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Growing in Grace

A daily Bible verse and devotional

April 2026

Thursday, April 30, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

Do you ever wonder where we got our Bible? Those of us who live in western countries have become accustomed to having the Bible available to us in our own language, and often we take it for granted. But God has given us His Word, and preserved it to us, in a wonderful way. As we see in our verse today, Peter reminds us that the Word of God did not come to us by the will of man, but rather that “holy men of God” spoke as they were “moved (inspired) by the Holy Ghost.”

It is generally understood that Moses was the one who wrote the first five books of the Bible, often referred to as the Pentateuch, and thus he was the first inspired writer. The Apostle John was the last writer of the Bible, for he lived longer than any of the other apostles and did not die until about 100 A.D. Moses lived about 1500 B.C., so that the Bible was written over a period of about 1600 years. We do not know exactly how many different authors were involved in writing the various books in the Bible, but there were probably at least thirty-six, and possibly as many as forty.

God has carefully preserved His Word to us, in spite of the efforts of Satan to get rid of it. There are many old manuscripts available to us, and some of these date back thousands of years. In 1947 the so-called “Dead Sea Scrolls” were discovered in the land of Israel, and these are now some of the oldest Bible manuscripts that we have.

We can be most thankful for the Bible, for it is God’s Word addressed directly to us. It tells us plainly what we are, but it also tells us who God is. It reveals to us how this world came into existence, and when it will end. The Bible does not satisfy all our curiosity, but everything we need to know in order to be saved and to lead a godly life in this world is given to us in God’s Word.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

In our verse today, the Apostle Paul quotes a saying that has been common in this world for hundreds of years. When people see the condition of this world becoming worse, or perhaps are involved in a war, or some other big disaster, it is tempting to them to live for the present, enjoy what they can in this life, and not worry about the future. After all, they say, Are we not all going to die someday? And when things are going badly, perhaps we will die sooner than we would normally expect.

In one sense it is not good to worry about our future in this world, for if we know the Lord, He is going to look after us. But it is a serious thing when men and women are careless about where they are going when they leave this world. Satan tempts them to “live for the present,” and not to be concerned about what happens after death. All around us we can see those who are spending their time, money, and energy on things in this world, while not giving any thought about what will happen when they have to leave this world. Those who live like this sometimes persuade themselves that there is nothing beyond death, and that death is the end of everything for them. But the Bible clearly tells us that judgment comes after death, and it is a very serious thing to forget this.

Even as Christians, what we do in this life will have consequences, for if we live for the Lord, He will give us a reward. But if we live for this world, we will experience loss in eternity, even though we are saved and go to be with Christ when we leave this world.

How much better it is to use our time, energy, and money for the Lord, and to eat and drink only what is necessary for our bodies. Yes, God does give us many good things in this world, and we are thankful for them. But let us not be so taken up with these things that we forget about eternal matters!

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Ephesians 5:13).

“The entrance of Thy words giveth light” (Psalm 119:130).

We all understand what light is, and because of the discovery of electricity, we have become accustomed to good light in our homes, in school, and where we work. However, we also understand what happens when we have poor lighting. If we do not have enough light, we may be able to see enough to be able to walk about without bumping into things, but perhaps it is not enough light by which to read, or do some fine work. Some people with certain jobs need extra special light, such as surgeons who do complicated operations, or men who operate specialized machinery.

God’s Word does not provide that kind of light, but morally it is the light of this world. The Bible exposes our hearts and shows clearly how wicked our natural hearts are. When He was here, the Lord Jesus was the light of this world, and that is why men hated Him. He was loving and kind, and did many miracles, which everyone liked. They liked it when He healed sick people, fed hungry people, and preached gracious words to them. But when He told them that that they were lost sinners and needed a Savior, they did not want to hear that. They hated Him so much that they crucified Him, for they hoped then that they would not have to be reminded of their sin.

But God has left us His Word, and it also is light, as we have seen. That is why men often do not want the Bible. They do not mind if it teaches them good moral principles, but do not like it when it shows them that they are sinners.

But how wonderful it is when we receive the Word of God! Then we find, as our second verse teaches us, that God’s Word gives light. It does not only show us what we are, but it shows us what God is. Then when we hear the gospel and accept Christ as our Savior, we are delivered from the “power of darkness,” and “translated into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). It is a wonderful thing to be in the light of God’s presence!

Monday, April 27, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists” (Ephesians 4:11).

“Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

When the Lord set up the church at the beginning, He gave various gifts to those in the church, both to preach the gospel to unbelievers, and to encourage those who were already saved. The gift of an evangelist is a gift of giving out the gospel, whether preaching publicly, or speaking to people as individuals. Some are gifted in preaching to large groups of people. Men like George Whitefield and Rowland Hill, who lived more than 200 years ago, could preach to thousands of people at one time, and be heard clearly. And there were no loudspeakers in those days! Others are more gifted in speaking to individuals and showing them the way of salvation. God is still giving this gift today and using it to bring souls to Christ.

However, in these last days, sometimes we do not have these gifts as readily available to us, because the church has failed. For this reason, we find Paul telling Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.” Timothy was evidently a somewhat timid man, and not accustomed to pushing himself forward, whether in public preaching or in speaking to individuals. But in the state in which things were, he was to give out the gospel, even though he did not have the definite gift for it.

