Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2026.

SUBJECT: FAITH WITHOUT WORKS OF LOVE IS DEAD!

Memory verse: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5 vs 6.) 

READ: James 2 vs 14 - 20:

2:14: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

2:15: If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

2:16: and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body; what does it profit?

2:17: Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

2:18: But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

2:19: You believe that there is one God; you do well. Even the devils believe—and tremble!

2:20: But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

INTIMATION:

We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. We are saved by faith, not by deeds. But love for others and for God, is the response of those whom God has forgiven. God’s forgiveness is complete, and Jesus said that those who are forgiven much sins, love much (Luke 7 vs 47). Because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith.

The characteristics of an effective Christian in any age is work produced by faith, labor prompted by love and endurance inspired by hope. As Christians, our calling from God is to become like Christ (Romans 8 vs 29). To be worthy of this calling means to want to do what is right and good (as Christ would). Christians have been created anew in Christ by obedience to the gospel (Romans 6 vs 4 - 5). Since they are recreated in Christ, they respond with good works of thanksgiving. They have been so created, not by good works, but for good works. Such actions show that our commitment to God is real. Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ.

Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message, hope is the attitude and focus, Love is the action. Therefore, your faith is put into action through love. Love involves unselfish service to others. When faith and hope are in place, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves. While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Love endures forever (First Corinthians 13 vs 13). Love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God Himself (First John 4 vs 8). Does your faith fully express itself in loving others? 

Your faith should be carried into action with an obedient response to the grace of God. (Second Corinthians 4 vs 15). Your faith should move you into action. In your relationship with one another you should be moved into action to care for one another. God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but to benefit others in our faith works through love, serve Christ and build up the church. Christians thus work in response to what God has done for them (First Corinthians 15 vs 10). It is their works that manifest their response to the grace of God. 

Though good works are not a qualification of the saving grace of God, rather it is a manifestation of the obedient and faithful response to the free gift of grace. What is required of a Christian is a faith that works through love. This is the obedient faith that responds to the grace of God. One’s recognition of his salvation as the free gift of grace motivates one to work in love and thanksgiving. When one trusts in God for his or her salvation by grace, he or she will lovingly respond in obedience to God with a better relationship with his or her fellow human. 

One’s faith, therefore, is manifested in his or her benevolent actions toward others. If one claims to have faith in God, and yet does not manifest such in his or her life’s behavior, then such faith is of no profit toward salvation. Faith without benevolent actions is self-deception on the part of the one who seeks to please God on his own conditions. 

When someone claims to have faith, what he or she may have is intellectual assent—agreement with a set of Christian teachings—and as such it would be incomplete faith. True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts. If your life remains unchanged, you don’t truly believe the truths you claim to believe. Though works are not meritorious conditions upon which one will be judged, but they are indications of thankful response to God for His grace. However, final judgement by Christ will be based on our deeds because our deeds proclaim what sort of heart is within us.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for your saving grace bestowed on us in Christ. My faith is completely anchored in You. Give me the grace to manifest my faith working through love for You and others, in all things and circumstances, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Purpose of Prosperity

 The Purpose of Prosperity

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

There are three levels of how to live with material things: (1) you can steal to get them; (2) or you can work to get them; (3) or you can work to get in order to give.

Too many professing Christians live on level two. We glorify work over against stealing and mooching, and feel we have acted virtuously if we have spurned stealing and mooching, and given ourselves to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. That’s not a bad thing. Work is better than stealing and mooching. But that’s not what the apostle calls us to.

Almost all the forces of our culture urge us to live on level two: work to get. But the Bible pushes us relentlessly to level three: work to get to give. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on, and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery — temporal and eternal suffering. Enough for us; abundance for others.

The issue is not how much a person makes. Big industry and big salaries are a fact of our times, and they are not necessarily evil. The evil is in being deceived into thinking that a large salary must be accompanied by a lavish lifestyle.

God has made us to be conduits of his grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. Copper can carry unbelievable riches to others. And in the very process of that giving we enjoy the greatest blessing (Acts 20:35).

Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

 Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

“The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)

God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, and responds with terrible wrath against those whose hearts should belong to him but go after other things, like a spouse running after another lover. 

For example, in Ezekiel 16:38–40 he says to faithless Israel,

“I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber. . . . They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.”

I urge you to listen to this warning. The jealousy of God for your undivided love and devotion will always have the last say. Whatever lures your affections away from God with deceptive attraction will come back to strip you bare and cut you in pieces. 

