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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

March 2026

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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

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“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (Acts 23:6).
If we go back to the history of the Apostle Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, we now find him brought before the Jewish council. In human terms, what Paul said in our verse for today would be considered a “master stroke of gamesmanship.” When the council was attacking him, Paul introduced the one subject on which they disagreed with one another—the resurrection of the dead (notice verse 8). This threw the council into confusion and resulted in an uproar. They forgot about accusing Paul and instead fought with each other.
But was this the right thing to do? No, for we never need to resort to human means to achieve something, if we belong to the Lord. Paul admitted this himself, when later he was speaking before the Roman governor Felix in Caesarea (see Acts 24:20-21). Paul walked with the Lord, and quickly realized that the way he had acted before the council was not faith in the Lord. He was willing to admit publicly that what he had said was not right for a Christian. The Lord is over all, and can look after us; we do not need to resort to the world’s means to make things right.

Monday, March 30, 2026

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“And the Lord said unto Moses…thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves” (Exodus 32:7).
“Now therefore, I [Moses] pray Thee…that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people” (Exodus 33:13).
When the people of Israel had made a golden calf to worship, the Lord was very angry with them. He then tested Moses by referring to them as “thy people,” and told Moses to let Him destroy them all. To replace them, the Lord said that He would make of Moses a great nation (see Exodus 32:10). It was a tempting offer, for what the people had done was very serious.
But Moses had spent time in the Lord’s presence, and he had the heart of the Lord towards the people. Also, he had the Lord’s honor and glory before him, and not the pride that would have wanted himself to be made a great nation. He continually reminded the Lord that they were His people, and that it was His power that had brought them out of Egypt. The Lord knew that Moses would react like this, and it was what His own heart wanted too. Then the Lord did not destroy the people, but forgave them, and told Moses to go ahead and lead them into the land of Canaan.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

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“I became in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10 JND).
It is interesting to notice that this verse contains the only reference to the first day of the week as “the Lord’s day.” Also, the words were uttered by a man (the Apostle John) who had been banished to the island of Patmos, and probably had no Christian fellowship there. Yet he recognized the importance of the first day of the week, calling it the Lord’s day, even though he likely could not remember the Lord in the normal way. Notice too that he says that he “became in the Spirit.” Likely there were worldly influences around him, and in order to be in the Spirit, he had made an effort to put those things out of his mind. But it was on that day that the Lord spoke to him, with a voice like a trumpet.
All this is good for us to remember. Most of us are not banished from our brethren, as John was, but do we devote the Lord’s day to Him? Do we recognize His lordship over us, and use the day for Him? Yes, some of us may be compelled to work occasionally on a Lord’s day, but do we treat the day as His, as much as possible? It is a day when we can honor the Lord Jesus, first of all by remembering Him in death, and then by using our time and energy for Him.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

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“And He [the Lord] said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live” (Acts 22:21-22).
Here we see Paul trying to explain the gospel to that Jewish mob, and trying to show them why he preached the way he did. They listened to him until he spoke about going out to preach to the Gentiles, and then they started a riot. They could not bear to think that God was going to bless the Gentiles, who were outside the nation of Israel. But even back in the Old Testament, God had spoken quite a few times about bringing the Gentiles into blessing too, and the Jews should have realized this. However, they did not want to believe it, and sadly, it is easy to refuse something when we do not want to believe it.
Most of you who read this calendar are Gentiles, and we should all be very thankful that God chose to bring us into blessing in Christ. Yes, the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people, and He has not forgotten about them. But for now, God is forming His church from every race and nation, and both Jews and Gentiles may come and be saved on the same basis.

