#5 Holy Wit – Bible Study God Is Faithful to Proud People (God Is Faithful to Flawed People – Peter) Scripture Reading (NKJV): On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus spoke to His disciples and warned them of what was coming. - Matthew 26:31–33 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night… But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus, knowing both the weakness of Peter and the trial ahead, spoke more directly to him: - Luke 22:31–32 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” But Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” Later that night, after Jesus was arrested, Peter followed at a distance. - Luke 22:54–57 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” - Luke 22:58–60 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” - Luke 22:60–62 Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord… So Peter went out and wept bitterly. After the resurrection, the angel gave a message that made special mention of Peter: - Mark 16:7 “But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Later, by the Sea of Galilee, the risen Christ restored Peter: - John 21:15–17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” Years later, Peter himself would write: - 1 Peter 5:5–6 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Matthew 26:31–35 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A31-35&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A31-35&version=NKJV) Luke 22:31–34, 54–62 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A31-34%2C54-62&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A31-34%2C54-62&version=NKJV) Mark 16:7 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A7&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A7&version=NKJV) John 21:15–19 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A15-19&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A15-19&version=NKJV) 1 Peter 5:5–6 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A5-6&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A5-6&version=NKJV) 1. Confidence That Exceeds Reality Peter’s problem was not a lack of devotion. It was an excess of confidence in himself. “Even if all are made to stumble… I will never.” He does not merely affirm loyalty; he distinguishes himself from others. His faithfulness, in his own mind, is sturdier than theirs. This is how pride often speaks—not always loudly, but comparatively. It measures itself against others and quietly concludes, “I will do better.” Peter is sincere, but sincerity is not the same as strength. A man may feel immovable while standing on a very thin floor. Jesus does not argue with Peter. He simply tells him the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. The warning is clear, but Peter does not yet have ears to hear it. Pride dulls perception. When we are most certain of ourselves, we are often least aware of our weakness. Matthew 26:33–34 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A33-34&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A33-34&version=NKJV) Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A18&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A18&version=NKJV) 2. Christ’s Faithfulness Before the Fall Before Peter falls, Christ prays. “Simon, Simon! Satan has asked for you… But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” This is one of the most comforting and unsettling statements in the Gospels. The trial will come. The sifting will be real. But Peter’s faith, though shaken, will not ultimately collapse. Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not promise that Peter will not fail. He promises that Peter will not be lost. “And when you have returned to Me…” That is certainty. Christ speaks of Peter’s restoration before Peter has even fallen. This is not based on Peter’s strength, but on Christ’s intercession. The foundation of Peter’s future is not Peter’s resolve—it is Christ’s prayer. This is where the faithfulness of God is seen most clearly. God’s people are not preserved because they are unshakable. They are preserved because Christ is. Luke 22:31–32 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A31-32&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A31-32&version=NKJV) Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7%3A25&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7%3A25&version=NKJV) 3. The Collapse of Self-Confidence Peter’s fall is not gradual—it is sudden and public. Around a fire, under the pressure of recognition, he denies the Lord he had just vowed to die for. Not once, but three times. The contrast is striking. Hours earlier: “I am ready to go with You… to death.” Now: “I do not know Him.” Then comes one of the most piercing moments in all of Scripture: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter.” No rebuke is recorded. No speech. Just a look. And in that look, Peter sees everything—his pride, his failure, the truth of Jesus’ words, and the weight of what he has done. “So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” This is the necessary breaking of pride. Not theoretical humility, but painful awareness. The man who thought himself stronger than others now knows himself capable of denying Christ. And yet—even here—this is not the end. This is the beginning of restoration. Luke 22:61–62 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A61-62&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A61-62&version=NKJV) Psalm 51:17 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A17&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A17&version=NKJV) 4. The Grace That Names Him Still After the resurrection, the angel says, “Tell His