Daily Devotion

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September 20, 2026

Bryant Wright, Founder
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:3-6
Flowers, bridesmaids, the white dress… we’ve all seen a wedding ceremony.
Some are large, formal, five-piece band celebrations in traditional venues, while others are small, intimate ceremonies celebrated by a few close friends and family. No matter the ‘style,’ every wedding has the same purpose – a couple publicly committing their lives to one another.
Yet never, not one single time, have I performed a wedding in which the couple fell in love during the ceremony. I have never performed a wedding in which the couple decided—at the ceremony—to commit their lives to one another. The decision was already made.
In the same way, baptism is a public expression before God and man of what has already happened in one’s heart and life.
Just to be clear. A person is not baptized into saving faith in Jesus when baptized in water. It’s the moment we decide to trust in Christ, through repentant faith, that we will receive a gift of the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit dwelling within us.
So, what does baptism represent? In baptism, we say that Christ died for our sins and that we, too, are dying to our lives without Christ. We are dying to our sins, to our selfish desires. In baptism, we are testifying to what has already occurred—a decision to trust Christ, to follow Him.
But that’s not all. In rising out of the water, we see the symbolic resurrection of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. This represents the second part of the gospel. It testifies that as the water cleanses me outwardly, Christ already cleansed my heart. He has set me free. Now, I have the privilege of following the resurrected Savior forever and ever.
Just like a wedding ceremony is a life-changing moment full of hope and celebration, baptism should be celebrated!
Have you publicly celebrated your life-altering, no-going-back declaration of what Christ has done for you? Only a follower of Jesus can do this. No other person can make that decision for you.
It is a choice that results only from saving faith in Jesus.
What will you choose?
DIG DEEPER
Read “What’s the Big Deal About Baptism?” also by Bryant Wright

 

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September 22
The Warmhearted Church
Bible in a Year :

• Ecclesiastes 10-12
• Galatians 1

Every day they continued to meet together.
Acts 2:46

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Acts 2:42-47
When I was a child, I gladly accompanied my family to church every Sunday morning and evening. Our pastor exuded joy and always included the children in the service—and even encouraged my writing. My Sunday school teachers and pastor instilled in me a love for Scripture. And Sunday nights often meant a guest speaker or missionary who stirred my heart toward missions. Our church truly earned the slogan our pastor created: “The warmhearted church on Coldwater Road.” It wasn’t perfect, but we were a family. Since that day, I’ve continued attending church (even when it was hard to find the right one), and I’ve been encouraged and have grown in my faith as a result.
Just as we do today, believers in Jesus in the early church needed support and encouragement, and they understood the importance of meeting together with fellow believers (Acts 2:46). They were a family. Together they built each other up when doing life and serving God became difficult. They gathered to pray, study Scripture, praise God, enjoy fellowship, and eat meals together (v. 42). As a result, God caused their numbers to grow (v. 47).
Finding a like-minded church may take time, but it’s vital. Life is difficult to face on our own, and that’s why God gave us families and communities. A church is a great place to build community.
By: Alyson Kieda



Reflect & Pray
Why do you think it’s important to have a church community? How might participating in church activities encourage you?
Dear God, thank You for giving me Your church, where I can learn more about You and be encouraged. For further study, read Should We Be the Acts 2 Church? at odbm.org.

 

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September 23
Comfort Amidst Tears
Bible in a Year :

• Song of Songs 1-3
• Galatians 2

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind.
1 Thessalonians 4:13

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The call from my mother came around 9 p.m. “It’s about your dad,” she said. “He’s gone.” While I’d been expecting this call for days and was relieved my father was no longer in pain, the news still hit hard. I sobbed deeply as grief took its course over the following days and weeks.
While losing my father was hard on us all, it was particularly hard for some of my unbelieving family members. To their understanding, Dad was gone forever. It was then that I realized how believing in Jesus helps us to grieve.
Paul explained it this way: Since Jesus rose again from death, those who believe in Him will one day rise again too (1 Thessalonians 4:14). This will happen on the day He gathers us up to spend eternity together with Him (vv. 16-17). Paul tells us this “so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (v. 13). Knowing I will see my father again brings comfort amidst the tears.
Scripture never promotes griefless loss. Even Jesus wept for a dead friend he knew would return to life (John 11:34-44). And sometimes we don’t know what a loved one believed before they died. Still, our grief has a safety net. Because of Him, we will see our believing loved ones again, and we can entrust all into His care.
By: Sheridan Voysey



Reflect & Pray
When have you realized the power of hope in Christ? How do you think that hope differs from the world’s idea?
Dear Jesus, thank You that my loved ones who believed in You are held safe in Your arms even in death, and one day You’ll bring us together again.

