Daily Archives: November 12, 2026

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Unexpected Ways

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“Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” 2 Kings 6:5

Today’s Scripture

2 Kings 6:1-7

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Today’s Devotion

When the Bible that Matt Williams kept in the back of his car was stolen, he feared he’d never see it again, and the precious photos he kept tucked in its case would be lost. So he offered a short prayer: “Lord, it breaks my heart. I got a lot of stuff in there that means a lot to me, and I’d like to get it back. But not my will but yours, like you always say.” Just days later, Williams was stunned to learn that his Bible was found in a stolen car. It had been placed next to a Bible the original car owner kept on her passenger seat. Being reunited with his prized possession seemed impossible, but God answered Williams’ prayer.

In 2 Kings 6:1-7, we read about the prophet Elisha facing a seemingly impossible situation. He and a group of prophets were by the Jordan River getting wood to build a larger meeting place. As one of the prophets cut down a tree, “the iron axhead fell into the water. ‘Oh no, my lord!’ he cried out. ‘It was borrowed!’” (v. 5). The distressed prophet showed the prophet Elisha where it fell. “Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float” (v. 6). The prophet was miraculously reunited with the valuable lost item.

No care or concern is too small to bring before God in prayer. We can pray and ask God for help in any circumstance, and He can answer our prayers in unexpected ways.

Reflect & Pray

When has God answered your prayer in unexpected ways? What can you pray about today?

Dear God, thank You that I can pray about anything.

Today’s Insights

Of the many miracles the prophet Elisha performed, many involved everyday things and ordinary people, demonstrating God’s protection and provision. The miracle of the “iron axhead” (2 Kings 6:5) is one example. The iron ax was an expensive tool. Such a loss would’ve been costly for the prophet, and its restoration saved him from a huge financial debt. We see other examples of God’s care in the miracle of the abundant olive oil, which redeemed a widow’s debts (4:1-7); a young son restored to life (vv. 8-37); the provision of edible stew for hungry prophets (v. 38); and twenty loaves of bread feeding one hundred men (vv. 42-44). God cares about the everyday issues that trouble us. Jesus tells us to “look at the birds of the air . . . [and how your] heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). We can turn our everyday concerns to God knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

For additional reflection, read: How Not to Pray.

 

 

 

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What the Bible says about those who haven’t heard the gospel

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This article was original published on eastwest.org.

More than 3 billion people worldwide are considered unreached with the gospel. That means they have little to no chance of ever hearing about Jesus, His sacrifice, and His free gift of salvation.

With tens of thousands of unreached people dying every day, the sobering reality is that scores of people live their entire lives never knowing the truth of the gospel. That leads to an uncomfortable question: What happens to those who haven’t heard the gospel?

Understanding those who never hear the gospel

Some well-intentioned Christ followers have attempted to answer this question by saying that God is so loving that if someone never had the chance to hear the gospel, He would let them into Heaven. The problem is that this answer is not aligned with Scripture.

The book of Romans provides the truth to better respond to this question. First, Scripture says that God has made Himself known to people.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” –Romans 1:18-20

People know God, but their sinful nature suppresses the truth about Him. Instead of worshipping the true God, they worship other things, whether it’s other gods, money, fame, or worldly desires.

Bottom of Form

Everyone has sinned

Second, all people have fallen short of God’s perfect standard. Whether they are a member of God’s chosen people or someone born in a remote village, every person has sinned.

“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … .” –Romans 3:22b-23

“What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’” –Romans 3:9-12

“All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.” –Romans 2:12

No one can be saved apart from faith in Jesus

What we deserve for our sin is death—eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). Because all people know God and have rejected Him and all people have fallen short of God’s perfect standard, no one can be saved apart from faith in Jesus—that includes an unreached person who has never heard the gospel.

Pastor David Platt has summarized his answer to the question of someone never hearing the gospel like this:

“So when people ask what happens to the innocent guy in Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel, I would say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he goes to heaven. However, before you begin to label me a heretic, consider: if there is an innocent guy in Africa who has never heard the gospel, then he doesn’t need a Savior. He hasn’t done anything wrong, so why would he be separated from God? But that’s precisely the problem: there is no innocent guy in Africa or Asia. Every one of us has rejected the knowledge of God, so we are not innocent.”

God’s solution for those who never hear the gospel

It would seem cruel for God to condemn someone who never had a chance to know Jesus without some sort of rescue plan. What kind of loving God would do that?

As it turns out, God does have a rescue plan. It’s you.

Jesus commissioned His followers to take the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The reason that there are unreached people—people who have never heard the gospel—is because someone has not gone to them to share the good news.

More than 3 billion people will live their entire lives never knowing who Jesus is unless they are told. God’s solution to that problem is sending out His children to shine His light in the darkest places on Earth. How is God calling you to reach those who have never heard?

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” –Romans 10:14-15

 

 

Denison Forum

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Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – God Can Use You Right Where You Are

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 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 

—2 Timothy 2:15

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:15 

As believers, we can encourage one another with these words: God can use you right where you are.

Nehemiah was what we would call a layman. I personally don’t like the term, which is used to describe someone who is not “in ministry.” Sometimes we think pastors, missionaries, or people who work for churches are in ministry. But the reality is that every Christian is in ministry.

Look at the apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (NLT). That kind of faithful service isn’t limited to pastors, missionaries, or church employees.

Christians who work in the corporate world, Christians who work in construction, Christians who work in education, Christians who work in the medical or counseling fields, and so forth are all in ministry. In a sense, ministry is simply service. Ministry occurs when we say, “God, You can use me right where I am. I am available to serve You, and I want my life to bring glory to You.” In other words, ministry happens when believers recognize and respond to opportunities to serve God in their everyday lives.