It is a horrifying thing to use your God-given life to commit adultery against the Almighty.

But for those of you who have been truly united to Christ and who keep your vows to forsake all others and cleave only to him and live for his honor — for you the jealousy of God is a great comfort and a great hope. 

Since God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, anything and anybody who threatens the good of his faithful wife will be opposed with divine omnipotence. That’s good news for the faithful wife — the faithful people of God.

God’s jealousy is a great threat to those who play the harlot and sell their heart to the world and make a cuckold out of God (James 4:3–4). But his jealousy is a great comfort to those who keep their covenant vows and become strangers and exiles in the world.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2026.

SUBJECT : STRIVE TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST!

Memory verse: "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2 vs 5.)

READ: Philippians 2 vs 6 - 8:

2:6: Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

2:7: but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

2:8: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

INTIMATION:

The mind of Christ is humble. Jesus Christ, during His earth walk, displayed unparalled humbility, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God, and be of service to God and people. Humility is the state of being humble, not to think too highly of oneself. It means being meek or gentle. It is not self-depreciation, but rather proper respect for God.

The mind of Christ is the mind of complete obedience. Christ said of Himself: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner." "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own Will but the Will of the Father who sent Me." (John 5 vs 19, 30).

That you are humble does not take away anything from you. If you are a President of a country, or a Chief Executive Officer of a big corporation, and is humble, it does not change your status. Instead you are esteemed highly, and consequently receives grace—unmerited favour of God. A humble person is more secure than a proud person because humility gives a more accurate perspective of oneself, and of the world.

Truly, humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realizing their sinfulness, and understanding their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs, being also, realistic in their assessment, and commitment to serve.

To humble ourselves before God, we must respect His Majesty by comparing ourselves to His greatness. When we look at creation, we realize our smallness by comparison, and to feel small is a healthy way to get back to reality, and humble ourselves before God to get His lifting (James 4 vs 10 & First Peter 5 vs 6). The psalmist in Psalm 8 vs 3 - 4 says; "When I consider Your heavens, the works of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him."

As you look at the vast expanse of creation, aren't you marveled at God's concern for you, who is always disappointing Him? Out of His love and care He made us in His own image, after His likeness, and only a little lower than the angels! We have great worth because we bear the stamp of the Creator.

Jesus lived as God wanted Him to live. He never sought His own, but was completely in obedience to the Father. Now, because of our identification with Jesus, we must honor Him and live as He wants us to live. If we always ask ourselves the question in any circumstance; "What would Jesus do?" This will help us make the rights choices and decisions.

We must humble ourselves before God to be able to hear His word, receive His instructions, direction, and help. In times of trouble, or when our lives fall apart, or when we sin against God, we should go before Him in deep humility and sorrow to obtain His promised help, mercy, and forgiveness of sin. 

Humility and obedience are intertwined. Obedience to God begins with humility. We must believe that His ways are better than ours, though we may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. God wants our obedience and humility more than anything else because in these are we are blessed, and exalted.

Prayer: Abba Father, let that mind be in me which is in Jesus Christ, that I will be obedient to You in all things and at all times. Endue me with the excellent spirit of humility and lowliness of mind, willing to put You first in all things in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Plan for Prayer

 Plan for Prayer

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. . . . These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:7–8, 11) 

Prayer pursues joy in fruitful fellowship with Jesus, knowing that God is glorified when we bear fruit in answer to prayer. Why do God’s children so often fail to have consistent habits of happy, fruitful prayer?

Unless I’m badly mistaken, one of the reasons is not so much that we don’t want to, but that we don’t plan to.

If you want to take a four-week vacation, you don’t just get up one summer morning and say, “Hey, let’s go today!” You won’t have anything ready. You won’t know where to go. Nothing has been planned.

But that is how many of us treat prayer. We get up day after day and realize that significant times of prayer should be a part of our life, but nothing is ready.

We don’t know where to go. Nothing has been planned. No time. No place. No procedure. And we all know that the opposite of planning is not a wonderful flow of deep, spontaneous experiences in prayer. The opposite of planning is the same old rut.

If you don’t plan a vacation, you will probably stay home and watch TV. The natural, unplanned flow of spiritual life sinks to the lowest ebb of vitality. There is a race to be run and a fight to be fought. If you want renewal in your life of prayer, you must plan to see it.