In the day in which we live, we should all be willing to give out the gospel. It may be simply by telling our friends that they need a Savior, and telling them how to be saved. At other times it may mean giving someone a gospel tract, and asking them to read it. Sometimes it is not what we say, but more how we live that speaks to others, and tells them that we belong to Christ. Then they may say something, and open the door to a conversation. In every way, we ought to be ready to speak about Christ, and to tell others how to be saved.

Sunday, April 26, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters … as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5).

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God” (Romans 13:1-2).

In our verses today, there are several different kinds of authority mentioned, and we are to submit to all of them. Children are to submit to parents, servants are to submit to their masters, and in general, we are all to submit to, and obey, civil authorities. (That means authorities such as the police, the teacher at school, and the municipal, provincial, and federal governments.)

It is not always easy to obey authority, and especially if the authority is not used in the right way. Sometimes the laws that are passed, and the things we may be asked to do, seem to be ridiculous. Also, governments can make mistakes, and tell us to do things that are obviously not going to work. Governments may do things for political reasons that have nothing to do with the good of the people whom they govern. What are we to do?

We must remember that all authority ultimately comes from God, and to resist that authority is to resist what God has set up. When we see the condition of some of the authorities in this world, we may question how God could have set up such a corrupt control over us. But God has often worked out His purposes over the years by allowing corrupt men or women to rule. When the New Testament was written, the Roman emperors were often not good men, and some were definitely evil and very sinful. Yet the Lord allowed them to be put into positions of power and authority.

There is only one reason that we should not obey the authorities whom God has set up over us, and that is if they tell us to do something that dishonors the Lord Himself. For example, you will remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom Nebuchadnezzar commanded to fall down and worship the golden image that he had set up. As those who knew and worshiped the true God, they refused, and were thrown into the fiery furnace. But the Lord preserved them in a remarkable way, as a testimony to the king and to all others who saw it. You can read this story in Daniel 3.

We are to respect and honor those whom God has set up in authority, but to recognize too that God must be honored and worshiped above all authorities.

Saturday, April 25, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand” (Psalm 139:17-18).

Many times we do not realize how great the Lord’s love is toward us, and how many precious thoughts He has about us. Most of you who read this are probably young people, but if the Lord leaves us here and you eventually get married and have children, you will find out how much you think about them, and want their lives to go well. The Lord loves us a great deal, and it tells us in our verse today that His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sand.

We will spend all eternity in heaven with the Lord, and yet we will never be bored up there, or wonder what to do. If we think about this, it is really beyond our understanding. Yet the Lord has given us some illustrations of it in nature. For those who live in warm climates, He talks more than once in the Bible about the sand, and the number of the sand. If we think of all the sand in the world, we could not begin to count it. Yet man has never found two grains of sand that were exactly alike, when examined under a microscope.

But some people live in northern climates, where perhaps they do not see sand quite as often. The Lord also speaks about snow in the Bible, which of course falls in large quantities in northern countries. Yet with all the snow that has ever fallen, man has never yet found two snowflakes that were exactly the same.

All this indicates that God, who lives and moves in eternity, wants us to understand a little of what eternity means. His thoughts toward us are not limited by this world. Rather, His thoughts are so numerous that we will not exhaust them for all eternity.

Friday, April 24, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“The word of God is quick, and powerful … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24).

When we read the Word of God, it has a cleansing effect on our hearts. It searches our hearts, and discovers what is right, and what is wrong. The word translated “discerner” could be translated “critic,” and this is what the Bible does for us. Men have thought that they had the right to criticize God’s Word, but it is God’s Word that is the critic of our thoughts. It is important to read God’s Word daily, for it exposes our wrong thoughts, and allows us to confess them and to get rid of them. In this way the Bible has a purifying effect on us.

But then we read in our second verse that David asked the Lord to search his heart, and to discover whether there was “any wicked way” in him. This is a good thing to do, for even if we read God’s Word regularly, there may be wrong things in us that we do not discover. But the Lord is able to bring them to our attention. David wanted real fellowship with the Lord and did not want anything to come between him and the Lord. We should want this same relationship with Him.

We need one little warning about this. It is good to ask the Lord to bring something to our attention, if He sees something wrong in us. But then we should let the Lord bring it before us, if He sees something. It is not a healthy thing always to be taken up with our failures, and to be constantly thinking about ourselves. Rather we should be enjoying all that Christ is, and not be thinking, How am I doing? If the Lord sees something in us that He wants us to deal with, we can rest assured that He will point it out to us. We do not have to keep thinking about our mistakes.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).

“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him (Stephen), saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).

Persecution is never a nice thing to experience, and none of us likes to suffer reproach, which means that others disapprove of us, or are critical of us. We all like to feel accepted by others. However, as Christians we know that we are going to suffer reproach in this world, for we follow a rejected Christ. If He was rejected, we will be rejected too, if we are faithful to Him. But here in our first verse today it says that if we are reproached for the name of Christ, we will be happy. When those in the Jewish council looked at Stephen, whom they were about to murder for His testimony of Christ, his face looked like the face of an angel. How could this be?

