Daily Archives: June 3, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Birthed by God

Leave a comment

 

NEW!Listen Now

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 2:8-9

When describing the birth of a newborn, we never say, “The baby birthed himself at 3:00 p.m.” Likewise, when describing spiritual rebirth, Jesus said, “Unless you are born.” That is, both human birth and spiritual rebirth are passive events for the infant. Mothers give birth to physical babies; the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual babies (John 3:5-8).

This idea is behind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Our spiritual rebirth is not something we do by ourselves, by our own efforts. If it was, we would be right to boast. Since it is of God rather than ourselves, we can only boast about God and His grace (1 Corinthians 1:27-31; 2 Timothy 1:9).

If you have been born again through faith in Christ, give thanks to God that He has birthed you for a purpose. As the Spirit brought you into God’s Kingdom, so He will lead you and transform you.

“Except a man be born again,” he will wish one day he had never been born at all. 
J. C. Ryle

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Power of Music

Leave a comment

 

David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul. 1 Samuel 16:23

Today’s Scripture

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Listen to Today’s Devotion

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotion

On November 21, 1915, the hope of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his twenty-seven crew members sank, along with their ship Endurance, into the darkness below the Antarctic ice. They were stranded thousands of miles from home. Later, the crew shared several things that aided their survival, including a banjo. Embarking on their brutal trek, Leonard Hussey (the expedition’s meteorologist) was the only person allowed more than two pounds of personal gear. He was allowed to bring his twelve-pound Windsor banjo. “It’s vital mental medicine,” Shackleton told Hussey, “and we shall need it.” The crew’s journals explained the power of Hussey’s music. “The banjo does . . . supply brain food,” wrote one sailor. Another reflected on “Hussey’s indispensable banjo.”

The Bible presents music as one of God’s immense gifts, a way His healing and comfort enter the human heart. In the tragic story of King Saul, we hear how (due to his disobedience) he was oppressed by an “evil spirit” (1 Samuel 16:14). And what did Saul’s attendants believe the king needed to provide relief? Music. So they found young David with his harp: “David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him” (v. 23).

Music offers more than mere entertainment. It can bring joy, renew hope, and comfort weary souls. It’s truly one of God’s powerful gifts.

Reflect & Pray

What encouragement has music offered you? How has it deepened your relationship with God?

Dear God, thank You for the gift of music!

Today’s Insights

In the ancient Near East, it was common for court musicians to be hired for reasons such as entertainment or religious ceremonies. In the case of King Saul in 1 Samuel 16, his attendants believed his mental torment would be eased by lyre music (v. 16). Since David was a skilled lyre player as well as a warrior (v. 18), he became both a musician and armor-bearer—carrying Saul’s shield and weapons (vv. 21-23). David’s father, Jesse, sent gifts of food and wine with David (vv. 19-20), perhaps showing gratitude for the honor of having his son chosen to serve the king. Today, we can remember that God can use music to renew our hope and bring us joy.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – The New World screwworm and a warning for our souls

Leave a comment

 

Four common mistakes we make with sexual sin

If you’re looking for a nice devotional thought today, this isn’t it: A parasitic fly that eats animals alive has been found in Mexican sheep thirty-one miles south of the US border. The New World screwworm lays eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow through living flesh, eventually killing the host. An outbreak in Texas would cost the state’s ranching economy an estimated $1.8 billion.

I begin with this story because it illustrates the conversation we began yesterday. Like a screwworm that eats living flesh, sexual sin destroys our minds, marriages, society, and souls. Christians are by no means immune: 75 percent of Christian men and 40 percent of Christian women admit that they view pornography. In a recent survey, 23 percent of the pastors who responded admitted to sexually inappropriate behavior with someone other than their wives.

In what ways are Christians especially susceptible to sexual temptation? Let’s consider four common mistakes we make.

One: Not preparing to face temptation

Christians are a threat to Satan and thus the targets of his wrath (1 Peter 5:8). He wants to defeat us spiritually and destroy our witness.

Continue reading Denison Forum – The New World screwworm and a warning for our souls →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Your Choice

Leave a comment

 

 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 

—Romans 5:1–2

Scripture:

The arithmetic of the gospel is fascinating. If you’re born once, you’ll die twice. If you’re born twice, you’ll die once. If that seems confusing to you, you’re in good company. Nicodemus, a notable Jewish scholar and leader in Jesus’ day, asked, “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” (John 3:4 NLT).

By “born once,” I mean the physical birth. By “born twice,” I mean a physical birth as well as a spiritual birth in which you’re born again, after having put your faith in Christ.

Just as there are two births, the Bible teaches that there are two deaths: One is physical, and the other is spiritual. Jesus warned that we are to fear the second death more than the first one.

Revelation 20:14 tells us, “Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death” (NLT). The second death is mentioned again in Revelation 21:8, which says, “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (NLT). The second death is Hell.

