Job responds to his friends with a raw, unfiltered truth: the wicked do not always suffer in this life. Contrary to the rigid worldview of his friends, who insist that suffering is proof of God’s judgment on the ungodly, Job observes something much more unsettling—many wicked people prosper.

Oswald Chambers reminds us that true joy is found not in personal achievement but in fulfilling the purpose for which we were created and regenerated in Christ. The joy Jesus experienced on earth was rooted in doing the Father’s will, and He has now sent us to live the same way.

When a believer first grasps their identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, there is often an immediate tendency to try to live it out by self-effort. The result? Frustration—falling into the Romans 7 cycle of striving, failing, and lamenting. But God never intended us to achieve this truth; He calls us to receive it.

Paul refuses to lose heart because his confidence is not in the temporary but in the eternal. He knows his present body is like a tent—temporary and fragile—but he eagerly awaits the glorified body that is to come. Though we groan in our present state, our hope is not merely for a disembodied existence but for the full restoration God has planned: resurrection and renewal in His presence. This assurance fuels Paul’s courage, which is not occasional but constant. Whether in life or death, Paul’s aim remains unchanged—to please the Lord. He is fearless before men because he understands the judgment of God, which leads him to persuade others with urgency and love.

Luke 14 presents a series of encounters and parables that reveal the nature of God's kingdom and the necessity of humbling oneself to receive it. The chapter begins with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath at a Pharisee’s house, demonstrating that His kingdom is about restoration and release (vv. 1–6). The Pharisees, obsessed with status, were watching Him closely, yet they failed to grasp the heart of God’s rule—a reign of grace that exalts the humble (vv. 7–14).

E. Stanley Jones reflects on the limitations of human achievement, including advances in science and technology, in prolonging life. He acknowledges that while medical progress may extend one’s ability to function and thrive beyond middle age, it cannot prevent the ultimate reality of physical death. If one’s hope is rooted in human effort, the result is merely a delayed but inevitable decline. However, for those in Christ, there is no such fear, for life is not bound to the body but anchored in the eternal reality of union with Him.

Acts 2:4 recounts the moment when the Holy Spirit filled the disciples, empowering them to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This passage isn’t just about a historical event—it unveils the divine reality of what it means to be fully yielded to the Spirit’s presence and power.

Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He gave His disciples a crucial promise: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). This was not a mere encouragement but an absolute necessity. The task of spreading the gospel was not something they could accomplish through their own ability. They needed divine power—the very life of Christ within them—to be His witnesses.

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself. — Acts 20:24

In today’s devotional, Oswald Chambers challenges the reader to consider whether they are truly abandoned to God or merely engaging in Christian service on a basis of personal reasoning. It is easier to work for God without a true calling because it allows one to operate by common sense rather than divine leading. Paul, however, was utterly gripped by Christ—his life was no longer his own, and he refused to weigh personal considerations. He did not evaluate his usefulness but lived solely to fulfill the ministry given to him. Chambers warns that practical work, when guided by human reasoning, can become a competitor to true surrender. The question remains: Do we see ourselves as belonging entirely to Christ, or do we still count our lives dear to ourselves?

📖 “Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” —Romans 6:17

The only solid foundation for a Christ-honoring life is faith in the unshakable truths of God’s Word. Our experiences must flow from sound doctrine, not the other way around. Paul reminded Timothy that good doctrine nourishes the soul and equips us for faithful service (1 Tim. 4:6,13).

Manasseh’s reign in Judah stands as a sobering reminder of the depths of human depravity. He not only embraced idolatry but led an entire nation into rebellion against God—defiling the temple, shedding innocent blood, and even sacrificing his own children. His evil surpassed that of the surrounding pagan nations, an unthinkable tragedy for the people chosen to bear God’s name.

The Israelites had a common saying in Ezekiel’s time: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezek. 18:2). They believed they were suffering for the sins of their ancestors, as if they were merely victims of God’s judgment rather than responsible for their own choices. But the Lord corrects their misunderstanding. He declares that each person is accountable for their own righteousness or wickedness, and that His justice is never unfair.

Zophar’s speech in Job 20 is blistering, harsh, and filled with certainty. He believes he is speaking on God’s behalf, delivering a scathing rebuke to Job. To him, Job must be wicked because suffering of this magnitude must be punishment. His words, while true in general about the wicked, are false when applied to Job. That is the great tragedy of legalistic, human reasoning—it assumes that suffering is always a direct result of personal sin.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2).

It should grieve us to realize how many abandoned babes in Christ there are—spiritual orphans left without guidance, struggling to understand what it means to walk in their new life. In these days of spiritual famine, the need to nurture new believers is more urgent than ever. Our role isn’t simply to bring someone to Christ and then move on, but to see them grow—“rooted and built up in Him, and established” (Col. 2:7).

Feed My sheep. — John 21:17

This is love in the making. The love of God is unmade—it is God’s very nature. When we receive the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is manifested in us. But union with God is not the end in itself; the purpose is to be one with the Father as Jesus was. And what did that oneness look like? It looked like being sent to be spent. Jesus said, “As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you” (John 20:21).

📖 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. — Hebrews 12:11 BSB

God often works through paradoxes—strength through weakness, life through death, peace through surrender. Today’s devotional reminds me that power is not something we find; it’s something produced. The illustration of electrical energy being generated through friction captures a truth we often resist: the spiritual power to endure, to rise above, to trust in Christ's sufficiency is formed through the pressures of life.

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…"
— Philippians 1:9

If we were writing a letter to new Christians, what would we say? Many would focus on urging them to be witnesses—speaking boldly about Jesus, sharing the gospel at every opportunity. And certainly, proclaiming Christ is important. But Paul’s prayer for the Philippians doesn’t begin there. Instead, he prays that their love may abound. Not just as a feeling, but as an active force, shaped by knowledge and discernment.

📖 Romans 8:38 – "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

E. Stanley Jones highlights a deep struggle that many face—fear of the future. He recounts a story of a woman trapped in anxiety because, though religious, she was still living in herself, not in Christ. The turning point came when she surrendered, shifting her confidence from her own fading strength to the eternal security of Christ's indwelling life.

Father, how often I have seen the grip of fear tighten around a person’s heart, squeezing out their peace, leaving them anxious and exhausted. Even among believers, I’ve watched as worries about the future consume their thoughts—what will happen to their health, their relationships, their security? I’ve felt it myself in the past, before You taught me that life is not found in managing outcomes but in resting in You.