In the Old Testament, God chose to use Nehemiah through the position he already held. Nehemiah, a Jewish exile, served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, the leader of the Medo-Persians. The cupbearer had to be someone the king could trust, because he spent a lot of time with the king.

Nehemiah’s position gave him access to the king. But despite his privileged position, Nehemiah was concerned about others—specifically, his fellow Jews who had returned to Jerusalem. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down, leaving the people vulnerable to their enemies.

Nehemiah leveraged his position of influence with King Artaxerxes to secure royal support and materials for rebuilding Jerusalem’s broken walls. His vital ministry began as he made himself available to God in the position he already held.

Have you ever considered how God could use you right where you are? Think about the neighborhood you live in, the place where you work, or the campus you’re on. You don’t have to be a pastor or a missionary to make a difference in someone’s life.

You might say, “If I could just change my circumstances . . .” But did it ever occur to you that important ministry opportunities are available to you because you’re in your current circumstances?

Ask God to open your eyes to those opportunities. Ask Him to help you see past the “same old same old.” Ask Him to help you see the unique influence you wield. Ask Him to give you a sense of the people whose lives He can touch through you.

Ask Him to give you a new appreciation for your old surroundings—and a willingness to serve Him right where you are.

Reflection question: What ministry opportunities are available to you right where you are? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Innovative News WEB site – https://newsfeathers.com/ – The news, with a little ruffle

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The New Covenant

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20)

The Greek word diatheke, translated as both “testament” and “covenant,” occurs 33 times in the New Testament, 17 of which are in the book of Hebrews. The Hebrew word for “covenant” (berith) comes from a word meaning to “cut, or divide,” referring to the fact that blood had to be shed to bind the parties involved to the covenant (see Jeremiah 34:18–19). God had made covenants with Abraham and Moses on the part of the people of Israel. He kept His part of the agreement, but in each case the others involved “continued not in my covenant” (Hebrews 8:9). But God, in His grace, has issued a new covenant.

This covenant or testament is not unlike a human last will and testament, but there are some differences. He did not merely die, thereby enabling His children to inherit His fortune, but He is now “the mediator of a better covenant” (8:6). He is the sacrifice whose death was necessary to make the covenant binding, and yet He is the “surety of a better testament” (7:22).

He cannot fail, and hence the new covenant cannot be done away with. Through His death, He not only has removed the penalty for our previous failures but also qualified us to receive the inheritance. “For this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator” (9:15–16). “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (7:25). JDM

 

 

 

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

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Daily Faith for Daily Needs

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Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 (AMPC)

We have the privilege of trusting God daily to meet every need that we have—faith to pay the bills, keep a good job, raise the kids, make marriage work, get along with people, and so on.

Daily faith is vital if we are going to eliminate stress and enjoy life. Faith leaves no room for worry and it drives out fear. Learning to trust God in every situation will help you overcome worry and anxiety.

Daily faith is filled with hopeful expectation, and it never gives up. Each new day is a new opportunity to see God do something amazing. A saying I like is: “When faith goes to the market, it always takes a basket.” Keep your basket handy because God may fill it at any moment.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me trust You daily with every need. Fill my heart with hopeful expectation, drive out worry and fear, and help me watch for what You will do, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

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Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Resist Temptation 

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Satan and the Son of God stood on the southeastern wall of the temple, more than a hundred feet above the Kidron Valley, and Satan told Jesus to jump into the arms of God.  Jesus refused.  Not because God wouldn’t catch him. He refused because he didn’t have anything to prove to anyone, much less the devil.

Neither do you. In church of all places, Satan will do with you what he did with Jesus.  He will urge you to do tricks, to impress others with your service, to make a show of your faith, to call attention to your good deeds. Satan loves to turn church assemblies into Las Vegas presentations where people show off their abilities rather than boast in God’s.

Don’t be suckered.  You don’t have anything to prove.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – A Living Legacy

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Read Acts 9:32–43

From time to time, I am asked to do a funeral for a person I did not know. Depending on who made the request, I will decide whether or not I should officiate. My role is always difficult when there is not much information regarding the person’s life, so in those instances, I tend to mention one or two good things I have heard about the deceased. But mainly, I try to comfort the family and share the gospel.

Peter was making his rounds to a number of churches in the region. After healing a gentleman in Lydda, he was summoned to Joppa. In that city, there was a woman named Tabitha (v. 36). Her reputation was outstanding. First, she is referred to as a disciple. This implies that she was a sincere follower of Jesus Christ. Second, Tabitha was “always” doing good. What a wonderful testimony to her character. Assuming that the “always” refers to helping the poor as well, she cared deeply for the less fortunate (v. 36).

Tabitha had become sick and died (v. 37). When Peter arrived, he was taken to an upstairs room where her body had been laid. Several widows stood crying and showed him the robes and other clothing that she had made while she was alive. Peter didn’t have to guess as to what type of person Tabitha was.

Peter sent all of them out of the room, got down on his knees, and prayed. Then he did something surprising. He told the dead woman, “Tabitha, get up” (v. 40). Then she opened her eyes and sat up! Peter presented her to the believers and widows. The Bible says that “this became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord” (v. 42). Tabitha’s death and life had a profound impact on others.

Go Deeper

What impact do you hope your death will have on others? What would you like people to say about you once you’re gone?

Pray with Us

May we be the type of people who make an impact for You, God! We want to give to others as You have given to us. You are a God of love.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.Proverbs 31:20

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

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