disciples—and Peter.” That small phrase carries immense weight. Peter is not excluded. He is not quietly removed from the group. He is named. The one who denied Christ is still counted among His disciples. This is not because the denial was small, but because Christ’s grace is greater. The Lord does not pretend Peter’s failure did not happen. He simply refuses to let it be final. God’s faithfulness is seen here not only in correction, but in remembrance. He remembers His own—even when they would prefer to disappear in shame. Mark 16:7 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A7&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A7&version=NKJV) John 10:27–28 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A27-28&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A27-28&version=NKJV) 5. Restoration Through Honest Love By the sea, Jesus restores Peter—not by ignoring the past, but by addressing it. Three times Peter denied. Three times Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” This is not cruelty. It is restoration through truth. Peter is grieved, but this grief is clean. It is not the despair of condemnation, but the sorrow that accompanies healing. He no longer boasts. He no longer compares himself to others. He simply appeals to Christ’s knowledge: “Lord, You know.” That is humility. Not confidence in self, but trust in Christ’s understanding. And then comes the remarkable commission: “Feed My sheep.” The one who failed publicly is now entrusted publicly. God does not only forgive Peter—He gives him work to do. This is how God treats humbled sinners. He restores them not to the sidelines, but to usefulness. John 21:17 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A17&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A17&version=NKJV) 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A3-4&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A3-4&version=NKJV) 6. The Humble Man Speaks Years later, Peter writes: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Those are not abstract words. They are lived truth. Peter knows what it is to be resisted in pride and restored in humility. He speaks now not as the man who said, “I will never,” but as one who has been broken and rebuilt. “Therefore humble yourselves…” This is not advice from a distance. It is the counsel of a man who learned the hard way that pride cannot stand and that grace meets those who bow. The story of Peter is not ultimately about failure. It is about a faithful Savior who does not leave proud men to themselves, but brings them low in order to raise them up rightly. 1 Peter 5:5–6 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A5-6&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A5-6&version=NKJV) James 4:10 (NKJV): [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A10&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A10&version=NKJV) - Reflection Questions Where do you see Peter’s kind of confidence in your own life—especially in comparison to others? How does it change your understanding of failure to know that Christ intercedes before you fall? What does Peter’s denial teach you about the danger of trusting your own strength? Why is it significant that Jesus restores Peter publicly and gives him responsibility? How does Peter’s later call to humility shape how you view your own spiritual life? - Prayer Points Thank God that Christ intercedes for His people even before they fail. Confess areas where you have trusted your own strength rather than the Lord. Ask God to expose pride early and bring you to true humility. Thank Him that failure is not final for those who belong to Christ. Pray for a humble heart that rests in Christ’s knowledge and grace. - For further study (NKJV): Luke 18:9–14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-14&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-14&version=NKJV) Philippians 1:6 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A6&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A6&version=NKJV) Hebrews 12:11 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A11&version=NKJV](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A11&version=NKJV) #HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #GodIsFaithfulToFlawedPeople #Peter

Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. *Note: Today’s verse was changed due to being a duplicate from Apr 8. The given verse is not included in the Scripture Writing Plan for today. There are many different proverbs that warn us about the danger of pride in our lives. And there are some proverbs that are almost identical to today’s verse. As a matter of fact, the verse listed in the Scripture Writing Plan for today that we covered on Apr 8 is Proverbs 18:12. The two verses are very similar, but do have a few different elements between them which we’ll cover today. The main difference is that it does not mention humility until the next verse - Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud (Proverbs 16:19). Our proverb today contains a strong warning in its simplest of terms - pride goes before destruction. The author is telling us that our arrogance, our overconfidence, our “I’m going to do things the way I want to do them” attitudes are going to inevitably lead us to ruin. Think about it. When someone is full of themselves or acts self-important and overconfident, what happens? They make mistakes because they put less effort into things, or they say things they shouldn’t because they set themselves up higher than others. And in the end, these things have consequences that are not good. Pride goes before destruction is a simple way to put it, but it describes