If we are reproached for doing something wrong, we are ashamed of ourselves, and we hang our heads. This is right, for we should not be doing wrong things. But when we are reproached for the name of Christ, we are doing the right thing, and being criticized for it. Then the Lord gives us a special joy from the Spirit of God that dwells in every believer. The “Spirit of glory,” which is the “Spirit of God,” is in every true believer, and when we honor the Lord Jesus in this world, He gives us joy, and it shows on our face.

We should never be afraid to stand up for the Lord Jesus, and to speak well of Him. It takes courage, but the Lord will give us the courage, if we ask Him. Then the Spirit of God will give us joy, even though we may be criticized and made fun of. The Spirit of God delights to hear the name of the Lord Jesus honored in this world.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night … then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

This is the only time the word “success” is found in our King James Version of the Bible. What does it mean here? It means more than simply success as this world might think about it, for it also means having wisdom and good judgment in what we do. Words in the Hebrew language often have multiple meanings.

Success can mean different things to different people. For many people, success is equated with getting plenty of money. I remember one of my classmates in university who said to us, “By the time I am middle-aged, I would like to have enough money to be able to buy a new house by paying cash for it.” Whether he reached this goal or not, I am not sure. But for him, success meant money.

Others have no interest in getting rich; they are motivated by other things. A man whom I knew well once applied for a job with a large insurance company, to sell insurance for them. After giving him a test to see how his thinking was about certain things, they said to him, “You would not be good at this job, for we can tell from this test that you are not interested in making money.” But that man wanted certain other things, and among them was his wish to have everything done his way. He got very upset if things were not done his way, and for this reason found it hard to work with others.

Still others want fame and recognition, while others want as much pleasure as possible. Others value power, and want to be able to “tell people what to do.” But God’s view of success is brought out in this verse; it is obeying the Word of God and paying full attention to what God says. If we do this, we might not have as much success in this world, but we will be rewarded in a coming day when we are with the Lord. That kind of success is really worthwhile!

This world measures success by something connected with this world, and which lasts only for this life. God measures success by how much we learn of Christ; this lasts for all eternity!

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

“And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only” (Matthew 17:8).

In Hebrews 12 the chapter begins by describing the Christian life as a marathon race. It is a race to be run with patience, for it lasts a lifetime. However, every good runner always has something before him — the end of the race. He looks toward the time when he will cross the finish line. But how much more wonderful it is if someone we love is waiting for us at that finish line!

As I write this in the fall of 2021, it is only a week since a girl named Kendra ran a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in Akron, Ohio, U.S.A. At the end of the race was a difficult hill which tired her out, but then as she came over the hill, she saw her boyfriend at the finish line holding up a big sign that said, “Kendra, will you marry me?” Needless to say, the sight of him waiting for her spurred her on, and she ran the last bit of the race with renewed energy. She gave him a big hug, and said, “Yes, I will!”

For you and me as Christians, heaven is at the end of the race, and this gives us energy to carry on running. But far more than that, our Lord Jesus Christ is waiting there too, to welcome us home. Does it give you renewed energy, to know that He is anxiously waiting for you?

If we do not have the end of the race in view, it is easy to get distracted along the way. It is easy to look around at things in this world, and to forget that we are even in a race. We must be like the Apostle Paul, who could say in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” God is “calling us on high,” and we must keep that goal before us.

Monday, April 20, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

To be conformed means to be like everybody else, and to fit into what is all around us. It also means to act according to tradition or accepted standards; to do what everyone else is doing. We all like to be accepted, and not to appear different from others around us. But our verse today tells us not to be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed. The Greek word for transformed is metamorphoo, from which we get our English word metamorphosis.

Perhaps some of you have studied science and biology, and have heard that term when you learned about caterpillars turning into moths and butterflies. When this happens, they are transformed into something different from what they were before. This is what the Lord wants us to do as Christians.

This does not mean that we deliberately dress in a weird way, or insist on driving horses and carriages instead of cars. It does not mean that we do not use modern conveniences such as telephones, computers, and washing machines. Rather, it means that we do not adopt the attitudes and practices of this world in a moral way. It may mean that we sometimes dress differently, for the kind of clothing that may be acceptable in this world is not always pleasing to the Lord. Our whole outlook should be, What would be honoring to the Lord? It should not be, What is everybody else doing?

When we walk with the Lord, we become more like Him. If we, by faith, behold “the glory of the Lord,” then we “are changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The word “changed” is the same Greek word translated “transformed” in our verse today. To be changed “from glory to glory” simply means that more and more we will become like Christ. It is wonderful to be like Him, more and more!

Sunday, April 19, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13).

Yesterday we spoke about roots, and how the redwood trees have roots that are intertwined with each other, so that they help to support one another. Today we are told to “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and to “make straight paths” for our feet, “lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.”

We all have an influence on others, whether we realize it or not. The Bible tells us that “none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7). Our influence on others can be either good or bad. If we are discouraged, we tend to discourage others. If someone else is lame in a spiritual way, we can either help him get healed, or we can discourage him further and be the means by which he misses the right path.

Perhaps we say, “But I am going through difficulties myself!” Then let us do what these verses tell us to do. We must recognize that the difficulties in our lives are allowed of the Lord to teach us something. Then, instead of getting discouraged, we are to stop thinking about ourselves, and start making straight paths for our feet. It is never right to feel sorry for ourselves. Rather, we are to look to the Lord for His help, and then be an encouragement to others.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith” (Colossians 2:6-7).