 

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September 24
Words from Friends
Bible in a Year :

• Song of Songs 4-5
• Galatians 3

[None of Job’s friends] said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 2:13

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Job 2:7-13
As I sat in a Bible class at the age of twenty-six, I was baffled. Some of my classmates’ comments were discouraging. They seemed to have so many problems. I responded by asking, “If we’re Christians, why are we so down? Don’t we know how this thing really ends?” I was referring to the promise of eternal life in Christ but also to the many promises in the Bible of God’s care for His people. The instructor simply smiled and moved on. But my comment has stuck with me for years.
Eventually life hit me. Job loss, bereavement, illness, and more led me to feel discouraged. Yes, God’s promises are comforting and true, but they don’t promise an easy life. Jesus said we “will have trouble” (John 16:33).
Quite naturally, we feel the impact of such troubles, just as a man named Job did. He was tested, and it hit him hard: He lost his children, his property, and his health (Job 1:13-20; 2:7). His friends came to visit him to console him (2:11-13). In the beginning they simply supported their friend quietly, noting “how great his suffering was” (v. 13). But then they began asking unhelpful questions, not too dissimilar to the one I posed in Bible class.
As we encounter others going through trouble, the Holy Spirit can help us respond with love and compassion. And as we experience sorrow, we can remember the comfort of God’s promises.
By: Katara Patton



Reflect & Pray
How has a friend helped you during a rough time? How can you help others by using sensitivity and discernment?
Loving God, please teach me to use wisdom when sympathizing with others.

 

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September 25
Acts of Devotion
Bible in a Year :

• Song of Songs 6-8
• Galatians 4

The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion . . . are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
2 Chronicles 35:26-27

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
2 Chronicles 35:20-27
Like all early departures from this life, Joe’s death shocked those who knew him. Just before he died, he’d begun making poor decisions. Now this husband, father, coach, and youth leader would no longer be there for those who’d relied on him.
It’s easy to focus on Joe’s recent bad choices. Yet when his daughter spoke at his funeral, she rightly highlighted how her dad, though flawed like all of us, had served Jesus with his life.
We find something similar in the story of Judah’s King Josiah. When Egypt’s King Necho mounted a military offensive against Babylon, Josiah foolishly “marched out to meet him in battle” (2 Chronicles 35:20). Necho had no intention of attacking Judah (v. 21), and Josiah’s intervention ignored “God’s command” (v. 22). It cost him his life (vv. 23-24).
Though Josiah finished unwisely, the prophet Jeremiah “composed laments for Josiah” (v. 25). The story concludes, “The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion . . . are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah” (vv. 26-27). Acts of devotion. A timely epitaph for an untimely death.
It’s good to ponder the apostle Paul’s words: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). As we consider how our heavenly Father sees us in Christ, it’s easy to recall the acts of devotion done by His children who’ve left us.
By: Tim Gustafson



Reflect & Pray
Who have you lost to death? What acts of devotion might you recall in memory of them?
Thank You, heavenly Father, that You see Your children in Christ. For further study, read The Oldest Theology: Jesus’s Victory over Adam’s Curse at odbm.org.

 

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THE CROSS IS A BRIDGE
September 25, 2026