it perfectly. But it is also important for us to realize that pride has more consequences than just failure or disaster. It can also blind us to our own weaknesses. We put ourselves at risk when we refuse to see ourselves how we really are. And pride causes us to become critical of other people, damaging relationships and burning bridges that cannot be rebuilt. Luckily there is a solution to the destruction and damage that can come from pride - humility. And not just humility in general, but humility before God. We must recognize our need for Him and humble ourselves. We definitely do not want to be sharing in the plunder of the proud, as verse 19 puts it. We want to be associating with and in the presence of those who are lowly in spirit - the humble people. Where do you fall in the comparison? Are you engaging in actions that could lead to your own downfall and imminent failure? Or are you among the lowly in spirit, those who are humble before God and obedient to Him? #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse

The Character of Heaven and Hell Bible Text: Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” The character of Christ is the character of heaven. Jesus did not only come to show us the way to heaven—He came to reveal what heaven is like. In His life, we see love without condition, humility without pride, mercy without limits, and truth without compromise. Everywhere He went, He expressed the nature of God. When He forgave, heaven was revealed. When He served, heaven was revealed. When He showed compassion, heaven was revealed. Heaven, therefore, is not just a place—it is a character. In contrast, the character of Satan reflects the nature of hell. Scripture describes him as proud, deceptive, destructive, and accusatory. In John 8:44, he is called the father of lies. In John 10:10, his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. Hell is not only a future reality—it is a nature that opposes everything God is. These two characters stand in complete opposition: Christ reveals love… Satan promotes hatred. Christ shows humility… Satan thrives in pride. Christ brings life… Satan brings destruction. Christ speaks truth… Satan spreads deception. This is not just theology—it is practical. Every day, in our thoughts, words, and actions, we reflect one of these two natures. When we choose love, forgiveness, humility, and truth, we reflect Christ—the character of heaven. But when we walk in pride, bitterness, deception, and strife, we mirror the nature of hell. God’s desire is clear: that we become like Christ. That is why the Scripture says, “Let this mind be in you…” It is a call to transformation—not just outwardly, but inwardly. The goal of the Christian life is not only to reach heaven, but to carry its character. God's Loving Heart.

Many people don’t realize that walking as children of light is not just about what is seen on the outside, but what is consistently cultivated within. It goes beyond appearances, beyond words, and even beyond moments of public righteousness. It is a daily, intentional decision to align your thoughts, actions, and desires with truth, even when no one is watching. Walking in the light means choosing integrity over convenience. It means letting your life reflect clarity in a world that often celebrates confusion. Light exposes, corrects, and refines, so it is not always comfortable, but it is always necessary for growth. A child of light does not blend in with darkness; they influence it. They carry peace into chaos, direction into uncertainty, and hope into spaces that feel empty. Their lives become a quiet testimony that something deeper is at work within them. It also means accountability. Light does not hide flaws, it reveals them so they can be transformed. That’s why walking in the light requires humility, a willingness to be corrected, and the courage to keep growing. Many admire the idea of light, but few embrace the discipline it demands. Because light calls you higher, it challenges your motives, stretches your character, and invites you into a life of consistency. So walking as a child of light is not a title to claim, it is a life to live. One where your character shines even in silence, and your presence reflects something greater than yourself. #light #God #childrenoflight #transform #creativity

Heavenly Father, We rise this morning with grateful hearts, thanking You for the gift of life, breath, and another opportunity to walk in Your purpose. Lord, this is the day that You have made—we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Father, we thank You for Your mercy that met us this morning, new and fresh. Your Word declares that Your compassions fail not—they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23). We pause to say thank You—not just for what You’ve done, but for who You are. Lord, we thank You for covering our families, providing for our needs, and sustaining us through every trial. Even when we didn’t see the way, You made one. Even when we felt weak, Your strength carried us. As it is written, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits”(Psalm 103:2). Today, we choose to remember and give thanks. Father, fill our hearts with peace and our minds with clarity. Let gratitude overflow in every area of our lives. Teach us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Your will concerning us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Order our steps today, Lord. Let our words be seasoned with grace, and let our actions reflect Your love. May we walk in humility, serve with joy, and shine as lights in this world. We thank You in advance for the blessings, breakthroughs, and favor that