Friday, March 27, 2026

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“And when he [the Apostle Paul] came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him” (Acts 21:35-36).
“But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:15).
When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the Jewish mob cried out to the Roman governor Pilate, “Away with Him,” for they wanted to get rid of the Lord Jesus. It was probably about thirty years later that the Apostle Paul was in Jerusalem, and we find a large mob of Jews crying out the same words. The crowd was all worked up into religious fanaticism, and they wanted to get rid of Paul too. Why was this?
It was because Paul was teaching that the Lord Jesus was the Messiah, and that He had died on the cross to save those same people who were so upset. More than this, Paul was teaching those Jews who got saved that they did not need to carry on with Jewish laws and rules, or Jewish sacrifices, and other things that were only pictures of what the Lord Jesus had done. All this roused the hatred of the Jews, and they wanted to kill Paul too. But there was another reason why they hated Paul; we will see that tomorrow.
We need to remember this too. If this world did not want the Lord Jesus, it will not want us either. We may not always be harmed or killed, but we will not be popular in this world if we are faithful.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

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“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
During World War II, nations on both sides of the conflict tried many different plans and tricks to try and fool the other side, and to get an advantage over them. Sometimes they were very successful, as when the British pretended to be gathering a large army in Scotland in 1944, leading Germany to think that they were about to begin an invasion of Europe in Norway and the French city of Calais. But the real plan was to invade France in the region of Normandy, and this occurred on D-day—June 6, 1944.
However, our verse today reminds us that we cannot plan anything against the Lord, for He knows it all beforehand, and His power will overcome any of man’s designs. Man forgets about that, and thinks that he can make anything happen, if only he is smart enough, and plans well enough. But the Lord always has the last word; we cannot plan against Him.
It is so important to remember this in our personal lives, and to pray about everything we do. If we have the mind of the Lord in our plans, they will not fail.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

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“And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard…and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden…and finding disciples, we tarried there seven days” (Acts 21:2-4).
If you have studied ancient history, you will remember that Tyre was a very old city, dating from at least 1000 B.C. It is mentioned in the Old Testament in connection with David and Solomon. The Tyrians were a commercial people, and although Tyre had been conquered and largely destroyed by Alexander the Great, it was still an important seaport and commercial place in Roman times. However, Paul does not mention any of this. Rather, he was overjoyed to find believers there, and he stayed with them a week.
We ought to see the world the way Paul and others in the early church did. Nowadays many young people want to visit as many places in this world as possible. Rather than collecting “things,” they want a passport full of foreign visas and stamps. Yes, it is fun to visit various parts of the world, but our aim ought to be to spread the gospel, and to encourage other believers, rather than simply making “tourist” visits. Everything in this world will be destroyed eventually, but we will spend all eternity with our brethren. It is good to enjoy their company now!

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

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“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).
There are many things that can be an encouragement and a help to us in our Christian pathway—good Christian friends, a nice assembly where we can go, others who have an interest in gospel work, a nice Christian family, to name a few. However, Paul does not mention any of these things when he takes leave of the Ephesian elders. No, because anything connected with man may fail us. We may find that there are not many Christian friends available to us, or we may find that those in our local gathering do not encourage us much.
However, the Lord Himself, and also His Word, never change. The Lord is always there for us, and when we read His Word, we are built up, and learn more about that inheritance that is ours. We may enjoy the help of others, either from individuals, or collectively, but they are a help only inasmuch as they bring God and His Word before us. We do not need anything else.

Monday, March 23, 2026

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“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
It is interesting that it was the Apostle Paul who wrote these words, as he never knew the Lord Jesus when He was here on earth. Paul never heard the Lord Jesus actually say those words. Someone must have told Paul what the Lord Jesus said, and he repeats it here, when he was speaking to the Ephesian elders. But it is a very important truth to remember.
The happiest Christians are those who are givers, for it is being more like the Lord Jesus Himself. God is a giving God, and has given us the greatest gift of all—His own beloved Son. Now He calls us to be givers too.
Naturally we all like to be takers, but there is a special joy in being a giver, and giving glorifies God too. When we have received so much, it is wonderful to be able to give to others.

Sunday, March 22, 2026

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“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
If we are true Christians, we have the privilege of remembering the Lord every Lord’s day. Of course, we can do it oftener than that too, but it is especially important to do it on Lord’s day—the day He rose from the dead. However, Paul reminded the Corinthians that it was a privilege they would have only until the Lord comes to take us home.
When we are in heaven, we will certainly remember that the Lord suffered for us, but we will not need a loaf of bread and a cup of wine. We will forever be able to see the nail prints in His hands and the spear mark in His side, to remind us of how much He suffered for us.
However, it is a special privilege to be able to remember Him down here in this world. It is here that He suffered for us, and it is here that we can “show the Lord’s death” to the world. If you are truly saved, are you remembering the Lord in His death?

