Feb 4 2026 … Treasures In Heaven …

Feb 4 2026 … Treasures In Heaven … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from an unnamed artist singing Treasures In Heaven … calling on Christians to seek to carry nothing to heaven but rather to give it all for the good of others.

Highlight Passage: … 1Timothy 6:7 … [NLT] …  

7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. .  

… Paul teaching Timothy (and fellow Christians) that we can’t take anything of earthly value to heaven.

Highlight Passage in Context:  1Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches Timothy truth about not being able to take anything with the Christian in heaven.

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:19-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches, in His sermon on the mount, to not store up earthy treasures, but rather to give it all away to store up treasures in heaven (see photo).   

Reference Passage: … Matthew 19:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus tells the rich young ruler how to live to store up riches for heaven.

Reference Passage: … Mark 12:41-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus observes a poor widow giving almost all she had to help the poor and He teaches His disciples (and us) that the widow’s giving is the way all would store up treasures in heaven.

Reference Passage: … Luke 12:33-34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… As crowds gathered to hear Jesus, He teaches His disciples (and us) that our giving to help the needy reveals their (our) hearts; and we store up treasures in heaven by helping the poor today.

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:44-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… After the resurrection, the early Christians gathered together to help one another, which helped them develop treasures in heaven. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 1:3-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter shows fellow Christians that our Lord, Who gave His all to save them (us), has a great treasure waiting for them (us) in heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kenneth Petersen …  USE THIS LINK   … relates how travelers to Europe from the U.S. often overpack, taking way too much of their accessories and clothes, which will end up being excess weight and unneeded on their vacation.  

And if my readers have taken in the attached photo, the ODB entry for today, and the Scriptures my studies uncovered above, I’m praying we all take in God’s message that nothing we’ve collected in this life will  with us in heaven, … rather only those things which have heavenly value will be there for us in glory.  I get it!   Do you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for reminding me that only those things I’ve done for You and others in this life will be my heavenly treasures.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for storing up all our treasures done for Your glory as our treasures in heaven.  … 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 3 2026 … Stay Focused on God …

Feb 3 2026 … Stay Focused on God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing His Strength Is Perfect … calling on Christians to seek and receive God’s strength when they (we) are feeling weak.

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Highlight Passage: … Haggai 2:4 … [NLT] …  

4 But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  

… God’s promise of His strength, thru Haggai, to the faithful remnant of God’s people, who had been in exile, now called rebuild God’s Temple.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Haggai 2:1-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God lifts up His people, thru a message from the Prophet Haggai, that as they are called to rebuild God’s temple, He, The Lord, would be with them ALWAYS

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

… God calls on Joshua to focus on The Lord’s covenant promise to be with His people as they follow Joshua into God’s promised land. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon shows his son (and all believers) that God will lead those who trust in Him completely.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God’s promise to His faithful remnant, thru the Prophet Isaiah, to provide His strength when their (our) strength is gone.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20b [NLT] …  

20b And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  

… Jesus’ promise to born-again Christians that He would be with them (us) ALWAYS.

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

… The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians that God will provide His peace to those who keep their (our) focus on God.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter exhorts fellow Christians (who were oppressed) to take all their cares to a caring God.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Huang …  USE THIS LINK   … told of a discouraged father, Jess,  who was trying to help his son with math, and thinking of how his wife, who had died recently, had been so much stronger and better at helping their son with homework and keeping up the household.  

Wouldn’t my readers agree that there are times when things seem overwhelming and extremely frustrating?  Well, today’s ODB entry was/is for those of us who’re dealing with such times.  And if you’ve taken in the linked song and meditated deeply on the Scriptures shared above, I hope you, … as I am, … are reminded that we serve a God who will lift us up and give us His strength, as He did for God’s faithful prophets and people in the past.  Personally, that’s very helpful and encouraging to this old servant of God right now.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for reminding me or Your promise of peace and strength when I focus on You rather than my trials/troubles.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for calling Your children to focus on You rather than our troubles.   … 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 2 2026 … Like A Child …

Feb 2 2026 … Like A Child … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from The Maranatha Singers singing Humble Yourself … calling on Christians to humble themselves (ourselves) and become like a child before the Lord.