this day holds. We trust You completely, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from You (James 1:17). Declaration: Today, I will walk in gratitude. I will not complain—I will praise. I will not fear—I will trust. I will not forget—I will remember the goodness of the Lord. My heart is thankful, my spirit is lifted, and my life is in God’s hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*The Mirror, Not the Microscope* By Apostle Edward Freedom. Scripture Reading: *“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”* — Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) Reflection: There is a reason this warning comes so early in Jesus’ teaching. Judging others feels like wisdom, but it is often just a disguise for pride. When we sit in judgment over someone else’s heart, we elevate ourselves to a seat that was never meant for us. We take on a role that belongs to God alone—the role of the righteous Judge. The caution here is not about exercising discernment; the Bible calls us to discern truth from error, to recognize fruit, and to speak the truth in love. But judgment—the kind Jesus warns against—is different. It is a posture of condemnation. It is looking at a brother or sister and deciding their motives, their worth, or their standing before God. It is holding a microscope to their flaws while holding a mirror away from our own. Jesus’ warning is both compassionate and severe. Compassionate, because He knows that the judgment we hand out will eventually become the standard by which we measure ourselves. If we are harsh, we will live under harshness. If we are quick to condemn, we will live under a cloud of condemnation. Severe, because judgmentalism hardens the heart. It makes us forget the grace we ourselves received. It turns the community of believers into a courtroom instead of a family. When you feel the impulse to judge—when you are about to critique someone’s parenting, someone’s past, someone’s struggle—pause. 🤷‍♂️*Ask yourself:* Am I standing in a place of humility, remembering that but for the grace of God, I would be in the same place? Or am I standing above them, acting as if I have never needed mercy? *"God has not called us to be enforcers of His law; He has called us to be ambassadors of His grace"*. The caution is clear: handle judgment carefully, because the measure you give will be the measure you receive. *Prayer:* Lord, forgive me for the times I have slipped into the seat of judgment. I confess that it is easier to critique others than to examine my own heart. Teach me to hold up a mirror before I ever point a finger. Let me be quick to extend the same grace that You have lavished on me. Guard my tongue and my thoughts, and remind me that I am a servant, not the Judge. Amen. *Life Application:* Before you speak a critical word about someone today—whether in conversation or in the privacy of your thoughts—pause. Ask yourself: Is this discernment or judgment? Is this love or pride? Then, choose to pray for that person instead. Let prayer replace the impulse to pronounce a verdict. ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️ Edward Freedom Ministry Int'l. 08036554420

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2026. "INSTRUMENT RATED (8)" Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…’  Ecclesiastes 9:9 NIV INSTRUMENT RATED for marriage. Today, Christian marriages are falling apart at the same rate as non-Christian marriages. And those who go through it need our love, not our condemnation. But clearly, something’s wrong that needs to be put right! Two of the leading causes of divorce are financial stress and pornography. When you become overextended by purchasing things you can’t afford and don’t need, you’re heading into trouble. And when you open your mind to sexual fantasy, you entertain images your mate can’t live up to, and your relationship begins to deteriorate. Solomon writes, ‘Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes’ (Song of Solomon 2:15 NKJV). Notice the word ‘tender’. When we fail to treat one another tenderly, graciously, lovingly, considerately, and with respect, the plane we’re flying in together takes a nosedive. A neglected partner is vulnerable to anyone who comes along. Resentment wells up and takes over. If God’s Word doesn’t work in your home and in your marriage, then it won’t work anywhere else! An instrument-rated Christian understands that the secret of having a good marriage is not just in finding the right person but in becoming the right person. And that can only happen when you make a daily commitment to living by the principles of God’s Word and demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The story is told of one spouse who said to the other, ‘I never knew what real happiness was until I married you - now it’s too late.’ Unless you want that to be your story, start tending the home fires. Bible In A Year: Ps 118:19-29. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌹🌷🎀💝. ii. WHO IS JESUS? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." - John 1:1,3-4,14 The Word was with God and the Word, Jesus, was God. Many did not know who Jesus was and often wondered: 'Who is this fellow…? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' (Luke 5:21). The Pharisees and teachers of the law did not know nor understand that Jesus was God. The worst sinner could come to Jesus. This is the most beautiful message we preach around the world today. Jesus is the Son of God. He really is the Son of God. Do you know Him? When the Lord Jesus asked His disciples: 'Who do you say I am?', Peter responded: 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered that Peter was blessed because of those words. 