Saturday, March 21, 2026

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“And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot” (Acts 20:13).
We all realize the importance of getting some regular exercise, and perhaps some of you like to jog, work out with weights, or play sports, etc. Others, perhaps older people, like to ride stationary bikes or run on treadmills. Here in our verse for today we see the Apostle Paul wanting to walk from Troas (Troy) to Assos. It was quite a distance—about 20 miles, or 32 km. I like to think that he felt the need for some exercise, and perhaps a chance to be alone with the Lord, rather than having to talk to other people the whole distance. So all the others (you can read their names in verse 4) went by ship, while Paul walked.
This is the wonderful thing about the Word of God. It is truly inspired, and every word was written by those who were led by the Spirit of God, yet there is still a “human touch” in it. It is not just a dry record of what happened. All those whose lives are recorded in the Bible were real people, just like ourselves, and they had the same struggles and needs as we have.

Friday, March 20, 2026

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“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6).
This verse was true three thousand years ago when Solomon wrote it, and it is true today. If something good happens to people today, they usually take credit for it themselves. But if something bad happens to them, they usually blame someone else for it. They say it was someone else’s fault. When people write a resume, if they are looking for a job, they usually exaggerate their good points, and minimize their faults. Even while speaking to the police, or in court, people often tell wild stories about what happened in, say, a car accident, to try and make it look as if the other driver was at fault.
As our proverb says, “A faithful man who can find”? You and I, as Christians, should be faithful ones who can be depended upon to tell the truth, even if we are in the wrong. This is honoring to the Lord, and although we may suffer in the short term, in the long run we will be honored of the Lord for being truthful.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

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“And the whole city was filled with confusion…and when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre” (Acts 19:29-31).
“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia…insomuch that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8).
It is always good to listen to the advice of others, and later Paul was probably very glad that the disciples and some of his friends persuaded him not to venture into the theatre at Ephesus to try and speak to the crowd. The crowd was fanatical and “all worked up emotionally,” and they were not in any mood to listen to Paul. Later, as we find out in our second verse, written later in 2nd Corinthians, Paul realized how dangerous the situation really was. He could easily have lost his life, if he had tried to go in among that wild mob.
If you read the whole story in Acts 19:23-41, you will find out why there was such a riot in Ephesus at that time. But Paul escaped, and was not harmed. Once again, Paul’s conduct is a good example for us. Sometimes we really want to do something for the Lord, but others can see that it would be dangerous for us to do it. It is a good thing for us to listen to their advice.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

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“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men” (Acts 19:19).
When many came to know the Lord in Ephesus, they burned a lot of books that had to do with “curious arts” and charms. These books were all about idol worship, and had brought those people under Satan’s power. Satan has many ways of working, and uses such things as Ouija boards, charms, bands around people’s arms, casting spells, etc. These books were all about this kind of thing, and when people got saved, they wisely burned all those books that they owned. They wanted to get rid of anything that reminded them of Satan’s power, and the captivity in which they had been held.
You and I may not be involved in anything like that, but if we have anything that takes us away from the Lord, and reminds us of what we were like before we were saved, it is a good idea to get rid of it. Then we will not be tempted to go back to something that can only be a hindrance to our spiritual growth.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

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“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12).
“And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father” (John 14:12).
The city of Ephesus was a well-known center for false religion and idol worship, and the temple to the goddess Diana is still regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. But God was going to save many in that city. He used Paul especially to show that God’s power was far greater than Satan’s. Some things he did were even greater works than the Lord Jesus did while He was on earth, for we never read of handkerchiefs or other pieces of cloth belonging to the Lord Jesus being used for healing, or casting out of demons.
God was clearly demonstrating the power of a risen Christ in glory, after He had completed the work on the cross, and was triumphant over Satan. Now Satan was clearly a defeated enemy, and those who followed the Lord were able to perform wonderful miracles, to prove that what they said was from God Himself. As a result, a great number came to know the Lord in Ephesus, where many people had previously followed Satan and worshiped idols.

