Daily Archives: September 20, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Passover Observed

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Read Ezra 6:19–22

Many churches observe Communion weekly; you may call it the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Others observe it monthly or quarterly. Jesus commanded that His followers do this regularly in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19). The wine (or grape juice) represents the blood of the new covenant, and the bread represents His body, broken for us. The Lord’s Supper was patterned after the Passover meal, which Jesus shared with His disciples on the night Judas betrayed Him (Luke 22:14–23).

In Ezra 6, the returnees were celebrating Passover and the ensuing seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread. This festival commemorated that harrowing night when “the destroyer” (Exod. 12:23) went through Egypt killing the firstborn of all families who did not have the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. The meal celebrated God’s incredible rescue of His people from slavery, His great kindness in passing over them, and His utter faithfulness to Abraham’s children.

The priest and Levites took care to be “ceremonially clean” (Ezra 6:20), just as the Lord commanded. “The Israelites who had returned from exile” ate the meal. Joining them were “all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord, the God of Israel” (v. 21). Note the emphasis on following God completely. Both religious leaders and the everyday people were seeking the Lord with obedience.

The people “celebrated with joy” because “the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria” (v. 22). In contrast to Pharaoh, who stubbornly refused to let God’s people go and whose heart God hardened, God softened the heart of the foreign ruler. Either way, the Lord receives the glory for His faithful care.

Go Deeper

How does your church observe the Lord’s Supper? As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, why is it also a time to celebrate with joy?

Pray with Us

God, may we never take Communion lightly. May it remind us of Your sacrifice and love for us. Help us each day to be mindful and grateful of this life-changing gift: that Jesus bore our punishment for sin!

The LORD had filled them with joy.Ezra 6:22

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Children of God

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If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20

Today’s Scripture

1 John 3:18-24

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

One of my favorite books of optical illusions always astounds me as the pictures deceive my eyes—like one with two lines of the same length appearing to be different sizes, or the famous “impossible staircase” in which four flights of stairs seem to link in a continuous loop. It can also be a little disconcerting to realize we don’t always see things as they truly are.

But it’s not only our eyes that deceive us. We can sometimes believe illusions about our identity as God’s children when we’re bombarded daily with the world’s deceptive claims. Author Henri Nouwen wrote, “Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity—an illusion!”

Our true identity, possible because of God’s lavish love, is that when we receive Jesus as our Savior we become “children of God” (1 John 3:1). As the apostle John recognized, sometimes “our hearts condemn us” (v. 20), and we begin to doubt God’s love or even question if we truly belong to Him. However, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (v. 20). Instead of being deceived by damaging illusions, we can believe the truth that we are God’s beloved children.

Whatever illusions you may encounter about your identity today, hold fast to the truth that you’re God’s beloved child.

Reflect & Pray

What illusions about your identity have you encountered? How does the truth that you are God’s child encourage you?

Heavenly Father, even when I can’t see or feel it, please help me remember the truth of Your love for me.

Today’s Insights

When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we become “children of God” (John 1:12). The Holy Spirit “testifies [confirms] with our spirit” that this is true (Romans 8:16; see 1 John 3:24). Our sonship is a gift of God “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). We can’t earn it. As God’s beloved children, He “has lavished” love on us (1 John 3:1), which includes a personal relationship with Him, eternal life, and guidance by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14)—and we’re considered “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (v. 17). He provides all we need in this life—comfort, hope, joy, strength—to live for and serve Him. As God’s children, nothing—“neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future” (v. 38)—can separate us from His great love (v. 39).

For further study, listen to the Discover the Word Podcast : Who Am I?

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Is Warren Buffett your God?

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The Wall Street Journal is reporting that “Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the $1 trillion conglomerate that he led for more than six decades.” He announced the news to investors on Friday, stating that he will remain on the board and become chairman emeritus. His son Howard will succeed him as chairman per a previous arrangement.

Buffett stepped down as CEO at the end of last year. He explained his latest move to shareholders:

Serving as your Chairman has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I have never taken your trust for granted. Father Time always wins. He has, however, been generous with me. The company is in excellent hands, and I look forward to remaining a shareholder alongside you.

It’s easy to understand the esteem in which many hold him: his company’s shares have appreciated by 3,999,494 percent since he took over the company. If you had invested $1,000 with him in 1970, it would be worth roughly $19.6 million today.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Is Warren Buffett your God? →

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Confidence in Christ Alone

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:7–8)

During the three verses prior to the text for today, Paul listed some of the rather spectacular credits he had obtained “in the flesh” (v. 4). His family lineage and achievements were both professionally stellar and legally blameless. He had every right to be proud of himself.

Yet, in strong language, Paul values these personal achievements as the excrement of animals when he compares them to the gain of being given “the righteousness which is of God by faith” (v. 9). A vivid contrast indeed!

Jesus taught that if anyone would become His disciple, then he must “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Further, such a disciple must “lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s” (v. 35). Owning the whole world was worthless if it meant that the price would cause one to “lose his own soul” (v. 36). Hard bargains indeed!

Paul sought, as each of us should also, “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” (out text). Invoking all of the triune Godhead, Paul begged for comprehension of the “love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,” so that he could be “filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:18–19). Such knowledge brings “full assurance of understanding” (Colossians 2:2). That is a good return indeed!

“Wherefore beloved,” Peter said, “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). HMM III

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Love People in Your Thoughts

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By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 13:35 (AMPC)

One of the most valuable and beautiful things you can do is love others. We can purpose to think about the good things we find in all the people we know, and as we do, our attitudes toward them will improve.

Often we think about what is wrong with people and what we don’t like about them. Focusing on people’s faults is not showing love to them. We can choose to pray for them concerning any weaknesses they may have, and at the same time pray for ourselves that God will help us in our weaknesses also.

Focus on positive, loving thoughts about people. Then when they do something you don’t like, you are already so full of good thoughts about them, it is easy to just let it go.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me focus on the good in others instead of their faults. Fill my thoughts with love and help me pray for others’ weaknesses and my own, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org