Priests Everywhere

Priests Everywhere

September 10, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, as this new day begins, attune our hearts to Your leading. 

Teach us to follow You with trust, with patience, and with joy.  Amen.

Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:4-5; 9-10

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reflection

The story of Scripture is the story of God forming a people who carry His presence into the world. From Sinai to Solomon’s Temple, from the Tent of Meeting to the Church, God has always desired a people who mediate His blessing, display His character, and help others find their way home.

Peter takes the imagery of Israel’s priesthood and applies it directly to the Church. Not symbolically. Actually. Truly. Practically.

You — women, men, youth, children — are:

• A chosen people

• A royal priesthood

• A holy nation

• God’s treasured possession

And this identity is functional. It comes with purpose:

“That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Peter is saying: Everything the priests once did in the tabernacle, you now do in your everyday life. Think of that for a moment.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus gives us a picture of what this priestly calling looked like. (See Leviticus 8 & 9)

Priests weren’t people who lived on a different level than everyone else. They were servants. They helped people. They prayed for people. They guided people. And in many ways, they represented the heart of God to the community.

And here’s the amazing thing: that calling didn’t end with the Old Testament.

As followers of Jesus, we are invited to live out that same kind of calling.

1. Put God on Display

Aaron would stand before the people, lift his hands, and bless them. Moses and Aaron would enter the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out, the glory of the Lord appeared.

The priests helped people see something of who God is.

And today, we get to do the same thing.

We put God on display through the way we live—through integrity, compassion, forgiveness, patience, and courage.

Sometimes people may never open a Bible, but they will watch your life.

Your life can become a window through which people catch a glimpse of Jesus.

2. Help People Find Their Way

The priests helped God's people understand how to live within God's covenant. They helped people figure out what was right and wrong, what was wise and what was foolish, what brought life and what brought harm.

Today, we can help people find their way by pointing them toward Jesus.

And that doesn't mean giving everyone a lecture.

Sometimes it means listening.

Sometimes it means sitting with someone who is hurting.

Sometimes it means offering a little wisdom, a little encouragement, or simply reminding someone, "God hasn't forgotten you."

3. Pray for Others

The priests also stood before God on behalf of the people. They carried the needs and burdens of the community into God's presence.

We get to do that too.

We pray for our family.
We pray for our friends.
We pray for our coworkers.
We pray for our church.
We pray for people who are hurting.

We bring their fears, their hopes, their struggles, and their needs before God.

That's priestly work.

Every time you stop and pray for someone, you're living out part of this calling.

4. Be Generous With What You Have

The priests were also involved in handling offerings and resources and making sure that God's people were cared for.

And that has a very practical application for us.

We live out our priestly calling when we practice generosity.

When we open our home.

When we share a meal.

When we give our time.

When we help someone who is struggling.

When we share what God has given us.

We become a living example of the generosity of Jesus.

When you stop and think about it, this is an incredible calling.

God isn't simply asking us to sit in church once a week and believe the right things.

God invites us to represent Him in the world.

God trusts us with His presence.

God entrusts us with His mission.

God calls us to be His people, serving others in His name.

And this isn't just for pastors. It's not just for church leaders.

It's for every follower of Jesus.

So, How will we live out that calling today?

How will we put God on display?

How will we point someone toward Jesus?

Who needs me to pray for them?

Who could experience God's generosity through me?

** We do not have to wait for some big spiritual moment. **

Our priestly calling can begin today—with the person sitting beside you, working beside you, living beside you, or crossing your path.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for calling us to be Your people and for sending us into the world to represent You. Help us put You on display through the way we live—with compassion, patience, courage, and grace.

Teach us to point people toward You, to pray for those who are hurting, and to generously share what You have given us. Use us this week to bring Your love, hope, and presence to the people around us.

Give us open eyes, willing hearts, and ready hands.  Amen.

Application

Consider the following today, How might we live this out?

• Put God on display — in your home, your workplace, your conversations, and your decisions.
• Point people to Jesus — through compassion, patience, kindness, and genuine care.
• Pray for others — carry their burdens to God.
• Practice generosity — share your time, your home, your resources, and what God has given you.