A tree must have roots in order to be able to withstand strong winds and storms. Probably the largest trees in the world today are the giant redwood trees that grow on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the U.S.A. They can grow up to 350 feet tall (about 107 meters) and can have a circumference of 30 feet (about 9 meters) or more.

Like other trees, when they are not under tremendous stress from conditions such as drought or fire, they channel all their energy into fortifying themselves. They take in nutrients that enable them to put down new, deeper roots and help them branch out in search of sunlight. This helps to ensure that they are strong and better prepared to withstand any adverse conditions that may lie ahead, from wind and rain, to drought, wildfires and more.

What is surprising is that their root systems rarely go down more than 6-12 feet (2-4 meters). But the redwood trees rarely fall over. The reason for this is that their root systems are intertwined with the roots of other redwood trees, so that they hold each other up. They grow very close together, and help each other to survive. They also share nutrients with one another.

These trees teach us a lesson too. We need to be well rooted in the love of Christ, and in the truth of God’s Word, in order not to be knocked over by storms in our lives. But we also need to support one another, like the redwood trees. If we see someone else who seems to be having difficulties, let us support them, so that they can continue on in the Christian pathway. Perhaps at another time, they will be able to be a help to us!

Friday, April 17, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth [struggles] in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22).

We live in a world of suffering. It has been that way ever since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, and brought sin into this world. Suffering and eventual death come to everything that lives in this world, whether man, animals, or plants. Sometimes people ask why it has to be this way, and why God allows such suffering. Does He not care? Those who do not want to believe in God may use suffering to dare to criticize God. They ask, “If He is truly God, why does He not do something about the suffering in this world?” Maybe you have heard this question, and do not know how to answer it.

It is true that God did not have to allow sin to enter this world. He could have kept Adam and Eve from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If God had done this, you and I would be enjoying the Garden of Eden today. But we would never have known the depths of love in the heart of God, and that He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. We would never have been able to spend eternity in the Father’s house; we would be living for all eternity here on earth. We would never have been brought into a relationship with God as our Father, or be the bride of Christ. We know all this, and enjoy all this, because the love of God has been shown out when sin entered this world.

Also, God has in His purposes to exalt and glorify His beloved Son. In His counsels in a past eternity, He purposed to have the Lord Jesus be Head over all things, both on earth and in heaven. God has been more glorified, and we have been far more blessed, than if sin had never entered this world.

Yes, there is still suffering here, and sometimes severe suffering. However, the suffering is temporary, and it will soon cease. When the Lord Jesus takes His rightful place, and the judgment is over, all tears will be wiped away. Then the joy and blessing will be eternal.

We cannot totally understand all this, for it is a plan of God. But we can accept what God has decided to do, accept Christ as our Savior, and enjoy all that He has given us.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26).

“Every way of man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2).

The English word “ponder” means to consider well, to think about. It comes from the Latin word “pondus,” which means “weight.” Sometimes we speak in English of “weighing something carefully,” and that is what the word ponder means. We think about it from every point of view, and do not act hastily.

In our verses today, we are told to ponder the path of our feet. This means that we do not act in a hurry, or make a sudden decision based on impulse and emotion. Rather we think about the matter carefully, and pray about it, asking the Lord for guidance. Then, when we do act, our ways are established, for we can have the confidence that we are going forward in the way the Lord wants us to go.

Of course, there are some things that we do not have to ponder, and should not pray about. If we have a definite scripture on which to act, we do not need to hesitate. For example, suppose a Christian young man was considering marrying a young woman who was not saved. Should he ponder that, and pray about it? No, because God is quite clear in His Word that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with believers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). To pray about something like that is really asking God to change His Word. Rather we should immediately act on God’s Word and break off that relationship. But in many things the pathway may not be clear to us, and then we need to “ponder the path” of our feet.

Then we learn that every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts. We may decide on our own to go a certain way, but then the Lord Himself does some pondering. He looks at our hearts and sees what is going on there. If we want to go our own way, our hearts are wrong, for we are wanting our own will instead of the Lord’s will. Then the Lord may have to bring difficulties into our life, in order to draw us back to Himself.

Let us make sure to consider carefully what we are about to do and ask the Lord for His help!

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

“That Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is more than simply “another Comforter,” although this is a very important part of His work in us. But He is also a “seal,” and “the earnest of our inheritance.” What does this mean?

When something is sealed, it carries authority. Maybe you have seen a document that has a special seal or a stamp on it, perhaps from a lawyer’s office, or a government official. This means that what is in the document is true and real, for it has been stamped by someone with authority. God does this with us too, by sending down His Holy Spirit to live in us. We now belong to Him!

But what does the word “earnest” mean? When people buy something large, like a house, they usually make an offer to buy it for a certain amount of money. When they sign their offer, they give the seller some “earnest money” (down payment money), to show that they really want that house, and that they are willing to pay the amount of money on the paper. If the seller accepts the offer, but the buyer decides that he does not want the house, then the seller keeps the “earnest money.”

But the Lord wants us so badly that He has given something as a down payment that is worth more than we are! He has sent His Holy Spirit to live in us! What are we worth, compared to the Spirit of God? Yet God sends down His Holy Spirit, to assure us that He will complete His purchase. When will that happen?

