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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

July 2026

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Friday, July 31, 2026

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“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust” (Psalm 91:4).
Saved by a cup of tea! Well, we know it was much more than that. We were driving through upper New York state last week and my wife suggested that it was time for a break. Entering a small city, we spotted a McDonalds and pulled in for a cup of tea. It had begun to rain, and we ran for the door. Tea in hand we sat down at a table. The storm worsened and the power went off. Eventually the manager had forcibly to hold the door shut as the storm was now raging and blowing the door open to torrents of rain. We were thankful to have shelter.
A short while later as the rain lessened, we decided to go on our way. But the going was not as we had expected. A mile beyond our stop, a tornado had touched down. Trees were uprooted, signage ripped off buildings and power lines were dangling. But for the tea break, we would likely have been right in the middle of the damage. It was more than the wish for a cup of tea. We know it was the Lord’s direction and loving care of us.
As we go through our day-to-day experiences we often do not know how the Lord’s hand is directing and protecting us from danger. He has His eye on us, and His arms about us. Each day, let’s not forget to thank Him for His protection—protection that we may not even realize has been there.

Thursday, July 30, 2026

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“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
This verse gives us another aspect of our new life in Christ. We cannot work to obtain that new life in Christ, for it is a free gift through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. All that was necessary to obtain that free gift of eternal life has already been done.
However, once we have that new life, the Lord wants us to display that new life in our walk down here. Since we have the life of Christ, we are to walk as Christ did in this world. None of us does it perfectly, for we still have our old sinful fallen nature, and sometimes that old nature comes out in our behavior.
The Apostle Paul could say, “For me to live is Christ.” Christ was before him, and he used all his energy and time to live for Christ. Paul was not perfect, and we know that even he made mistakes, but he had as his one goal to live for Christ. Are you and I doing this?

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

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“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
This verse contains a wonderful truth that all of us need to understand and enjoy. It tells us that Christ is our life. What does that mean? It means that when we are saved, we have the same life as the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not have new life independent of Him, but rather, our life is hid with Christ in God. The Lord Jesus has given us His life—a life that can never end.
That means that we can never be lost, and that we are united to Christ forever. When He appears in glory in a coming day, we will appear with Him, for we are forever associated with Him. Whenever God the Father looks at you and me, He sees us as being “in Christ,” and sees us in all the perfection of Christ Himself.
With all the stresses and strains of everyday life, it is easy to forget about our wonderful position in Christ. We all need to remind ourselves of it, and enjoy it!

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

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“For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Back in the 19th century, the Osage Indians, who lived originally in what is now the state of Kansas, U.S.A., were forced by the U.S. government to move into what is now northern Oklahoma. However, in the early 20th century, oil was discovered on their land in Oklahoma, and suddenly many of the tribe became very wealthy from the royalties paid to them by oil companies. They lived in big houses, drove fancy cars, and led rich lifestyles.
Sadly, others who envied them began to try to steal their wealth, one way or another. Some of the Osage were poisoned, others were secretly murdered, while still others were cheated out of their wealth by deceitful managers, lawyers, and other so-called “guardians” who were appointed to help them manage their wealth. Finally, the U.S. government had to intervene to protect them.
Men have often spent their lives, and even lost their lives, in order to get money. But those who became rich had to learn that money does not make anyone happy. Yes, it may buy things that give us pleasure for a short time, but lasting happiness can be found only in Christ. He truly satisfies, because only He can fill our hearts.

Monday, July 27, 2026

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“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock…They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 65:25).
A few days ago, I saw a video on the internet which was filmed somewhere in Africa. A lioness had attacked a large buffalo, intending to bring it down, kill it, and then eat it. Often a lion is successful in something like this, but this time the buffalo won out. It managed to scoop up the lioness with its horns, and with one jerk of its powerful neck it tossed the lion about 25 feet into the air. It came down on the ground with a thump, and looked as if it were dead. If it was still alive, it was in no shape to go after the buffalo again.
The world is full of fighting between animals, and all of this is the result of sin. But as we see by today’s verse, all this will cease during the millennium. During this 1000-year reign of Christ over the earth, animals will not prey upon one another, as they do today. The carnivorous animals like the lion, tiger, and the wolf will be transformed, and will eat grass like the ox and the buffalo. What a wonderful and peaceful time that will be!