Where You Go, I'll Go

September 9, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, as this new day begins, attune our hearts to Your leading. 

Teach us to follow You with trust, with patience, and with joy. Amen.

Bible Reading

Numbers 9:15-23

15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Reflection

Numbers 9 gives us one of the most vivid pictures of what it meant for God’s people to follow Him. A cloud by day, fire by night—God’s presence resting over the tabernacle, guiding the Israelites step by step through the wilderness. They moved when God moved. They stayed when God stayed. Their entire rhythm of life was shaped around one simple posture:

Follow the Lord.

Numbers 9:22–23 puts it plainly: “Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites remained in camp and did not set out; but when it lifted, they set out. At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out.”

This was discipleship. God was teaching His people how to trust Him, how to wait on Him, how to move with Him, and how to live under His direction.

And this same invitation echoes again in the Gospels.

Jesus says in Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me…” And in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to me… learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls.”

From the very beginning of Scripture to the ministry of Jesus, God was forming a people who would learn to follow Him. The New Testament word is discipleship—but the pattern is ancient. God trains His people to belong to Him, to be led by Him, and to reflect His character in the world.

Follow Me, and I will teach you. Teach you to love God. Teach you to love others. Teach you to serve, to listen, to discern, to trust, and to grow.

This call is personal—God invites you to follow Him. But it’s also communal—villages, towns, churches, and the global family of believers learning together how to move when God moves.

So let me ask:

How are you listening for the Lord’s leading in your life right now?

What training is God shaping in you during this season?

Wherever He is leading you—whether it feels like a long stay or a sudden move—it is always for your growth. Always for your formation. Always so that your life reflects more of His image and your purpose becomes more rooted in His story.

Prayer

God, today I choose to follow You. Help me notice the movement of Your Spirit so I don’t miss Your leading. Shape my steps, my choices, and my heart so I may live out Your purpose with faith and joy. Amen.

Application

Begin each morning with a quiet question: “Lord, show me where You are moving today.”

And let this be your prayer of surrender: “Where You remain, I remain. Where You move, I move.” Amen.

One Another: The Way of Jesus

September 8, 2026

Opening Prayer

Jesus, as we come to Your Word, slow us down. Settle our minds, open our hearts, and help us be fully present to what You want to say. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh understanding into these Scriptures. Speak, Lord — we’re listening.    Amen.

Bible Readings

John 13:34-35

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Reflection

Jesus doesn’t mince words in John 13. He looks His disciples in the eye and says, “I’m giving you a new command: love one another the way I’ve loved you.” That’s not a suggestion. It’s the defining mark of a disciple. According to Jesus, the world will recognize us—not by our worship style, our theology degrees, or our church buildings—but by how we treat one another.

Peter echoes the same heartbeat: “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17). In other words, love isn’t just a warm feeling; it’s a posture. It’s how we show up in the world.

And then there’s Acts 2. The early church didn’t just talk about community—they lived it. They shared meals, prayed together, learned together, worshipped together, and even sold their stuff to make sure no one went without. Their life together was so compelling that people were drawn in daily. The Spirit didn’t just empower individuals; He formed a new kind of family.

Here’s the thing: the Bible uses the phrase “one another” a lot—412 times in the NIV. That’s not accidental. God is trying to make a point.

Listen to just a few:

• love one another

• encourage one another

• forgive one another

• serve one another

• confess to one another

• bless one another

• honor one another

You get the idea. The Christian life is deeply relational.

But let’s be honest: life gets busy. Schedules fill up. Work demands more. Family needs more. And before we know it, we’ve drifted from the very people God has placed in our lives to help us grow. The “one anothers” get squeezed out by the “to‑dos.”

Yet Scripture keeps pulling us back: we were never meant to do life alone. God designed us for community—real, messy, beautiful, Spirit‑filled community. The kind where we carry each other’s burdens, celebrate each other’s joys, and remind one another of the hope we have in Christ.

Maybe the question for today is simple: Who are your “one anothers”? Who has God placed around you to love, encourage, and walk with? And who might need you to show up with the love of Jesus?