Jonathan Munson, Executive Director
“Christ died, the Righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
In March of 2024, there was an accident of epic proportions in Baltimore, Maryland.
A freighter ship lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing several sections to break apart immediately. Tragically, six people lost their lives. Officials estimate that it will take years to rebuild the bridge.
Here’s the thing:
We don’t think much about bridges…that is, until they’re gone. It’s only when a bridge is closed or destroyed, like the Francis Scott Key Bridge, that we fully appreciate what we had.
In today’s key verse, Peter draws our attention to another kind of bridge that we can easily take for granted: the cross. On the cross, the “Righteous, died for the unrighteous.” But why? What was the purpose of Jesus’ death?
Peter answers, “To bring us to God.”
In other words, the cross functions as a bridge, getting us from ‘here’ to ‘there.’
Ever since our rebellion in Eden, we’ve been separated from God by a massive chasm. But out of His great love and infinite mercy, God built a bridge in the shape of a cross. This bridge is strong enough to bear the weight of our sin and long enough to reach the other side.
No other bridge will get us there. The ‘bridge of religion’ won’t reach.
Neither will the ‘bridge of doing good deeds’ or the ‘bridge of being a good person.’
If we want to be reconciled to God, we must humbly exchange our unrighteousness for His righteousness and walk across the bridge of the cross.
For most of us, this probably sounds very basic. But just imagine for a moment if God hadn’t made a bridge. It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?
So, if you haven’t done so lately, thank God for the cross.
Now – there are at least two ways that we can misinterpret what the bridge of the cross is meant to be.
• It’s a ticket to heaven. Many of us initially decide to walk across the bridge simply because we want to go to heaven when we die. While this isn’t necessarily a bad place to begin, it’s a horrible place to stay.
Remember, the purpose of the bridge of the cross was to “bring us to God” to give us access to Him on a moment-by-moment basis. Put another way, the cross brings us into communion with God. We can develop a personal relationship with Him that transforms our present lives, not just our lives after we die.
• We devalue Who’s on the other side. The Gospel is good news for many reasons, but primarily because it “brings us to God.” God and God alone is meant to be our greatest Treasure, more valuable to us than anything in the world. And we are called to love Him for who He is, not just for what He gives us.
Sadly, we often prefer the gifts more than the Giver. We want His blessings; we just don’t want Him. In other words, we want His forgiveness, guidance, grace, wisdom, etc…as long as He doesn’t interfere with our lives. When we treat God this way, we reveal that we don’t truly value Who’s on the other side of the bridge. Even if He never gives us another blessing, we have Him…and He is enough.
John Piper asks a clarifying yet challenging question:
“If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?”
Honestly…would heaven be heaven for you if Jesus wasn’t there?
I believe that heaven will be heaven because of Jesus. By laying down His life, He built a bridge so that we could spend eternity with Him. And eternity doesn’t start when we die. It starts now.
So, cherish Him above all things, my friend.
Walk across the bridge of the cross and enjoy fellowship with your Maker, the Bridge-builder.
DIG DEEPER
Read “What is the Meaning of the Cross?” at GotQuestions.org
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September 28
Accepted by God
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 5-6
• Ephesians 1

The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah.
Judges 11:29

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Judges 10:17–11:8, 29
He was the doctor who never turned away a patient—even if some couldn’t pay him and even though he himself had experienced rejection from society. In spite of Harold’s outstanding record in his medical studies, no hospital in London hired him because of the color of his skin. So in 1913 he opened his own practice in his home, often treating the poor for free. Dr. Harold Moody spent his life helping those discriminated against, earning him the title “Britain’s Martin Luther King.”
Dr. Moody shows that our life need not be determined by the rejection of others. Scripture also shows us this truth in the story of Jephthah. Although a mighty warrior, Jephthah was rejected by his half brothers and driven away from their town. They told him, “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family . . . because you are the son of another woman” (Judges 11:2). “So Jephthah fled from his brothers” and settled in another area (v. 3).
Although his family rejected him, God didn’t. When an enemy made war on Israel, it was Jephthah that the people turned to for help (vv. 4-6). They said, “Be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites” (v. 6). God used and helped Jephthah to subdue their enemy (vv. 29, 32-33) and to later lead Israel (Judges 12:7).
When we’re rejected by others, let’s keep trusting and obeying God. It’s how He sees us and what He wants us to do that matters.
By: Karen Huang



Reflect & Pray
How does rejection affect you? How does God’s acceptance of you encourage you?
Thank You, Father, for Your love and acceptance. For further study, read The Peace that Jesus Brings at odbm.org.