Sunday, July 26, 2026

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“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6).
When the Apostle John received the truth given to us in the book of Revelation, he learned much about the judgments that will eventually come upon this world. But before God gave him all this information, He mentions the basis of it all—the work that His beloved Son did on Calvary’s cross. As a result of what the Lord Jesus did on Calvary’s cross for God’s glory and our blessing, God is going to exalt His beloved Son. All unbelievers will be compelled to bow before Him, but those who are under the shelter of His precious blood will reign with Him.
Today, on the Lord’s day, we can remember what He did for us, and think about what He suffered for our sakes. We can remember when He suffered for us, while we look forward to the time when He will be exalted as Head over all things.

Saturday, July 25, 2026

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“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened…and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).
As I am writing this in July, 2024, it has been more than ten years since flight MH 370, a flight that left Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 8, 2014, and suddenly disappeared from radar. Since only questionable bits of debris have been found in various places, the mystery of what happened to the plane and its 239 passengers and crew has never been solved. The latest theory is that the pilot deliberately crashed the plane into the ocean at high speed. Whatever happened to it, it seems highly probable that some foul play was involved.
It is a solemn thing to remember that for those who are not saved, all their sin will come to light at the great white throne, spoken about in our verse today. The Lord knows how that plane came down, and He knows every other secret sin that has never been accounted for in this world. But how wonderful to know that even for this kind of sin, there is forgiveness for those who come to Christ. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Friday, July 24, 2026

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“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
The Apostle Paul was naturally a proud man, for he came from a good family, and had been well educated. If he had stayed in that place, as a proud Jew, he would have had many people who admired and respected him. However, he chose to follow Christ—the One who had been rejected by this world, and crucified on a cross. This was a shameful death, reserved for the worst criminals. Yet the Son of God chose to die in this way, and Paul gloried in the fact that he could be identified with a man like that. Why?
It was because it gave Paul a low place, and identified him with his Savior—the One who loved him and died for him. Today people do not want to hear the name of Christ, for it reminds them that they are lost, guilty sinners, and need a Savior. It reminds man that he can do nothing to save himself; he must come to Christ. But Paul gloried in this precious truth, and was glad not to be part of this world. It is the right path for us too.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

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“He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:8).
Yesterday we saw what it meant to sow to the flesh in our lives. The old sinful nature is still in us, and if we allow it to act in our lives, it will bring us nothing but trouble and sorrow.
The opposite is to sow to the Spirit. That means that since we are indwelt with the Spirit of God, as believers, we allow the Spirit of God to lead and guide us, using the Word of God. The Spirit of God gives us joy in our hearts, but only if we are walking to please the Lord.
Then we will reap life everlasting. This does not mean that we receive everlasting life by walking in the Spirit, for we already have eternal life, if we are truly saved. Here the expression means that we will have the enjoyment of that new life in us, because we are doing those things that please the Lord. Then we will have a happy life, and will be doing those things for which the Lord can reward us.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

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“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption” (Galatians 6:7-8).
We all know that if we sow a certain type of seed, we will reap that kind of plant and its fruit. So it is in all of our lives, even as Christians. We may know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, but if we deliberately allow our old sinful nature (the flesh) to act in our lives, we will reap the fruit of it. We will have an unhappy life with many troubles and difficulties.
I have known a number of dear believers who thought that because they were already saved, they could allow the old sinful nature to act freely in their lives. It is true that once we are truly saved, we can never be lost again, but we can have an unhappy life, with little that is for the Lord’s glory. Tomorrow we will see a better way.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

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“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
“For every man shall bear his own burden” (Galatians 6:5).
At first glance, it appears that these two verses contradict one another, for each is the opposite of the other. However, God’s Word never contradicts itself.
In the first verse, the Greek word for burden has the thought of an intolerable heavy burden that might occasionally come upon someone, such as a natural disaster, a serious illness, the loss of one’s job, a terrible accident, etc. Then we are to help one another.
In verse five, the word for burden is different. It has the thought of normal, everyday responsibilities, such as providing for our own food, clothing, and shelter, looking after our families, paying our taxes, etc. We should not expect others to do all that for us: it is our proper responsibility.
We need wisdom from the Lord to know when to help others, and when to allow them to look after their own needs. We should always be ready to help in a case of need, but we should not encourage others to be lazy.