Prayer

Jesus, show me my “one anothers.” Help me find the community You’ve planted around me and give me the courage to lean in. Grow deep roots in me so that my life bears fruit that brings praise and honor to You. Amen.

Application

1. Identify Your “One Anothers”

Take a moment to name the people God has placed around you — family, friends, church members, neighbors, coworkers. These are the people Jesus is inviting you to love intentionally.

2. Make Space for Community

Try one small, simple step this week:

• send a quick message to check in

• share a meal with someone

• show up at a gathering

• invite someone over for coffee

• linger after worship instead of rushing out the door

Community doesn’t happen by accident. It grows in the little pockets of time we’re willing to open up.

It's Off to Work I Go

August 7, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord God,

thank you for this day and for the gift of your Word.

As we open the Bible, quiet our hearts and help us to listen.

Show us something of who you are and what you are calling us to be. Amen

Bible Readings

Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Genesis 2:7

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.


Reflect

The Bible begins by telling us something pretty important about God.

God worked.

Before we read about Abraham, Moses, David, or Jesus, we read about God creating. He brings order to what is formless, fills what is empty, and brings light into the darkness.

Then, in Genesis 2, we get this wonderfully earthy picture:

“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground.”

God gets his hands dirty.

I love that picture because it reminds us that work isn't something added to the story later. Work is part of the story from the very beginning.

God worked. And because we are created in God's image, work is part of who we are too.

God didn't need our help, but he chose to invite us into his work. He told humanity to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28), and placed Adam in the garden “to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).

In other words, God gave humanity a job.

And that job isn't limited to what we get paid to do. Whether we're caring for someone, building something, teaching, creating, serving, volunteering, raising children, or helping a neighbour, we have opportunities every day to participate in God's work in the world.

Through our work, people are served, communities are strengthened, needs are met, and lives are touched.

Our work matters because the people we serve matter to God.

That's why work can be more than simply earning a living. It can be a way of loving our neighbour and reflecting the character of our Creator.

Genesis 2:15 uses Hebrew words that carry the ideas of working, serving, keeping, and caring. These same ideas are also connected with our calling to serve and worship God.

So there can be something holy about ordinary work when it is done for God's purposes.

On this Labor Day, perhaps the question is simply:

What would it look like to see my work as part of God's work?

Before beginning the day, what if we prayed:

“God, how can I serve you through the work you've given me today?”

How would God approach this job?
How would God treat the people I work with?
Who could I serve?
What difference could my work make?
How can my work reflect the God I represent?

And at the end of the day, instead of simply saying, “I'm glad that's finished,” perhaps we could say:

“Thank you, God, for giving me the opportunity to work alongside you today.”

That changes the way we see work.

We don't simply go to work.

We go into the world as people created in the image of a God who works.

And whatever our work looks like, we can offer it to him.

Prayer

Oh God, put your grace into my heart so I may praise your great and glorious name. You have made me, and you send me into the world to do your work. Assist me to fulfill the purpose of my creation, and to show my praise by giving myself to your service. Amen.

EAT the WORD

 September 3, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, speak to me through Your Word. Quiet my distractions, give me clarity to understand Your truth, and grant me a willing heart to obey what You reveal. Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 15:16

16 When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.

Isaiah 50:4

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.

Psalm 119:165

165 Great peace have those who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.

---

REFLECTION

Recently, I’ve had the wonderful blessing of meeting some new people. One of the best ways we get to know someone is by listening to their story—where they’ve lived, their family, their work, their joys, and even some of the struggles they’ve experienced.

Stories help us know people.

And if we want to know God, we need to listen to His story.

God’s story is given to us through His Word, the Bible. There we discover His heart, His purposes, and His great plan to rescue, redeem, and restore His creation.

I love Jeremiah’s description of receiving God’s Word:

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight.”

God’s Word isn’t simply information for us to collect. It is nourishment for our souls. We are meant to feed on God’s Word.

Scripture gives us life, joy, strength, direction, and peace. It sustains the weary and becomes “a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

God has given us His Word because He wants us to know Him.

So today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper hunger for Scripture—to open our ears to hear God’s voice and our hearts to receive His story.

