Category: Today’s Word

2 Timothy 2:14-26. Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ¹⁶ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

---

Paul writes this letter to Timothy as a spiritual father to his son in the faith, urging him to remain steadfast and guard the truth of the gospel. He warns believers to avoid meaningless debates, divisive arguments, and false teachings that distract from the central message—that Jesus is the Christ. God’s people are called to correctly handle the word of truth, which requires not only knowing Scripture but also living by it, staying anchored in the unchanging gospel of Christ.

Satan is far more cunning than many realize. From the very beginning, he destroyed the first family with a single lie: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). Through deception, he brought sin, death, and destruction into the world, and he has been using the same tactics ever since.

Scripture warns us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). The devil rarely appears as evil; he disguises his traps behind attractive appearances, persuasive reasoning, and even religious-sounding language. He may come as a false teacher, a seemingly moral influencer, or even a voice that appears compassionate but subtly undermines God’s truth. But he is “the great dragon… who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9).

Today, Satan’s influence permeates nearly every area of life—family, education, entertainment, politics, economy, and culture. Through books, music, movies, and modern media, his agenda is subtly embedded, shaping minds and hearts without people realizing it. Many, especially the youth, are being drawn into lifestyles and patterns of thought that lead to spiritual, mental, and emotional destruction.

In an effort to find relief, people turn to alternative spiritual practices—such as yoga, transcendental meditation, and occult philosophies—but these cannot bring true peace or healing. Jesus warned that such empty pursuits will leave people worse off than before (Matthew 12:43-45).

Satan’s strategy extends even deeper into religion and culture. Many nations celebrate spiritual sites, artifacts, and practices as “cultural heritage” without realizing that in doing so, they become participants with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). Idols are elevated and admired rather than rejected, blurring the line between cultural appreciation and spiritual deception.

Even within the church, his tactics are more subtle and destructive than anywhere else. Many churches established by God to be houses of prayer and worship have turned into tourist attractions, losing their spiritual authority. Without the ability to create a culture rooted in the gospel, many believers are conforming to the patterns of this world rather than transforming it through the power of Christ (Romans 12:2).

Today’s Word directly addresses these dangers. The devil promotes quarrels about words, godless chatter, false doctrine, evil desires, and foolish arguments—all of which divide the church and weaken its witness. Satan hates unity among God’s people and works tirelessly to keep the church from realizing, experiencing, and proclaiming the only true gospel that Jesus is the Christ.

Thus, we must resist his schemes by living as vessels set apart for God’s special purpose. Those who cleanse themselves from ungodliness become instruments of honor, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do every good work. Let us flee youthful passions and instead pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, walking alongside those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Our lives should reflect humility, kindness, and patience, gently instructing others, which comes only from knowing and enjoying the power of the gospel, so that God may lead them to repentance and freedom from Satan’s traps.

Instead of engaging in quarrels and useless debates, let us speak words that build up, encourage, and point people to Christ. Let us turn godless chatter into testimonies of God’s grace, false doctrine into sound teaching, evil desires into a passion for God’s kingdom, and foolish arguments into mutual understanding. By standing against the devil’s deception and sharing the truth of the gospel, we become living witnesses of Christ’s power and grace in a broken world.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for opening my eyes to the traps of the enemy. Help me put on Your full armor so that I may stand firm against Satan’s schemes. Purify my heart and make me an instrument for Your purposes. Strengthen Your church and unite us to fulfill the Great Commission in this generation and beyond. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

---

Many people think that believing in Jesus is simply choosing one religion among many. Others assume that committing their lives to Christ means they will have to give up everything they enjoy and live under strict rules. Even some believers struggle with the fear that living a godly life is too difficult and that following Jesus means losing everything. But this is a misunderstanding that comes from not knowing the core of the gospel.

The truth is, when we give our lives to Jesus, God doesn’t call us to abandon everything; He calls us to change the direction of our lives. It’s not about giving up your job, your possessions, or your dreams. It’s about letting God reshape your purpose. You can still keep your career, your resources, and your relationships—but now they are aligned with something far greater than yourself: God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

This is the key difference between religion and the gospel. Religion says, “Give up everything and try harder to be worthy.” The gospel says, “Jesus gave everything for you, and now you live for Him because you are already loved and accepted.” We no longer live for ourselves because Christ’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). His love is not distant or theoretical; it was demonstrated at the cross, where He took our place and bore our sins.

