Sept 4 2026 … Keep The Main Thing the Main Thing

Sept 4 2026 …  Keep The Main Thing the Main Thing

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from a worship group, featuring Henry Seeley singing … Main Thing … calling on Christians to cast aside the cares of this world and focusing on worshipping Jesus as Lord.

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Highlight Passage: … Hebrews 12:1 [NIV]

…  1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us …    

…  The Author of Hebrews calls on Christians to avoid letting the world get int he way of their (our) worship of God.      

Highlight Passage: …  Hebrews 12:1-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …         

…   God, thru the Author of Hebrews warns against letting our desires and the temptations of the world get in the way of our following The Lord. 

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Reference Passage:… Exodus 20:3  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …           

… God, thru Moses, commands His people to let no other god or idol get in the way of their (our) worship of the one true God. 

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 119:105  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of following God’s word to show him (and us) the way to go in life.   

Reference Passage: Micah 6:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                         

… God, thru Micah, shows what is important to God. 

Reference Passage:…  Matthew 6:33  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …      

… Jesus teaches His followers in His sermon on the mount to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 

Reference Passage: Luke 12:34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows that our real treasures are revealed in what we desire above all else.

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

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to become living sacrifices to Chris’s Lordship, waring them (us) to avoid the temptations of this world.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Adam R Holz …  USE THIS LINK    related how the ODB author’s “smart” phone would occasionally send him a warning to delete ??MB of junk files to allow the phone to operate more effectively. And this was an an illustration of what was taught by today’s Scriptures in that we Christians are called, as the oft quoted saying reports, … “to keep the MAIN THING the MAIN thing!”

And isn’t that sometimes so difficult in following God’s word in this world and our everyday lives?   The temptations of the world and our flesh can so easily lead us to seek selfish desires which so easily weigh us down and draw our attention away from worshipping our God.   Well, today I’m going to do my best to cast off the weight which draws me away from my Lord.   How about you?  Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for reminding me thru Your word to set aside myself and the world to worship ONLY You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for showing Your own that we need to worship and desire only You.   … 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.

Sept 3 2026 … Fear of God

Sept 3 2026 …  Fear of God

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Mitch Wong singing … Fear of the Lord … calling on Christians to surrender in reverent fear of the Lord.

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Highlight Passage: … Acts 2:42 [NIV]

…  12  And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.    

… Moses calls God’s chosen faithful to live in a way that shows reverent fear of the Lord.      

Highlight Passage: …  Deuteronomy 10:12-15  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   God, thru Moses, calls on His people to live in reverent fear of the Lord. 

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Reference Passage:… Job 28:28  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …               

… Job declares God’s desire that believers live in a way which shows reverence and Godly wisdom.  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 111:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… This anonymous Psalmist declares that fear of the Lord is the beginning of Godly wisdom, in which believers must follow.   

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

… Solomon teaches that fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge. 

Reference Passage:…  Ecclesiastes 12:13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Solomon concludes that it is the duty of man to fear God and follow His commands.

Reference Passage: Matthew 10:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus calls on His Disciples to fear only God. 

Reference Passage: …  Luke 1:50 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… From Mary’s song of praise to her sister … that God will show mercy on all who fear Him.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Huang …  USE THIS LINK    described how a book on the life of a man, named Tanitan, who had lived a life as a headhunter in a native tribe in the Philippines, confessing that he had killed people in the past but had a life-changing fear of God in coming to faith in Christ.  In Tanitan’s own words, “Before, I was afraid to die but not afraid to kill. Now, I am afraid to kill but not afraid to die.”

Here was a man whose entire life focus changed when he surrendered his life to live for Jesus, … fearing and following His Lord completely.  Though I was not formerly a head-hunter, that’s my testimony as well.  Once Jesus came into my life; and now I fear and follow Him, I live my life to honor my Lord.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for your call to fear only You, Lord; and to follow You with my life.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for Your call to fear only You, as our Lord; and to follow You all the way 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.

Sept 2 2026 … A Glimpse of God’s Glory

Sept 2 2026 …  A Glimpse of God’s Glory

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the groups CityAlight singing … His Glory and My God … calling on Christians to seek God’s glory no matter what we may encounter in life.

A dream of Alpine glory ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Acts 2:42 [NIV]

…  18  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.    

… The Apostle Paul encourages fellow Christians to look beyond the trials they (we) face now to what is promised by God in heaven’s glory.      

Highlight Passage: …  2Corinthians 4:7-18  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   Paul assures fellow Christians that the trials we face point to the glory God has promised believers in heaven. 

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 33:15-20  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …     

… God promises Moses to let him and God’s chosen people see reflections of His glory.  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 72:19  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, promises to let God’s chosen to be filled with His glory.   

Reference Passage: Isaiah 42:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                      

… God, thru Isaiah, declares that those who worship idols will never see the glory of God. 

Reference Passage:…  Romans 11:36  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ... 

… Paul teaches truth that all things God created are to display His glory.