It will happen when the Lord Jesus comes back to take us home, and we get our glorified bodies. Then God will complete His purchase of us, although the price has already been paid at Calvary’s cross. But God wants us to be completely convinced that He will keep His promise, so He has sent down His Holy Spirit to live in us. This is so wonderful. We sometimes do not realize how much God wants us for Himself!

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Several times we have mentioned the Holy Spirit, and how He dwells in every true believer. I would like to explain this a little more. When the Lord Jesus was here on earth, He looked after all the needs of His disciples, and showed them where to go and what to do. But after His work on the cross He was going back to heaven. His disciples were very sad to hear this, but the Lord Jesus pointed out that when He went back to heaven, He would send down “another Comforter,” who would remain with them forever. He was referring to the Holy Spirit, and here He is called the Spirit of truth.

In our second verse the Lord Jesus says that “He (the Holy Spirit) dwelleth with you,” That means that He was in the Lord Jesus, for all His activities were done in the power of the Spirit of God. The disciples had seen the power of the Holy Spirit in all that the Lord Jesus did here in this world. But then the Lord Jesus said, “[He] shall be in you.” That means that when the Holy Spirit came down, He would live in each true believer, and be their Guide and Comforter instead of the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost, after the Lord Jesus had ascended back up to heaven; you can read about it in Acts 2:1-11. At that time the Holy Spirit came upon each believer in that room, and from that time on they were indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Now, after each new believer accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior, they are also indwelt with the Holy Spirit. A true Christian is one who has accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior, and who is then indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

He will never leave us, for the Lord Jesus says, “That He may abide with you for ever.” He is always with us, and when the Lord Jesus comes back to take us home to be with Him, the Holy Spirit leaves this world too. He will depart with us when the Lord comes for us, and will be with us for all eternity! What a wonderful thing it is, to have an actual Person of the Godhead — one of the Trinity, living in us! How careful we should be in our behavior, in view of this “divine Guest” who is in us.

Monday, April 13, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“The Midianites came up … and destroyed the increase of the earth … and left no sustenance (food) for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass” (Judges 6:3-4).

“Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11).

The Midianites are mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. They were actually related to the children of Israel, as they were the children of Midian, who was a son of Abraham by his second wife Keturah. However, they ended up being a real enemy of Israel, and in the time of Gideon they ruled over the children of Israel for seven years. They not only took all the good food that the Israelites grew on their land, but they took the animals too, so that there was nothing left for the people to eat. The Amalekites were also involved in all this, and it seems as if the Midianites and the Amalekites worked together to make as much trouble for Israel as possible. The Lord had allowed them to do this because the children of Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

However, we read that a young man named Gideon actually had some wheat, and was threshing it by a winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. A winepress is a very large container where grapes are pressed to make juice, which is then turned into wine. It was large enough to hide behind. But where did Gideon get the wheat, if the Midianites were taking it all? I am not sure, but he was going to have food in spite of the Midianites, and the Lord allowed him to get some. He was threshing the wheat to get rid of the chaff, and then probably he was going to grind the wheat into flour and use it to make bread.

The wheat here is a picture of the Lord Jesus, and if we really want to have spiritual food for our souls, we can get it. Sometimes as young people we may feel that we do not get much food out of going to meetings or reading the Word of God, but if we really want to know more about the Lord Jesus, the Lord will make it possible. The Midianites and the Amalekites are like the world, and like our old sinful nature — they combine to try and take away our spiritual food. It takes spiritual energy to overcome all this, but let us be like Gideon, who was energetic enough to get some wheat and get it ready to make food for himself. He was getting natural food, but as I have said, for us it is a picture of spiritual food, which every Christian needs.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“And He … calleth unto Him whom He would … And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach” (Mark 3:13-14).

At the beginning of His public service for God His Father, we find that the Lord Jesus had many followers. For some of them the Lord had a special place, and here in our verses today we find that He specially chose the twelve disciples. The others could follow Him too, and also be referred to as His disciples, but the twelve He chose were to be extra close to Him.

But notice carefully the things that are said about these twelve disciples, and the order in which the things are said about them. There were two important things for them to do.

First of all, it says that “they should be with Him.” The Lord Jesus valued their company, and He values our company too. If they were going to be any use to Him, they needed to spend time with Him, and to enjoy His companionship. The twelve disciples happily did this, and they all gave up their jobs in order to spend their time with the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus does not ask us necessarily to give up our jobs, but He does want us to enjoy being with Him. Of course, we cannot actually see and touch the Lord Jesus the way that these disciples did, for He is not here on earth now. But by faith we can be in His company, because every true believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. It is more important to spend time with the Lord Jesus, than to go out and do something for Him.

But then, the second thing the Lord Jesus wanted was to “send them forth to preach.” When we are young we like activity, and perhaps we really want to do something for the Lord. This is good, and the Lord appreciates our service for Him. We are not all preachers, but it is important to do what He wants us to do, and to do it when He wishes. We will not know this unless we have spent time with Him. In His company we learn more about Him and become more like Him. Then we are better able to serve Him!

Saturday, April 11, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you” (1 Corinthians 12:21).

“But God hath tempered [carefully arranged] the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked” (1 Corinthians 12:24).

