Ezekiel 15 presents a stark and sobering message through a simple yet powerful analogy. The Lord asks a series of rhetorical questions about the vine, a type of wood that is good for nothing except to be burned. Unlike other trees that can be crafted into useful objects, a vine that is detached from its source of life has no structural value. If burned even partially, it becomes even more useless.

Life’s pressures, failures, and fears can drive a person inward, retreating into isolation rather than standing in the strength of Christ. E. Stanley Jones points out that while death cannot separate us from God’s love, life can—if we attempt to live it apart from Him. Fear and self-preoccupation create a separation, not because God moves away, but because we withdraw into ourselves, cutting off the flow of His life through us.

📖 Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were astonished at him—his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men—so shall he startle many nations...

Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, was marked by an astonishing paradox—humiliation and suffering leading to exaltation and triumph. The prophet Isaiah captures this breathtaking reality, foretelling that Christ would prosper in all that He accomplished, yet in a way that defied human expectations. His path to glory was through suffering, His crown was preceded by thorns, and His exaltation came after a crushing rejection.

📖 “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 BSB

The Christian life is not about striving to become something, but rather about remaining where we already are—rooted in Christ. Just as a tree, once planted, must remain in the soil to grow and bear fruit, so must we continually abide in Christ, drawing everything from Him. This abiding is not a strenuous effort but a posture of faith—one that begins with a decisive act of surrender and continues as a habitual reliance on His life within us.

"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
—Galatians 5:16, 25

From the moment we were made new in Christ, the Spirit of God became our very life. Our walk is not about self-improvement or striving to meet a moral standard—it is about relying upon the One who indwells us. Just as we were born of the Spirit, we now walk by the Spirit, allowing His life to express itself through us.

When we were recently in Belize, we heard a story that stood in stark contrast to our modern way of thinking. The ancient Mayans played a ball game so difficult that scoring a point could take days. But for the one who won, the reward was something that defied the expectations of our tour group—the privilege of being sacrificed to the gods.

“Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” — 2 Corinthians 12:15

Paul’s service was not calculated, measured, or held back by self-preservation. He poured himself out freely, not seeking affirmation but longing to bring others into fellowship with Christ. His love did not demand a response, nor did his service require recognition. He was content to be spent—joyfully emptied—so that others might gain the fullness of Christ.

“So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." – Philippians 1:20

When we look around, we often measure ourselves against others—comparing our spiritual growth to those we admire or despairing when we see the shortcomings of fellow believers. If we attempt to model our lives after Christ as a distant ideal to emulate, the weight of that standard becomes overwhelming. But Christ is not merely an example—He is our life. The Christian life is not about imitation, but participation.

Paul opens his letter to the Corinthians with a astounding reality: everything we need—grace, peace, comfort, and security—flows from God through Christ. The Corinthians were questioning Paul's authority because of his suffering, but Paul flips their perspective. Rather than viewing suffering as a weakness, he reveals that his afflictions serve a greater purpose: to extend God’s comfort and salvation to others, just as Christ did.

The second letter to the Corinthians is perhaps the most personal of Paul’s writings, revealing the depths of his heart for the church and his unwavering commitment to the true gospel. Unlike his other letters, which are primarily doctrinal or instructional, this one is deeply emotional, written in response to misunderstandings, challenges to his apostleship, and the Corinthians’ wavering faithfulness.

The tenth chapter of Luke presents a sweeping picture of the Christian life—one of mission, authority, compassion, and, above all, devotion to Christ. Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to proclaim the kingdom, warning them of opposition but assuring them that their work is under His authority. Their success is not in their own strength but in the power of His name. He then instructs on the heart of true ministry through the parable of the Good Samaritan and, finally, reveals the necessity of undistracted devotion in the account of Mary and Martha.

“O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” – 1 Corinthians 15:55

E. Stanley Jones captures a powerful reality in today’s devotional: death, when surrendered into the love of Christ, ceases to be an end and becomes a gateway to life. It is no longer the final word, no longer a cause for despair. Instead, it is transformed—woven into the redemptive work of God, bringing forth resurrection life in ways that defy earthly understanding.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
— Isaiah 52:7

Many live as though God has stepped away from His throne, as if the chaos of the world signals His resignation. But Scripture declares the opposite—Our God reigns! His sovereignty has never wavered, nor has His care for His people diminished. The trials we face, the uncertainties that loom, and the pressures of life do not alter this reality.

📖 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. — Romans 6:14 (BSB)

Moses, the great leader of Israel, stood on the threshold of the Promised Land yet could not enter. The law he mediated was perfect in its demands but powerless to produce the righteousness it required. Even one moment of disobedience barred him from his earthly inheritance, demonstrating that under the law, failure brings exclusion. The law, unyielding in its justice, condemns even the smallest misstep.

"Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"
—Galatians 3:2-3

The Christian life begins with the work of the Holy Spirit, and it continues the same way. Paul’s question to the Galatians exposes a common human tendency—to start by trusting God but then attempt to grow by self-effort. We know we could never earn salvation through our own works, yet how often do we drift into striving, as if spiritual maturity depends on our own strength?

📖 "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you." — 2 Corinthians 12:15

Oswald Chambers reminds us that true sacrifice in the Christian life is not about mere self-denial for its own sake, nor is it about personal spiritual fulfillment. It is a joyful surrender—an outpouring of Christ’s life through us for the sake of others. Paul did not serve out of obligation, nor was his devotion rooted in a cause. His entire being was given over to Christ, allowing Jesus to direct his steps and pour out His love through him.

📖 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” — Colossians 2:6

There was a moment when we first came to Christ—empty, helpless, and utterly dependent. We received Him by faith, knowing we had nothing to offer, no strength of our own, and no power to save ourselves. That same faith is not only the beginning but the very essence of the Christian life. The way in is the way on.

Ahaz’s reign in Judah stands as one of the starkest examples of rebellion against God. He did not simply drift away—he ran headlong into idolatry, shutting the doors of the Lord’s temple, offering his own children as sacrifices, and placing his trust in foreign kings rather than in the Lord. The more he suffered under divine judgment, the deeper he plunged into disobedience. Instead of turning to the Lord in repentance, Ahaz sought security in alliances with Assyria, stripping the temple of its treasures to bribe a pagan empire for protection. Yet, no alliance could shield him from the consequences of rejecting the only true God.

Many believers struggle with the tension between trusting God for provision and planning wisely for the future. Some wonder, If God provides for my needs, does saving for retirement betray a lack of faith? Others swing the opposite way, placing all their security in financial planning rather than in the Lord. The truth, however, is not an either-or decision. Just as we trust God daily while still working diligently, we can trust Him in the years when we can no longer work while also exercising wisdom in financial stewardship.

The elders of Israel sought an audience with Ezekiel, perhaps expecting a favorable word from the Lord. Instead, God revealed their hypocrisy—their hearts clung to idols while they sought His guidance. Their divided hearts were an affront to Him, for He desires a people who trust Him completely, not those who keep one foot in the world of self-reliance and idolatry.