When Jesus died, our sinful nature, worldly ambitions, and misplaced pursuits died with Him. Through His resurrection, we were raised into a new life with a new identity and a new purpose. That’s why Paul says it is only right that we no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who gave everything for us. Paul captures this mindset perfectly in his letter to the Colossian believers:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

When this truth takes root in your heart, your entire perspective on life changes. You realize that your true home is in heaven and that your greatest blessings come from above, not from the temporary things of this world. Earthly success, wealth, and recognition no longer control you because your identity and security are anchored in Christ.

And when your focus shifts to the eternal, you find a new strength to face life’s challenges. Paul experienced incredible hardships—persecution, imprisonment, rejection, and suffering—yet his faith never wavered, as he writes:

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

Paul’s life was far from easy, yet his joy remained unshaken because his direction in life had completely changed. Even from prison, he encouraged others, writing, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). His strength didn’t come from himself but from Christ, as he boldly declared, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

This same transformation is available to you. When despair, trials, or crises come, you are not left to face them alone. God invites you to “give all your worries and cares to Him, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). What the enemy intends for harm, God uses for your growth and His glory. Problems are not obstacles meant to destroy you—they are God-ordained opportunities for you to experience His power and discover His plan.

So stop worrying and start praying. Trust that God is working behind the scenes in ways you cannot yet see. Hold onto His promise in all circumstances:  “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28). That includes you.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for changing the direction of my life when I believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Teach me to live no longer for myself but for the One who died and rose again for me. Help me fix my eyes on the realities of heaven and trust Your plan in every circumstance. May Your perfect will be done in my life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Proverbs 16:7. When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

---

As your relationship with God deepens, your relationships with others will also begin to change. Our connection with Him directly affects how we relate to people. An uneasy relationship with God naturally leads to tension and misunderstandings with others. But according to Today’s Word, when you live to please God, even your enemies will be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).

When your heart is aligned with your Father, He will give you the strength and grace to embrace anyone, even those who have wronged you. You will find the power to rise above conflict and overcome difficult relationships. Some people may be hostile to you because of your faith, but God is able to soften even the hardest hearts and turn them toward peace in His perfect time.

No matter what challenges arise, you will experience the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Even when you make mistakes, God’s Spirit will gently lead you back to the path of righteousness, restoring you and helping you walk in His will.

God promises that in all things, He works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). This includes your relationships, your struggles, and even your failures. In every circumstance, you can declare with confidence: “I can do all this through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

When you enjoy a close, intimate relationship with God, loving others becomes a natural response. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands (1 John 5:1-2).

When you are in love with someone, you naturally want to listen, understand, and please them—it does not feel burdensome. In the same way, when you truly love God, it becomes natural to obey Him and love others. His Spirit transforms your heart, making His commands not heavy but joyful.

This is why Scripture reminds us: “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14). Loving others is evidence of our spiritual life in Christ. And when you share the gospel, you demonstrate the highest form of love, because you are offering eternal life to those around you.

Through Christ, God has entrusted you with a powerful mission—the ministry of reconciliation:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Your calling is clear: make peace with others, and help them make peace with God. This is not a duty but a divine privilege. When you live this way, your life becomes a reflection of Christ’s love and an invitation for others to encounter Him.

God’s design for your relationships is not rooted in conflict, resentment, or bitterness but in reconciliation, forgiveness, and restoration. As you walk closely with Him, your heart will overflow with love, and your life will become a channel of His grace. This is the joy-filled life God has promised:

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete” (1 John 1:3-4).

Ultimately, everything begins and ends with your personal relationship with God. When your heart is fully surrendered to Him, His love will naturally flow through you to others. As His ambassador, your life becomes a living testimony of His grace, forgiveness, and power. Every word you speak, every act of kindness you show, and every prayer you lift up carries eternal impact. Choose today to abide in Him, walk in His peace, and become a vessel of His reconciliation and love in a world desperately searching for hope.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for making peace with me through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who bore my sins on the cross. Teach me to reflect Your love and forgiveness in every relationship. Use my life to share the message of reconciliation with those You have placed in my care. Help me walk in Your peace and extend it to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Peter 2:2. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

---

As soon as you are born again by the Spirit of God, your life begins to change, and you will begin to see the evidence of God’s work in you. God restores His broken relationship with you in a personal and unique way, filling your heart with His presence and confirming that you now belong to Him.