May we learn to “eat” His Word until it becomes our joy, our strength, and our delight.

---

PRAYER

Father, give us a growing hunger for your Word. Help us to listen, receive, and live by the story of your love. May your Word nourish and strengthen us, so that we can encourage and support those who are tired, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Amen.

---

APPLICATION

Today, try one of these simple practices:

Take it with you.

Choose one verse or phrase from today’s reading and carry it with you throughout the day. Let it become something you return to when you need encouragement or direction.

God’s Word is more than a book to be read. It is God’s invitation to know His heart.

WHEN YOUR SOUL IS THIRSTY

WHEN YOUR SOUL IS THIRSTY

September 2, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, speak to me through Your Word. Quiet my distractions, give me clarity to understand Your truth, and grant me a willing heart to obey what You reveal. Amen.

Scripture

Isaiah 55:1

“Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!”

John 7:37–39a

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John tells us that by “living water,” Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 12:2–3

“Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.”

“With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.”

Reflection

There’s something about a heatwave that makes you think about water.

And here in Windsor this week, we don't have to imagine what that feels like. When the temperature climbs and you've been outside for a while, you can feel the heat draining your energy. You come back inside, reach for a cold glass of water, and suddenly it tastes like the best drink in the world!

When you're really thirsty, you don't want someone to tell you about water.

You want water.

Our bodies have a wonderful way of telling us when we need it.

I wonder if our souls do something similar.

There are times when we feel tired, worried, discouraged, confused, or simply empty. Sometimes we can't even explain exactly what's wrong. We just know that something isn't right.

Perhaps some of those feelings are actually telling us something important:

We're thirsty.

Not physically thirsty.

Spiritually thirsty.

Jesus understood that kind of thirst.

It was the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a celebration remembering God's faithfulness and provision for his people in the wilderness—including the time when God provided water from a rock.

And right in the middle of this celebration, Jesus stood up and cried out:

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

What an invitation!

He says:

“If you are thirsty, come.”

Then Jesus makes an incredible promise:

“Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John explains that Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit.

God doesn't simply give us information about himself.

He gives us himself.

His Spirit comes to live within us.

And that means that when our souls become dry, when our hearts are weary, when worry seems to take over, the answer isn't necessarily to try harder or simply distract ourselves.

Sometimes the invitation is much simpler:

Come to Jesus.

Drink deeply.

Receive what God wants to give you.

Isaiah describes it beautifully:

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

I love that picture.

A well may not look very impressive from the outside. You have to stop, lower the bucket, and draw the water up.

But underneath the surface is a source of water.

Even when the ground around it looks dry.

Maybe that's a picture of God's grace in our lives.

There may be days when we don't feel strong.

Days when joy seems far away.

Days when fear is louder than faith.

Days when we wonder where God is.

But underneath it all, there is still a well.

The well of God's salvation.

The well of his grace.

The well of his presence.

The well of his Spirit.

And Jesus invites us to come and drink.

Perhaps our souls are saying today:

“I'm thirsty.”

And Jesus is saying:

“Come to me.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for your invitation to come to you.

Holy Spirit, refresh my heart today.

Give me strength where I am weak, peace where I am anxious, joy where I am discouraged, and faith where I am afraid.

Help me to remember that your grace is always available and that the well of your salvation never runs dry.

Thank you for being my source of life.

Amen.

Application

Today, take a few moments to become still before God.

Ask yourself:

What is my soul thirsty for?

Then bring that thirst honestly to Jesus.

GOD’S WORD DOES ITS WORK

 September 1, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, speak to me through Your Word. Quiet my distractions, give me clarity to understand Your truth, and grant me a willing heart to obey what You reveal. Amen.

Scripture

Isaiah 55:10–11

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Reflection

So, I was reading the above verse and I looked out the window yesterday and the rain was pouring down. How fitting eh! Isaiah 55:10-11 describes what most of learned about in school the water cycle, do you remember that?

Rain falls from the sky and waters the earth. The warmth of the sun causes that water to evaporate and rise again. As the air cools, condensation takes place, clouds form, and eventually the rain falls again.

Round and round it goes.