'This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven' (Matthew 16:17). Only God can reveal Jesus through His Holy Spirit. This is why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. While the crowd did not know who Jesus was, there was one - John the Baptist - who recognized Him. John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. My prayer today is that the Holy Spirit will show you who Jesus Christ really is. The Word is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has been crucified for your and my sins. He can forgive sins. He is the great Savior and Healer. He is the Lion of Judah. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the Most High and He will come back. He is our Redeemer and Shepherd. He is everything we need. He is the One we preach. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. i. Morning Prayer Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ⏤ Proverbs 3:5-6 The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays. ⏤ Soren Kierkegaard O God, our heavenly Father, we can’t go into this day without Your blessing and help. We are blind and can’t see where to set our feet, so we need to be led by Someone who knows all the paths. We place our hands in Yours this morning. Show us the way, for You know every step of it. Tell us what You want us to do today. You have a plan for our lives. There are things You’ve prepared for each of us to do today. May we find those things, and may we have the grace to do them all. Keep us from being so focused on our own plans and ambitions that we miss Your plan and fail to do Your will. Even if it’s hard for us to follow Your way, even if it disrupts our cherished hopes and desires, help us always to say, "Your will be done." We ask You to give us the grace to live today as we should. Life isn’t easy for us. Our burdens are heavy. There are temptations at every turn. Help us to speak only words that will build others up. Help us to be honest in all our business dealings. Help us to be thoughtful and kind to everyone we meet. Help us to be a source of strength to many and a discouragement to none. Please bless all the work we do today. Without Your blessing, there can be no true success. Just as flowers need the sun and dew to grow, our lives need Your grace and love to become what they should be. Breathe on us now as we bow before You, and fill us with Your Spirit as we go out. Then we’ll be blessed and ready for a day filled with love, peace, and joy. We ask all these favors, along with the forgiveness of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/11/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion. Good evening, brethren. Evening devotion for today. i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* THE CROSS: CULMINATION OF GRACE. *TOPIC:* ENDS HOSTILITY. *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 2:14-20. 14. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15. by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16. and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, 20. built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. *TOPIC:* ENDS HOSTILITY. *THE MESSAGE:* Racial and religious differences caused deep hostility and separation between the Jews and Gentiles. However, the death and peace of Christ have broken down the dividing wall between these nations, reconciling them into a new family. Besides, Jesus fulfilled the demands of the law, which once served as a barrier. Through His death, Christ created unity and ended hostility, granting both groups access to God through the same Spirit. The Gospel has the power to bring reconciliation between individuals and God and among formerly divided people. Are you living in hostility with anyone? Christ Himself is peace, so the one who believes in Him receives grace to live in peace with all categories of people. Do not erect barriers in the household of God and society. *REFLECTION:* In Jesus, all barriers are destroyed. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to destroy every trait of barrier in my heart. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* COLOSSIANS 2:15. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* 1 CHRONICLES 1-5. ii. Skip to content Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth Posted onApril 15, 2026 by Editor Christ’s Comforting Words Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals JESUS SAID: I am meek and lowly of heart I bought you. I paid for you. You are Mine. You will grow more like Me, your Master and Lord.. – through cooperation with me or chastisement from me. But, are you really willing to eat from My dish ? Are you really ready to drink of the cup of bitterness that I drank ? Are you really prepared to walk the way of suffering and death that I walked ? As with Moses, so with you My child. No man can see My face and live. For your-self must die in My presence, The original ‘OLD’ creation’ must shrivel away in My company. The ‘NEW’ life must grow and mature, Growing and maturing is painful, Growing and maturing is a lifelong agony, Growing and maturing means moulding and conforming, Moulding means cutting, chiselling carving, Conforming means refining, purifying perfecting. It means sacrifice of the person to conform to the Type. It means sacrifice of self to conform to Christ’s likeness This is not My labour alone, but yours This is a work that requires cooperation.. – yours and Mine. I will complete the work – but you must permit ME to do it, in you, It is the recognition of the selfish ‘you’ in your desires… – your actions – your words – your thoughts – your hopes – your motives – your attitudes – your-SELF