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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

August 2026

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Monday, August 31, 2026

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“We also…desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will…that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Recently I happened to see an article on the internet entitled, “17 things God does not actually care about.” The article was trying to encourage people not to be concerned about such things as their body type, whether they were rich or poor, whether they had many natural abilities or only a few, whether they had a good job or a menial job, etc. The entire focus of the article was trying to get people to show love, kindness, sympathy, honesty, etc., rather than being concerned about things that they could not change.
It is true that we should not be overly concerned about things we cannot change, such as our body type, our natural abilities, or whether we are rich or poor. However, God is indeed interested in every aspect of our life, and for us who are Christians, we can be assured that the Lord wants each one of us to use whatever talents and possessions we have for His glory. But there were several things in the list of things on the internet that perhaps deserve a comment.

Sunday, August 30, 2026

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“I became in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10 JND).
This verse is the only time in the New Testament where the first day of the week is called “the Lord’s day.” We commonly refer to it as Sunday, but the Bible calls it the Lord’s day. When the expression ‘the Lord” is used in Scripture, it emphasizes the Lordship of Christ over us, and His authority.
The apostle John had been banished by the Roman government to the island of Patmos, and as far as we know, there were no other Christians there. It would have been easy for him to forget which day was the Lord’s day, and evidently John had to make an effort to be “in the Spirit” on that day. But he remembered what was due to the Lord, even if he could not break bread and remember the Lord as he would have liked to have done.
Today it is easy for most of us to attend a meeting to remember the Lord, but then it is also easy to forget that it is the Lord’s day, and perhaps to use the rest of the day for ourselves. Let us remember that it is the Lord’s day, and that we are responsible to use it for Him.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

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“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord” (Philippians 4:2).
I am sure that these two sisters in Christ, who lived so long ago, never thought that their names would be in the Bible for all to read for generations, telling everyone that they had trouble getting along with each other. How embarrassing! But no, it is there for a reason and for a lesson for us. It is so very important to get along together as Christians. I mean really get along, not just on the surface. The next verse goes on to speak of those laboring with Paul in the gospel. How much better this is, than nursing grudges and hurts. When Christians are working together in the gospel, they usually find it much easier to get along with one another.
Returning to yesterday’s dog sled. If just one of the dogs is not pulling together with the others, the sled may overturn, go off track, land in the water, or go through the ice. The lives of all depend on the pulling together of the team. Let’s remember to “be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Friday, August 28, 2026

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“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1).
I have always loved the wintertime here in Canada, and for years thought it would be wonderful to participate in dogsledding. But I think the time has passed for me to do that! However, it is beautiful to watch a team of well-matched dogs, running at top speed in response to the commands of their master on the sled.
I saw a quotation once that read, “Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes!” That meant, of course, that only one dog is in the lead viewing the landscape, and all the others running behind work just as hard, but see only the tail of the dog in front. Not much fun!
The master gives the commands, and the dogs follow the orders. Just the same, our Lord and Master tells us which way He wants us to go. Sometimes we cannot see much of the path ahead, but by faith, if we follow His voice, we will walk or run according to His plan.
At times, the Lord may give us a “lead dog.” He might be the one who tramps down the snowy path, making it easier for those who follow. And…. the sled never goes anywhere well, unless all are pulling together. Lots of lessons for us in a dog team!

Thursday, August 27, 2026

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“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
As we noticed yesterday, God does not need informants, and He does not want to hear from you or me about what others have done. He knows it already! Also, we cannot “work off” the penalty of our sins by giving information about others. But God has a way that your sins can be forgiven.
During World War II, a man named Adolf Eichmann was personally responsible for ordering the execution of millions of people, mostly Jews. When he was arrested many years later and taken to trial in Israel, he was condemned to death. While he was waiting in prison for his execution date, some Christians visited him and gave him the gospel. He did not accept Christ as his Savior, but could the blood of Christ have washed away the sins of millions of murders?
Yes, it could! If Adolf Eichmann had repented and accepted Christ, all of those awful sins could have been washed away. You may say that you have not done any sins as serious as those of Adolf Eichmann, but if you are not saved, you too need your sins washed away by the blood of Christ. He is waiting for you to come to Him today.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

