Daily Archives: July 5, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Stroke of a Pen

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Read Matthew 5:17–20

What did Jesus mean when He said that “not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen” will disappear from the Law (Matt. 5:18)? The King James Version translates this phrase as “one jot or one tittle.” A “jot” is literally the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, while a “tittle” is a tiny mark or stroke that distinguishes between similar letters.

Today, we might say that “not even one apostrophe” will disappear from the Law until all is fulfilled. The question Jesus addresses is the relationship between His teachings and the Mosaic Law. Were they in conflict? No. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (v. 17). That is, He would not delete it but accomplish it (v. 18). How? As the only human being who never sinned, Jesus was the only person ever to obey the Law—including the Prophets, meaning all of Scripture—perfectly.

Therefore, the Old Testament should not be “set aside” (v. 19), or as other translations have it, “relaxed,” “ignored,” “broken,” or “trivialized.” Some advocate this position, claiming that the Old Testament is no longer relevant. According to Jesus, however, there is an ongoing responsibility to teach and practice Scripture’s moral and spiritual principles.

God’s standards for holiness did not change in the new covenant. Perfect righteousness is needed to enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 20; Deut. 26:16). Jesus’ listeners would have known this was humanly impossible. Knowing we are sinners is the first step in understanding and receiving the gospel. We can have eternal life only when Christ’s righteousness is credited to us (Rom. 4:24; Gal. 3:23–24). While the Law (from God) is good, legalism and hypocrisy (from people) are bad (Matt. 23:23–24). In the rest of chapter 5 Jesus contrasts “You have heard” with “But I tell you.”

Go Deeper

The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible. Why is the entire Bible important to us today?

Pray with Us

Father, You are perfect and holy in every way. Our sin separates us from You, but Jesus’ death on the cross gave us access to Your perfect righteousness. Praise God!

Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.Matthew 5:18

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Lavish Love

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If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty . . . allow him to live with you. Leviticus 25:35 nlt

Today’s Scripture

1 John 3:1-3, 16-18

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

It was my grandson’s eleventh birthday, and a group of family members gathered at a Mediterranean restaurant to celebrate. Before ordering, my son asked the birthday boy what he wanted. He reluctantly told his dad he’d like the salmon but knew it was too expensive. My son told him, “It’s your birthday. If that’s what you’d like, you can have it.” My grandson was thrilled, and his broad smile showed it.

My son’s love for his son reminds me in small part of God’s lavish love. First John 3 describes the “great love” God showers on us: He calls all who believe in Him His children (v. 1), the benefactors of His lavish love. This love is exemplified in Christ’s sacrifice, the greatest gift of all. Jesus “laid down his life for us” on the cross (v. 16). “We’re saved ‘by grace through faith’ in Christ” (Ephesians 2:8). This is God’s gracious gift to everyone who believes.

In response to God’s lavish love, let’s “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). We’re called to put our faith into action: to love and obey Him and to spread that love to others. Through the Holy Spirit, God enables us to extend lavish love to our family and beyond.

Reflect & Pray

When have you been the recipient of lavish love? How can you extend God’s lavish love to another?

Dear loving Savior, none of my gifts or sacrifices could ever compare to Your lavish love for me. Please help me find ways to live out that love to others.

Today’s Insights

In his first letter, John carries forward many of the same themes that frequently appear in his gospel account. These include love (1 John 3:1-3, 11-18; 4:7-12; see John 3:16; 15:9-13) and light (1 John 1:5-7; 2:8-11; see John 1:9-13; 8:12; 9:5), both of which have been perfectly represented in the person of the Savior, Jesus Christ. John also mirrors his gospel by opening his letter with a statement of the incarnation of Jesus—the Son of God, who has come in the flesh (1 John 1:1-4; see John 1:1-5). While John’s writings contain many eternally important ideas, the concepts of love and light continually bubble to the surface as he seeks to describe both who Christ is and what He came to bring. He’s the Son of God, who came to penetrate the world’s darkness with His perfect light and to heal the brokenhearted with His perfect love. As we experience this lavish love, He helps us extend it to others.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Word of Life

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Philippians 2:16)

The Bible is always the best commentary on itself—especially when the word or phrase is not frequent. In this case, “the word of life” is only used twice and might be interpreted in various ways without this qualifier: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).

In the context of Philippians 2, the emphasis is obviously on the person and work of our Lord Jesus. We who bear His name are His “sons” and are charged with the responsibility of being “lights” to a world that is steeped in darkness (Philippians 2:15). The light that we shine is the word of life—and that is, according to the Scriptures, the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Thus, the word of life must certainly involve who Christ is (Creator, Lord, incarnate Word, King) as well as the “glorious gospel” of salvation by grace (2 Corinthians 4:4). Charged with the responsibility of “holding forth the word of life,” we are to be “the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). Thus, we should be well-versed in the written Word, since Jesus specifically said, “Search the scriptures . . . they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).

Ultimately, of course, our “light” comes from “the Light.” Since we have been delivered “from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) by our Lord’s substitutionary atonement, we who “were sometimes darkness” are now “light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). HMM III

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Accepted by God Through Christ

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Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 3:18 (NIV)

If you are like most people, you want to be accepted. When people hear that they have been accepted to a certain school or organization, they often become very excited. Something about being accepted makes us feel confident and good about ourselves.

Today’s scripture reminds us that when we believe in Jesus Christ and trust Him as our Savior, we are not condemned. In other words, we are accepted. We don’t have to work to be accepted. In fact, we can’t earn God’s favor or acceptance through good works or through any human effort.

People who believe that God’s acceptance is based on good works or on doing everything perfectly struggle and feel condemned because they try to behave perfectly and cannot do it. Everyone makes mistakes. But no matter how many mistakes we make, if our hearts are pure toward God and we sincerely repent, He forgives us.

When we believe in God’s Son and acknowledge Him as our Savior, we can be sure of God’s unconditional love and acceptance. Love and acceptance are not based on anything we do or don’t do. They are based on what Jesus has already done by dying for our sins.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Because I believe in Him as my Savior, I know that You love and accept me completely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org