It is a work that requires cooperation.. – Mine and yours It is a work that brings a deep sense of failure.. – disappointment and sorrow – embarrassment and shame – persecution and pain – deprivation and loss. It is a work that causes dismay.. – for as it proceeds, the more you realise has to be done. Shortcomings that you once scarcely recognised.. – now cause trouble and dismay. Courage.. Courage – to face your-self is a sign of progress. Patience.. Patience – not only with others… – but patience even with yourself, is advancement. Humility.. Humility of heart. Humility – the most difficult to acquire.. – yet humility is the characteristic I so desire in all My children. For I AM humble of heart and I AM lowly of spirit. You will see progress, Slow progress, upward progress, – but you will see progress. And so onward and upward and forward – you and I together. Remember, I AM with you – even to the end of the age. I will uphold you – with My righteous right hand. I, your Lord and Master – I am with you, – I am beside you, – I dwell within your heart. Remember, I AM your Captain, I AM your Helper, I AM meek and lowly of heart, – and you will find rest for your soul, in Me. Oh yes My beloved child – we cooperate…. And remember the good work I started in you? – I will complete it… As I share your troubles.. – your failures – your difficulties – your disappointments – your heartaches – your pain… You will share in My Humility – My patience – My courage – My strength – My hope – My joy – My love Post navigation Previous Post Previous Our Just Dessert Proudly powered by WordPress. 2. Evening Prayer for today. i. Evening Prayer If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ⏤ 1 John 1:9 Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, our Father, we come to You now at the close of this day with our evening prayers. Please accept us and our worship, and grant us Your mercy. We placed ourselves in Your care this morning, and You’ve kept us through all the experiences of the day. We bring our day’s work to You. It’s not what it should have been. We haven’t lived as well as we knew we should. We’ve done many things we didn’t mean to do, and we’ve failed to do many things we intended to do. Our own hearts condemn us, and You, who are greater than our hearts, have seen even more of our sins today than we have noticed. We plead with You for forgiveness. Yet, we ask You to accept what we bring to You, imperfect and stained as it is. You know how frail we are. You remember that we are made of dust. Have pity on our weakness and teach us how to grow strong. Accept the mere fragments of our living that we bring to You tonight, and use them for Your glory and the blessing of the world. Whatever has been good and acceptable in our life and work today, please take it from our hands and use it to bless others. Bless the influence we’ve had on others today. If we’ve hurt any of Your children, please forgive us and heal the wounds we’ve caused. If we’ve discouraged others by our words, actions, or example, making life harder for them, we ask for Your forgiveness, and we pray that we may live in a way that is always a help and inspiration to others. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/10/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good evening, brethren. Evening devotion for today. i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* THE CROSS: CULMINATION OF GRACE. *TOPIC:* ENDS HOSTILITY. *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 2:14-20. 14. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15. by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16. and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, 20. built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. *TOPIC:* ENDS HOSTILITY. *THE MESSAGE:* Racial and religious differences caused deep hostility and separation between the Jews and Gentiles. However, the death and peace of Christ have broken down the dividing wall between these nations, reconciling them into a new family. Besides, Jesus fulfilled the demands of the law, which once served as a barrier. Through His death, Christ created unity and ended hostility, granting both groups access to God through the same Spirit. The Gospel has the power to bring reconciliation between individuals and God and among formerly divided people. Are you living in hostility with anyone? Christ Himself is peace, so the one who believes in Him receives grace to live in peace with all categories of people. Do not erect barriers in the household of God and society. *REFLECTION:* In Jesus, all barriers are destroyed. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to destroy every trait of barrier in my heart. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* COLOSSIANS 2:15. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* 1 CHRONICLES 1-5. ii. Skip to content Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth Posted onApril 15, 2026 by Editor Christ’s Comforting Words Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals JESUS SAID: I am meek and lowly of heart I bought you. I paid for you. You are Mine. You will grow more like Me, your Master and Lord.. – through cooperation with me or chastisement from me. But, are you really willing to eat from My dish ? Are you really ready to drink of the cup of bitterness that I drank ? Are you really prepared to walk the way of suffering and death that I walked ? As with Moses, so with you My child. No man can see My face and live. For your-self must die in My presence, The original ‘OLD’ creation’ must shrivel away in My company. The ‘NEW’ life must grow and mature, Growing and maturing is painful, Growing