Here the Apostle Paul talks about a problem that is opposite to the one about which we spoke yesterday. As we saw yesterday, sometimes there are those in the body of Christ who think they are so little and unimportant that they are no use to the body at all. But here in today’s verse we see how one part of the body can think that it is so important that it does not need the others.

The eye is a very complicated part of the body, and a very important one. Without sight, it is very difficult to lead a normal life. Many blind people do manage to lead very useful lives, and to have jobs that enable them to support themselves. I even knew of a medical doctor who was blind, and yet he saw patients, examined them, prescribed medication, and acted just the way any other doctor would. But of course there were some things he could not do without sight.

However, our second verse shows us that while some parts of the body are not seen, and are not so prominent, yet these parts of the body are absolutely essential. For example, we could live without our eyes, or our hearing, or even with only one arm or one leg. In fact, I have known people who lost both arms, or both legs, and yet survived. But we could not live without our liver, or our heart, or our lungs. No, if we were missing any one of these, our body would die. They are not seen, but they are necessary.

It is like this in the body of Christ. Sometimes those who do not seem so important are actually more necessary than those who are well-known. For this reason it is a big mistake for someone with a lot of knowledge of the Bible, or someone who has a real gift in doing something, to think that he is so important that he does not need the other members of the body. Every member is important, and every member is needed. We need to respect how that the Lord has “set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Friday, April 10, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (1 Corinthians 12:14-16).

Perhaps you have heard from the Bible that believers in the New Testament now form what is called the church, or the assembly. This did not exist in the Old Testament, but was formed on the day of Pentecost, as we read in Acts 2. But those who form the church are also called the body of Christ. He is the Head of the body, and He is up in heaven, while we are the body here on earth.

We can understand how a body works, for we all have bodies. They enable us to walk, to do things with our hands, to see, to speak, to smell, and to hear. Our bodies also do many things for us that we do not see. Our heart pumps blood, our lungs breathe for us, our stomach and bowels digest food, and our kidneys get rid of waste. But all this goes on inside us, where we cannot see it.

All these parts of our body are important, and so is every part of the body of Christ. In our verses today, it supposes that perhaps the foot might not feel very important, because it is not the hand. Or the ear might wish it were the eye. This happens in the body of Christ too, for some people wish they had something that others have. One believer may be a good preacher, and others may wish they could preach like him. But someone else may have more money and seem to be able to do more for the Lord by giving. We might wish for more money too.

But the Lord knows how to put His body together, and He knows what each one must do. Just as our human body has some parts that are hidden, so the body of Christ has those who do things privately — things that everyone does not know about. Yet they are very important. So let us not think that we are any less important than some others, for every part of the body is necessary. Let us be content to do what the Lord has fitted us for.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).

“Enjoin [emphasize] on those rich in the present age … to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing … laying by for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of what is really life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 JND).

There is a difference between “laying hold on eternal life,” and laying hold “of what is really life.” If we are truly saved, we know that we already have eternal life, because we have believed on the Lord Jesus. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). In our first verse today, Paul is writing to Timothy, who was certainly a true believer, so that Paul is not speaking to him about being saved.

Paul is telling Timothy to enjoy the fact that he has eternal life, and to allow that new life he had in Christ to show itself in the way he lived. We can have something, yet not enjoy it. I remember reading about a man who bought a new car back in the 1930’s. That is more than ninety years ago! Yet when he became an old man and died, they found the car in his barn, and it had never been driven! Those who found it said that it still smelled like a new car. That man spent his money on a car, but never enjoyed it. But the Lord wants us to enjoy our new life in Him, and this will take energy, for we are told to “fight the good fight of faith.” Satan will try to bring many difficulties into our lives and tempt us to give up. But to enjoy eternal life we must not allow this to happen; we must use spiritual energy to live for the Lord Jesus.

On the other hand, to “lay hold on what is really life” means that instead of thinking of ourselves, we use our time and extra money to serve the Lord Jesus, and to help others. Then we will find true happiness. This will happen even to people who are not saved. Those who are selfish and always wanting more for themselves are usually not happy, and do not enjoy life. They find fault with others and are always looking for ways to make themselves richer, often at other people’s expense. But those who help others find pleasure in it and enjoy their lives.

But how much more is this true of Christians! If we use our money and other possessions for the Lord, and to help others, we will find real joy in it, for it is like the heart of God. God is a giving God, and He wants us, as His children, to be like Him.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“In the multitude of my anxious thoughts within me Thy comforts have delighted my soul” (Psalm 94:19 JND).

Perhaps you have not had many anxious thoughts in your life yet, but since the Covid problem began, it has disrupted many people’s lives, and especially the lives of young people. Maybe you are one of those who is really concerned about what is going to happen. Perhaps you are a little concerned about the future — your education, your career, your prospects for getting married and having a family, and other matters too. Even though you are young, you may have anxious thoughts about some of these things. Maybe you have had to learn to “home school” because of the Covid problem, and you find this difficult. Some children and young people do not mind studying at home, while others would far rather go to class at school.

