Daily Archives: August 1, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Fives: The Tabernacle

Leave a comment

 

NEW!Listen Now

Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
Exodus 26:3

Recommended Reading: Exodus 26:1-6

Since August has five weekends, let’s have fun with biblical fives, starting with the Old Testament tabernacle. God the Father so loved His people, He wanted to camp among them. The tabernacle was a special, ornate tent designed for that purpose, and we keep bumping into the number five as we study it. There were five curtains (Exodus 26:3), five supporting rods (26:26-28), and five pillars at the entrance (26:37). The altar was five cubits long and five cubits wide (27:1), and there were ten sets of five loops and clasps (26:5-6).

There’s nothing magical about the number five, but it does show us how intentional God was in structuring a place to abide among the Israelites. Nothing about the tabernacle was random. It was planned, structured, and graciously provided for.

In the same way, the God who arranged every curtain and pillar has also arranged all that is needed to make His home in your heart through His Spirit. His presence with you is wisely ordered, and your very body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). What a blessing!

The Holy Spirit takes up residence in believers, making their bodies a holy place for the dwelling of God’s special presence.
Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Better Country

Leave a comment

 

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 11:8-16

Listen to Today’s Devotion

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotion

Michele experienced a mixture of emotions as her father neared the end of his life. She grieved when he said, “Honey, I won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.” But she assured him of her love, clinging to the hope she found in Hebrews 11 as she said, “You’re heading for a better country, a country in heaven.” Michele believed that her dad, when he died, would be with God forever. She reflected, “Heaven will be that good!”

The letter to the Hebrews was aimed at Jewish believers in Jesus experiencing persecution by state and religious opponents. Although it was written before the destruction of the temple in ad 70, the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans may have occurred soon after. In this climate of fear, the author urged the believers to hold firm to their faith as he highlighted a great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Each “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (11:13). They lived by faith, “longing for a better country—a heavenly one,” and God was pleased to be called their God, and “prepared a city for them” (v. 16).

Although Michele ached with sadness when her father died, she embraced the promises of her heavenly Father. We too can welcome these same promises “from a distance” (v. 13), trusting in God.

Reflect & Pray

How can you embrace God’s help and trust Him more today? How does the thought of heaven inform your hopes, dreams, and actions?

Heavenly Father, please help me live knowing that You’re trustworthy and will one day welcome me home.

Learn more about God’s wonderful plan for heaven and earth.

Today’s Insights

Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because everyone listed in the chapter is presented as a model of faith. This makes sense because verse 6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Because our human effort to do good will always fall short of God’s standard (Ephesians 2:8-9), we’re dependent upon Him by faith. By faith we trust God now, and one day we’ll be in His eternal presence (John 3:16).

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Gen Z wants Jesus, but do they want the church?

Leave a comment

 

“Gen Z loves the spiritual disciplines. But disciplines separated from church community do not create disciples.” That sentiment is how Daniel Kunkel began his recent article on some fascinating trends among Gen Z Christians. From watching clips of Billy Graham on TikTok to embracing spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, and Sabbath-keeping, the Christianity embraced by young people today has echoes of what previous generations have experienced, but the differences are important to note as well.

As Kunkel—who pastors in New York while also serving as a teaching fellow in New Testament at Fordham University—describes,

Whereas the Emergent Church movement of the previous generation prized a casual and comfortable expression of faith, I find many in Gen Z value a sense of sacredness and have a strong desire for practical change.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Gen Z wants Jesus, but do they want the church? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – True Seekers

Leave a comment

 

 In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 

—Jeremiah 29:12–13

Scripture:

Jeremiah 29:12-13 

It is fascinating to note how Jesus dealt with people. He never interacted with any two individuals in precisely the same way. He would look beyond the outward veneer and see their hearts. When a person was really seeking and a miracle was in order, Jesus performed one. The Gospels record several miracles He performed for hurting, searching people such as blind Bartimaeus, the woman whose child was sick, the woman who spent everything on doctors and needed a miracle, or the ten lepers who came to Him looking for His touch.

But when people came to Jesus with the wrong motives, it was a different story. In fact, on some occasions, Jesus didn’t even reveal Himself to them. For example, John 2:23 tells us that when Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover, “many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did” (NKJV). But the passage goes on to say, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (verses 24–25 NKJV). Here we see people who believed after they saw Jesus’ miracles, but Jesus would not commit Himself to them. That may seem strange at first glance. But let’s consider what the word commit means. It means “to entrust someone with something.” Jesus would not entrust these people with His truth. If they were true seekers, Jesus would have revealed Himself to them.