and maturing is a lifelong agony, Growing and maturing means moulding and conforming, Moulding means cutting, chiselling carving, Conforming means refining, purifying perfecting. It means sacrifice of the person to conform to the Type. It means sacrifice of self to conform to Christ’s likeness This is not My labour alone, but yours This is a work that requires cooperation.. – yours and Mine. I will complete the work – but you must permit ME to do it, in you, It is the recognition of the selfish ‘you’ in your desires… – your actions – your words – your thoughts – your hopes – your motives – your attitudes – your-SELF It is a work that requires cooperation.. – Mine and yours It is a work that brings a deep sense of failure.. – disappointment and sorrow – embarrassment and shame – persecution and pain – deprivation and loss. It is a work that causes dismay.. – for as it proceeds, the more you realise has to be done. Shortcomings that you once scarcely recognised.. – now cause trouble and dismay. Courage.. Courage – to face your-self is a sign of progress. Patience.. Patience – not only with others… – but patience even with yourself, is advancement. Humility.. Humility of heart. Humility – the most difficult to acquire.. – yet humility is the characteristic I so desire in all My children. For I AM humble of heart and I AM lowly of spirit. You will see progress, Slow progress, upward progress, – but you will see progress. And so onward and upward and forward – you and I together. Remember, I AM with you – even to the end of the age. I will uphold you – with My righteous right hand. I, your Lord and Master – I am with you, – I am beside you, – I dwell within your heart. Remember, I AM your Captain, I AM your Helper, I AM meek and lowly of heart, – and you will find rest for your soul, in Me. Oh yes My beloved child – we cooperate…. And remember the good work I started in you? – I will complete it… As I share your troubles.. – your failures – your difficulties – your disappointments – your heartaches – your pain… You will share in My Humility – My patience – My courage – My strength – My hope – My joy – My love Post navigation Previous Post Previous Our Just Dessert Proudly powered by WordPress. 2. Evening Prayer for today. i. Evening Prayer If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ⏤ 1 John 1:9 Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, our Father, we come to You now at the close of this day with our evening prayers. Please accept us and our worship, and grant us Your mercy. We placed ourselves in Your care this morning, and You’ve kept us through all the experiences of the day. We bring our day’s work to You. It’s not what it should have been. We haven’t lived as well as we knew we should. We’ve done many things we didn’t mean to do, and we’ve failed to do many things we intended to do. Our own hearts condemn us, and You, who are greater than our hearts, have seen even more of our sins today than we have noticed. We plead with You for forgiveness. Yet, we ask You to accept what we bring to You, imperfect and stained as it is. You know how frail we are. You remember that we are made of dust. Have pity on our weakness and teach us how to grow strong. Accept the mere fragments of our living that we bring to You tonight, and use them for Your glory and the blessing of the world. Whatever has been good and acceptable in our life and work today, please take it from our hands and use it to bless others. Bless the influence we’ve had on others today. If we’ve hurt any of Your children, please forgive us and heal the wounds we’ve caused. If we’ve discouraged others by our words, actions, or example, making life harder for them, we ask for Your forgiveness, and we pray that we may live in a way that is always a help and inspiration to others. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/10/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Beatitudes This is it. The beginning of Jesus's ministry sets apart His teaching from that of the other Jewish leaders in Israel. Up to this point, Matthew has pointed to Jesus as the promised Messiah in His genealogy, in the time period and location and even the predecessor, John the Baptist. But when Jesus sits for His first sermon He is teaching something never taught before in a way nothing had ever been taught before. The first set of instructions became known as the Beatitudes and in part one we will examine the first 12 verses. It is difficult to explain just how radically different Jesus's teaching is from all those who came before Him. Jesus is teaching with authority and does not appeal to previous prophets to obtain that authority. Read these verses located at the bottom of this script and return to read this afterwards. * In these verses Jesus is emphasizing how believers can be Blessed. The attitudes a believer must have come from inner motivation, not physical acts. So what does it mean to be poor in spirit? It does not mean a state of semi-Permanent depression. To be poor in spirit is to have the concept firmly in mind that you need God in your life. That there is nothing special to me that makes me better or worse than another individual, that I am not good, not deserving and at one point we were enemies of God and in spite of it all God loves us. He wants to bless us but won't do so against our will. Those who lack humility are not poor in spirit and God's kingdom does not belong to these. When Jesus says “Blessed are those who mourn” who is He referring to? Those mourning the loss of a loved one? Those mourning the sad state of the Israeli nation under Roman rule? The word “mourning” means “to feel deep sorrow, to show great concern, or