Therefore, my simple exhortation is this: Let us take time this very day to rethink our priorities and how prayer fits in. Make some new resolve. Try some new venture with God. Set a time. Set a place. Choose a portion of Scripture to guide you.

Don’t be tyrannized by the press of busy days. We all need midcourse corrections. Make this a day of turning to prayer — for the glory of God and for the fullness of your joy.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2026.

SUBJECT: LIFE AND LIVING IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2 vs 20.)

READ: Second Corinthians 5 vs 16 - 21: 

5:16: Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

5:18: Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

5:19: that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

5:20: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God 

5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

INTIMATION:

Life in Christ means experiencing a total spiritual rebirth and a fresh identity centered on God's love and Will. Living in Christ means making Jesus the central focus, identity, and guiding power of a person's daily life and spiritual state. Being "in Christ" describes a close connection where Christians live within Christ's spiritual realm rather than the worldly sphere of the flesh.

Christians are brand-new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. They are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated, rather they are re-ceeated (new creation), living in vital union with Christ. At conversion we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life under a new Master. 

Not only are Christians changed from within, but a whole new order of creative energy began with Christ. There is a new covenant, a new perspective, a new body, a new church. All of creation is being renewed. Christians' actions, goals, and desires aim to bring glory and honor to Jesus. Therefore, note that this is not a superficial change that will be quickly superseded by another novelty. 

As Christians, at conversion our entire personal being and life changes by being consumed in the Will of Jesus. The Will and mission of Jesus becomes the life of the Christian who has come into a covenant relationship with Jesus. The ultimate goal is to make us like Him (First John 3 vs 2). As we become more and more like Him, we discover our true selves, the persons we are created to be. 

How can we become like Christ? We can accomplish this by: (1) Reading and heeding the Word, (2) studying His life on earth through the Gospels, (3) spending time in prayer, (4) being filled with the Spirit, (5) doing His work in the world. 

Life and living in Christ constitute daily guidance by the Holy Spirit. Christians rely on the Holy Spirit to guide their thoughts, motives, and everyday actions toward love and obedience to Christ. Their lives as transformed into the image of Jesus by their obedience to His Will. 

The glory that the Spirit imparts to the Christian is excellent. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can become more like Him. In the Gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms the believer morally as they understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ's life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what He is really like. As the knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming like Christ is a progressive experience; the more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like Him. 

The Christian's life in Christ is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control. To obtain the fruit, we must abide in Him (join our life to His), we must know Him, believe in Him, receive Him as our Savior and Lord, love Him, obey Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. 

Life and living in Christ makes the believers focus their minds on heavenly realities and values rather than secular attachments to the things of this world. Christians build their confidence in what is lasting and eternal and not be bound to earth and its treasures or pursuits. We don't spend more of our time piling up possessions, but should strive to develop Christlike character, and are assured of the permanent promise of eternal life and fellowship with God.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the privilege of sonship and life in Christ, and the ensuing fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit indwelling me. My utmost heart desire is continually access the fellowship with Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times and in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God Heals by Humbling

 God Heals by Humbling

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” (Isaiah 57:18–19)

In spite of the severity of man’s disease of rebellion and willfulness, God will heal. How will he heal? Isaiah 57:15 says that God dwells with the crushed and humble. Yet the people of Isaiah 57:17 are not humble. They are brazenly pursuing their own proud way. So, what will a healing be?

It can only be one thing. God will heal them by humbling them. He will cure the patient by crushing his pride. If only the crushed and humble enjoy God’s fellowship (Isaiah 57:15), and if Israel’s sickness is a proud and willful rebellion (Isaiah 57:17), and if God promises to heal them (Isaiah 57:18), then his healing must be humbling and his cure must be a crushed spirit.

Isn’t this Isaiah’s way of prophesying what Jeremiah called the new covenant and the gift of a new heart? He said, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. . . . I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33).

Isaiah and Jeremiah both see a time coming when a sick, disobedient, hard-hearted people will be supernaturally changed. Isaiah speaks of healing. Jeremiah speaks of writing the law on their hearts. And Ezekiel puts it like this: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26) 

So the healing of Isaiah 57:18 is a major heart transplant — the old hardened, proud, willful heart of stone is taken out, and a new soft, tender heart is put in, which is easily humbled and crushed by the memory of sin and the sin that remains. 

This is a heart that the lofty One whose name is Holy will dwell with forever.