These people who saw His miracles weren’t seeking with their whole hearts. They were merely excited about the miracle Jesus had done on that particular day. They were wowed by the spectacle, not moved by the truth. Therefore, Jesus would not commit Himself to them.

There’s an important takeaway from this story, not just for believers and seekers but also for the leaders and wannabe leaders of our nation. Jesus will not commit Himself to those who seek Him with ulterior motives. His message can’t be co-opted to fit a political narrative. Those who would use Him for personal gain or political advantage will not experience a personal relationship with Him.

On the other hand, the Lord promises in Jeremiah 29:12–13, “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (NLT).

A wholehearted search for Jesus is an excellent description of a revival. We have the assurance from Scripture that the Lord will reward such a search. So, to facilitate a much-needed revival in our country, believers must confront ulterior motives when we see them. We must share the simple and unadorned gospel. And we must pray for people’s eyes to be opened to the truth of Jesus.

The restoration and refreshing that will heal our nation requires more than an appreciation of who Jesus is and what He’s done. It requires a wholehearted commitment to Him.

 

Reflection question: What would a wholehearted commitment to Jesus look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Scripture Says/God Says

Leave a comment

 

by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Among the many evidences for verbal inspiration, both within and without Scripture, is the frequent recognition of God as the author of a particular passage with the human author who actually penned it. This can be true only if the very words recorded by the various authors are “God breathed” (the meaning of “inspiration”).

For example, the early Christians exclaimed, “Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?” (Acts 4:24–25). They recognized that God spoke through David, who wrote God’s words in Psalm 2:1–2.

Likewise, Paul, in his masterful dissertation on God’s sovereignty, claimed “the scripture saith unto Pharaoh” (Romans 9:17) that which God Himself had spoken unto Moses (Exodus 9:13). In other words, what Scripture says, God says.

Even Christ Jesus, who Himself had written with His finger “honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12) on tables of stone, personally ascribed the authorship of the passage to Moses (Mark 7:10). Evidently to Christ, there was no difference. That which Moses had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and in this case what he had copied from the stone tablet, was fully the Word of God.

We can be sure that what Scripture says, God says. “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17). We can trust our lives on Earth, our view of history, and our eternal destiny to what is written on the pages of Scripture. JDM

 

 

 

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

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How Discipline Strengthens Your Faith

Leave a comment

 

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness — in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

Hebrews 12:11 (AMPC)

An undisciplined person looks for ways to avoid hard work. Passivity prevails in our culture; everything is geared toward making life easier: ride the escalator, take the elevator, get fast food carryout. But the easy way is not always the best way.

Just as we need to exercise our bodies, so we also need to exercise our faith by facing difficult challenges. Use faith to forgive those who offend you and to trust God when you can’t see how problems will be solved. Soon you will enjoy a harvest of righteousness from the discipline you endure today.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me resist the pull of passivity. I don’t want to always take what seems like the easy way out. Please strengthen my faith to face hard things, forgive freely, and trust You even when I can’t see the way forward.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – God Said

Leave a comment

 

Read Genesis 1:1–31

In The Sound of Music, governess Maria teaches a music lesson to the seven Von Trapp children by singing: “Let’s start at the very beginning; a very good place to start.” For our study on what the Bible says about communication, we will also begin at the very beginning. It’s an essential place to start.

Of course, many Bible studies find their origin in Genesis chapter 1— as they should. Much of our theology and our understanding of the world must start with this account. From this foundational passage, we learn that God is beautiful and creative, powerful and ordered. He is perfect, compassionate, and the origin of life itself. The world He created was also perfectly ordered and able to sustain life.

But for the purpose of this study, we are going to focus on another attribute of God that is equally evident in today’s passage—but perhaps less extolled. Genesis 1 not only proclaims God as Creator; it also presents Him as Communicator.

In Genesis 1, we watch as God speaks the world into being. With divine commands, He produced the light (v. 3), the sky (v. 6), the seas, earth, and vegetation (vv. 9–11), the sun, moon, and stars (v. 14), the fish and birds (v. 20), and the animals (v. 24). Then, in a second communicative act, He gave names to many of His created works: “day and night” (v. 5), “sky” (v. 8), “land and seas” (v. 10). One of the most fundamental functions of language is to label the world around us.

God ascribed value to His creation, pronouncing it “good.” He then used language to bless His creatures and instruct them toward flourishing (vv. 22, 28). Most importantly, God revealed Himself as One we are able to know.

Go Deeper

What part of communication are you curious to learn more about? Pray that God will open your heart to hear Him speak to you this month—through His Word, His Spirit, and His world.

Pray with Us

Lord, we are eager to dig into what the Bible says about communication this month. Please show us how we can use our communication to honor You and know You better.

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.Psalm 33:9

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/