Isaiah uses that familiar picture to help us understand something about God's Word.

Rain has a purpose. It falls to the earth, waters the soil, causes things to grow, and helps produce both seed for planting and food for eating.

And Isaiah says, God’s Word works the same way.

God speaks, and His Word goes out with a purpose. It doesn't just disappear into the air. It accomplishes something. It produces something. It brings life.

I’ve noticed something about rain. You gardeners know this well. You can stand outside with a garden hose and water your plants for hours. You can soak the ground. You can give everything a good drink. And yes, it helps.

But there is something different about a good rainfall. After a stretch of dry weather, you can see the difference. The ground responds, and plants seem to come alive, their colors are even brighter. Everything seems to show signs of growth.

Isaiah is reminding us that God’s Word brings life to us in much the same way.

I know sometimes we wonder if God's Word is really doing anything. We read Scripture, but we don't immediately see the difference. We trust God's promises, but our circumstances don't seem to be cooperating. And that's when we're tempted to take matters into our own hands. We try to make things happen according to our own schedule and our own plans. I've done that.

Isaiah reminds us that God is not finished just because we can't see the results yet.

Rain falls in one season, but the harvest comes in another.

What if God is preparing something in you that you can't see yet.

Isaiah says: Trust His Word.

God's timing isn't always our timing. His methods aren't always our methods. But His Word is never wasted.

God says that His Word “will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

That's a promise we can hold onto.

We don't have to see the harvest today to trust that God is at work.

The rain is doing its work beneath the soil.

And God's Word is doing its work in us.

As The Message puts Isaiah 55:11:

“The words that come out of my mouth do not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do.”

That's good news for today.

God's Word never comes back empty.

God is faithful.

Prayer

Lord,

Thank You for Your Word and for the promises You give us.

Let Your Word take root in our hearts. Give us patience while we wait, faith when we are uncertain, and confidence that You will accomplish Your purposes in Your time.

Help us to keep trusting, keep listening, and keep following You.

Amen.

Application

Today, try these things:

1. Identify one thing you're trying to fix or control and consciously place it back in God's hands.
2. Remember the rain. Remember the rain does its work before the harvest appears. God’s Word does its work too.

REMAIN

 August 31, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.

Scripture

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

 

Reflection

I heard a wine producer talking about the impact of weather on his industry and livelihood. He was asked whether drought had a negative effect on his business.

His answer surprised me.

He explained that grapevines are remarkably resilient. In fact, sometimes the harsher the conditions, the better the grapes can become.

When a grapevine experiences drought, its roots are forced to reach deeper into the soil in search of the water and nutrients it needs. The difficult conditions can actually produce a stronger, healthier plant and, ultimately, better grapes.

As I listened, my mind went immediately to Jesus' words in John 15:

“I am the vine; you are the branches.”

And one phrase seemed to jump off the page:

“Remain in me.”

There is something about that word remain that we need to hear.

We all experience seasons of drought in our lives. There are times of disappointment, discouragement, uncertainty, grief, and struggle. We often refer to these experiences as times of spiritual dryness. Sometimes those seasons can leave us wondering where God is.

But Jesus doesn't tell us that following Him means we will never experience difficult seasons. Instead, He tells us what to do when they come:

Remain in me.

A branch doesn't produce fruit by trying harder on its own. It produces fruit by staying connected to the vine.

And perhaps something similar happens in our spiritual lives.

Sometimes it is during the hardest seasons that our roots grow deepest. When the easy answers disappear, we may find ourselves praying more honestly, searching Scripture more carefully, depending on God more completely, and discovering that His promises really can hold us.

Looking back, we may even discover that the seasons we thought were going to destroy us became seasons in which God was quietly deepening our faith.

The drought didn't mean the vine was dead.

The difficult season didn't mean God had abandoned us.

The roots were simply going deeper.

Jesus reminds us that He is the vine and we are the branches. Our strength, our life, and our ability to bear fruit come from remaining connected to Him. We simply need to remain.

So when life feels dry, remain.

When you're discouraged, remain.

When you don't understand what God is doing, remain.

When your prayers seem unanswered, remain.

When you're tempted to give up, remain.