to deplore some existing wrong.” Again an incorrect interpretation would lead us to believe that Jesus is encouraging us to be in a constant state of depression. He's not saying that. (Although it would explain the state of many American churches.) He's saying that we should have a level of empathy as Christians realizing that just as we might be mourning one day, others may be mourning on another day and we should be comforted and comforting others. And if as a people we are comforting others, we will be blessed. Jesus then addresses the gentle, translated ‘meek’ elsewhere. Meek is defined as great power, used rightly. Some unfortunately conflate meek with weak and completely misunderstand this verse. (Although, that too would explain the state of many American churches.) Jesus isn't praising a namby pamby person incapable of taking a stand. He's saying that the one with great ability and power under control, these gentle, humble people with immense strength they keep in check will one day inherit the earth. Why? Because those not in the kingdom won't be around to lay claim to it. Now Jesus speaks on the importance of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. What does he mean here? He's saying that one's desire for righteousness, to stand before God rightly, must be so intense and so internal that he calls it a hungering and thirsting. Are we truly hungering for righteousness? Sometimes I fear my motivations may be for the wrong reasons. We should pursue righteousness with our hearts desiring to get closer with Christ. Jesus promises that if we do, we will be satisfied. When Jesus says “Blessed are the merciful.” He was talking to us. That may seem kind of easy to say until you realize that Christians can be some of the most unforgiving folks on the planet. Jesus is clearly saying that those who exhibit mercy will receive mercy. It is our duty as Christians to show mercy. When I had difficulty doing so, God showed me that some of my own actions had led someone to have the same unforgiving attitude towards me that I have had against others. So I must be willing to be as merciful to others as I want them to be toward me. The term, ‘pure In heart’ refers to an undivided heart devoted to God. Jesus is saying that those with sincere devotion to God, with pure intentions will see God. And again, the emphasis here is on the internal struggle to keep ones’ heart from being divided. Understand this, though, we cannot include non believers in this as outside of Him one cannot be pure of heart. Jesus is speaking to his followers. Is our heart completely and wholly devoted to God or are we struggling to put Him first? That's the question we have to answer if we wish to see God. Jesus says, blessed are the peacemakers. We can't misunderstand this passage. A peacemaker is not someone who advocates for peace no matter the cost. A peacemaker is not someone who compromises with false teaching for the idea of bringing peace. We cannot ‘make peace’ with a lie if we are of the truth. A peacemaker is someone who actively pursues reconciliation not someone who does nothing waiting for peace to happen. A peacemaker will work to bring parties together, as God did with us. We were separated from God by sin, and God didn't compromise truth to reconcile us to Himself. He provided Jesus. If we behave as God did, we will be called Sons of God. Sometimes however when we try to be peacemakers with some people, they have no interest in maintaining peace, and if we don't compromise truth we will be attacked. But Jesus assures us here that if we are doing everything right that we will be persecuted. It is only if we do that that we can say that the kingdom belongs to us. But the persecution will in many cases continue. It will cause some to insult us, persecute us and even lie about us. Jesus is warning us that if we do everything right, yes we will be blessed, but it will come at a cost. The treatment of God's people has always been poor when dealing with persecution. Remember that the spirit influencing the persecution is facing limited time and an eternity of punishment for his rebellion, he has nothing to lose in stealing from, beating or killing us, and he holds great influence over these people doing the persecuting. The question we have to ask is do we truly desire God's blessing? Because it's going to cause a change in how we live our lives. Every day it's a conscious decision to act as a Beatitudes infused Christian. Some days it takes more prayer than others. And realize this, in this life, we won't win every round against darkness. Sometimes the devil wins and a believer is killed, robbed or treated entirely unfairly. Jesus's promise is that the reward in Heaven will be great. Next time we will look at how Jesus sees our role in life as salt and light. Matthew 5:1-12 [1] Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. [2] And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, [3] “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5] “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. [6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. [7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. [8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. [9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. [10] “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [

👑 Jesus Christ, the King of kings, didn’t arrive on a throne of gold but in simplicity and meekness. He chose the path of service, sacrifice, and the cross, all to rescue your soul and bring you into eternal life. 🙏 True greatness is found in humble love. #KingInHumility #JesusSaves #TheCross #HolyWeek #GraceAndMercy #FaithInChrist