Days of Praise

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April 1, 2026
Signs Divide, Signs Reveal
“Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.” (John 11:53)

The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead. Why? They knew Lazarus’ resurrection was a well-established fact. And the profound miracle took place in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, with crowds watching.

Rather than recognizing this sign that Jesus was the Messiah and inspiring belief in Him, these leaders viewed the miracle as a threat to their authority. They feared Jesus’ popularity could lead to the loss of their positions and social standing. But more than that, their hearts were not open to the Word of God standing right in front of them in human flesh (John 1:14). Their hearts were hard and remained so. This made them blind to the very Messiah they were awaiting!

We also see this in the Old Testament. When Moses demanded that Pharaoh free the Israelites, Pharaoh continued to harden his heart. Even after he saw miracle after miracle, and even as the 10 plagues directly challenged the Egyptian gods, Pharaoh refused to concede (Exodus 9:12, 10:27).

Rather than forcing their hearts to believe, God allowed the Jewish leaders and Pharaoh to willfully harden their own hearts against the great miracles they witnessed.

But to the softened heart, Jesus’ identity was undeniable, being clearly revealed by the seven signs described in the gospel of John. The seventh sign was the raising of Lazarus. It foreshadowed the greatest miracle of all: Jesus’ defeat of death and sin on the cross and His resurrection Easter morning! “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25).

Jesus performed these signs to reveal to the Israelites the power of Yahweh, the great I Am. And the signs revealed who Jesus was—the Son of God in their midst! May our hearts be ready to recognize and praise Him for what He has done. MJS

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April 2, 2026
The Father of Spirits

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)

Human parents transmit physical characteristics to their offspring, but our spiritual attributes come from God, for He is “the Father of spirits.” Paul recognized that all men are “the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29) and that each man is still “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7).
 

Thus, our spirit/soul nature, as distinct from our body of physical/mental flesh, has come from God, who created it and united it with our body, evidently at the moment of physical conception in the womb. It is obvious that the image of God could not be transmitted genetically via the genetic code and DNA molecules, for these are simply complex chemicals programmed to transmit only the physical and mental attributes of ancestors to their children. Nevertheless, the spirit/soul attributes of each person also seem to be associated inseparably with the body from conception onward, continuing so until separated again at death, when the spirit goes “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), leaving the body behind.

 

In the meantime, however, by the union of flesh and spirit, man inherits Adam’s fallen nature as well as his mortal body, for “the body is dead because of sin” (Romans 8:10). Both are in need of salvation. Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:14). Therefore, we, like Paul, can pray that our “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). HMM

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April 16, 2026

Happy Suffering

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14).

Few Christians in the modern world, especially in our own country, have actually suffered physical persecution or martyrdom for the cause of Christ. Nevertheless, the Scriptures emphasize that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” of some kind, particularly in “the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1,12). We need, therefore, not to seek persecution but to at least understand it and react appropriately when it comes. As the world descends deeper into humanism and occultism, we may even face physical persecution as many Christians in communist, Muslim, and pagan lands already have.

Peter, who once himself was so fearful that he denied Christ, warns us not to fall into the same reaction. “Be not afraid, or troubled,” he says. Instead, “be happy!” This is seemingly strange but genuinely good advice. “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:13-14).

Christ Himself said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). The apostle Paul, who also suffered great persecution and eventual martyrdom, cautioned that we should be “in nothing terrified by your adversaries . . . . For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:28-29). HMM

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April 20, 2026
God is Holy
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

The awesome vision of the throne that God gave Isaiah included a short description of the seraphims. They stood above the throne announcing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). They are cited again in Revelation 4:8 as constantly saying, “Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Apparently, the holiness of God is all-consuming.