Other people have anxious thoughts about things that happened in the past. Several years ago I met a young man in the United States who had been involved in the war in Iraq, and who had been injured. His injuries had all healed up and he was gradually getting better, but he suffered from what is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This simply means that every now and then he had bad memories of the fighting, the bombs, the guns and bullets, and even seeing some of his friends die in battle. All of this would frequently flash through his mind and scare him again. Because of his injuries he suffered from pain in his back, even though he was a strong young man. He was trying to find a job to support his wife and three children, and he had many anxious thoughts.

King David too had anxious thoughts at times, and in our verse he tells us that when that happened, the comforts of the Lord delighted his soul. If we look to Him, the Lord is able to comfort us when we have concerns in our life, for He loves us and cares for us. Let us go to Him about our anxious thoughts, and let Him comfort us!

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another … and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16).

“This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

“Remembering Mine affliction and My misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance” (Lamentations 3:19-20).

When the Lord blots out our sins, He has promised not to remember them anymore. We might ask, Does the Lord not have a perfect memory? Yes, He does, but He chooses not to remember some things. I remember a true story about a Christian woman who had been insulted some years before by a remark from another Christian woman. Later a friend asked the first woman about the insult, and she did not seem to remember it. The second woman supplied details about it, and finally asked, “Don’t you remember that?” “No,” the first woman replied, “I distinctly remember forgetting it!” That was a good answer, and it is what the Lord does with our sins; He chooses to forget them, because they were paid for at the cross.

But the Lord does remember some things. He remembered when there were those in the time of Malachi who spoke to one another about Him, and thought about Him. He even wrote a “book of remembrance” about it, because it meant so much to Him. In a coming day, when the Lord hands out rewards for faithfulness, I think we will be surprised at some of the things for which He rewards us, for probably we will have forgotten them. But He will remember even if we give someone a cup of cold water in His name.

But then, the Lord has asked us to remember something. Just before He went to the cross, the Lord Jesus showed His disciples how to eat from a broken loaf of bread, and drink from a poured out cup of wine. Then He said, “This do in remembrance of Me.” It was not a command, but a request, and it speaks to our hearts. The Lord values it very much if we remember all that He suffered for us, and wants us to do this for Him. According to our last verse today, the Lord Jesus Himself remembers it all, and He wants us to remember it too.

Monday, April 6, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

“For bodily exercise profiteth for a little (for a little time): but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation” (1 Timothy 4:8-9).

“It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11).

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8).

Here we have four verses, all written to individuals (Timothy and Titus), telling them some things that are “faithful sayings.” The word “faithful” means something that is firm and definite, and a faithful saying is something that does not change.

The first verse concerns our salvation, for we were all sinners, and needed to be saved. Paul adds, “Of whom I am chief.” Why would he say that? We get the answer in a previous verse — “I … was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Timothy 1:13). As a young man, Paul (then Saul) had persecuted the Christians, and for this reason he considered himself to be the worst sinner. If he could be saved, anyone could!

The second verse concerns how we spend our time. Do we put a lot of effort into bodily exercise, or do we spend our time on godliness? Yes, it is good to get some exercise, and as Paul says, it does profit for a little time. But if we exercise ourselves unto godliness, it will last not only for this life, but also for all eternity. Many people today spend a lot of time keeping their bodies in good shape — jogging, lifting weights, sometimes running marathons, etc., but perhaps do not think much about godliness. But you and I, as Christians, should not only keep our bodies in shape, but should also spend even more time on godliness. The benefit from this will last forever!

The third verse concerns our being dead with Christ. What does this mean? According to Romans chapter 6, we are dead and risen with Christ. This means that we have died to sin, and are to let our new life in Christ show itself in the way we live down here. We do not take part in the sinful activities of this world, but rather live for the Lord’s glory.

Finally, in our fourth verse, we are told to keep on doing good works. The expression “good works” occurs four times in the book of Titus. This was because the people in Crete, to whom Titus was being sent, were naturally lazy, and were used to doing bad things. Then when they became Christians, they still had that tendency. They needed to remember that now that they were saved, they should do good works, not bad ones. We need this reminder.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made … for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

“The powers that be are ordained of God … for he is the minister of God to thee for good” (Romans 13:1, 4).

It was after Noah came out of the ark that God started government in the world, and it has existed ever since. We ought to be thankful for it, as before the flood, when there was no government, the Bible says that “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11). If we did not have any government, it would be that way today.

I remember about fifty years ago when the police went on strike in a large eastern Canadian city. The strike lasted only for about twenty-four hours, but a lot of crime was committed during that day. By the end of the strike, six banks had been robbed, a hundred shops had been looted, twelve fires had been set, forty carloads of storefront glass had been broken, and three million dollars in property damage had occurred. The government finally had to call in the army and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to restore order.

Perhaps we sometimes complain that our government is unjust, or perhaps wastes money and does not do a good job, but in our verses today we are told to pray for them. We are also to give thanks for them, for they keep the world in at least some measure of order and safety. Without government, the world would descend into crime and disorder.

Of course there have always been corrupt governments in this world, and in the days when the Apostle Paul wrote today’s verses, the Roman government was very corrupt. The emperors were sometimes wicked men who lived in luxury while others had to pay high taxes to support them in their extravagant lifestyle. Yet the Lord wants us to honor those in authority, and to pray for them. Let us remember to do that.

Saturday, April 4, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith … speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Yesterday we spoke about our conscience, and how it requires light in order to work properly. Today we are reading about those who have their conscience “seared with a hot iron.” What does this mean?