Monday, March 16, 2026

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“The borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).
“Owe no man any thing” (Romans 13:8).
Today almost every adult has at least one credit card, and they are very handy when you go shopping, for then you do not need to carry a lot of cash. However, they have also made it easy for people to get into debt, and sometimes big debt. As I write this in February, 2024, here in Canada 92% of those who have credit cards are unable to pay off their balance when it is due. Then they end up paying a huge amount of interest on the money they owe.
If you are a young person, and perhaps do not have a credit card of your own yet, these verses give good advice. Make a firm resolve not to use a credit card unless you have the money in the bank to pay it off. That way you will not get into debt, and you will honor the Lord by not owing money that you cannot pay. Also, you will save yourself a lot of worry and stress.

Sunday, March 15, 2026

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“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot…and he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him [the Lord Jesus] unto them” (Luke 22:3-4).
I would not expect most of you to know this, but today’s date is the anniversary of another betrayal and murder. On this date, in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar, the first dictator/emperor of Rome, was assassinated by a group of about forty Roman senators, most of whom resented Caesar because he had become dictator for life. One of the principal men involved in the plot was a man named Brutus, whom Caesar had befriended and supported. Julius Caesar was not expecting to be killed that day, and most of all, he did not expect Brutus to be involved.
But the Lord Jesus knew all about Judas Iscariot’s plot to betray Him, and how he would be rewarded by the Jewish leaders for this. All this shows us how far a wicked person can go in pretending to be a true believer, yet all the while be ready to betray the Lord Jesus for a sum of money.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

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“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
God is not working specifically with any one nation right now, for His grace goes out to every nation, telling them to come and be saved. However, when a nation does what is right, they are exalted, and things go well in that country. In years gone by, most western countries respected the Bible, and their laws and culture were built on Biblical principles. Sadly, all that has changed in the past few years, and many things that are sinful, and contrary to the Word of God, are being allowed and even made legal.
As a result, we are finding out the truth of the second part of today’s verse—“sin is a reproach [disgrace] to any people.” Things are not going well for many countries today—countries that used to be governed by Biblical principles. If man gives up God, then God often lets them feel the effect of dishonoring Him. We should not be surprised, for God has told us in His Word that this would happen. However, we must be on guard in our own lives, so as not to allow ourselves to become part of this sinful tendency. We must be even more familiar with the Word of God, for it is our moral standard, not what goes on in this world.

Friday, March 13, 2026

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“Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat” (Acts 18:17).
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother” (1 Corinthians 1:1).
When Paul preached in Corinth, the Jews tried to get him into trouble with the Roman authorities, but the judge (Gallio) would not listen to them, because their complaint had to do with Jewish law, and not Roman rule. Then the Greeks, who did not like the Jews anyway, beat Sosthenes, who was probably the leader in the complaint against Paul.
However, that is not the end of the story. Evidently Sosthenes got saved later on, and Paul referred to him when he wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians some time later. This is a good thing for us to remember. Sometimes those who oppose the gospel the most get saved later on, and then the Lord uses them in blessing to others. You will remember that the Apostle Paul, who before was Saul of Tarsus, was also a bitter enemy of the gospel, but after he was saved, he was a bright testimony for the Lord. Let us never give up on someone who seems to be against the gospel; the Lord may be working with them.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

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“A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him” (Proverbs 12:14).
We all understand the last part of this verse; that is, we realize that if we work with our hands, we can expect to be paid for it. But what does the first part mean? It says that we will also be rewarded for what we say. We may not get money for what we say, but there will be a reward of good.
I know a Christian man who operates a big business, and one day he was speaking to another man (an unbeliever) about a business matter. After while the other man said to him, “What religion are you? You seem to be at peace inside yourself.” Then the Christian was able to speak to him about the Lord Jesus, and tell him how he too could have peace with God about his sins, and be at peace about everything else too. Although he did not get money for it, my friend was “satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.” How we speak is important, for we may be the only Bible that unbelievers read. They should be able to see the “fruit of the Spirit” in us.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