Both the Hebrew and Greek words for “holy” used in Scripture are strong descriptions of separateness, a dedicated detachment from all else. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy” (Revelation 15:4). “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

It is this absolute and unique transcendence that sets the Creator of the universe above and beyond all others: “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9). Although there are “gods many, and lords many” (1 Corinthians 8:5), and the “desperately wicked” heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9) twists the “glory of the uncorruptible God” (Romans 1:23) into every vile image possible, “Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Since God is holy, you and I can trust Him without reservation or doubt. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Since God is holy, we can be totally confident that our souls are secure in God, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). HMM III

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May 2, 2026
Son of the Living God
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

This ringing affirmation of faith came from Peter as spokesman but undoubtedly was shared by all the disciples, since Jesus had asked the question “Whom say ye that I am?” of them all. Actually, many had probably been disciples of John the Baptist, who had directed them to Jesus, and so had heard John’s testimony concerning Christ’s identity. John had said that Jesus was indeed “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18).

Yet, as they followed Him, they heard Him speak of Himself far more often as “the Son of man.” Over 30 times in the gospel of Matthew alone He identified Himself as Son of man, not once as the Son of God. Nevertheless, He accepted Peter’s statement as absolutely true, saying that the Father had so revealed it.

In fact, it is essential that one must believe it to be saved. Jesus did say, “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Yet, He seems to want us to know Him especially as the Son of man, perhaps so that we will never forget that He, though God, is also man just like us. And as man, He was “in all points [tested] like as we are, yet without sin” so He can “be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and we now can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

John was enabled to see Christ once again long after His return to heaven. Although He was now in His resurrection body, John still saw Him as “one like unto the Son of man” (Revelation 1:13). Although He is indeed the Son of the living God, He is also our “man in the glory”! HMM

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June 2, 2026
The Sting of Death, the Power of the Cross
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

When we receive word that a loved one has died—even when it’s expected—we gasp. The news punches our heart; our soul aches. Death often possesses a painful finality.

Sin and death are directly related—sin brought about death’s reign with all its dread and darkness. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And both sin and death came about as a result of Adam’s fall. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12).

But if sin and death stand together, they’re also defeated together; the cross of Christ conquers both! “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “The sting of death is sin . . . . But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57).

We praise God that through Christ, death has no more power over believers. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

For the one who believes in Jesus, death is simply a doorway to the eternal life that has been promised us (John 3:16)—let us face it with courageous joy! “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Christ is risen and nothing can separate us from Him! MJS

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June 4, 2026
Four Reasons Jesus Owns the World
“[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:2)

Hebrews exalts the Lord Jesus’ ownership of all things, including us. Scripture gives at least four reasons for this. First, the Son is the heir of all things (our text). That is, all things are destined to belong to Him. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” (John 3:35).

Second, Jesus created all things in conjunction with His Father and the Holy Spirit, as Genesis 1:26 shows. And the New Testament makes Christ’s creative activity crystal clear, saying, “In the beginning was the Word . . . . All things were made by him,” and “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (John 1:1, 3; Colossians 1:16).

Third, “[Jesus,] being the brightness of [God’s] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, the Lord Jesus also has full rights over all creation because He sustains it continually. If His powerful word ceased to uphold it, all things would vanish.

Finally, Christ redeemed all of creation by His self-sacrifice, as though He did not already deserve it by right of inheritance, creation, and sustaining power. Moreover, His purging of our sins on the cross, and thus His right to all things by virtue of His sacrifice, was so perfectly completed that the Lord “sat down” (Hebrews 1:3).

He has done everything. The Lord Jesus has the right of inheritance, of creation, of sustenance, and of redemption over all things. Since He owns us four times over, what worship ought we to give Him? BDT

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June 7, 2026

Like-Minded

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)

This emphatic command, along with the parallel terms, helps us understand the concept of thinking the same thing. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

Such thinking also includes “having the same love.” There are two aspects of this love. First, the term itself (agape) demands that all of Christ’s disciples “love one another: for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). This is often repeated to born-again believers so that our love for each other is so obvious that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Godly love then produces “being of one accord.” This phrase is the translation of the Greek word sumpsuchos, which is a compound of the preposition most often translated “with” and the word for “soul.” Thus, the agape that we are to share results in a connection “with-soul” that binds the “like-mindedness” in agreement with the mind and spirit of the Creator God.

