Daily Archives: October 31, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Seasons: Preach the Word

Leave a comment

 

NEW!Listen Now

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2, NIV

Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Thomas Heelis, an English sailor, did missionary work to India from 1855 to 1910. Once he shipwrecked and the crew was washed up in a small fishing village. Thomas, not one to miss an opportunity, began preaching the Gospel to those villagers.1

Our lives go through various seasons, but we are to be about our Master’s business. When we labor for Christ, we will find some seasons productive and fruitful. We will see a harvest. At other times the work will appear unrewarded and in vain. But remember what Paul said: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Let’s labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun. Let’s preach the Word, in season and out of season. Even misfortune such as shipwrecks can be God’s way of guiding us to someone needing the Gospel.

I thank God that the gospel is to be preached to every creature. There is no man so far gone, but the grace of God can reach him.
D. L. Moody

  1. Footsteps Worth Following (Echoes International, 2021), 120.

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – No Mask, Simply Jesus

Leave a comment

 

Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 4:20-24

Listen to Today’s Devotion

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotion

In ancient Greece, actors on stage would portray the emotions of their characters by wearing masks that either expressed tragedy or comedy. Masks also allowed the same actor to play multiple roles in the same production. They weren’t permanent, nor were they representative of the real person. Put on for the performance, the facial disguises were taken off when the production was over.

In Colossians 3:10, Paul writes to believers in Jesus to encourage them to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Rather than a temporary mask worn to entertain people, it should be displayed as a permanent part of life that will be seen each day. The apostle says to “put off your old self” (Ephesians 4:22)—the sinful life we lived before receiving salvation in Christ.

Taking off our old habits and putting on a new self doesn’t just happen naturally. Paul says we need “to be made new in the attitude of [our] minds” (v. 23). This starts with how we think—recognizing that as believers we’re “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (v. 24).

The actors in Greece were paid to put on fake faces. Today, by God’s grace, let’s put on the true image of Jesus so the world knows that He’s living within us.

Reflect & Pray

What are some ways you wear a mask that reflects your old life? How can you “put on” Jesus each day?

I pray, dear Jesus, that my life may be a true representation of who You are. Please help me be real each and every day for You.

Today’s Insights

In view of what God did through Jesus in choosing, redeeming, and predestining believers in Him to be His children (Ephesians 1:3-14), Paul instructs believers to “to live a life worthy of [His] calling” (4:1). We’re to “no longer live” the ungodly lives of our past (v. 17), for we’ve been given a new life (vv. 22-24). The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our new person is “created to be like God”—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24). We’re to “put to death . . . whatever belongs to [our] earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed” (Colossians 3:5) and to rid ourselves of “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language” (v. 8). As we “clothe [ourselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12), God will help us live an authentic, Christlike life before others.

For further study, read: Don’t Run from Your Failures

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – An ancient remedy for “election anxiety”

Leave a comment

 

If you don’t have “election anxiety,” you’re in the decided minority. With all the political messages inundating social media, television, and mailers, we’re inundated daily with the subject. Conversations about politics can strain friendships; heated debates can increase tension and negatively impact relationships.

Some avoid social gatherings altogether to avoid conflict. And many are worried about what comes after the elections.

Reading through Daniel 6 today, I found an ancient remedy for the anxiety of our times. It is relevant regardless of our circumstances and fears. I am committing myself to it anew today and invite you to join me.

“Going up to the temple at the hour of prayer”

Many people know of the Muslim custom of praying five times a day (known as Salah), but fewer know that the Jews have historically prayed three times each day. (Some historians think Muhammad was aware of this and patterned the Muslim custom on it.)

Continue reading Denison Forum – An ancient remedy for “election anxiety” →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Judging Ourselves

Leave a comment

 

 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 

—1 Corinthians 11:31

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 11:31 

In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of self-image.

Our culture today places tremendous importance on loving oneself and celebrating one’s accomplishments. There’s certainly nothing wrong with positivity. But as believers, there’s a fine line we must walk.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (Romans 12:3 NLT).

The apostle Peter wrote, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT). Humility is essential in our relationship with God. It’s also essential to our spiritual growth.

It’s been said that self-satisfaction is the death of progress. Any Christian who knows what it means to follow Jesus understands that there’s always a long way to go. But that reality should not discourage us. Instead, it should motivate us to keep moving forward spiritually. We must keep growing and learning.