Coming to Him like a little child ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 18:3 … [NLT] …  

3 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” 

… Jesus holds a little child before His disciples and tells them that those who enter God’s kingdom must become humble like a little child.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Matthew 18:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples (and all Christians) that they (we) should humble themselves (ourselves) like a little child to enter the kingdom of God.

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

… After dedicating God’s Temple to the Lord, God speaks to King Solomon, calling on God’s people to humble themselves before the Lord. 

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

… Jesus describes Himself as being HUMBLE and GENTLE OF HEART (i.e. meek or kind) … our model to follow.

Reference Passage: … Mark 10:45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus describes Himself to His disciples as being HUMBLE, like a slave …  to serve others rather than being served. 

Reference Passage: … John 13:3-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, by washing the feet of His Disciples, models what He was called to do; and that is to humble Himself to be like a slave, serving others. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:5-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches to fellow Christians what it takes to take on the attitude of Christ, … becoming like a slave to serve mankind.  

Reference Passage: … James 4:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus brother James exhorts fellow Christian to humble themselves (ourselves) before the Lord … so that God can lift us up in honor.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Matt Lucas …  USE THIS LINK   … described a lovely garden in the area where his father used to take a young boy, who the family cared for, and who use to love going thru a small door to the “Children’s Garden,” where my father used to have to get down on his knees to squeeze thru the door, causing the young boy to laugh heartily.

The memory reminded the ODB author of the scene where Jesus called a young child to come to Him (as in the photo), declaring for His disciples that one must humble himself, as a child, to enter God’s kingdom. And if my readers have taken in the attached song and meditated on the Scriptures I’ve shared above, I would hope that we all would do all we can to become humble, like Jesus, to qualify to enter God’s eternal garden … FOREVER.   Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling a sinner like me to come to follow You into Your kingdom.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing us the way to follow You to Your 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. 

Feb 1 2026 … His Unfailing Love …

Feb 1 2026 … His Unfailing Love … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing Unfailing Love … declaring  God’s unfailing love for ALL who humbly surrender to receive His saving grace.

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Highlight Passage: … Philippians 1:6 … [NLT] …  

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

… Paul reassures fellow Christians that God is working in them (us) to make us over into Christ’s likeness.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Philippians 1:3-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians in Philippi (and all other Christians) of God’s unfailing love for those who surrender to Him and follow Him as Lord.

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Reference Passage: … 1Chronicles 16:34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David gives honor to God with a song of praise and thanks for God’s unfailing love, which endures FOREVER.  

Reference Passage: … Psalms 36:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David also sings that God’s love is so vast it extends beyond the heavens.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 54:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, describes the extent of His covenant love for His chosen people.

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

… Jesus explains to Nicodemus about the extent of God’s love.

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

… Paul shows fellow Christians just how far God’s love is willing to go … to save even sinners. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 10:1-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the extent of God’s unfailing love. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Amy Boucher Pie …  USE THIS LINK   … wrote about being rejected by fellow campers at a church came and feeling really down during and after the camp.   But a camp counselor, concerned for the teenager, wrote her quoting from the Highlight Passage in today ODB entry, Philippians 1:6, where Paul was trying to show his readers - and God did in all of today’s shared Scriptures, that God’s love extends to all who surrender to follow Him.  And the letter from the camp counselor lifted up the the ODB Author, in those teen years, to realize the extent of God’s love.

But the challenge from today’s ODB entry, the linked song, and the Scriptures shared above is whether we, as professed “Christians,” really realize and and believe in the extent of God’s unfailing love. I do; … I really do!  … Do you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for lifting me up today with Your promised unfailing - and eternal - love.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for the promise - and reality -  of Your unfailing love.    … 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.