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“For by grace are ye saved through faith…not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“They were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:13).
In the criminal justice systems of Canada, the United States, Britain, and possibly other countries as well, police sometimes use people called informants. These are usually people who are themselves charged with having committed a crime, and who are offered a lesser sentence, or even no punishment at all, if they agree to reveal information about others who have committed a crime. This is sometimes called “guilt negotiation,” where guilty people can “work off” their crimes by helping the police catch others.
At the moment there is a great deal of concern about this method of obtaining information about crime, for some criminals give false information, and then innocent people are arrested. At other times criminals can carry on their illegal activities, while getting away with it by helping the police catch others.
But God does not need informants! He knows what each person has done, and in a coming day, He will be able to show each one’s guilt. If you are not saved, someday you will have to stand before God, and then you will be judged by God’s records. What a serious thing!

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

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“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Romans 7:13).
The deck at the back of our house gets rather dirty at times, mainly from drippings from a big oak tree in our backyard. I power wash it from time to time, and a few days ago I washed part of it, but then ran out of time. When part of the deck was clean, it was amazing how dirty the rest of it suddenly appeared. Why was that? It was because of the contrast between the clean part and the dirty part. When the whole deck was dirty, it did not look too bad, but when part of it was clean, the rest looked very dirty!
It is like that with our sins. When we look at one another, perhaps we think we are not too bad, because we are all sinners. But when we look at God’s standard, and the law that God gave Israel, we realize how far short we fall of what God requires. There is only one remedy, and that is to have our sins washed away by the precious blood of Christ. If you are not saved, you are unclean before God, and God cannot have sin in His presence. God is inviting you to come to the Lord Jesus now and be saved.

Monday, August 24, 2026

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“And they continued stedfastly in…prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Finally, we have the importance of prayer brought before us. It is important at any time, and an old brother used to remind us that “a prayerless life is a powerless life.” However, I believe that it is collective prayer that is spoken about here. I have heard some believers say that since they can pray at home, there is no need to go to a prayer meeting where others are present. But this ignores the fact that God attaches special significance to collective prayer. We read in Matthew 18:19 that “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.”
There is a special blessing attached to prayer collectively, in the local assembly, even if it is only two people who are present. Also, there is a special joy in our hearts when we come together, and find that several have the same burden on their hearts. Most important, the Lord is there, for He has promised to be where “two or three” are gathered together in His name (Matthew 18:20). Let us not neglect the prayer meeting, for it is very important.

Sunday, August 23, 2026

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“And they continued stedfastly in…breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42).
The third thing mentioned in this verse is “breaking of bread.” This too was characteristic of the early believers, for we also read that “upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7). They may well have had other meetings on the Lord’s day, the first day of the week, but coming together to break bread was uppermost in their hearts and minds.
When we break bread, we have a meeting that is for the Lord, and not primarily for us. It is a meeting when we come together to give, not to receive. Sadly, many groups of believers today break bread only once in a while, and instead someone preaches a sermon every Lord’s day. But a sermon is for us, even though it may honor the Lord. The Lord Jesus must have the first place; to remember what He did for us, and to give Him the thanksgiving and praise that is due to Him, should take precedence over any other meeting on the Lord’s day. I have asked this question before, but perhaps we can ask it again. Do you remember the Lord Jesus on Lord’s day, as He has asked us to do?

Saturday, August 22, 2026

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“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’…fellowship” (Acts 2:42).
We notice in this same verse that the word “fellowship” is linked together with the word “doctrine.” Why is this? Can’t we have fellowship with other believers, even if they hold bad doctrine? Sadly, as we saw yesterday, much of the bad doctrine that is being taught dishonors the Lord Jesus Christ, and is an insult to His Person as the Son of God. We may be able to recognize those who hold bad doctrine as true believers, but it hinders our having full fellowship with them.
On the other hand, sometimes dear fellow believers have been taught this bad doctrine by those whom they respect, and they do not realize that it is wrong. If you and I know the truth from God’s Word, we can try to be a help to them, and to point out from the Bible why this bad doctrine is not right. This takes love and grace, and wisdom from the Lord. When we give up bad doctrine, we can have full fellowship with those who want to walk in the truth.