Reference Passage: 2Peter 1:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …      

… The Apostle Peter teaches truth about Christians being able, thru faith in Christ, to see reflections of God’s glory in the lives they (we) live.

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 21:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God gives John a revelation of God’s glory in heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kenneth Petersen …  USE THIS LINK    described how the initial stages of what he and his wife had dreamed of in a vacation to the Swiss Alps (i.e. pictured in the attached photo), was dimmed by the drudgery and trials the couple went through in merely getting to their lodgings.  But when the two stepped out on their hotel balcony and saw the vista (again, see photo), the breath-taking view had realized their dreams.

And that’s very much what the linked song and the Scriptures, shared above, reveal … that what we encounter, and must deal with in life, often dims what God’s word promises for Christians to see and experience in God’s heavenly glory.   Personally, I look ahead to God’s glory and choose to dwell not on the trials of this life.   Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for the promise of Your glory! 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … calling all fellow Christians, to look ahead to the reality - not the dream - of God’s heavenly 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.

Sept 1 2026 … Gathering To Grow in Christ

Sept 1 2026 …  Gathering To Grow in Christ

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …            and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the groups Elevation Worship and Maverick City singing … <b><i>Build Your Church</b></i> … calling on Christians to come together to build God’s church on the foundation which is Christ.

Super-pod of dophins swimming TOGETHER ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Acts 2:42 [NIV]

…  42  All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.    

… Christians gathered in fellowship, devoting themselves to God’s teaching, prayer,  and seeking God’s Spirit.      

Highlight Passage: …  Acts 2:1-6, 36-42  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

…   Followers of Christ come together and are led by God’s Spirit to follow Peter’s teaching the truth about repentance and baptism by God’s Spirit. 

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 35:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Moses gathered all of God’s people to share with them of God’s instructions on living for the Lord.

Reference Passage: …  2Chronicles 7:14  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s speaks to and thru Solomon, calling on His people to come together, humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways to follow God and experience His healing grace    

Reference Passage: Proverbs 11:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …     

… Solomon shares Godly wisdom of seeking the direction of many Godly advisors.  

Reference Passage:…  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Solomon shows there is power when God’s people come together rather than acting alone.

Reference Passage: 1Corinthians 14:26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …             

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the power of coming together in unity to serve the Lord. 

Reference Passage: …  Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  The Author of Hebrews shows that Christians coming together can encourage one another and provide power to serve the Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Xochitl Dixon …  USE THIS LINK    described how pacific dolphins can - and do occasionally - form into a “super pod” of thousands of dolphins swimming TOGETHER (as in the attached photo) for safety and feeding.   It is an illustration in nature of what the ODB entry today teaches about Christians coming together to serve the Lord in unison rather than as individuals.

I, personally, have a tendency to be a loner.  But I’ve discovered the wisdom and power of the teaching of God’s word, much of it shared above in Scripture, calling on Christians to come TOGETHER to serve the Lord.  Today I will do all I can to join with God’s “super-pod” of followers, i.e, His Church,  in service to our Lord.    Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for bringing Your followers TOGETHER in Your church to serve You more effectively.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … calling us fellow Christians, to come TOGETHER as Your church … to serve You today and always.   … 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.

Aug 31 2026 … Seeing Christ In Us

Aug 31 2026 …  Seeing Christ In Us

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from an unnamed praise chorus, leading in worship and singing … Let Others See Jesus In You … calling on Christians to live lives that let others see Christ in them (us).

Albrecht Dürer - self portrait to look like Jesus ... 

  

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Highlight Passage: … Galatians 2:20 [NIV]

…  20  My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.   

… Paul declares that his life has been transformed by Christ living in him.      

Highlight Passage: …  Galatians 2:19-21  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                     

…   Paul testifies as to Christ living in him.  

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …         

… Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, calls for His followers to let their good deeds shine out to reflect God working through them.

Reference Passage: …  John 14:15  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples that those who love Him should reflect Him by following His commandments.       

Reference Passage: Romans 8:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that those who are led by God’s Spirit are children of God.  

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

… Paul also calls on Christians to imitate God’s ways in their lives.

Reference Passage: 1Peter 2:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …     

…  The Apostle Peter declares that his fellow Christians, having Christ in them, can reflect the goodness of God in the way they live their lives.

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

…  The Apostle John shows that those who don’t know God cannot reflect His ways to others.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Jennifer Benson Schmidt …  USE THIS LINK    wrote about  Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer, who, as a young man became famous for his paintings. And in creating a self-portrait, Dürer painted himself (see attached photo) to look like Jesus, which those close to Dürer felt was simply the artist  depicting himself like he wanted others to see him … being like his Savior.

That, to me is a wonderful way to live one’s life, …don’t you think?   To live one’s life trying to reflect God’s Spirit residing in us.  Personally, that’s exactly my goal today … to live and let others see Christ in me.  I’m afraid I’ve still got a significant make-over to do in my life to let others see more of Christ in me.  How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for calling me to let others to see You in me.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … calling us to live our lives for others to see You in us today. … 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.