 

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Daily Devotional

SALVATION – PART 3: GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS IMMEDIATE
September 28, 2026

Bryant Wright, Founder
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2
Today’s devotional may be the most important of all.
Because in it, King David reveals the very heart of salvation.
There can be no salvation in a child, a teen, or an adult’s life until there is first the awareness and conviction of sin.
In other words, until we recognize our ‘lost-ness’ in light of God’s holiness, we won’t fully understand the gift of salvation that God offers through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Take King David for example. Even David, the “giant slayer” and “man after God’s own heart” was well aware of his sin – of his own “lost-ness” and need for God’s mercy. In Psalm 51, David confessed his sin to God. Remember, this prayer came after he took part in an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and then had her husband murdered to cover it up. David felt the weight of those actions every day and knew that he deserved judgment.
So what did he do?
David cried out to God to forgive him – and God did.
God didn’t remove the earthly consequences of David’s sin, but His forgiveness was immediate.
There is no salvation without first being convicted of our sin and understanding that we deserve God’s judgment. There’s no salvation until we recognize our “lostness” and cry out to God for mercy. It’s then—and only then—that a person truly begins to understand the greatness of this gift, which is the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.
Have you embraced the gift of being made right with God and the assurance of eternal life?
It all begins by recognizing our “lost-ness” and accepting the forgiveness and mercy of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Please don’t wait, my friend. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to become the Lord of your life. It happens immediately.
At that very moment, you will become a child of God.
DIG DEEPER
Read “Dead in Our Sins – Alive in Christ” by Michael Kelley

 

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September 30
Not Ritual but Christ
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 9-10
• Ephesians 3

Hollow and deceptive philosophy . . . depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:8

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Colossians 2:6-15
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, thousands gather each year to burn Zozobra—a fifty-foot towering effigy stuffed with their worries, bills, and regrets. They shout, “Burn him!” as they hope the flames will devour their anxieties and troubles and reset their lives. The ritual reflects a deep human longing to be cleansed of fear, shame, and failure. It’s dramatic. But it’s also powerless. Fire can destroy paper but not guilt. It can consume ashes but not shame.
The apostle Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). He reminded his readers that they shouldn’t trade Jesus for empty substitutes, and he explains why: Christ is the visible “image of the invisible God” (1:15), is supreme over creation (1:16), fully God in human flesh (2:9), and victorious over “every power and authority” (v. 10). Because of His death and resurrection, we’re “rooted and built up in him” (v. 7), and fully alive and forgiven by Him (v. 13). Human rituals and cultural ceremonies can mesmerize a crowd, but only Jesus can cancel sin’s debt and break its grip forever.
Instead of yielding our burdens to rituals and traditions, let’s surrender them to Christ. He alone frees us from captivity and fills us with hope.
By: Marvin Williams



Reflect & Pray
How can human rituals be dangerous substitutes for Christ? In what ways does He offer us freedom from them?
Dear Jesus, only You can truly set me free.

 

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September 30, 2026

Bryant Wright, Founder
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
I have had the privilege of being with many people as they neared death.
In all those instances, not once did I hear someone look back on their life and say, “You know, Bryant, I really wish I had made more money. If only I’d worked harder, I could’ve made a whole lot more money.” I’ve also never heard, “I wish I had accomplished more.”
What people on their deathbed DO say often has something to do with relationship regret.
“I wish I had done more for someone.”
“I wish I had spent more time with them.”
“I wish I had focused more on the relationships that matter.”
Well, hold on a second. While many people may understand this lesson intellectually, actually living it out proves to be much more difficult. We might “know” this in our heads, but are we living this out in our hearts?
The fact is, when people ask me to identify the ultimate meaning of life, I always respond the same way: relationships. Ultimate meaning is found in the relationships we have with those closest to us. Your most important relationship is, of course, with God, but your last moments on this earth will be so very empty if they are spent agonizing over failed relationships with family, friends, or those you may have wronged.
So, who do you need to reach out to? Who do you need to prioritize?
Don’t waste another moment.
Act now to ensure that your last moments on earth aren’t full of relationship regret but praising God for the life you’ve lived in anticipation of the glory of heaven that awaits.
DIG DEEPER
Read “Are You Willing to Share Your Story?” also by Bryant Wright

 

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October 1
Gentle Answers with God’s Help
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 11-13
• Ephesians 4