Above all else, remain in Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
thank You for reminding me that You are the vine and I am a branch. Help me to remain connected to You. When life becomes difficult, help me not to pull away from You but to put my roots deeper into Your love, Your Word, and Your promises. Grow in me the kind of faith that can endure dry seasons and continue to bear good fruit.

Amen.

Application

Today, consider these three simple responses:

1. Remain in the Word.
Spend a few extra minutes today reading Scripture and listening for what God may be saying to you.

2. Look for the fruit.
Ask yourself: How might God be using this difficult season to deepen my roots and grow something good in my life?

Today's Takeaway:

Above all else, remain in Christ.

Christ’s Love Compels Us

August 28, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.

Bible Readings

Luke 5:30-32

30But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? ”

31Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Reflection

Jesus’ first disciples were quite honestly quite a mixed bunch. They weren’t the religious elite, and they definitely weren’t Bible experts, like the Pharisees or Saducees. They were just regular working people — a few fishermen, a tax collector, and one rather pessimistic guy. They didn’t always get things right, they had limited understanding. Yet, they were held together by one thing: they all wanted to follow Jesus and learn from Him.

You have  probably noticed in your own reading of the Gospel's that Jesus loved people so much He constantly was criticized for hanging with the "wrong crowd" (Luke 5:30). Those criticisms didn't stop Him for a moment. He just kept sitting at the dinner table for sinners. His response to the religious critics is a memorable comeback: "Healthy folks don't need a doctor; sick people do. I'm not here for the self-righteous—I'm here for the sinners who need to turn things around" (vv. 31–32).

Jesus details his core principle: a doctor actually has to get close to sick people if any real healing is going to happen. As the ultimate Physician, He isn't hungup with endless rules and social practices. Jesus showed that he cares about healing the sick and wrapping His arms around the brokenhearted.

Author Bob Goff nailed it in a post when he wrote: "Most of us spend our entire lives avoiding the people Jesus spent His whole life engaging."

That hits home. Jesus clearly wants us leaning into relationships with people who need a Savior, rather than backing away or playing it safe.

When we followers of Jesus live open-handed and open-hearted, people genuinely catch a glimpse of God’s love through us. We might not always grasp every detail of what God is doing in those moments, but His presence becomes undeniable—whether that’s in a living room, over a meal, at a coffee shop, or in the middle of everyday family and work life. If Christ lives in every believer, then every interaction becomes a chance for people to experience Him. The setting doesn't matter. What counts is that we are passing along Jesus' love, peace, and rest to anyone, anywhere, in a world that is getting more restless by the day.

As Paul sums up in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, Christ's love is what moves us. Since He died for everyone, our old self-centered lives are done. He gave us a fresh start so we’d stop living for ourselves and start living for Him—the One who died and rose again on our behalf.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for meeting us right where we are. Help us to feel Your healing love today and to reflect that same grace to everyone we encounter—wherever we go, without judgment or fear.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application

Remember that Jesus chooses ordinary people.

His first disciples weren’t experts — they were willing learners. Application: Don’t wait until you “feel ready” to follow Jesus more deeply. Bring your real, imperfect self to Him today.

Move toward people rather than away from them.

Jesus sat with the “wrong crowd” and didn’t flinch at criticism. Application: Ask God to show you one person you can move toward with kindness, presence, or conversation — especially someone others overlook.

Live open‑handed and open‑hearted.

When believers live this way, people catch glimpses of God’s love through us. Application: Practice one simple act of openness today:

• share a meal, send an encouraging message, offer help, pray with someone

• Small acts become sacred encounters.

See every interaction as a chance for Jesus to be seen.

If Christ lives in us, then His presence can show up anywhere — living rooms, coffee shops, workplaces, family life. Application: Before entering any space today, whisper: “Jesus, let Your love be felt through me here.”

Let Christ’s love be your motivation.

Paul says Christ’s love compels us to stop living for ourselves and start living for Him. Application: Ask yourself: “Is love motivating me right now?” If not, pause and realign your heart with His.

NOW THAT'S A FRIEND

August 27, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.

