and mine than He did of His own.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Php 2:5–8)

We must put on gentleness; a peaceful and unassuming attitude. That same mindset Jesus has towards us.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jesus in Matthew 11:29)

We must put on patience; that measured response toward others, especially those who are opposed to us, all the while entrusting ourselves and our situation to God, who always acts in righteousness. This is like the patience of Jesus on our behalf.

“(Jesus) committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." (1 Pe 2:22–24)

And like His patience toward us in bringing us to repentance.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Pe 3:9)

But more than all of these, we are to put on love. “Agape” love; the kind that God in Christ has toward us. A love that is sacrificial. A love that caused Jesus to lay down His life for you and for me. I probably do not need this next verse. It probably came to your mind immediately.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (Jn 3:16)

Basically, we are to put on Jesus.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Ro 13:14)

Meditate on these truths today. Let who Christ has been for you guide and even determine who you are to those you come in contact with today.

And always remember, you are chosen of God, holy and beloved. You may not always feel worthy of it. But this God’s declared truth. Walk in it.

December 3, 2025; Day 2 – Putting On The New Self, part 2

Read Colossians 3.5-11

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Eph 4:20–24)

“Therefore”; because we are hidden with Christ in God; Christ who is our life – the source for life itself, the essence of life. Because of this truth, we consider our earthly body as dead to idolatry. When we think of idolatry, we tend to think of the Old Testament picture of actual objects of wood or stone that was worshipped.

But, really, it goes beyond that. Idolatry is when we do not give 100% of our affections, our heart and our worship to God. The converse is that we do give some or all of our affections, our heart and our worship to someone or something else.

Paul lists some specific areas. Immorality – putting sex before God. Impurity – putting pleasure before God. An example would be to evaluate what shows do you watch on TV? Do they honor God? Passion – putting our appetites for other things before our pursuit for God. And so on.

It really comes down to putting ourselves and what we want before God and what He deserves and requires of us. Last week we looked at the necessity of Jesus being Lord, this is along the same lines. Who is on the throne of your life? Is it you, and what you want? Or is it God?

When we were outside of Christ, we were our own gods; living our lives for ourselves and the way we thought best. But now, we are in Christ. He is our life and the source of life.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Co 5:17)

We are new creations in Christ. It is not that we might be or could be or even will be. We are new creations! It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. You are a new creation. You may still struggle with sin. All believers struggle with sin and the sin nature.

So we are to live in that reality. That starts with our hearts, like we looked at yesterday. And then it moves to our minds. We consider our bodies dead to sin, which is idolatry. They may not be dead to sin yet. We choose to live as if they are. We put off the old self and put on our new self … daily. Sometimes, it may be hourly. But we put off the old self and put on the new self.

Our new self is one that is being renewed daily as we walk with Christ … if we walk with Christ. It is renewed to a true knowledge, not a man-made idea but a true knowledge of God that comes by His Spirit through His Word and prayer, which is fellowship with God.

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (Jesus in John 17:3)

It is being renewed to the image of God, as we were created to be and that was marred by sin. It is renewed to have fellowship with God as Adam did in the Garden; a unity with God with God. It is a new self where there are no distinctions between people, just as there was not one in the Garden.

A new self where Christ is all; He is our God. And He is in all.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Ro 12:2)

This true knowledge that leads to a renewed mind that is then transformational in our lives is another key to living the Christian life. Without it, we cannot fulfill the greatest commandment.

“And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment." (Jesus in Mt 22:37–38)

Meditate on the resurrection power of Christ in your life and the new life He has given to you … and the privilege He has given you. And put off the old self today and put on the new. And then do it again tomorrow … and the next day.

December 2, 2025; Day 1 – Putting On The New Self, part 1

Read Colossians 2.20-3.4

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:4–7)

The word “Therefore” starts chapter 3 off. Whenever you see the word “therefore”, you must ask yourself, ‘What is it there, for?’ It directs our attention back to what has just been written.

Paul has already warned the Colossian church and us to not allow ourselves to be taken captive to worldly philosophies and deceptions that are according to the traditions of men like the false teachers were presenting then and continue to present today.

He now tells us we have died with Christ to these teachings and this self-made religion. These philosophies have no value to us. They offer us no hope and no true fulfillment so we reject them because of the supremacy of Christ and what He has already done. But when we reject these, we must then replace them with something else, or we return to the elementary principles of this world because self-made religion is all we have on our own.

We must be captivated with Christ and that brings us to chapter 3 and how we grow in Christ.

We have been raised up with Christ. This is not something we did ourselves or could do ourselves. It is the very power of God fueled by His mercy towards us and His great love for us that raised us from spiritual death and on a path to eternal death. He …

“… raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6)

Notice the past tense verbiage; “raised us up and seated us”. This has already happened.

You might be thinking, “Steve, you’ve lost your mind. I am not seated in the heavenly places”. Ah, but Christian you are! This is part of the “already, not yet” of the Christian walk. Positionally we are there, even though physically we are not. Paul isn’t writing about something unsure that might happen at some point in the future. These are certain realities and truths that we can base our lives on. These truths are so sure because they are sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit Himself (Ephesians 1.13).

Since we have died to the worldly philosophies and teachings and have been raised and seated with Christ in the heavenlies positionally, we must replace what we have rejected by seeking the things above. That is a key to spiritual growth; setting our affections on Christ and where He is.

We don’t defeat the old nature by looking at the old nature; by looking at sin. We defeat it by seeking Christ; by being captivated with Christ and where He is, at the very right hand of the Father. We do it by directing our hearts’ passions and pursuits toward our eternal home in Christ’s physical presence with all His glory.

We set our mind on the things above. The ‘seeking’ speaks to our hearts affections, and the ‘setting’ of our minds speaks to our will. We are to reshape our thought processes and our perspectives on everything in light of the eternal realities of our salvation. (See Romans 12.2) We do that by filling our minds and hearts with God’s Word. We filter our decisions based on who we are and where we will be eternally, not by what we necessarily see around us today. We walk by faith and not by sight. Paul combines these two in his letter to the church at Galatia.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (Ga 5:16–17)

Our life is now “hidden with Christ in God.” I can think no more secure place to be because we are sealed with Christ in God by the Holy Spirit. That sealing, that guarantee is like a down payment on what is to come. The future reality of which we have only a foretaste with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is for now hidden; neither we nor the world sees the fullness of it. But when Christ returns and is revealed in His glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords, then the fullness of what He is doing in and for us will be revealed also to His glory.

Oh, what a day that will be!

Think about what that security in Christ means to you. Let that security direct your path today.

-