A gentle answer turns away wrath.
Proverbs 15:1

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Proverbs 15:1-6
“Close it up. I’ve seen enough.” Those were the words of an older, experienced beekeeper to me one afternoon when I was learning how to tend a hive. My movements had been quick and forceful, causing vibrations that alarmed the bees and resulted in a growing swarm around my head. Even though I was trying to care for them, I was only making them angry. My friend proceeded to show me the importance of moving “softly,” using gentle motions that were less likely to disturb the bees. Today (years later), when I go into a hive, my motions are so much smoother that my wife tells me it almost looks like I’m dancing.
Sometimes difficult conversations are like dancing with bees. When others are upset and emotions are tense, reacting angrily only makes matters worse. As King Solomon observed, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Responding kindly and peacefully to those who are irritated or unreasonable may take time to learn. But because gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit at work within us (see Galatians 5:22-23), with God’s help we can make progress in it.
These days I’m learning to pray for wisdom and gentleness whenever I go into a hive or a difficult conversation. When we walk with God into tense moments, our “help in trouble” is never far away (Psalm 46:1).
By: James Banks



Reflect & Pray
How can God help you react gently to someone who’s angry? What will you say to someone who needs a gentle response from you today?
Dear Jesus, please help me to gently share Your love in the ways I respond to others today.

 

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October 3
Compassionate Understanding
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 17-19
• Ephesians 5:17-33

[Our high priest] has been tempted . . . just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Hebrews 4:14-16
My father-in-law was a gunner in a bomber over Europe during World War II. His plane was shot down and he was captured, spending several months as a prisoner of war. Jim rarely spoke of the experience, but those who knew him before the war said that he’d been a happy-go-lucky young man with a beaming smile. His war experiences turned him into a moody, withdrawn person.
Trying to understand his experience, I read Masters of the Air, Donald Miller’s description of the air war over Europe. Miller helped me grasp the physical and psychological price paid by these airmen. His book increased my compassion for my father-in-law.
The writer of Hebrews wrote of our “great high priest” (4:14)—Jesus Himself—who did much more than merely gain understanding of our struggles. He lived among us, learning how we feel in every situation. Hebrews tells us, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (v. 15). Think of it! Jesus knows what we endure. He’s been tempted just as we are.
Learning to have a heart of compassion like Jesus is a great way to show His love to those who need Him. May God give us, by His Holy Spirit, an understanding heart that reaches out to others in love and mercy.
By: Bill Crowder



Reflect & Pray
Who do you struggle to have compassion for? How can you develop a more understanding heart?
Dear Father, please forgive me for being harsh with others. Teach me the grace of compassion so they might see Your love in me.

 

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October 4
In the Stillness
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 20-22
• Ephesians 6

I think of you through the watches of the night . . . because you are my help.
Psalm 63:6-7

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Psalm 63:1-8
When I was a kid and got up in the middle of the night, I often found Mom sitting in her chair in the living room. The glow of the table lamp revealed a book on her lap—her Bible. My mom had trouble sleeping because of her insomnia and chronic pain, but she made good use of her time. We rarely spoke those nights. I was too sleepy to do anything but nod and shuffle down the hall. But I know Mom connected with God in those quiet early morning hours, and God spoke to her.
How can we find moments to know God more fully? We don’t have to wait for a sleepless night, of course. Jesus left His companions to spend time talking alone with His Father (Mark 1:35).
The Scriptures say, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And David’s poetry often reveals how he sought out an intimate relationship with God to praise Him for who He is (63:1-8).
The world is loud, and we’re often distracted by the noise. It claims our attention and demands our participation. That’s why we need to actively seek out the quiet moments rarely found in the chaos of family life or the busyness of work. We find God in the stillness.
He’s awake. He’s listening. And He’s always ready to spend time with those who seek Him.
By: Cindy Hess Kasper



Reflect & Pray
What distractions keep you from finding time for conversation with God? What’s a good way to prepare your heart to “be still” before Him?
Dear Jesus, please teach me to seek You out and rest in Your presence. Help me to put aside the distractions and to praise You for who You are.

 

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October 5
True Treasure
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 23-25
• Philippians 1

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 13:44

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Matthew 13:44-46
James threw a long rope with a powerful magnet tied to it into the waters of a New York lake. The “magnet fisher” was stunned when he pulled out a grimy safe filled with stacks of muddy one-hundred-dollar bills. Police said James could keep the money since it wasn’t linked to a crime. Some of the bills were in such poor condition they couldn’t be authenticated, though he hoped to salvage as much of the money as possible to perhaps buy a home.
Finding hidden treasure is exciting, and Jesus told a parable about a man who did just that: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44). The man recognized the value of the treasure he’d found and was willing to sell all his possessions to purchase the field.
As we consider that parable, no amount of wealth or possessions could pay the debt we owe for our sins. Only Jesus could pay the incredible price to redeem us and to reconcile us with His Father, through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
Earthly treasures may be nice, but they can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. We can gratefully accept Jesus’ supreme sacrifice for us and His free gift of eternal life, knowing that living in heaven with Him is our great reward.
By: Nancy Gavilanes



Reflect & Pray
Why is Jesus so precious to you? Why are you willing to let go of your old life to spend eternity with Him?
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me the true treasure of heaven when I placed my faith and trust in You.