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“Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila…with his wife Priscilla…and because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:1-3).
Tent making was an important trade in the Roman Empire, for the material was not only used for tents, but also for sails. Sometimes the skins of animals were used, sometimes the long hair of goats, and sometimes a type of linen. Many ships were propelled by rowers, but they often had sails too, so that the tentmakers were in high demand.
Also, every Jewish young man learned a trade, even if he were highly educated, as was the Apostle Paul. Then he had something with which to earn his living, if necessary. Paul spent much of his time preaching, but he was not afraid to get his hands dirty, as we say. He readily worked at his tentmaking to support himself in his work for the Lord, and this is a good example for us. Sometimes others helped Paul by sending him money, but he was also ready to work and support himself, if necessary. Also, when Aquila and Priscilla worked together with Paul, they had plenty of time to speak together about the things of the Lord. I wish I had been there to listen to Paul!

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

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“Paul…reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped, and in the market-place every day with those he met with. But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him. And some said, What would this chatterer say?” (Acts 17:16-18 JND).
When Paul saw all the idol worship in Athens, he felt that he had to say something. But when he preached about the Lord Jesus, and His resurrection, we find that the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him, while others dismissed Paul as a “chatterer.” Why would they do this, if they really wanted to hear something new?
They did not want to listen because Christianity makes nothing of man, and everything of Christ. The gospel tells man that he is a lost sinner, and needs a Savior. Those proud, educated Greeks did not want to hear that message. They wanted to hear news that would make them feel good about themselves, not news that told them they were sinners.
In natural things, the Epicureans and the Stoics were opposites, yet they worked together to oppose the gospel. See if you can find out what the Epicureans and Stoics believed. We have people today who fit into both categories.

Monday, March 9, 2026

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“All the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21).
The Greeks were a clever and a curious people, and Athens was the central city of Greece. All of the most intelligent and educated people gathered there, and spent their time telling or listening to the news. The news could be about anything—political news, commercial news, religious news—it did not matter, as long as it was something new and different.
Sadly, they worshiped all kinds of heathen gods, which were inventions of man’s mind, and had a lot of idols in the city.
There is nothing wrong with having a curious mind that wants to learn more, but tomorrow we will see whether they wanted to hear the real truth from the Apostle Paul.

Sunday, March 8, 2026

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“And some said…he [the Apostle Paul] seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18).
This is the Lord’s day—the day that our Lord rose from the dead. Those who preached the gospel in the early church clearly recognized the importance of emphasizing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for if He were still in the grave, He would be just like every other religious leader. But Christianity can show the world an empty tomb, for the One who once lay there is now risen, ascended to heaven, and seated there at God’s right hand.
Because He is risen from the dead, we can come together and remember Him in death. We could not remember Him in death if He were still dead; that would not make sense. My parents are both dead, as far as this world is concerned, and their bodies are in a grave. I remember them as they were when they were alive. But because the Lord Jesus is alive, we can remember Him in death. What a privilege that is!

Saturday, March 7, 2026

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“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
On a country road near our home, a young man who was only 19 years old was killed in a car crash last year (2023). Families and friends often put flowers and possibly a cross at the site where someone is killed, but this young man’s family did much more than that. They erected a box with solar lights in it, so that those lights are on every night, even in all the snow and cold of a Canadian winter. They want to remind everyone that their loved one was killed there.
We can certainly sympathize with his family and friends, but all this reminds us of the truth of our verse for today. Even if we live a full life, it is very short compared to eternity. Had that young man given any thought as to where he would spend eternity? We do not know, but it is too late for him to think about that now. But for those of us who are still alive, and able to think about eternity, how important it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and to be sure that whatever happens to us, we will go to be with Him!