To widen our perspective a bit, we should consider that humility is also key to spiritual revival. If we want to see a revival—the kind that transforms entire regions—then we need to humble ourselves. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (NLT).

Of the twelve Hebrew words used in Scripture to express the verb pray, the one used here in 2 Chronicles 7:14 means “to judge self habitually.” For many of us, that requires a 180-degree change of direction. We have no problem judging and criticizing others habitually. But turning the focus on ourselves doesn’t come quite as naturally.

To judge ourselves means to recognize that we have a long way to go, spiritually speaking. Are you satisfied with where you are spiritually? After years of walking with the Lord, the apostle Paul said this: “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:12–14 NLT).

Paul wasn’t regretful or ashamed or disgusted with himself for not having already reached spiritual perfection. Instead, he was laser-focused on growing in spiritual maturity. He wanted only to press on, day after day, moving ever closer to God’s ideal and becoming more like Christ.

That’s the essence of a healthy spiritual self-image.

Reflection question: How can you develop a healthier spiritual self-image? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Children of the Day

Leave a comment

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

It is interesting that most of the days during the year that have been considered to have some special meaning are observed as “Days”—for example, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. Those observed mainly at night, such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve, tend to emphasize frivolity or even sinfulness. Christmas Eve may be an exception, but this celebration (December 25) rarely notes the real reason for Christ’s incarnation.

It is for good reason that darkness has become a term referring not only to absence of daylight but also to absence of moral light. Many biblical references make this connection. Note just a sampling.

  • “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
  • “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 5:7–8).
  • “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. . . . But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Ephesians 5:11, 13).

All who have trusted in Christ have been “delivered” by our heavenly Father “from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). It would be utterly irresponsible, therefore, for us ever to shame our Father by behaving like the children of darkness. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Turn Away from Evil

Leave a comment

 

Turn not to those [mediums] who have familiar spirits or to wizards; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:31 (AMPC)

This is a serious command! Spiritualism, divination, and witchcraft are all forbidden in the Word of God. Many people, including some who consider themselves to be Christians, participate in practices that God considers vile and evil. God says He will set His face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them (Leviticus 20:6). Yet Christians still read horoscopes and consult psychics and wonder why they don’t have peace.

God wants you to seek Him, and it offends Him if you seek these other sources. No one who does so will ever have a peaceful, joy-filled, and prosperous life. If you have been involved in any activity of this sort, I strongly encourage you to thoroughly repent, ask God to forgive you, and turn away completely from such practices.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, forgive me any time I seek answers from anywhere but You. Help me turn away from anything false, trust You alone, and find true peace in seeking only You, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – God the Victorious Farmer

Leave a comment

 

Read Isaiah 61:8–11

I have often been encouraged to think of biblical prophecy in terms of seeing mountain ranges from a distance. There are one or more mountains in the foreground, and others in the background. They may have similar features. We can’t really see how far apart they are or what lies between them. At our location in history, we look back and see prophecies fulfilled. We also look forward and see prophecies yet to be fulfilled. How long until we reach the next “mountain”? Only God knows!

Isaiah 61 begins with God telling us who He is (vv. 8–9). He loves justice and hates evil. He’s faithful, makes and keeps covenants, and gives blessings. The people He has chosen will be known among the nations, to His glory. Our fitting response is to delight and rejoice in the Lord (v. 10). Our wedding day is coming (see Rev. 19:9)! God is the groom, we His people are the bride. Our groom is also our high priest (see Heb. 2:17). He’s dressing us for the big day with “garments of salvation” and “a robe of his righteousness.” As Paul wrote: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Rom. 13:14).

Verse 11 reimagines all this in agricultural terms: Just as seeds grow and plants sprout, God will “make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” (cf. Isa. 45:8). God will bring His kingdom plans to fruition, as surely as in the growing seed parable and as perfectly as in Isaiah’s threshing parable. It’s inevitable. Sovereignty is the divine attribute stressed here. In the short “mountain view,” the prophet had in view Israel’s return from exile. In the long “mountain view,” he also saw the eschatological implication of the Millennial Kingdom.

Dear Reader

As you reflect on the key lessons you’ve learned from this month’s study, will you consider a gift to Today in the Word? The seeds you sow will produce eternal reward!  Give Today!

Pray with Us

Father, thank You for all we’ve learned about You through our study of seeds and farming. We eagerly await the day when we will see Your face and spend eternity with You. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.Isaiah 61:11

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/