Friday, August 21, 2026

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“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
It was a wonderful time at the beginning when the church of God was new, when everyone was together, and when there were no divisions or denominations. Here in our verse for today we find four important things that characterized them.
The first one mentioned is doctrine, and we might wonder why that is placed first. But if we think about it for a minute, it is obvious that good doctrine (good teaching) is the basis of everything we have in Christianity. Good doctrine is like the skeleton in our body; without it our body would be only a pile of “mush”—unable to do anything.
Over the centuries men have brought all kinds of bad doctrine into the house of God, and this is very serious, for every bad doctrine takes away some of God’s glory, and gives it to man. But today we can still continue in good doctrine, for it is found in the Word of God. He used the apostles and others to write His Word, and it never changes. We can still hold, and continue steadfastly, in good doctrine!

Thursday, August 20, 2026

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“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).
“Christ Jesus…appointing to ministry him who before was a blasphemer and persecutor, and an insolent overbearing man” (1 Tim. 1:12-13 JND).
In these two verses we have two descriptions of the same person—the man who was once called Saul of Tarsus, and afterward called the Apostle Paul. Which verse gives a true description? Both of them! It is Paul himself who gives us both verses in the Word of God. The second verse describes Saul of Tarsus before he was saved, and the first verse describes him after he was saved.
Even as Christians, sometimes there can be part of our personality and character that is not very good, and we may excuse ourselves by thinking, “That is just the way I am made naturally.” But the Lord has given us new life in Christ, and is able to change us, just as He changed Saul of Tarsus. The Lord made him a gentle man, instead of an insolent, overbearing man.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

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“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
The word philosophy simply means the love of wisdom, and in English it has come to mean the study of life, existence, religion, values, morality, and other questions about who we are, why we are in this world, how we should live, and so on. Sadly, very often this kind of human learning leaves God out, and is merely a collection of man’s ideas and thoughts.
Philosophy was very popular in the days of the Apostle Paul, for the Greeks were keenly interested in that subject. Paul warns the Colossians about it, for much of the time God is left out of any discussion on philosophy.
You and I do not need man’s thoughts, for man’s natural mind can never go beyond himself and what he sees in this world. Only by divine revelation can we know who God is, how the world was made, what happens after death, what is going to happen to this world in the future, etc. More than this, in the questions that surround everyday life, we have Christ, the Man in whom is all the fulness of the Godhead. What can philosophy add to Christ! He is all that we need.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

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“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
Today’s verse is one that we should all memorize. It shows us that amazing truth, that the Lord Jesus is fully God, even though He became man. As God He could not come down into this world to reveal God’s heart of love to us. As God He could not die. But He became a man in order to do both of these things.
However, as God, He never became anything less than He was before. He did not display His glory as God in this world, for we as creatures would not have been able to look upon that glory. However, He was always God just as much as He was before He came into this world.
Also, the wonderful thing is that the Lord Jesus will remain a man for all eternity, although having “all the fulness of the Godhead” dwelling in Him. How wonderful it is to think that this One who is both God and man is our Savior!

Monday, August 17, 2026

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“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11).
A few days ago we talked about Christian warfare, and how we need the whole armor of God. We mentioned that this was spiritual warfare, not warfare with human weapons.
Here in our verse for today we have a different thought. When our hearts are enjoying Christ, we become strengthened “according to His glorious power.” But then, what do we do with that strength? Do we always get the victory against those in this world who do not like us? In one sense we do, for God will always have the victory in the end.
However, in this time before the Lord comes back, we need strength to endure patiently all the suffering we may experience in this world. In many ways, it takes more strength to do that, than to get the victory. Also, we are to endure suffering “with joyfulness.” Sometimes we put up with something that is difficult, but we may not be joyful about it. It is only by walking with the Lord that we can endure suffering with joyfulness, because He is with us, and we know that our pathway ends in certain glory. When we endure suffering with joyfulness, the world around us knows that this is not natural. They realize that it is a power outside of ourselves that enables us to do this. Then the Lord Jesus gets the glory for it.