Monday, July 20, 2026

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“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it” (Proverbs 20:3 JND).
Perhaps 150-200 years ago, it was common for men to fight duels. If one man insulted another, the one who was insulted might challenge the insulter to a duel. Should the insulter refuse to fight, he was regarded as a coward. These duels were serious, for since they fought with pistols, it was not unusual for one man to be killed.
However, it sometimes happened that the one who was insulted would say, “It is not worth fighting about. I can simply let it go.” He might be regarded as a man who would not stand up for himself, but our verse today says that it is an honor to cease from strife. Is it worth another man’s life just to avenge an insult? No, it is not, and the Word of God calls him a fool who rushes into strife just to have revenge.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

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“Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death” (Psalm 22:15).
When I was a boy, many country roads were not paved; they were gravel roads. When the weather got dry in the summer, vehicles traveling along those roads would raise clouds of dust. None of us liked that, and my mother especially hated it, as it blew onto her freshly washed clothes that were hanging on the line.
Dust in Scripture speaks of desolation. When Adam sinned, God told him that he would eventually die and go back to dust. Although He too went into death, the body of the Lord Jesus never went into corruption, or turned back to dust. But He experienced all the sorrow of going through death, in order to put away your sins and mine. He was indeed brought into “the dust of death.”

Saturday, July 18, 2026

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“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).
The Galatians had learned much from the Apostle Paul, and they really loved him. Yet, when he spoke faithfully to them about a wrong way by which they were trying to live their Christian lives, it seems that they quickly thought he was their enemy. He had to reassure them of his love for them, and how much he cared for them.
Why did the Galatians not want to hear the truth from Paul? It was because what he said crossed their wills, and reached their consciences. We do not like someone whose words go against our own will, or touch our consciences. Even as Christians, we have to realize that “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7), and if we allow our old sinful nature to react, it will always react against the things of God. We need to recognize this, and to turn away from those wrong thoughts. Then the Spirit of God can show us what is right, according to God’s Word.

Friday, July 17, 2026

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“Whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely… of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
This verse makes me think of the coils in that lasso! This is a most practical way of bringing our thoughts into captivity, as yesterday’s verse told us to do.
It takes effort and concentration on our part to be thinking of things that are pure and lovely. Maybe someone has said some unkind and hurtful things to you or about you. The hurt just seems to be circling around in your mind and you can’t seem to get rid of those thoughts. Replace those thoughts with something positive.
Think of how our Lord Jesus was treated. Many were unkind and told lies about Him. They even said He had a devil. But He continued in doing good and lived His time on earth in peace. He has promised us this peace as well.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).
What a wonderful rope with which to encircle our wandering thoughts!

Thursday, July 16, 2026

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“Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
This verse makes me think of cattle roping. In the western USA and Canada, and in other countries, cowboys often need to bring in cattle from the open range. They do this on horseback using a lasso or lariat. There are various types of rope used, and the rope is always coiled and ready on the side of the saddle. Roping cattle is a skilled art that takes a lot of training and practice. It is beautiful to see in action.
Just like those wandering cattle, we have wandering thoughts, and the Lord instructs us to bring those thoughts into captivity. They may not always be wrong thoughts, but they can lead us off down a trail that takes us away from our Owner and Master (the Lord Jesus, if we know Him as Savior). He wants us to be near Him, and ready to be used for His purposes.
So how can we bring those thoughts into “captivity”? The lasso is always ready at the cowboy’s hand. It takes vigilance to have our mind clean, clear and “in sync” with our Master. Read something in the Word of God each morning before you start your day, and ask the Lord to bring it to your mind as you go through the day. Enjoy His Word. It can be an anchor for your mind and thoughts.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

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“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding” (Proverbs 15:32).
Some time ago a man made this comment in a newspaper—“It is dangerous to point out to people that they are wrong. When was the last time someone thanked you for pointing out that he or she was in the wrong?” Usually, if we point out to someone that he or she is wrong about something, they will defend themselves rather than learning from the experience.
However, the Word of God tells us many times that wise men and women will accept correction and learn from it, instead of reacting against it. Four times in this one chapter (Proverbs 15) we are told to accept reproof.
The next time someone corrects you, and especially if that person knows more than you do, instead of automatically defending yourself, ask yourself, “Can I turn this into a chance to learn something?”

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

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“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
You young people know that many items of interest appear on the internet, and we can disregard almost all of them. However, one item caught my eye a few days ago. A question read something like this—“Is the soul of man immortal? Science may provide the answer.” Then, if you had wished, you could have clicked on the site, and found out what science had to say on the subject.
We must remember, however, that man is a discoverer, never a creator. Also, he cannot discover anything beyond this life; he must rely on divine revelation. God has already told us in His Word that man was given a “living soul”—one that will live forever. Also, God has warned us faithfully that death is not the end of man’s existence. “After this [death] the judgment.” We need not speculate on the matter, for science can never tell us the truth of these things. “Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17).