Bible Readings

Matthew 11:19

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

John 3:17

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Reflection

The hymn writer sings, we do too, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." 

Truth is, Jesus is the greatest friend this world has ever known. Scripture even calls Him “a friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19). And John reminds us that God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us, but to rescue us (John 3:17).

When people came to Jesus carrying guilt, shame, and heavy burdens, He didn’t point a judgmental finger at them. He helped them relax. He made space for them to breathe again.

Jesus was so gentle with His disciples that simply being near Him brought rest to tired souls (Matt. 11:28). That’s why broken, overlooked, and hurting people were drawn to Him, and the good news is Jesus still offers that same rest today.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and weighed down, and I will give you rest… for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28–29).

If Jesus is our example—our guide for how to live—then we need to pay attention to what it means to be a friend like Him.

To be a friend like Jesus means welcoming people in their brokenness. It means refusing to condemn or judge, and instead choosing to see others through the eyes of love. It means helping people feel safe enough to be honest about their struggles because they know grace is waiting for them.

Real friendships grow in honesty, vulnerability, acceptance, empathy, and a genuine desire for the good of others. These kinds of relationships give us space to be fully known and deeply loved at the same time. I recently read that “The beauty of the Church and the beauty of God‑glorifying relationships shines brightest against the backdrop of our own brokenness.” That’s exactly where God’s grace meets us—right in our need.

One of the most beautiful truths of the Gospel is that Jesus doesn’t reject us in our chaos or confusion. He welcomes us in the middle of our mess. He embraces sinners, sufferers, and anyone whose life feels like it’s falling apart. Anyone who comes to Him with their failures, weaknesses, sins, and needs finds open arms.

And when we learn to be that kind of friend, “the garden of friendships” begins to flourish. People feel safe to open up about their brokenness because they know Jesus is strong enough to carry every burden—and we are gentle enough to walk with them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, friend of sinners, draw near to us in our own brokenness. Help us become a comforting presence for our friends in their brokenness, so that when they are with us, they sense Your love. And let this same spirit of grace and safety be the defining reality of our faith communities. Amen

Application

Our reflection today invites us to become the kind of friend—and the kind of faith communities —where people feel safe to be broken because grace is the first thing they encounter.  Here are a few steps toward becoming a welcoming presence.

1. Come to Jesus with your own brokenness first.

We can only offer what we’ve received. The practical step:

• Bring your own burdens, sins, and weariness to Jesus daily.

• Let His gentleness shape how you treat others

2. See people through the eyes of grace.

Jesus looked at sinners with compassion, not condemnation. The practical step:

• When someone shares a failure or weakness, remind them of God’s grace rather than their guilt.

• Offer encouragement instead of critique.

3. Welcome people in their mess, not after they’ve cleaned it up.

Jesus didn’t wait for people to “get their act together” before offering friendship. The practical step:

• Make space for people to be honest about their struggles.

• Respond with gentleness instead of shock, judgment, or quick fixes.

I'VE GOT CONFIDENCE!

August 26, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.

Bible Reading

Mark 8:22–26

“Do you see anything?” — Mark 8:23

Reflection

Our passage in Mark 8 has been quietly answering a big question this week: How does Jesus heal us?

We’ve already noticed two things— He heals us in stages, and He heals us in community.

Today we add a third: Jesus heals us through confidence in Him.

Not confidence in ourselves. Not confidence that we’ve figured everything out. Confidence in Jesus.

And let’s be honest—that can be harder than it sounds.

Because when Jesus begins to open our eyes, He may show us things we’d rather not see.

He may reveal something in us that needs to change. He may ask us to give something up. He may ask us to forgive someone we’d rather resent. He may ask us to serve when we’d rather stay comfortable. He may ask us to loosen our grip on something we’ve been holding tightly.
He may ask us to give something up. He may ask us to forgive someone we’d rather resent. He may ask us to serve when we’d rather stay comfortable. He may ask us to loosen our grip on something we’ve been holding tightly.

Sometimes we want Jesus to open our eyes—as long as He shows us what we want to see. I sure have been there, haven't you?

But Jesus isn’t interested in just improving our vision. Jesus is interested in transforming our lives. And that can make us hesitant.