Sunday, August 16, 2026

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“I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee” (Psalm 22:22).
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
It is a wonderful thing to be able to sing praises to the Lord! We see in our first verse that the Lord Jesus Himself is going to praise in the middle of the congregation. In fact, just before He went to the cross, it is recorded that the Lord Jesus and His disciples sung a hymn together. We might wonder how He could sing under those circumstances, but He looked beyond it all to the blessing that would come from His work on the cross.
The Lord loves to hear us sing too, but we should also be “making melody in our heart to the Lord.” If we are singing only because we like the music, then our hearts will not be right. But if our hearts are drawn out to the Lord, our voices will follow, and we will want to sing to the Lord. When we come together to remember Him, let us always remember too that it is a meeting FOR the Lord, not so much for us. Yes, if the Spirit has liberty to lead, we will enjoy it too, but the meeting is really for the Lord. Do you open your mouth and sing His praises when a hymn is given out?

Saturday, August 15, 2026

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“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young” (Psalm 84:3).
A few days ago we were staying with a friend in a distant city, and she parked her car in the underground garage of her apartment building. When we either exited or entered the garage through the automatic overhead door, we noticed that a pair of swallows darted either in or out. When we looked carefully, we found their nest on top of some big pipes in the garage. It was a very safe place for a nest, and the swallow had noticed that the door opened frequently enough that they could easily enter and exit in order to provide food for their little ones.
Swallows are restless birds, noted for being able to fly skillfully and fast. Sometimes they flew through the door when it was closing, and only perhaps half a meter from the floor. In the same way you and I can be safe, when we are in the place where the Lord wants us. That garage might not have seemed like a good place for a bird to build its nest, and it would be a big problem if the overhead door did not open frequently. But enough cars went in and out to make it possible for the birds to care for their young ones, and they were quite safe. Sometimes the Lord may put us in a place that does not seem to be safe, but He knows how to make it safe, and to protect us. We can trust Him!

Friday, August 14, 2026

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“And they told him [Moses] and said, We came unto the land….and surely it floweth with milk and honey. …And Caleb… said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
…But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land” (Numbers 13:27, 30-32).
Lately I have been thinking a lot about the term “perspective.” How do you view the things that come into your daily life? There is our natural perspective and then there is God’s view. The story in this chapter is a good example to show us two views. The Lord had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with wonderful might and power. Now He has brought them to the boundary of the promised land. The twelve spies have searched out the land, and truly it was a wonderful, bountiful place. There were enemies to conquer, but God had proven Himself to them already.
But the spies were divided ten against two in the matter. What happened to God’s perspective in the discussion? Man’s fear overruled and the heavenly view was lost. How do we react in our everyday lives; can we see and trust from God’s perspective? He has set the stars in place and created the universe we live in. If He clearly asks us to go forward in a matter in our lives, surely we can trust His perspective and counsel.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

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“And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover” (Joshua 5:11).
Early August is a very delicious time of the summer here where I live. Fresh sweet corn is in abundance on all the roadside stands, and we all enjoy it very much. In fact, we have a “corn boil” picnic outside our meeting hall every August. A supper in which lots (and lots!) of fresh corn is the star of the menu. With plenty of butter and salt of course!
But what is meant in the Bible by the old corn of the land? We don’t really want to eat old corn around here. We need to realize that the term corn in Scripture generally means wheat. It was wheat that they had obtained from the previous harvest in the land of Canaan, and it speaks of Christ. In the wilderness they ate manna, but now they had wheat, for they were going to have to fight to conquer the land.
A few days ago, we talked about the armor of God, but we also need the proper food for Christian warfare. The old corn of the land speaks of Christ in glory, for only He can give us the power to carry on conflict with Satan and his hosts.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