We are finally commanded to be of “one mind”—slightly different from the “likeminded” opening charge of Philippians 2:2. The initial words are auto phronete—“I think.” The last use is phronountes—“same (way of) thinking.”

The entire context of the opening verses of Philippians 2 is to think like Jesus Christ thinks. “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “Set your affection [phroneo] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This kind of thinking must have God’s love and soul embedded in the very core of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. HMM III

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June 27, 2026
Vessels of Wrath
“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?” (Romans 9:22)

Most of us have met people who appear to be beyond salvation. We may even judge them to be “vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.” Is there any hope for them?

Consider some of the characters Jesus interacted with: the woman at the well, tax collectors, lepers, cripples, the demon-possessed, the woman caught in adultery, and the thief on the cross. These were outcasts and seemed to be without hope.

But God tells us, “As I live . . . I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). Clearly, Jesus did not come “into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

Despite appearance, words, or actions, no one is beyond saving. Christians are instructed to witness to and pray for all who don’t know Jesus as their Savior, not judge their spiritual standing. We are exhorted to love them and preach the gospel to them, for the gospel exists “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).

The “vessels” Paul mentions are people who persistently rebel against God, and only He knows whether they will be hardened or saved. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We not only can’t know all His ways, but we aren’t supposed to!

Do you know someone who appears beyond redemption: a family member, friend, or even foe? Prayerfully place them in Jesus’ saving hands. Our God is gracious and merciful, and miracles happen! MJS

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June 28, 2026
Abiding Words
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:23)

In our text, “the faith” insists on a particular body of doctrine that defines the Christian life. For instance, as Paul and Barnabas were returning from their initial missionary effort, they went back to each area “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).

There are nearly 50 occurrences in the New Testament where “the faith” is used in this way. These references always speak of obedience to specific teachings that embrace the core of the godly lifestyle that represents holiness and the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Thus, one who is “grounded and settled” in the faith will be both knowledgeable and stable in his Christian testimony and ministry.

It is necessary, of course, to build on the foundation of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11), but only the “gold, silver, precious stones” have any lasting value (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) —hence the requirement in Jude: “It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Furthermore, those who continue in the faith will not be “moved away from the hope of the gospel.” That hope acts as “an anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19) and is the drive that motivates us to maintain a pure lifestyle (1 John 3:3). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). HMM III

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July 16, 2026
Whom Shall I Fear?
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Think back to your youngest childhood days. Do you remember being afraid of the dark? Were you scared when your parents turned off the nightlight?

Flash forward to more logical adult fears—thieves, natural disasters, negative bank account balances, unemployment, public speaking, shark attacks, political turmoil, and death. While some of those fears may seem far-fetched, there are other fears you might encounter that will truly drive you to your knees in prayer.

How would you respond to life-threatening persecution? What if your children recant their faith and abandon everything you’ve taught them from Scripture? Could you handle the loss of loved ones and all of your possessions?

The Bible is filled with examples of faithful believers who suffered (Hebrews 11:36-38). Many of the sorrow-filled Psalms were written by King David. But he wasn’t the only subject of fear, suffering, and trauma. Perhaps you are reminded of Job. He was a godly man. Yet the Lord allowed Satan to torment him, removing nearly every good thing from his life (Job 1:12; 2:6). How could he respond in faith to the One who protected his soul?

In today’s text, David draws our hearts to what Spurgeon calls “a threefold cord which could not be broken.” The Lord is our light, salvation, and strength. And then he asks two rhetorical questions: “Whom shall I fear? . . . of whom shall I be afraid?”

With the Lord on your side, you need not fear anyone or anything. His love for you is sure and steadfast. Nothing in the entire universe—darkness, disaster, demons, or the devil—can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). MH