We can fear what He might reveal. We can fear being fully honest with Him. We can fear what might happen if we truly pray, “Jesus, show me.”

But our confidence in Jesus makes us able to pray such a prayer because of the cross.

The cross tells us exactly what Jesus is like.

When we look at the cross, we see a Savior who knows us completely and loves us completely.

"He already knows what is wrong. He already sees what we try to hide. And still—He went to the cross for us."

That’s why we can trust Him with our eyes, our hearts, our failures, our fears, and our future.

The blind man in Mark 8 didn’t know what Jesus was going to do. He simply let Jesus lead him, touch him, and heal him.

Maybe that’s where faith begins for us too.

We don’t need to understand everything. We don’t need to see everything clearly. We simply need enough confidence in Jesus to let Him lead.

Maybe today our prayer needs to be quite simple:

“Jesus, open my eyes. Show me what I need to see. And give me courage to trust You with whatever You show me.”

Let's remember that the One who opens our eyes is the One who went to the cross for us.

We can trust Him.

Prayer

Jesus,
open my eyes. Help me to see You more clearly, to see myself honestly,and to see the people and circumstances around me through Your eyes. Give me the confidence to trust You, even when You reveal things I would rather avoid. Remind me that the One who went to the cross for me can be trusted with every part of my life.  Amen.

Application

1. Ask Jesus to show you one thing—Just one area where He wants to open your eyes.

2. Sit with whatever Jesus shows you—without rushing past it.

3. Take one small step of obedience.

Healing often begins with small, courageous steps.

HEALED IN COMMUNITY

August 25, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.

Bible Reading

Mark 8:22 

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

Reflection

One of the striking truths in Mark 8:22–26 is that it reveals how spiritually blind we all are. Earlier in the chapter, even the disciples—who walked with Jesus, watched His miracles, and heard His teaching firsthand—struggled to see clearly. And throughout the Gospels, the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees and Sadducees is repeatedly exposed.

Our passage today turns our attention to Jesus the healer, and to the way He brings sight to our partial, blurry vision.

For me, one of the most beautiful details in this story appears right at the beginning, in Mark 8:22:

“Some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.”

That line speaks deeply to my spirit.

The man couldn’t see Jesus. So someone else brought him.

He couldn’t get there on his own. Someone had to help him.

And these people didn’t simply drop him off—they begged Jesus to touch him. They carried him to Jesus and said, “Please help him.”

There is something profoundly tender about that.

Sometimes God uses other people to help us see. That’s why Christianity was never meant to be lived alone. Church is not just a place where we sit quietly, listen to a sermon, sing a few songs, and go home.

We need people. People who know us. People who love us. People who pray for us. People who tell us the truth. People who say, “I think there’s something you’re not seeing.”

And sometimes we resist that. We’d rather say, “Mind your own business.” But if we truly want Jesus to open our eyes, we must be willing to let others help us see. Spiritual growth happens in community.

If we come to church every week, enjoy the music, listen to the sermon, and then never talk with anyone about what God is doing in our lives—or listen to what God is doing in theirs—we are missing something essential.

We need people with whom we can process our faith. People who can ask:

“What are you learning?” “Where are you struggling?” “What is God showing you?” “Where are you having trouble trusting Him?”

This is often how God works. He brings people into our lives who help us see. And that, too, is part of His tender watch and care over each one of us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Open our eyes again. Where our vision is blurred, bring clarity. Where our hearts are hesitant, bring courage. Where our faith is dim, bring light. Thank You for the people You place around us—those who help us see You more clearly. Lead us together in Your truth and keep shaping us into Your likeness. Amen. 

Application

Think of someone in your circle—whether a friend, a family member, or a colleague—whom God may be nudging you to bring closer to Jesus.

Pray for them. Ask God to give you gentle, natural conversation starters and the courage to let your guard down as you share your faith.

Give thanks for the people who helped you see Jesus more clearly—those who prayed for you, encouraged you, and walked with you when your own vision was dim.

Consider joining a small group, or even starting one, so you can journey with others, share what God is doing in your lives, and grow together in your walk with Him.