As you continue to “crave pure spiritual milk,” which is the Word of God, you will grow strong in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2). Just as a newborn baby depends on milk for growth, your spiritual life depends on feeding daily on God’s truth. The more you abide in His Word, the more your faith matures and your heart becomes aligned with His will.

First, you will know with certainty that you have been given the right to become a child of God. This right was granted to you the moment you received and believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord (John 1:12). Your identity is no longer tied to the family of Satan—your past, your failures, or what the world says about you—you now belong to the family of God.

You will also realize that you are no longer on a path to destruction because the Spirit of God Himself dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Creator of the universe, the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, now lives in you! His power, His wisdom, and His presence are with you at all times.

But if you do not know the authority you have as a child of God, you will continue living like a beggar or an orphan, defeated and powerless. That is why the Word of God is so vital—it reminds you of who you are and what you have been given in Christ. God’s promises equip you to walk confidently in His calling, knowing that your Father has already provided everything you need.

Because the Spirit of God is leading your life, you no longer need to live in fear or anxiety about tomorrow (John 14:26–27). His guidance is constant, gentle, and perfect, just as the Good Shepherd leads His sheep beside quiet waters and restores their souls (Psalm 23:1–3). Trusting His leading will bring you peace even in the midst of uncertainty.

Not only that, you have been given the incredible privilege of prayer—the ability to ask God for anything according to His will (John 14:14). The Holy Spirit Himself works powerfully in you and through you, interceding on your behalf and strengthening you in every circumstance (Romans 8:26). When you pray in Jesus’ name, holding onto the promises in God’s Word, the heavenly armies of God move on your behalf, and your prayers rise before His throne like incense (Revelation 8:3).

Whenever the devil attacks you through temptations, lies, and spiritual battles, take heart—he cannot prevail against you. His weapons will fail because Jesus has already won the victory. At the cross, your True King crushed the head of the ancient serpent, and when He rose again from the dead, Satan’s power was forever defeated. Stand firm and use your spiritual authority over all forces of darkness (Luke 10:19), knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:37–39).

From this moment on, set your heart and mind on things above, for you belong to heaven (Philippians 3:20). While you live on this earth, you are under the blessing, authority, and protection of God’s kingdom. This world is not your final home—you are a citizen of heaven, sent here with a divine purpose.

That purpose is the critical task Jesus entrusted to you: to testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20). Sharing the good news and leading others to salvation is the highest calling and greatest privilege you could ever receive. Through this, you will experience the ultimate blessing of all—being used by God to save lives and expand His kingdom.

The same Lord Jesus who saved you now lives within you, and He has given you the power of God to fulfill His calling. His divine power has granted you everything you need for life and godliness through your relationship with Him. By His glory and goodness, He has given you exceedingly great and precious promises so that you may share in His divine nature and live in freedom from the corruption caused by sin (2 Peter 1:3–4).

This is the kind of abundant, victorious life God desires for you—a life rooted in His Word, guided by His Spirit, secured by His promises, and filled with His presence.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for inviting me into a new life with You and restoring my relationship with You through Your Son. Help me to crave Your Word daily and desire Your presence above all else. Lead me by Your Spirit, strengthen my faith, and use my life to testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

---

Today’s Word comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian believers, written to strengthen and encourage them as they faced various crises in life:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

Paul reminds the believers that their struggles are temporary but that God is preparing for them an eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). He reassures them that God has already given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). Because of this promise, Paul urges them to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

God did not give us an incomplete, uncertain, or confusing gospel; from the very beginning, His plan of salvation has been perfect, complete, and unchanging. The message of the gospel comes with power, clarity, and absolute assurance because it is not based on human wisdom or effort but on the finished work of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins, died in our place, and rose again to give us eternal life. The moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit confirms this truth in our hearts, and as Paul declares in Today’s Word.

We were once children of the devil, living under sin and destined for eternal destruction. But Jesus changed our destiny forever through His death on the cross and His resurrection. In Him, our old identity is gone, and we are made new. Through His perfect sacrifice, we have been reconciled to God, adopted into His family, and given the privilege of living as His beloved children for all eternity. Now, instead of condemnation and separation, we have received forgiveness, freedom, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

When Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Deuteronomy 21:23), He removed every curse from our lives. In Christ, the sins and wounds of your past no longer define you. You are completely free from the power of original sin, generational sin, and personal sin (Ephesians 2:1). Through His blood, you have been fully forgiven, completely restored, and permanently set apart as a new creation in God’s kingdom. Now you can live in the freedom and authority that come from belonging to Christ, no longer bound by guilt, shame, or the power of the enemy.