 

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October 5, 2026

Bryant Wright, Founder
“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”’ John 6:66-69

I remember, as a teen, calling myself a Christian.
I believed Jesus was God’s Son, but my life was all about using God. I wanted Him to meet my needs. Whether it be winning the big game, passing a big test, or wanting things to go well on a big date. It was all about me. “God, can you just give me what I want?”
But Jesus didn’t come to be my meal ticket in this life.
Yes, Jesus is a compassionate God. He cares about the hurting, the hungry, and the rejected. He cares about our needs. But Jesus Christ’s primary mission was to be our Savior. He came to save us from sin and to make us right with God. And just like in Jesus’ time – so many people still don’t get it. They aren’t interested, because people feeling basically “good” simply don’t see their need for a Savior.
When Jesus was on Earth, people wanted Him to be their king, fixing all their problems with health and finances, and fighting against injustice. They wanted Jesus to be their meal ticket, meeting all their material needs. They didn’t understand that Jesus’ purpose was so much bigger. They didn’t get it, so they left.
Looking at the twelve disciples, Jesus asked them a question. Do you want to leave too? And Simon Peter answered. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
You see, Simon Peter got it. He knew that Jesus is more than just a quick fix-it for our problems. Jesus is more than a meal ticket – He is the Holy One of God, the Messiah.
Are you looking for God to be a quick fix for life’s problems?
Don’t miss out on the real reason Jesus came: to save us from our sins so that we can live out God’s will – not our own.

 

[boldstardex]

Love God. Love Others.


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October 7
Longing For Jesus’ Return
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 28-29
• Philippians 3

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Philippians 3:17-21
When I was young, I loved going to Chick-fil-A, a US-based fast-food restaurant, for waffle fries and sweet tea. When, as an adult, I moved to another state, I was shocked to discover there weren’t any locations for hundreds of miles! On family road trips, we’d even plan our routes to allow for stops at Chick-fil-A, all the while hoping someday one would open closer to home.
Longing. We all experience it. Sometimes we don’t actually need what we long for, such as a favorite restaurant. Other times, our longings reflect deeper, more desperate yearnings.
Writing to the Philippian believers, Paul reminded them to live their lives in light of their deepest longing—Christ’s return and the full coming of His kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Jesus’ coming would make everything whole and transform believers to be like Him (v. 21).
Rather than merely longing for what can’t bring lasting satisfaction, Paul says it’s this coming reality that believers “eagerly await” (v. 20)—the day when there will be no more suffering, when we’ll see Jesus face-to-face.
Knowing our longings will one day be satisfied gives us the hope we need to live for Christ each day (vv. 12-14).
A Chick-fil-A recently opened a few miles from my house, a small reminder that a much more important longing will one day be fulfilled. Until then, we wait.
By: Lisa M. Samra



Reflect & Pray
What do you long to see Jesus make right? What do you most anticipate about your future with Jesus?
Dear Jesus, please fill us with hope as we wait for Your return.

 

[boldstardex]

ng man in John 9 who had been blind since birth. Jesus healed him on the spot. When those around him continued to challenge him on the legitimacy of Jesus, the man responded, “All I know is that I was once blind, but now I see!” (John 9:25). In Acts 4, Peter and John were threatened by the religious and government leaders to stop preaching about this Jesus. They simply said, “We cannot stop speaking of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). These men were assured and convicted in their faith!

All of us must choose a side. There really is no in-between. Some 3,400 years ago, Joshua encouraged his own people to decide for themselves…whether to laugh or believe. He said in Joshua 24:15, “…if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today who you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The same question is relevant to us today. Whose side are you on? As for me, I choose to believe in Jesus. What about you?

 

[boldstardex]

Love God. Love Others.