It has been said, “The second death is the continuance of spiritual death in another and timeless existence.”

Thomas Watson wrote, “Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.”

Jesus spoke of Hell in a very specific way. He warned of the fire of Hell (see Matthew 5:22). He warned about our bodies being thrown into Hell (see Matthew 5:29). And He warned of the soul and the body being destroyed in Hell (see Matthew 10:28).

The Bible teaches that all Christians—that is, sinners who have been forgiven and saved because they put their faith in Jesus Christ—will be in Heaven. And that offer of forgiveness and salvation is extended to everyone.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:1–2 NLT).

Your eternal destination is really your choice. Not everyone will be saved in the end—only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the message God has entrusted to every believer. It’s a message we must spread.

 

Reflection question: In your circle of acquaintances, who needs to hear about the forgiveness and salvation that Jesus offers? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Secret of the Lord

Leave a comment

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14)

This is an amazing promise. The word for “secret” means the “inner counsel,” evidently of the triune God Himself.

But how can those who fear the Lord really know the secret counsels of the Godhead? The answer can only be by divine revelation to God’s prophets. Thus, the prophet Amos affirms, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but [unless] he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

When these ancient promises were given, however, much of God’s revelation, though already “settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89), was still not revealed to men. Then Christ came and promised His disciples, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost . . . shall teach you all things” (John 14:26).

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2). In addition to the 12 disciples, God then also called the apostle Paul, and through these men the Son conveyed to those who fear Him all the rest of His revelation. “By revelation he made known unto me the mystery; ( . . . whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:3–5).

Finally, “the secret of the LORD” was completed in written form by John, the last of the apostles, with nothing else to be either added or deleted (Revelation 22:18–19), that “the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7). All we shall ever need to know of God’s eternal counsels is now available in the Holy Scriptures to all who desire to know them. HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Stronger Through Life’s Challenges

Leave a comment

 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

Romans 5:3 (AMPC)

We all face obstacles from time to time. God doesn’t remove every obstacle that stands in our way because we are often made stronger as we learn to overcome obstacles. When we deal with the difficulties of life, we are strengthened. But if we run from all of them, we will never grow and become stronger in our faith and abilities.

If God allowed us to go through all of life without any obstacles, it would harm us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Many times, our obstacles are what God uses to give us the strength to succeed, as long as we refuse to quit when there seems to be no way to go on.

You can face your fears and overcome them, and when you do, you’ll often find they gave you the strength you needed for the next situation that comes.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me strength to face challenges without fear. Help me trust You in every obstacle and grow stronger through each situation. Teach me to keep moving forward with confidence, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Prayer 101 

Leave a comment

 

Play

When I pray, I think of a thousand things I need to do. I forget the one thing I set out to do: pray. Can you relate?

But wouldn’t we all like to pray… More? Better? Deeper? Stronger? With more fire, faith, or fervency? Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. We want to pray, but when? We want to pray, but why? We have our doubts about prayer, our checkered history of unmet expectations, unanswered questions. We aren’t the first. The sign-up for Prayer 101 contains familiar names: John, James, Andrew, and Peter. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance.

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

 

 

Home

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – How Great a Salvation!

Leave a comment

 

Read 1 Peter 1:10–12

It is easy to take things for granted in this modern world. We can video chat with loved ones living thousands of miles away. We have good, effective treatment for many illnesses. Most of us do not have to labor in the fields for our food. Yet, these are relatively recent blessings provided by those who went before us.

Today’s reading is the second half of Peter’s long opening thanksgiving. Picking up on the theme of salvation, Peter reminds the church never to take for granted the privileged position we have. We live on the other side of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, dying for our sin, rising again, and sending the Holy Spirit to indwell His people. Peter himself witnessed these events. As a disciple of Jesus for years, Peter was present at His trial and he saw the empty tomb. He was also there when the Holy Spirit came on believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). He does not want his readers to forget what a blessing it is to believe the gospel and be filled with the Spirit.

Even the most privileged people in the Old Testament—the prophets—did not have the same knowledge of God we have. The prophets carefully searched the Scriptures to try to understand when the Messiah would come (v. 10–11).

Peter tells us the “Spirit of Christ” directed the prophets to write about His future suffering and glory. Passages like Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Zechariah 9:9–10 are examples. Although the prophets knew in general that the Messiah was coming, would suffer, and be glorified, they did not know the details. They were writing for the benefit of future believers who could be assured by their prophecies that Jesus is the Messiah (v. 12).

Go Deeper

We are deeply grateful for the salvation we have in Christ. As one hymnwriter expressed, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” Write an expression of thanks to our Lord and Savior today.

Pray with Us

Jesus, help us never take Your Spirit for granted. We pray that when the Spirit prompts us, our hearts will be ready to listen and obey. Teach us how we can live for You each day.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.Colossians 1:13

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/