For our sins to be forgiven, a sinless person had to die in our place (1 Peter 3:18). That is why the Son of Man gave His life as a ransom for us (Mark 10:45). Jesus, our True Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all—not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own precious blood—to obtain eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). By this sacrifice, He liberated us from the law of sin and death, setting us free forever.

So, do not dwell on your past mistakes or regrets. Instead, believe in the One who declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Rest in the peace that comes from knowing your salvation is complete. Trust that God has removed your sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12). Walk each day in the confidence and joy that come from being fully accepted, fully forgiven, and fully loved by your Heavenly Father (Hebrews 4:16).

God has also set us free from the problems of our present reality. Through His resurrection, Jesus—the True King—defeated Satan, the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Because He reigns, we no longer have to follow the patterns of this world. We have victory over sin, over fear, and over the schemes of the enemy. Scripture declares, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4–5).

So give all your worries and anxieties to God, for He cares deeply for you (1 Peter 5:7). Do not let the enemy plant seeds of fear or unbelief in your heart. Stand firm in the authority Christ has given you, and when you resist the devil by submitting to God and His Word, he will flee (James 4:7).

Finally, we have been freed from the fear of the future. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus, our True Prophet, opened a new and living way for us—from death to life, from hell to heaven (John 5:24). Our eternal address has been changed forever: He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves (Colossians 1:13).

Even while we live on earth, we belong to God’s kingdom (Luke 17:21; Philippians 3:20), and Jesus has given us the keys to unleash the power of heaven through prayer (Matthew 16:19). One day, He will take us to the place He has prepared, where we will be with Him forever (John 14:1–3).

You have been saved by grace through faith in Christ—and even that faith is a gift from God. Your salvation is not based on what you have done; therefore, there is no room for boasting (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, your transformed life becomes living evidence of God’s grace for future generations. His kindness and the amazing richness of His grace to us who belong to Christ Jesus will be displayed for all eternity. God has prepared an important task for you: proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Ephesians 2:10).

Do not let the crises in your life move you; instead, move them by the power of the gospel, affirming who you have become in Christ.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for allowing crises in my life to bless me. Help me stand on the firm foundation of my salvation found in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,

But we have the mind of Christ.

---

When you live a life led by the Spirit, you will see profound and undeniable changes taking place in your life. Why? Because the Spirit of God does not merely modify your behavior; He brings about a complete transformation of your inner being, producing fundamental changes at the deepest level of who you are.

The Spirit turns death into life, darkness into light, flesh into spirit, wrath into salvation, hell into heaven, religion into faith, law into grace, children of the devil into children of God, enemies of God into friends of God, sinners into righteous, the accused into the justified, the lost into the found, the powerless into the powerful, the ungodly into the godly, the worthless into the beloved, the wounded into the healed, the useless into the useful, shame into glory, sufferings into hope, the pride of life into boasting in God, lovers of self, money, and pleasure into lovers of God, and wanderers into witnesses.

This is not just a change of circumstances; it is a complete recreation of identity, purpose, and destiny through the work of the Holy Spirit: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You begin to live as a new creation in Christ, no longer bound by the curse and limitations of the past.

You will also see the fruit of the Spirit growing in your life: love, joy, and peace in your relationship with God; patience, kindness, and goodness in your relationships with others; and faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in governing yourself (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not qualities you strive to manufacture on your own; they are the supernatural evidence of God’s Spirit dwelling within you.

When people see you bringing good things out of the good treasure stored up in your heart, they will recognize the light of the gospel shining through your life and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). A Spirit-led life becomes a living testimony that draws others to Christ.

Living a life led by the Spirit requires surrender and yielding to Christ. As Paul confessed: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This means dying to your old self—laying down unbelief, selfish motives, and worldly ambition—and being raised to new life through the power of the gospel. Through this death and resurrection, you begin to live a life of victory, led by the Spirit.

Living by the Spirit also requires the power of God. As Paul declares, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). A Spirit-led life is not about your abilities, discipline, or wisdom; it flows from God’s power working in and through you. To walk in this power, you must immerse yourself in the Word of God, your source of life, and go deeper into prayer, which connects you to the heavenly realms and aligns your heart with His purposes.

