Daily Archives: March 8, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The Seven Seals

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Read Revelation 6

In 2004, a devastating tsunami swept across the Indian Ocean at the speed of a jet airplane. A train in Sri Lanka was driven off the tracks. A boat off the shore of Thailand was thrown more than a mile inland. Triggered by a magnitude-9.1 earthquake, the tsunami killed nearly 250,000 people.

Natural disasters give us an idea of the catastrophic scenes recorded by John in his vision. In today’s chapter, the Tribulation begins as six of the seven seals are opened. The first four seals reveal the “four horsemen of the apocalypse”—conquest, war, famine or economic disaster, and Death (Zech. 6:1–7). First is a white horse with a rider who is given a bow for conquest (vv. 1–2). Next is a red horse with a rider who is given a sword to take peace from the earth (vv. 3–4). Next is a black horse with a rider who is given scales or balances, representing hunger and poverty (vv. 5–6). Finally, there is a pale horse whose rider is Death itself (vv. 7–8). The color “pale” is best thought of as the color of a corpse. Death is allowed to kill one-quarter of the world’s population.

When the fifth seal is opened, there is a pause in the action (vv.  9–11). Christian martyrs call for justice, lamenting, “How long?” They’re told to wait but assured that the time is drawing near. This scene no doubt provided encouragement to persecuted believers in John’s day and has done so throughout history.

Finally, the sixth seal is opened and, in the words of the Moody Bible Commentary, the world experiences “cosmic upheaval” (vv. 12–17). Though sinners recognize God’s wrath, they do not repent or seek His mercy, but instead foolishly try to hide or escape.

Go Deeper

Psalm 13 and others give us the words to call for God’s help and justice. How do we see these themes in our world today?

Pray with Us

How long, Lord, until You restore all things? Remind us through our reading today that although You will exercise Your wrath, You will also exercise mercy and deliver Your children from evil.

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals.Revelation 6:1

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Loving Deeds

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Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story. Psalm 107:2

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 107:1-11, 41-43

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Today’s Devotion

They sit side by side on Ball Street in my city—the Grand Ideas Garden and the county jail. My friend Joann loved both places. She loved to sit in the garden, thinking about the goodness of God and her love for Him because of what He’d done in her life. She also loved to share with the women in the jail and tell her story of God redeeming her life after many bad choices and wandering far from Him. Often, she would tell me of her passion: her dream that all the women there would someday understand and experience the love of God for them personally.

The psalmist told his fellow Israelites to “tell their story” of how God redeemed them from their enemies (Psalm 107:2). They had “wandered in desert wastelands,” “they were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away” (vv. 4-5). At times they rebelled against God, and He disciplined them (vv. 10-12). Yet every time “they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, . . . he delivered them from their distress” (v. 6). They had much to give God thanks for and to talk about with others. As the Israelites learned, and we can learn also, He has a love that will never let us go.

We too can take opportunities to “ponder the loving deeds of the Lord” toward us (v. 43), give thanks to Him, and tell our own story of His rescue.

Reflect & Pray

What has God done for you to transform your life? Who can you share your story with?

You are so good, and what You’ve done for me is worth telling others about, dear God. Please give me the words and open my mouth to speak about You.

Look at what Scripture says about witnessing to others.

Today’s Insights

The book of Psalms is divided into five books or subsections. Psalm 107 is in Book 5 and celebrates Israel’s salvation history. Much of it is a reminder of the ways that God had delivered Israel time and again in her history. Some have speculated that this psalm may have been written after the Babylonian captivity upon Israel’s return to the land of promise they’d received so many years before. As such, it’s fitting to say, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (vv. 8-9). But gratitude isn’t reserved for Israel alone, for God has done loving deeds for all people. Today, as we reflect on His loving deeds to us, we can share our story with others.

 

http://www.odb.org

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Dying Thief

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43)

One of the most remarkable scriptural passages is that of the “deathbed” conversion of the thief crucified with Jesus. Christ recognized his repentance, forgave his sin, and offered him eternal life as he died. As reflected in the hymn “There Is a Fountain,” salvation comes to sinners who repent, turn from their sin, and believe on Him, without any works involved or strings attached.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

The “fountain” of blood flowing from the cross produces great rejoicing in those who have acknowledged His lasting work. “With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19), we can be forgiven and born into His family. We receive the ability for and privilege of living victorious, holy lives. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

All have chosen sin; all deserve judgment. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). But because of Him, we can be “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (v. 24). “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (11:33). JDM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Find Quiet Time

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The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:9-10 (AMPC)

Sometimes I set aside the entire day just to be with God. I stop everything and seek Him. I know I am not going to hear from God if I don’t get quiet and purpose by that time set aside for Him.

It is so important to have some “down time” to be alone and just sit quietly. You may think you don’t have time, but if somebody was giving out thousand-dollar bills at the mall, you would find time to get there. Don’t use the time to try to figure out something; just be still and available to the Lord’s attention.

Prayer of the Day: God, help me slow down, quiet my heart, and make time for You. Teach me to be still, attentive, and open to hear Your voice, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org