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“And being let go, they went to their own company” (Acts 4:23).
Yesterday I went into town on some errands. Just on the edge of town, I passed an empty lot; this time it was not empty…but full of motorcycles. There must have been well over 50 of them: all different models and makes and colors. They were beautiful and shiny, and their owners were all admiring each other’s cycles. Shortly afterwards I heard the thrum of engines, and they began a procession through and out of town.
What had brought all these cyclists together? A common interest in their hobby of motorcycling! Our verse today shows us that common interests also brought people together back in New Testament times. Peter and John had been detained for questioning about their preaching. When the magistrates finally let them go, where did they go? To “their own company.” They headed straight to the company of others who loved and served the Lord Jesus.
When you have free time, who do you look for to spend it with? How nice to find other Christians with whom to share our free time and interests. We can encourage one another.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
Here we have one final part of the armor of God, and it is perhaps the most important of them all. We cannot use any of the armor of God in our own strength; we need the Lord’s strength. That is why prayer is so important in our lives, for prayer is a recognition of our weakness, and expresses our dependence on the Lord. We may put on all of the armor, and feel that we are ready to meet the enemy. However, we must remember that the battle belongs to the Lord.
David was confident when he went out against Goliath, and knew that even a giant could not fight against the Lord. But David depended on the Lord; he did not depend on his own skill with a sling, or anything like that. When Goliath was defeated, David gave the Lord the credit for it.
Let us remember to pray every day, and perhaps several times a day. Even a short prayer is all that is needed when we are faced with a difficult situation in our lives!

Monday, August 10, 2026

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“And [take] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
Here in this verse we have the one offensive weapon that the believer can use. Notice that it is a sword, but not a literal one made of metal. No, it is the sword of the Spirit, for it can be used effectively only by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Word of God, used by the Spirit of God, and it is very powerful.
However, we cannot use the Word of God if we are not familiar with it. We cannot quote a verse from God’s Word is we have never read it, and walked in it. If we try doing this, we will end up feeling awkward, and perhaps using the wrong verse, or quoting it wrongly. No, we must be walking with the Lord in order to use His Word properly, and then, when we need that sword, it will be there for us. The Spirit of God will give us the right verse to use for that occasion.

Sunday, August 9, 2026

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“Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
When the Lord Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed earnestly to His Father about what was before Him at the cross. Did He realize that it was all necessary? Yes, indeed He did. But as One who was holy, and abhorred sin, He shrank back from being made sin for us, and from suffering the awful judgment of God against sin.
Was there no other way that sin could be put away? No, there was not, and thus our blessed Lord Jesus submitted to the Father’s will, and went willingly to the cross. He did this, not only for our sakes, but for God’s glory. What a wonderful work He did on that cross, in those three hours of darkness!

Saturday, August 8, 2026

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“And take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17).
Every soldier needs a helmet, for it is important to protect our head. Even in construction projects, or riding a bicycle, it is considered important to wear a helmet. Here it is called the “helmet of salvation.” What does that mean?
We have salvation as a free gift, and in order to accept it, we had to realize that we could do nothing to save ourselves. Now it is ours—secured to us by the finished work of Christ on the cross. We have nothing to fear, for nothing can take away our salvation. We can never lose it, and this is a real helmet on our heads.
More than this, we can “live out” our salvation in the sense of living in the enjoyment of it, even when we are in conflict with the devil. He wants to take away our enjoyment of our salvation, but with our helmet on, we are protected from all this. Yes, we do not have strength of our own, but the certainty of our salvation depends on Christ, and not on us.

Friday, August 7, 2026

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“Besides all these having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16 JND).
Next the soldier must have a shield. The helmet and the breastplate stay in one place, but the shield must be moved around by the arm, for the fiery darts of Satan can come from any direction. Satan will try to discourage us by telling us that the Christian pathway is not worth it, and that we should not be so careful to honor the Lord in everything. He will tell us that we should relax and enjoy the things of this world sometimes. Satan will try to persuade us that the Lord is not going to keep His Word and bring us all the way home safely.
The shield of faith reminds us that God is always for us, and that the battle is His, not ours. We are always on the winning side with the Lord, and with all the armor on, Satan cannot attack us successfully. We must always remember this, and remember that while the Lord may test our faith, He will never disappoint our faith.