As you grow as a person of the Spirit, God will open your eyes to discern and judge all things according to His wisdom. He will give you the mind and heart of Christ. You will begin to think as Christ thinks, desire what Christ desires, and go where Christ would go. Your priorities, decisions, and affections are transformed to reflect His. This is the kind of life God has called you to live—a life fully yielded to His Spirit, walking in His power, and fulfilling His purposes on earth:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for inviting me to live a life led by Your Spirit. Take full control of my soul, heart, thoughts, and body. Govern my words and actions through Your Spirit, so my life may bring glory to You. Teach me to walk by faith, to abide in Your presence, and to bear fruit that reveals Christ to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3. Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

---

Though many believers have received salvation, far too many fail to experience the fullness of life in Christ. Why? Today’s Word shows us that they are still worldly.

They may have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). They attend church, sing hymns, and even know the Bible, but they wander through life living no differently than unbelievers. Their hearts are consumed with the same worries, ambitions, and desires as the world.

Nicodemus was an accomplished scholar of the Law, a respected Pharisee, and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Outwardly, he had achieved everything a religious man could desire. Yet when he encountered Jesus, he could not recognize the One who came to save him. Jesus spoke to him about the necessity of being born again—of experiencing a spiritual birth from above—but Nicodemus could not comprehend it (John 3:1-3).

Here was a man well-versed in the Law, yet he could not understand the heart of the gospel. Highly religious but spiritually empty, he came to Jesus in search of answers for his life. This is a warning to us: it is possible to know Scripture but miss the Savior. It is possible to attend church but never experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

If we remain worldly, we will wander aimlessly through life—never fully tasting the joy, peace, and power God has promised us through Christ. Tragically, many choose the things below instead of the things above (Colossians 3:1-2). But the truth is this: we have been born from above through our Lord Jesus Christ. We belong to heaven.

Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of God. He declared, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Why, then, do we exchange the eternal inheritance of heaven for perishable, temporary things on earth? If you fill yourself with godly sorrow, which brings life and leaves no regret, you will be able to turn your heart away from worldly sorrow, which leads only to death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Stop being a lover of yourself, money, or pleasure. Become a lover of God and the good (2 Timothy 3:1-4). If you love Him, you will desire to obey Him (John 14:15). You will not grieve His Spirit by doing what He does not want you to do (Ephesians 4:30). You will not dismiss the Spirit by ignoring what He calls you to do (1 Thessalonians 5:19). You will not silence His voice when He leads you to people and places where Christ is not known. You will not quench the Spirit by chasing after the things of this world that will not last.

Invest your life in the things above, focusing on what is eternal rather than temporary. The treasures of this world will fade, but the inheritance in Christ lasts forever. Make Him the center of your life, the greatest choice of all, surrendering your plans to His will and seeking His kingdom first.

Why is it so dangerous to live a worldly life? Listen to what Scripture says:

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8).

In other words, the minds of believers who follow the world are controlled by their own desires. Though they are not enemies of God in status, they live as if they were. People may hear the Word of God, but their hearts are far from it, resisting obedience. Their entire lives, they will please their bodies rather than the One who loved them and died for them.

Thus, we must live by faith, not by sight. Faith pleases our Father (Hebrews 11:6). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin, and the greatest sin of all is unbelief (Romans 14:23). We have every reason to live by faith: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17).

Let us be like Paul when he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). Paul considered himself dead to the world. At one time, the things of the world were important to him, but he came to realize that they were worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:7-8).

The more you know Jesus, the more you will realize that you possess the greatest treasure of all. You will cherish Him, love Him, worship Him, and obey Him.

---

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I cherish, love, and worship You. I will leave the world behind and follow You. Take me to a place where Your name is not known. In Your mighty name, Amen.

Philippians 2:5-11. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

---

How do you walk with Christ in this twisted and crooked generation? To walk with Christ in such a world requires both inner transformation and outward testimony. It is not simply about outward morality but about living in union with the Lord Jesus Christ—sharing His mindset, taking up His cross, and standing in His victory.

First, you must walk with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). What does this mean? It means you invite Him as Lord and King to the throne of your heart and mind. Make His will your will. Make His plans your plans. Make His purpose your purpose in life. Let giving Him glory and honor become the greatest joy of your life.