Monday, July 13, 2026

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“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus…that if he found any of this way…he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).
“In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend [arrest] me: and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands” (2 Corinthians 11:32-33).
When I was young, I used to think that this event in the Apostle Paul’s life would have been rather exciting: to be trapped in a walled city guarded by soldiers, and to escape by being let down in a basket like this.
However, it is recorded for us because it was probably one of the most humiliating experiences Paul ever had. Remember that he had ridden to the city on horseback, a proud man, and at the head of a band soldiers who came to arrest any Christians they found. Now, having become a believer himself, he is compelled to sneak out of the city at night, let down in a basket, in order to avoid being arrested himself. All his pride was gone; he was now a persecuted man, and despised by this world.
All this is a good lesson for us. If we want to follow Christ, the world will despise us, and it is a humbling experience. But it is worth it, for we have Christ!

Sunday, July 12, 2026

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“The desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee” (Isaiah 26:8).
Recently there was some shocking news on the internet about pilgrims who were visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia in large numbers. They were of course going there because it is the burial place of Muhammed, a sacred place for Muslims. However, because of the extreme heat, and since many were there without suitable accommodation, more than 1,000 of them died. Yet they were willing to risk their lives to get there, even though they have no guarantee that it will do them any good.
How different with you and me, who know Christ as Savior! He does not ask us to make a pilgrimage, or to endure severe hardships for Him. Rather, His simple request is that we remember Him in His death. It is a simple act, and we do not have to do anything profound. We simply partake of a broken loaf and a cup, remembering that He suffered for us in His body, and shed His blood for us!

Saturday, July 11, 2026

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“But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).
This verse has often spoken to me, for it is very easy to compare ourselves to others, and then get a good opinion of ourselves. Men and women have done this for thousands of years, and have satisfied themselves that they are doing all right. The proud Pharisee in Luke 18:11 could say to the Lord, “God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are.” Then he proceeded to list a number of sins of which others were supposedly guilty, but he was not.
However, when we get into the presence of God, then we realize how little we have measured up to His standard, and how poorly we have performed according to God’s estimate. Even as Christians, we are apt to compare ourselves to others, but our true example is Christ. When we compare ourselves to Him, it will humble us, rather than lift up our hearts in pride.

Friday, July 10, 2026

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“For he [Abraham] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
Yesterday I mentioned something that I stumbled upon on the internet; today I saw something else. It was a list of thirty cities in the world that were called “the most livable” cities in the world. Evidently they make up this list every year (there are more than thirty cities in the list), based on things like affordability of housing, the level of crime, employment opportunities, availability of health care, and several other things. It was interesting to see which cities were supposed to be the best ones in which to live.
We can be thankful that there are pleasant cities in this world in which to live. However, we know that eventually all the cities in this world will fall under the judgment of God, and all the pride of men will be brought low. But as we see in our verse for today, Abraham looked for a city that God had built. If we are truly saved, you and I look for that same city—a heavenly city. No city on earth can compare to it, and most important of all, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, will be there!

Thursday, July 9, 2026

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“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
While I was looking at the news on the internet today, a title caught my eye—“Thirty theories about what happens when you die.” I clicked on the article, and found thirty ideas from various religions and philosophies of the world. Some believed in reincarnation, where you become something else, or someone else, after you die. Others believe that you just vanish into non-existence. Still others have even more bizarre thoughts, such as that you just become part of the universe, and are not really dead. It seemed from the article that you could simply believe whatever idea appealed to you, and it would happen.
God’s Word tells us clearly what happens after death, and that judgment awaits those who die without Christ. It also tells us that we can be saved from the penalty of our sins by trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. Whom will you believe—God’s Word, or the ideas of men?

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

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“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of this world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
This verse might seem to be a bit confusing at first, but it simply describes two kinds of sorrow after we have done something wrong. Godly sorrow means that I am truly repentant before the Lord about my sin, and for an unbeliever, this is the way he should come to God when he wants to be saved. That kind of sorrow is good, and is also the way a believer is restored in his soul, if he has sinned.
However, the sorrow of this world is not really for the sin itself, but rather for the effects of sin. I have seen many men (and women too!) in prison who were sorry for what they had done, but they were really only sorry that they got caught. I have seen others who drank too much alcohol and ruined their health, but again, they were really only sorry for the results of their sin, but not for the sin itself.
Let us remember this difference, and if we have done wrong, let us truly repent for the sin against God.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

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“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
We saw yesterday that if we were willing to separate from unbelievers and this world, God would be a Father unto us. Of course, if we are truly saved, God is always our Father, for that is our relationship to Him in this time of His grace. However, we cannot enjoy that relationship if we allow sin in our thoughts or in our actions.
For this reason, our verse today tells us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh [the body] and spirit [our thoughts].” What we think about, and what we fill our minds with, ultimately controls our actions. If we are careful to judge those wrong thoughts and actions, and confess them to the Lord as sin, then we will enjoy our relationship with God as our Father. Is it worth it? Indeed it is!

