Feb 23 2026 … Humble Leadership …

Feb 23 2026 … Humble Leadership … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Nichole Nordeman singing Legacy … calling on all Christians to leave a legacy of humbly leading others to follow Christ.

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Highlight Passage: … John 1:27 … [NLT] …  

27 Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.” 

… John, the Baptiser, shows his humble leadership, declaring his calling to lead others to the ministry of Jesus as The Messiah.

Highlight Passage in Context:  John 1:19-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ cousin, John, the Baptiser, declares that ALL should surrender their allegiance to Jesus as the Messiah and to follow Him as Lord.   

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon warns fellow believers against pride but to exercise humility ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus calls His followers (i.e., disciples) to yoke themselves (ourselves) to Him and to follow His example of humility and meekness (i.e., “kindness”).  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on all fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ and to humbly follow Him as Lord.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also teaches truth on how to follow Jesus by humbly putting on His robes of righteousness. 

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 2:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches Timothy (and all followers of Christ) how to humbly lead others to Him as Lord.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to humble themselves (ourselves) so that God will lift them up by His power.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra …  USE THIS LINK   … told of how she asked a friend, named Butch Briggs, who had been coaching the swim team from a local high school for over five decades, how many state titles he had won during his long career, … to which Butch responded,  “I’ve not won a single championship because I’ve never swum in a single race.”

And that’s the kind of humble leadership we’re called on to be, by God’s word (see Scriptures above), as followers of Christ, … i.e., to lead others, by following Christ’s example, … but leading others to Him rather than taking the credit.  As Nicole Nordeman sings in the linked song, it is our “LEGACY” to live like John, The Baptiser, … humbly pointing others to follow Jesus as their (our) Messiah and Lord.  And I ask myself EVERY DAY if that’s my legacy.   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling me to humbly lead others to You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for calling all of us, who claim to be Your disciples, to humbly do all we can to lead others to You as our King of kings and Lord of lords. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Feb 22 2026 … Loving Like Jesus …

Feb 22 2026 … Loving Like Jesus … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Phil Wickham singing The Jesus Way … calling on all Christians to love others like Jesus loved us.

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Highlight Passage: … 1John 4:19 … [NLT] …  

19 We love each other because He loved us first. 

… John declares truth to fellow Christians about being able to love others the way Jesus loved them (us).

Highlight Passage in Context:  1John 4:16-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches fellow Christians that they (we) will love one another like Jesus first loves them (us).  

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Reference Passage: … John 3:16  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows Nicodemus how God would love all mankind by sacrificing His Son to save those who believed on Him as Messiah and Lord.

Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, teaches and commands His followers that loving one another displays who is really His disciples.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth on how Jesus gave His life to love even sinners. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s word, thru Paul, shows the essence of Christlike love to fellow Christians.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to show deep, Christlike, love for one another. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches truth about God blessing those who’re tested because of their (our) faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon …  USE THIS LINK   … related a true story about a young man, named Woody Cooper, who remained silent when a black girl, Dorothy Counts, was admitted to Woody’s high school.   Woody’s silent sin haunted him for over 40 years until he went to Dorothy to apologize later in life.  The two became close friends for years; and Dorothy even spoke at Woody’s funeral, detailing the friendship and love Woody had shown for her over the years.   

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the scriptures above, I’m hoping that all of us have come to decide to love others the way that Jesus loved us; and how we should love others, with a Christlike …  sacrificial … love. That’s what I’ll try my best to do today … loving others the Jesus way!   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing me how to love others the way You loved us all.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing all of us how to love one another the way You loved us.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Feb 21 2026 … Remembering God’s Goodness …

Feb 21 2026 … Remembering God’s Goodness … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Cece Winans singing Goodness of God … calling on all Christians to focus on and remember the eternal goodness of God.

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 42:5 … [NLT] …  

5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again — my Savior and my God! 

… The Psalmist sings of taking all his discouragement to the Lord with praise, … even n the face of life’s challenges.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 42:1-8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist writes of maintaining faith as the author deals with severe  life challenges and even depression.  

