Daily Archives: April 23, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Forgive Like God

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And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Recommended Reading: Romans 5:6-11

We occasionally hear expressions like, “It takes one to know one,” and, “You can’t give away what you don’t already have.” Those words certainly apply when it comes to extending forgiveness to others—especially to our enemies.

Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:32 is an example. The first half of the verse is not unexpected—an exhortation to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward others. But it is the second half of the verse that is arresting in its implication: We are to forgive others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. We might be inclined to be kind and forgiving toward others without taking the standard of God’s forgiveness into account. And how did God forgive? Totally and unconditionally—for past, present, and future sins. In fact, God forgave us “when we were enemies” (Romans 5:10). So that is our standard when it comes to forgiving those who have hurt us—past, present, and future—unconditional forgiveness.

Take a moment to do an inventory of your forgiveness toward others. If there is someone you have not forgiven totally and unconditionally, purpose to forgive them as God has forgiven you.

The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness.
William Blake

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Staying in Step

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Accept one another . . . to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

Today’s Scripture

Romans 15:5-7

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

Lillian Colón, who grew up in an orphanage, beat out four hundred dancers to win a coveted spot on a world-renowned dance team. She performed with that group, with its tightly ordered synchronized choreography, until her mid-forties. Now teaching dance at age seventy, she imparts to students her greatest lesson from precision artistry: Work together. “On and off the stage, our lives are deeply intertwined,” she said, “and we all fare better when we support and care for one another.”

The apostle Paul knew the importance of this principle. Harmony in Christ points praise to its true purpose—glorifying God. Paul taught this lesson to believers in Rome, both Jewish and gentile, to encourage their unity. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” he wrote (Romans 15:5). This was “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6).

Competing voices won’t produce this result. Joining together to praise God, with no one person or group discounting another, gives unity in Christ its true purpose. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,” wrote Paul, “in order to bring praise to God” (v. 7). When we seek God’s help to do this, He inspires our common voice as we step together and give Him glory.

Reflect & Pray

Whose voice can you join in praise to God? How can you prioritize unified praise?

Please open my heart, dear God, to unified praise with others.

Today’s Insights

In Romans 15, Paul says the foundation for the unity of believers in Jesus is to have “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (vv. 5-6). Unity is found in following Christ’s example of self-giving love, not in having identical beliefs, backgrounds, or preferences. The goal of this unity is worship “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6). In fact, unity itself is a form of worship: “Accept one another . . . in order to bring praise to God” (v. 7).

Romans is especially focused on Jewish and gentile unity. Paul quotes Israel’s Scriptures to emphasize that Jews and gentiles worshiping and glorifying God together fulfills God’s promises (vv. 8-12). In the apostle’s vision, Jewish and gentile believers finding unity in worship is evidence that the united worship of believers offers a picture of creation’s full restoration, when all will join in praising their Creator (see 8:18-23; Isaiah 45:23).

Be inspired by a lifestyle of worship and how it impacts you today

 

http://www.odb.org

Daily Devotions

Denison Forum – Tim Cook’s advice for Apple’s next CEO

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When is God’s word most transformative in our lives?

The big tech news of the week has been Tim Cook’s decision to step down as Apple’s CEO and his advice to his successor. Under his watch, the company grew from roughly $350 billion in market cap to $4 trillion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, when Cook took over for Steve Jobs, the legendary genius looked him in the eyes and gave him a piece of advice that guided all his decisions. “Don’t ask what I would do,” Jobs told Cook. “Just do the right thing.”

What advice would he give John Ternus, his successor at Apple? “I would probably say the same thing.”

“Just do the right thing” is excellent advice. The question, of course, is, how do we know the “right thing”?

As the “America Reads the Bible” emphasis continues in Washington, DC, this week, we’re thinking together about relating God’s word to our secularized culture. We’ve explored the power of Scripture to change hearts and lives when we submit to its truth in the power of the Spirit.

There’s another dimension to this discussion we need to consider today.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Tim Cook’s advice for Apple’s next CEO →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Problem with Envy

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 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 

—Matthew 23:12

Scripture:

Matthew 23:12 

A woman strolling on a beach noticed a man catching crabs. Every time he caught one, he placed it in an open bucket.

“Don’t you need a lid on that bucket?” the woman asked.

“No,” the man replied, “they can’t get out.”

“Why not?” the woman asked. “The bucket isn’t that big.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” the man explained. “Whenever one crab tries to go over the side, the others reach up and pull it back down again.”

Sounds like human behavior, doesn’t it? There are many people who don’t like to see others reach for the top. When a person begins to climb, they think, “How dare you succeed? How dare you do better than me? How dare you get that promotion? How dare you get that attention? How dare you do well when I’m not doing just as well? You get back down here with me!”

Envy and jealousy are sure signs of misplaced priorities. They spring from a me-first attitude like the kind Jesus was talking about when He said, “But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12 NLT).

It’s been said that envy shoots at another and wounds itself. And it’s hard to deny the truth in that. Left unchecked, envy and jealousy can eat us up inside.

Proverbs 14:30 warns, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones” (NLT).

James 3:16 says, “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (NLT).

And Galatians 5:26 warns, “Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another” (NLT).

What’s more, envy causes us to take our eyes off what God has done for us. If we pay too close attention to the good things in other people’s lives, we’re not paying close enough attention to the blessings in our own lives. And we miss the opportunity to give thanks and grow closer to the One who gave them.