Monday, July 6, 2026

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“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord…and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you” (2 Corinthians 6:14,17-18).
The Apostle Paul had to remind the believers in Corinth to be separate from the unbelievers in this world. This did not mean that they should not interact with those unbelievers in the workplace, or as neighbors, for all Christians should be ready to give the gospel to those with whom they come in contact in this world. But they were not to mix with them socially, or to enter into business partnerships with them, or to marry them.
Paul reminds those believers that they could not get along with an unbeliever in any close relationship, for either we belong to Christ, or we belong to Satan’s world. There is no middle ground. If we want to enjoy the Lord, we must be willing to be separate from this world.
Some unbelievers are nice people naturally, but they all have one thing in common: they do not belong to Christ, and cannot enjoy the things of Christ.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

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“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him” (Luke 23:33).
Yesterday was Independence Day in the United States of America, and it reminded me of something Abraham Lincoln said in February, 1861, while he was on his way to Washington, D.C. to be inaugurated as President of the United States. He visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and in a speech he made there, said, “I am deeply moved to be standing in the place where the nation was founded.”
Most of us have never visited the place in the land of Israel where our Lord was crucified, but when we come together to remember Him in His death, do we feel “deeply moved” when we think of Calvary’s cross, and all that took place there? He has said that “where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Do we appreciate His presence there, and do we appreciate His desire for us to remember Him?

Saturday, July 4, 2026

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“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15).
As I write this in June, 2024, I have just come home after spending three days in the hospital, having some tests done. Hospitals are not usually noted for their good food, as they concentrate more on good medical care. In particular, every day I was served lukewarm coffee, which I hated, and it reminded me of this verse. Most of us like our coffee or tea hot, and on a warm day, we like a cold drink.
In this verse, the Lord is speaking about your attitude and mine, and comparing us to hot and cold drinks. The Lord wants us “hot” towards Him and His claims, and “cold” towards evil. But the tendency of some Christians is to be lukewarm; just going along with the flow of this world, and not taking a strong stand for the Lord, or against evil. The Lord hates this attitude, and says in the next verse that He will spue those people out of His mouth, just as we might spit out some lukewarm coffee. Let us not be that kind of Christian!

Friday, July 3, 2026

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“Jesus said unto her [Martha], I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?” (John 11:25-26).
You might have trouble understanding these verses, but think of how they must have sounded to someone like Martha, who did not have the benefit of the New Testament. The verses refer to the Lord’s coming for us, but this truth had not yet been revealed. This is probably the first mention in the Bible of that wonderful truth, for the Lord Jesus did not speak directly about it until John 14. To use a common saying, Martha must have felt as if she had been thrown into the deep end of the pool!
All this is a good lesson for us. Perhaps at times you sit in a meeting, and find that you do not understand some of the things that are said. Just remember that the Lord Jesus allowed the same to happen when He taught, in order to challenge the hearts of those He loved, and to get them to dig further into divine things. The next time you hear something you do not understand, ask questions afterward and do some reading on your own. You can make it a learning experience!

Thursday, July 2, 2026

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“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
When I was young, it was common for people to keep small birds, especially canaries or budgies, in cages in their homes. They were pretty little birds, and the canaries would often sing, which entertained the people who kept them. But of course, if you opened the cage, the bird would fly away.
If you could bring a bird to love you better than it loved the open sky, you would not need a cage. Christians in communion with Jesus do not need a cage to keep them from flying away into the world. They are happily separate from the world, and they are the willing, joyful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we saw yesterday, the desire to serve the Lord Jesus, devotedness in service, and above all, perseverance in service, all spring from the same source—love to Christ. His love constrains every one of us; do we feel that constraint?

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

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“For the love of the Christ constrains us…and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and has been raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 JND).
We do not use the word “constrain” much in everyday speech, but it is a strong word, meaning to compel or force someone to follow a particular course of action. It may not be physical force; in fact, it is usually a moral force—something we cannot see. Yet it is still a mighty power.
In our Christian lives, God does not make us do certain things to please Him. Rather, He works in our hearts to remind us of His love, and the love that took our Savior all the way to Calvary’s cross. When the love of Christ has really touched our hearts, it is the strongest force to keep us from sin, and to give us energy in the service of the Lord.
Naturally we all want to live for ourselves, and to spend our time, energy and money doing what we want. But if we remember the One who left the glory of heaven to come down to this earth to die for us, it will touch our hearts, and make us want to use all that we have for His glory.
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