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October 8
The Holy Spirit’s Work
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 30-31
• Philippians 4

When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin.
John 16:8

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
John 16:5-15
When Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, ran a small Bible college, he learned that a couple who worked there was stealing supplies. Although at times it’s right to address wrongdoing, Oswald decided in this instance not to confront them, instead asking God to bring the matter to their hearts and minds. After several weeks, they came clean, expressing regret. “I’ve known about it all along,” Oswald said, “but we wanted to wait until God’s Spirit spoke to you.” Moved and astonished, the couple surrendered their lives to Jesus.
God’s Spirit at work is what Jesus promised His friends before He died: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The disciples grieved at the thought of Jesus going away, but He reassured them that this was for their good. Then “the Advocate,” God’s Holy Spirit, would come to them (v. 7). Through the Spirit, God convicts people of their sin: “He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (v. 8). He also guides people “into all the truth” (v. 13).
The Spirit continues His work today so we too might not “fall away” (v. 1) but rather enjoy life eternal. God gives us the Advocate to convict us when we’re wrong, comfort us when we’re sad, and lead us to worship God.
By: Amy Boucher Pye



Reflect & Pray
How have you experienced the prompting of the Holy Spirit? How do you see the Spirit at work in your life?
Faithful God, please help me to have a tender heart, that I might respond to Your Spirit’s nudges of grace. For further study, read The Promise of Presence: John 14 at odbm.org.

 

[boldstardex]

Love God. Love Others.


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October 9
Slow, Patient Growth in God
Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 32-33
• Colossians 1

The seed on good soil stands for those . . . who hear the word, retain it, and . . . produce a crop.
Luke 8:15

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Today's Scripture & Insight :
Luke 8:4-15
A saguaro cactus is never in a hurry to grow. Flourishing amid some of the most barren desert climates in the world, the plant slowly takes root over a lifetime of steady, plodding growth. Over its first decade, a Saguaro may grow as little as 1.5 inches. It may take thirty-five years to flower, and its arms can take fifty years to form. The cactus, however, can live up to two hundred years, reach forty-five feet high, and weigh up to two tons. Over a lifetime, it yields a remarkable forty million seeds. A Saguaro’s growth is slow, but resilient.
Jesus used agricultural imagery to describe how His believers grow in the kingdom of God. Telling a parable of seeds sowed among various types of soil, He concluded with a description of how the final seeds “fell on good soil . . . and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown” (Luke 8:8). Christ explained how those seeds “in the good soil” are ones who “[hear] the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (v. 15 esv). There’s a strong yield, abundant growth—but it only comes when we receive the wisdom of God and then patiently allow the Holy Spirit to produce growth in us.
This is how spiritual growth typically works. We may have explosive spurts, but our progress will typically be slow, as we receive God’s wisdom, follow His ways, and watch the Spirit work.
By: Winn Collier



Reflect & Pray
Where do you get impatient with the slow way of spiritual growth? How can you relax and trust?
Dear God, please help me to patiently trust Your ways.

 

[boldstardex]

October 8, 2026

Bryant Wright, Founder
“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity, in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13
Sorting through your yearly expenses can be a sobering experience.
Believe me, I have been there, especially when our boys were in college. First, I paid the credit card bill, and then my quarterly estimated state and federal taxes. This was followed by an exorbitant check for out-of-state college tuition, which had risen 17% that year. (At that point, I imagined a giant vacuum cleaner in the sky, sucking up all our money.) Next, I checked on our retirement account, noting it had dropped double digits – for the third year in a row.
Slowly, this sinking feeling of despair began to creep over me. I must admit that I walked around pretty discouraged for a few days.
Then the Holy Spirit began to minister to me. It was like the Lord was saying, “Didn’t you have enough to pay all your bills? Haven’t I met all of your needs? Haven’t I ALWAYS met all of your needs? What makes you think that after all these years of so-called “spiritual maturity” that I’m no longer going to meet your needs?”
Let me tell you something: that was very convicting.
And then the Lord said to my heart, “Bryant, it never was yours in the first place. Whether you’re riding high one year or down in the dumps the next, that’s My decision. It has always been My decision. It has never been yours. I’m just interested in you striving to manage, to the best of your ability, what I entrust to you. And trust Me to take care of the rest.”
God has always taken care of me. And He will always take care of you.
All we must do is trust.
DIG DEEPER
Read “Why Is It So Hard To Trust God?” also by Bryant Wright