To do this, approach your Father’s throne with an attitude of total submission, just as Jesus did to His Father (Philippians 2:5–8). Only then will you begin to understand the heart of “God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

When you have this mindset, your prayer life will change. You will pray not for selfish needs but according to His will. You will seek the greatest blessing of all—His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). You will pray with the heart of an evangelist: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19–20).

God will read your heart, hear your prayer, and open a door for your message so that you may proclaim the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:2–3). Knowing this, Paul prayed on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18), did not stop praying for the believers (Colossians 1:9), and always prayed with joy (Philippians 1:7). This is a mark of those who walk with Christ.

Second, to walk with Christ you must fix your eyes on the cross with humility (Philippians 2:8). We have been saved by grace. Only when we acknowledge that there is no hope apart from the cross of Christ will we be set free from the curse of sin. We cannot overcome sin by repentance alone or by trying harder to live a godly life. The burden of our sin is impossible for us to carry. That is why “the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). When you kneel before the cross and confess that Jesus is your True Priest who gave Himself as a ransom for your life, you realize that He has already canceled your sins by the blood He shed.

The same is true in our battle against Satan. On your own, you cannot overcome the powers of darkness. But when you acknowledge Jesus as your True King, He fights the battle for you. The devil has already been utterly defeated when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Victory in life cannot be expected apart from the cross of Jesus. That is why Paul confessed, “The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Finally, you must live with the assurance of victory for tomorrow. God has given us the name of Jesus that is above every name, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9–11). You may be weak, like a jar of clay, but the all-surpassing power is from God and not from you (2 Corinthians 4:7). When you pray in Jesus’ name, God promises to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land (Haggai 2:6).

Walking with Christ means conversing with Him throughout the day, in every situation, seeking His will. When you do, He will give you clear answers in your conscience, strength in your weakness, and victory in your trials.

---

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I thank You for walking with me today. Help me fix my eyes on the cross, put on Your mindset, and live with the assurance of victory that came through You. In Your mighty name, Amen.

Colossians 1:15-20. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

---

If you walk with Christ, you will know no ultimate failures in life. Why is this so? Because Christ Himself is the One who came from heaven, not to carry out His own will, but to fulfill the will of God the Father who sent Him (John 6:38). His entire life, ministry, death, and resurrection testify to the truth that in Him, there is no failure, only the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan.

Jesus Christ has divine authority. He alone has the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6), and He has the power to give eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 6:47). Unlike any human teacher, prophet, or religious leader, He is the One who conquered death itself. By rising from the grave, He crushed the head of Satan and destroyed the one who held the power of death (Mark 9:31; Hebrews 2:14).

Anyone who truly encountered Jesus had to acknowledge that He was no ordinary man, but the very Son of God. Pontius Pilate declared His innocence (Matthew 27:24), Judas confessed his betrayal of innocent blood (Matthew 27:4), and even the Roman centurion at the cross exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).

John the Baptist proclaimed Him to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Peter testified that “he committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), and Paul declared that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). His own disciples witnessed that even the winds and waves obeyed Him (Matthew 8:27).

While on earth, Jesus revealed the unconditional love of God. When He met a widow who had just lost her only son, His heart was moved with compassion, and He brought her son back from the dead and gave him back to her (Luke 7:11–15).

Another time, when a woman known for her sinful life poured perfume on His feet, He said of her, “Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47). He welcomed little children and blessed them (Mark 10:13–16). He even extended His grace toward His enemies (Luke 9:51–56).

As the True Priest, He gave His life as a ransom to break the curse of sin that brought death to the whole human race (Mark 10:45). When He hung on the cross, He carried all our failures, past, present, and future:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Through His suffering, He gave us life:

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21–22).

Living apart from God leads only to failure, but through Christ, we now have peace with God:

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10–11).

Not only did He die, but He rose again to give us victory over sin and death. His resurrection is the ultimate proof that He is the Christ. His death and resurrection were foretold for thousands of years and fulfilled at the appointed time. This was the turning point of human history. His work on the cross and His resurrection changed our destiny forever.

He now lives through the Holy Spirit in those He redeemed by His blood on the cross. Even now and in the ages to come, He is leading us by His Spirit. He will continue to show us the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us (Ephesians 2:7).

When the gospel is preached to the ends of the earth, He will return as King of kings and Lord of lords to establish His kingdom. He is preparing a place in heaven for those who trust in Him (John 14:1–3), and He will come again to judge the living and the dead with perfect justice and truth (Mark 14:61–62; John 5:22; Acts 1:11).