Probably very few of you have ever had a really deep burn on your body, but if you have, it will have healed with scar tissue. That scar tissue does not have much feeling in it; it is not sensitive to touch and pain the way normal skin is. On cattle ranches they sometimes brand cattle with a hot iron, which burns off the hair and leaves a distinctive mark that shows everyone that the animal belongs to a certain rancher. But the area that is branded does not have much feeling on that part of the skin.

When the Bible talks about a conscience that is “seared with a hot iron,” it means that the person’s conscience has become like a scar, or a brand; it does not have much feeling in it. If we are reading God’s Word, and walking with the Lord, we will have a tender conscience that will immediately feel it when something comes up that is displeasing to the Lord. But if we get away from the Lord, quit reading our Bible, and stop having a time of prayer every day, then we may develop a seared conscience. Then we are not quite as sensitive to things that are not pleasing to the Lord. We will do things that used to bother our conscience, but now seem all right.

It is a good thing to have a tender conscience before the Lord, and to react to temptations and sin according to the light of God’s Word. We must read His Word and walk with Him in order to have this. If we find ourselves getting a seared conscience, let us ask the Lord to help us get back into a walk with Him, and let us confess whatever may have come into our lives that got us into that wrong way of thinking.

Friday, April 3, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).

This is the Apostle Paul speaking to the Jewish council, and it was a true statement. Yet in his younger years, when he was known as Saul of Tarsus, we find him persecuting Christians, putting them in prison. How could this be? He even stood by when Stephen was being stoned to death, and thought it was a good thing to do (read Acts 7).

The answer is that in those days, Saul (later Paul) did not know any better, and he thought he was doing the right thing. His conscience at that time did not bother him when he did all this.

Adam and Eve got a conscience when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and suddenly they had a sense of right and wrong. Everyone since then has had a conscience. Why then do people sometimes do terrible things, yet think they are doing something right? The answer is that we all have some sense of right and wrong, but our conscience can be compared to our eyes. We may have good eyes, but if the room is very dark, we cannot see very well. If a room is totally dark, we cannot see anything, even if we have good eyes.

In order to work properly, our conscience needs light — the light of the Word of God. We read in Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Thy words giveth light.” Then we have a proper sense of right and wrong as God sees them, and our conscience is very useful to us. But I have been in some countries where most people follow false religions, and these people often lie, steal, cheat people, play mean tricks on others, and many other bad things. Yet their consciences do not bother them, for their religion tells them it is sometimes all right to do those things.

Even Christians can do wrong things and not have a bad conscience about them, if they do not know the Word of God. How important then it is to be familiar with the Bible, and to have a conscience that reminds us of right and wrong.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

“In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

Down through the ages, and particularly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, there have sometimes been righteous nations in the world. God has prospered and exalted them, but then more recently some of those nations have gradually given up God and the Bible. As a result the second part of our first verse has become true; sin makes them look bad to other nations. In some of these countries today, people are not at all concerned with what is right or wrong, but only with what they can “get away with.” God has allowed difficulties and problems to come in, and the affairs of these countries have not gone smoothly. Yet most often man does not admit God’s hand in all this; he only tries all the harder to fix the problem by human means.

About fifty or sixty years ago a good friend of mine, an older man now with the Lord, was handing out gospel tracts in the U.S.A. Some teenage boys came along, laughed at him, and refused to take them. He replied wisely, “Boys, I am sorry to see you reject the very thing that has made America great!” This made them think, and they eventually took his gospel tracts.

In the world of today, instead of the righteousness that should be evident, we often find ourselves in our second verse — “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.” But this is an opportunity for us, for the darker the night is, the brighter a light shines. This world is getting darker, but then you and I as Christians should shine all the more for the Lord. We do not have much longer to shine for Him, for He is coming soon. This world needs you and me to shine for the Lord!

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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Growing in Grace

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

“And His name shall be called … Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6).

We all realize how valuable good advice is! As our first verse says, if there is no counsel, the people fall. In most of the governments of this world, those in authority have counselors, or advisors, who are able to look at situations and recommend what should be done. Often they have a number of these counselors, and they listen to all of them. Then, putting all their advice together, they decide what to do. To be a counselor to someone else is a serious job, for it is easy to give bad counsel, and cause a lot of harm.

In the Old Testament king David had one special counselor named Ahithophel. He gave good counsel, for the Bible says that his counsel “was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God” (2 Samuel 16:23). Evidently he had a very special ability to consider a problem and give very good advice. Yet he made a sad mistake in following Absalom, David’s son, who wanted to kill David and take over as king. The Lord allowed Ahithophel’s counsel to be rejected, although it was good counsel, and instead Absalom took the advice of a man named Hushai, who was loyal to David. This resulted in Absalom’s being defeated. (You can read this story in 2 Samuel, chapters 16 and 17).

You and I, as Christians, never have to say, “We have no counsel.” No, for our second verse talks about the One whose name is Counsellor, and it is speaking about the Lord Jesus. No matter what kind of problem or question we have, we can go to Him for good counsel. He will never give us bad advice! Of course, sometimes we can go for advice to someone we trust, perhaps our parents, or a godly older Christian, and they can be a real help to us. But no one can replace the Lord Himself. Let us remember that one of His names is Counsellor!