Friday, March 6, 2026

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“And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go…But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out” (Acts 16:35,37).
When the magistrates told the serjeants (the police) to go and let Paul and Silas out of jail, Paul said that the magistrates should come themselves and bring them out. Was Paul right to insist on this? Yes, he was. He did not complain about what had happened to them, neither did he report it to higher authorities, and try to get the magistrates in trouble.
However, he wanted to reach the consciences of those magistrates, because they had acted unlawfully, and because they had beaten and imprisoned Paul and Silas without bothering to find out what really had happened. This is a good example for us too. If the world treats us wrongly we should submit to it, but it is not wrong on our side to remind them that they are doing wrong, and that they are responsible to God for their actions.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

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“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God…and suddenly there was a great earthquake…and immediately all the doors were opened…and the keeper of the prison…called for a light…and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:25-27,29-31).
When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, it certainly looked as if Satan had won. But God has His own ways of saving souls, and had His eye on the jailer who looked after that prison. When Paul and Silas prayed and sang, God allowed an earthquake to shake that prison so violently that all the doors were opened, and everybody’s bands (chains, stocks, etc.) were loosed. But no one escaped; the Lord kept them there, and Paul and Silas were able to tell the jailer how to be saved.
What a wonderful ending to a terrible time of beating and being imprisoned! Yes, it was awful to be beaten and imprisoned, but the Lord was working, and the jailer and his whole household believed. Paul and Silas probably carried scars from those beatings for the rest of their lives, but I am sure they thought it was worth it, to see that jailer and his family saved.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

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“But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas…and brought them to the magistrates…and the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison” (Acts 16:18-23).
Paul knew very well that it was an evil spirit that controlled that young woman, and he used the power of the name of the Jesus Christ to cast it out of her. But that woman was also controlled by some men who made money when she told people what she thought was going to happen in the future. Now that the evil spirit was gone, they would not make any more money from her. Satan was behind all this, for he knew that Paul and Silas would not want a demon to be connected with them and their gospel preaching. When Paul cast out the demon, Satan used it to get Paul and Silas beaten and eventually thrown into prison. He thought that this would put a stop to their preaching in Philippi. But the Lord got the victory, as we will see tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

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“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel [young woman] possessed with a spirit of divination met us…the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:16-17).
Paul and Silas had gone to the city of Philippi to preach the gospel, and they were there for quite a few days. During that time a young woman followed them, crying out that they were God’s servants, and showing people the way of salvation. Since the woman was possessed with an evil spirit (a demon), we might wonder why the spirit would tell the truth about Paul and Silas, and that they had come to Philippi to tell people how to get saved.
Does Satan really want people to get saved? No, he definitely does not. But Satan knows that God’s power is greater than his power, and he sometimes pretends to be part of the work of the Lord, in order to try and spoil it. This is exactly what happened there in Philippi, and we will see tomorrow what Satan did.

Monday, March 2, 2026

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“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23).
Last week, on Saturday, I said that we would see another kind of mountain today. I have used a verse from Mark’s gospel, but it is in connection with the same incident we saw on Saturday—the fig tree withering away.
Sometimes in our lives there are situations that seem like mountains to us. They are so big that we feel that we cannot handle them. I remember one occasion, when I was in high school, and a number of bad things happened to me all at once. When I look back on them, they do not seem all that serious, but they seemed like mountains then. Maybe this has happened to you too.
When this happens to us, we can go to the Lord in prayer, and ask Him to remove the mountain. He may not remove it right away, but He is able to deal with difficult and complicated situations that seem like mountains to us. But we must go to the Lord in faith and trust Him to help us. He is willing to do this for us, if we ask Him.

Sunday, March 1, 2026

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“The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner” (Matthew 21:42).
When stone masons are building a house or some other building, they must choose the stones carefully. Sometimes a stone does not seem to them to fit anywhere, and they discard it. The Jewish leaders took the place of being builders in a spiritual sense, and the Lord Jesus did not fit into their plans. They did not want Him, and tried to get rid of Him.
But what has happened? The very stone that the builders rejected has become the most important stone in the building—the corner stone. God is also building, and the Lord Jesus is now the cornerstone of that building. Everything is placed into that building according to His position. His death on Calvary’s cross fitted Him to be the cornerstone of God’s building, and you and I who are saved are now also stones in that building.
Our verse today is quoted from the Psalms. See if you can find it in the book of Psalms. Away back in the Old Testament, God had said that His Son would be rejected, but that He would end up being the most important stone in the building.
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