When you truly believe in the power of Christ, His authority will be revealed wherever you are. God has given us spiritual authority in His name to drive out the powers of darkness. Do not be shaken by the problems in your life, your family, or your church. Stand firm and use the authority given to you in Jesus’ name.

Who is Jesus to you? He is asking you the same question He asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Believing about Jesus is not enough; only Jesus Himself must remain at the center of your life (Matthew 17:8). Only then will the power of Satan, sin, and hell collapse. Only then will the kingdom of God come upon you. Only then will the Holy Spirit work mightily in your life. Only then will you live a life with no regrets.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for giving me victory in Christ in every circumstance of life. Help me to hold firmly to only Christ, only Your kingdom, and only Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ephesians 1:9-14. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

---

Scripture declares that God chose you in Christ before the creation of the world—even before you had done anything right or wrong (Ephesians 1:4). His choice was not based on your works, merit, or ability, but solely on His eternal love and purpose.

Yes, even before Adam and Eve broke the covenant and fell under the curse of Satan, sin, and hell, God had already determined to save you. He knew you from eternity past. Long before you took your first breath, He called your name while you were still in your mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1).

From the moment humanity became enslaved to the enemy, God revealed His salvation plan. He gave the first promise of the gospel in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This was God’s declaration to Satan that the Christ would come to destroy his work.

When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill this promise: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7–8).

For thousands of years, the Old Testament recorded the preparation for Christ’s coming—through prophecies, covenants, sacrifices, and the history of Israel. Then, in the New Testament, God fulfilled His promise, and those who believed in Christ, God’s chosen, bore witness to the Christ who came, died, and rose again. As Jesus Himself said, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

But why did it have to be the Christ? Because no one can free themselves from the three fundamental curses: the power of Satan (Revelation 12:9), the curse of original sin (Romans 3:23), and eternal separation from God in hell (Ephesians 2:1). From birth, every person is spiritually dead, cut off from the glory of God.

Throughout life, people are trapped in three patterns of destruction: self-reliance and self-centeredness (Genesis 3), corruption and pursuit of worldly pleasure (Genesis 6, and pride in human achievement and success (Genesis 11). On top of that, Satan binds people inside three unbreakable frames: the power structures of the world (Acts 13:4–12), the economic systems that enslave (Acts 16:16–24), and the culture of darkness that dominates society (Acts 19:8–41).

Because of this, all are destined to live as children of the devil (John 8:44), worshiping idols (Exodus 20:4–5), suffering mental torment (Matthew 11:28) and physical affliction (Acts 8:4–8), facing eternal condemnation in hell (Luke 16:19–31), and passing down the same spiritual curses to future generations (Matthew 27:25).

This is why it is critical to understand the purpose for which God sent His Son—to bring salvation (1 Peter 1:9). Salvation is not a small, temporary, external change; it is the ultimate reason and goal of our faith.

Salvation means complete freedom from your past. Because Jesus, your True King, lives in you, Satan no longer has power over you. You are no longer his servant, and you no longer have to obey his commands. This is the blessing of the Passover (Leviticus 23:4–8). On that night in Egypt, God’s judgment passed over every house marked by the blood of the lamb. The blood of Jesus once and for all set you free from the bondage of your past.

Salvation means victory in your present. You now possess the position, status, and authority of a child of God. Because Jesus, your True Priest, lives in you, the curse of sin has no claim on your life. This is the blessing of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15–22). God will empower you with the Holy Spirit so you may be victorious in all circumstances.

Salvation means absolute certainty for your future. God has already seated you with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Because Jesus, your True Prophet, lives in you, your eternal destination is secure—you are on your way home to heaven. This is the blessing of Ingathering (Leviticus 23:33–43). Your background is the kingdom of God, who will cause all things pertaining to His kingdom to be fulfilled on your covenant journey.

For this reason, every step you take in the work of evangelism and world missions is connected to God’s eternal plan, formed before the foundation of the world. Nothing about your calling is ordinary. Every prayer you lift, every soul you share the gospel with, and every act of obedience is a continuation of His work from eternity past.

---

Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as Your evangelist to carry the message of the cross. Open my spiritual eyes to see Your eternal plans for the world and my part in them. Let my life be fully aligned with the mission You prepared from before creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.