Thursday, August 6, 2026

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“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
Although it is always a good thing to preach the gospel, this part of the armor does not really mean that. It is connected with what we had yesterday—the breastplate of righteousness. If we have done something wrong, then we have a bad conscience, and cannot really go out boldly before this world. We are afraid that someone will expose our bad conduct.
However, if we have a good conscience, then we are at peace—at peace before the Lord, and at peace before others too. Then we can walk in peace. Yes, we are still soldiers, with defensive armor and an offensive weapon. But we are not, like some people in this world, “looking for a fight.” Rather, we walk in peace in this world, because we are above all the things that this world goes after. We live here in this world as ambassadors for Christ, but our home is in heaven.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

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“Having on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14).
The word “righteousness” always involves more than one person, for in order to be righteous, it means that I must be right and honest in my dealings with another person.
It is most important that we, as Christians, be righteous in our relationships with other people in this world. If we have told lies, or cheated someone, or been guilty of anything to do with others that is not right, the world around us will be quick to recognize it. Then our testimony is spoiled.
An older brother once told us how he worked in a machine shop as a young man. It was a rough place, yet he tried to act as a Christian should. But one day his boss was unreasonable with him, accusing him of misplacing a particular big wrench. The young brother found the wrench and when he gave it to his boss, said, “There’s your old wrench!” Immediately the boss said to him, “Oh, you’re supposed to be a Christian! Is that the way a Christian should talk?” Needless to say, the young brother was ashamed of himself, and apologized.
To be righteous in all our ways in this world is an important part of the Christian’s armor.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

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“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God…stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” (Ephesians 6:13-14).
In this day of long-range missiles, rockets, and bombs of various kinds, wearing armor does not really offer much protection. However, in the days of hand-to-hand fighting with bows and arrows, swords, and spears, armor was quite important. It offered protection to various parts of the body, and often kept the soldier from serious injury.
It is the same in the Christian life. There is spiritual warfare in the Christian life, and we must be prepared for it. In the list of various kinds of armor, the first item mentioned is having our loins girt about with truth. The loins are that part of body between the lowest ribs and the hip bones, and are associated with strength. In eastern lands in the Bible they often wore loose clothing when they were relaxing, but when they went to work, they tightened that clothing so that they could work better.
In the same way the truth from God’s Word strengthens us, and keeps us being “carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). We need the truth of God’s Word in order to work for the Lord, and to resist the lies that Satan is always trying to persuade us to believe. This is one good reason to read God’s Word every day!

Monday, August 3, 2026

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“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12).
On Saturday we wrote about the Lord’s all-seeing eyes. Today we read that His ears are open as well. They are always ready to listen to our cries and prayers.
Just as Mr. Pinkerton in the 19th century became known as “the eye,” detective Burns in the early 20th century became known as “the ear.” He had primitive listening devices that could be planted in a light fixture or even in a pocket and could pick up, although perhaps with a lot of static, private conversations he wanted to hear.
How wonderful that we can have a direct line 24/7 to the ear of the God of the universe! He made us, He knows us, and He loves us. There is no static in His almighty ear! Don’t forget to talk to the Lord Jesus, not just when you might be in trouble or worried, but as friend to friend. It is an immense privilege.

Sunday, August 2, 2026

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“Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me” (Lamentations 3:19-20).
Although the prophet Jeremiah wrote this many centuries before the Lord Jesus lived on this earth, these words were spoken prophetically about the Lord Jesus. It has now been many centuries since the Lord Jesus suffered on Calvary’s cross, but He has not forgotten. He remembers what happened there, and wants us to remember too.
Gall was a bitter poison that was offered to the Lord Jesus by the Roman soldiers, while wormwood is a bitter herb sometimes used as a medicine. Both gall and wormwood are mentioned in Scripture as being something bitter that is endured.
It is a privilege to come together and remember what the Lord Jesus went through that we might be saved.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

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“Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13).
“Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).
Have any of you heard the phrase “private eye”? It is the term that began to be used in the 1800s in the USA to describe detectives. In 1850 Allan Pinkerton founded the first private detective agency in the USA, and the company’s motto was, “We never sleep.” Underneath this motto was the drawing of a large unblinking eye, and thus the detectives began to be referred to as “private eyes.”
We have a God who never sleeps. He is always there to protect and care for us, but He is also always looking at what we are doing. He does not need to hunt for wrong doers by collecting evidence, looking for clues, etc. He sees them commit the acts of wrong! There is no escaping His all-seeing eyes. This is comforting, but also alarming if we are doing things that we know to be sin. Let’s look up each morning and ask for the grace to please our Savior that day.
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