The best way to deal with envy is to recognize it as sin and repent of it. We may try to rationalize our jealousy, but we need to realize that it’s wrong and ask God to forgive us. God wants us to put the needs of others above our own, to love one another, and to care for one another. These are essential aspects of our Christian faith.

Instead of worrying about what other people have, let’s be thankful that we’re even drawing breath in our lungs. That in itself is a gift from God. And if God lifts us to an exalted position, then that’s His grace. If He lifts someone else, that also is His grace. None of us deserve it; it’s all the grace of God. Our responsibility is to be faithful to what God has called us to do.

Reflection Question: How can you keep envy from getting a foothold in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Buried with Him

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

The burial of Christ after His death was extremely important for two reasons. First, it assures us that His death was a physical death and that His resurrection was a bodily resurrection. Second, His burial—like His death and resurrection—has profound doctrinal and practical significance for the believer’s individual life.

All this is pictured, as our text points out, by the ordinance of baptism, displaying symbolically the death of Christ for sin and the death of the believer to sin, then the burial of the corruptible body of flesh (which, for all but Christ, returns to dust in accordance with God’s Curse). Finally, it reflects the resurrection, demonstrating Christ’s eternal victory over sin and death, and, in the case of the believer, the beginning of the new life in Christ.

The same truth appears again in Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Although these are the only New Testament passages where the doctrinal implications of Christ’s burial are specifically mentioned, the spiritual truths taught thereby permeate all the Scriptures. If our old bodies of sin are—at least positionally—already in the grave, then it is altogether grotesque for them still to be walking around in sin. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:5). We shall (not “should,” as misleadingly rendered in our text) walk in newness of life, triumphant daily over sin through the implanted resurrection life of our victorious Savior. HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Keeping the Peace

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If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18 (AMPC)

Recently someone was quite rude to me, and of course it hurt my feelings. I was tired because I had just returned from a conference, and that made me even more vulnerable. I had a decision to make! Would I stay angry, confront them, tell other people how they had treated me (gossip), or pray for them and be at peace?

I am sure you are familiar with the scenario I am describing, and when these things happen to us, we dare not follow our emotions. What we “feel” like doing and what God wants us to do are usually two very different things. I find it best to be quiet for a bit, let my emotions calm down, and think about the situation rationally.

Did the person hurt me on purpose, or were they perhaps under some sort of pressure that made them insensitive to my feelings? The individual who hurt me was having a very difficult day, and although they knew they were being rude and did apologize, they were having difficulty being kind to anyone. God’s Word encourages us to always believe the best of every person (1 Corinthians 13:7), and if we are willing to do it, it is one of the best ways to keep our peace in situations like this.

Keeping the peace with others is very important and I highly recommend that you do so if it is at all possible. Confront those who mistreat you when God leads you to but avoid being touchy and getting your feelings hurt easily. When you get your feelings hurt, forgive the offender quickly and just imagine all the times you may have hurt someone and needed God’s forgiveness and theirs!

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me be at peace at all times. I want to always believe the best and forgive others just as You forgive me, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Let Grace Begin with You 

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Most people keep a pot of anger on low boil. But you aren’t most people. Look at your feet. They’re wet, grace soaked. Jesus has washed your feet. He has washed the grimiest parts of your life.

To accept grace is the vow to give it. You don’t endorse the deeds of your offender when you forgive them. Jesus didn’t endorse your sins by forgiving you. The grace-defined person still sends thieves to jail and expects the ex to pay child support. Grace sees the hurt full well. But it refuses to let hurts poison the heart.

Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows. So go ahead. Set your feet in the basin. Let the hands of God wipe away every dirty part of your life. Then look across the room and wash someone else’s feet.  Let grace begin—and continue—in you.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Preparation for Confrontation

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Read Ruth 4:1–2

The King William County Courthouse in Virginia was built in 1725 and is considered the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States. Its architecture is beautiful, in classic colonial style.

In the time of Ruth and Boaz, cities also provided a place for judicial business. Many cities were surrounded by thick walls of fortification. The gates to these cities were complex structures with lookout towers and defensive stations. The gates also served as a gathering place and a center for business.

As soon as Ruth headed home on the morning after her visit, Boaz headed to the town gate (v. 1). He positioned himself in that strategic location, knowing he would likely find the other guardian there—and also understanding that any official legal matter should be settled in the court.

The Hebrew wording, translated in the NIV as “just as,” communicates surprise and calls attention to the providential timing of story events. It harkens back to Ruth 2:4 when Boaz arrived home from Bethlehem “just then.” God’s hidden hand was directing the narrative.

When Boaz saw the other guardian-redeemer, he called the man: “Come over here, my friend, and sit down” (v. 1). The Hebrew word translated as “my friend” actually means “so-and-so” or “such-and-such.” Surely, Boaz would have known the man’s name, so this is likely the author’s choice to obscure his identity. This creates a less-than-favorable impression of the other guardian in the mind of the audience, immediately establishing him as a foil for Boaz—just as Orpah was for Ruth. As the other guardian joined him, Boaz assembled the “ten elders of the town” (v. 2) to make sure the legal proceedings were legitimate and documented. He would take great care of each detail

Go Deeper

Have you seen God’s providential care in your life? Was He present even in the details?

Pray with Us

Jesus, help us to see You even in the smallest details of our lives. You are with us every step of our journey, with lovingkindness and assurance. Teach us how to show Your love and encouragement to others.

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.2 Corinthians 6:2

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/