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 103:1-2, 10-13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God’s willingness to give His faithful children the grace and strength to deal with the challenges of life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises to give His peace to those who’re willing to focus, in faith, on God’s love and grace.   

Reference Passage: … John 1:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John, teaches truth for Christians to remember the blessings they (we) have received from God’s abundant grace. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 1:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul exhorts fellow Christians to remember all the blessings we receive from God’s grace.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-8, 19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also calls on all fellow Christians to take their (our) anxieties and concerns to God in prayer with thankful hearts, recognizing that The Lord will provide all our needs … ALWAYS! 

Reference Passage: … James 1:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches truth about God blessing those who’re tested because of their (our) faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Bill Crowder …  USE THIS LINK   … describes how a theologian, who was dealing with memories of the days of apartheid in South Africa, asked a young girl what the concept of “memory” meant to her, to which the student responded, ”Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.” And the ODB author immediately pointed to the brilliance of that insight from such a young child.   

And that insight is at the heart of how we, as Christians, must deal with our past, especially memories we have difficulty forgetting.  We need to be able to remember God’s goodness and His blessings in order to forget what we’ve dealt with in the past, or are dealing with in the present.   

Personally, I’m dealing with a lot of personal issues right now.   Perhaps my readers are too.  Well, I’m stopping, … right now, … to pray that we’ll all remember God’s goodness and His grace to give us the peace to forget the past and the strength to deal with the present.   Are you with me?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your strength, especially when I have trouble forgetting my past or dealing with my present ills.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and grace, giving us the truth from Your word to allow us to “forget” our past and deal with today’s challenges.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Feb 20 2026 … Watch Out For Wolves …

Feb 20 2026 … Watch Out For Wolves … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing Take My Life and Let I Be … calling on all Christians to let their (our) lives be lived for  and dedicated to worship, honor, and glorify our Lord.

Watch out for the wolves ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:10 … [NLT] … 

10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.. 

… Paul declares how Christ died so that we, His faithful, could - and would - live with and for Him FOREVER when He returns for His glory.

Highlight Passage in Context:  1Thessalonians 5:10-23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts and instructs his fellow Christians to do all they can to live for the One Who died that they (we) be free to live as He, our Lord, lived. 

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 6:5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, calls on God’s chosen to give ALL of their (our) heart, soul, and strength to follow God’s ways in living for His glory.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:15-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, warns his followers and disciples to watch for false teachers/leaders, who can become like wolves in sheep’s clothing (see photo), and devour those who cannot identify these false leaders by their behaviors, which go against God’s word and His ways.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians (and God’s chosen) to become living sacrifices and to follow His ways ALWAYS, avoiding the ways of  the world. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Paul also testifies to being a slave to follow Christ, calling on fellow Christians to honor the Lord by faithfully following His ways.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul calls on all fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ in surrendering to live like Him.

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, the Apostle Paul teaches Timothy - and all Christians - that God’s word was given to believers to allow them (us) to follow Him in the way we live their (our) lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Monica La Rose …  USE THIS LINK   … described a news release in Kenya in 2023 involving a number of people who died from self-starvation being led by a cult leader who had convinced many in the cult to starve themselves so that they could be with Jesus.  After his arrest, the cult leader denied ever teaching that but a number of survivors testified that he did.     

The ODB entry today, especially in light of God’s truth in the Scriptures shared above shows that false prophets, like the Kenyan cult leader, can invade the world and become what we’d call “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” (see photo), leading desperate Christians to live in ways that are false to what our Lord died to free His chosen ones for … and that is to live in ways that honor and glorify our Lord.   And that’s why you find me here - starting each day - by emerging my mind and my heart - in God’s word; because I know that I will be living for Jesus, … ALWAYS, … when I follow His word, which God has given us to follow our Lord all the way to glory.  Are you with me?  

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your word so that I can live for You as I follow You again today, waiting for You to come for me to be with You forever.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for helping us to avoid those wolves in sheep’s clothing each day as You lead us to Glory.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.