Thoughts to Ponder by Pastor Sydow, Prayers by Pastor Freeman
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
February 1, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:23-31; John 6:52-59
SCRIPTURE
John 6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in
me, and I in them.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The story of Daniel in the
lions’ den has always fascinated me. After lunch each day, before I was “too
old for naps,” Mom read to us from Bible storybooks. It usually put my younger
brothers, and sometimes my sister, to sleep before the story’s conclusion. The
story of Daniel certainly kept me awake, wanting to ask questions and fueling
my imagination. Some say the story is a fictional event given spiritual
symbolism and meaning. However, one of our vegetarian friends suggested it
could be a true story. “We are what we eat. Animals can sense that. Meat-eating
animals, like lions, could tell Daniel didn’t eat meat, so they didn’t eat
him.” (I know there are holes in that logic - lions do eat non-meat-eating
animals.) However, “We are what we eat.” is a healthy concept. If we fill
ourselves with empty calories, junk food, and other garbage, our bodies become
sick with numerous ailments. On the other hand, if we fill ourselves with
spiritual food - the body and blood of Christ, for instance - our spiritual
health improves. As a Lutheran, I firmly believe that in Holy Communion, “the
bread stays bread and the wine stays wine, but Christ is really present.” The
elements don’t turn into something else; they are more than symbols. In some
mysterious (sacramental) way, we receive Christ when we receive them. If the
“lions” of this world keep chewing on you and attempting to devour you, maybe
you need to change your diet. Jesus offers one which is guaranteed to set the
“lions’” teeth on edge. He Himself will abide in you and make you fit for
heaven, but not for the “lions’” dinner table!
PRAYER
Dear
Lord, I often fill myself with “junk food,” movies not worth watching, books
not worth reading, and conversations we need not speak. I am sorry for these
indulgences, and I am thankful that I can come to your table and fill myself
with your gracious love. Abide in me. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
February 2, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 23:1-20; Hebrews 11:32-12:2; John 6:60-71
SCRIPTURE
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The
words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I loved to play with clay. Ours only came in one basic color
and required a lot of kneading to soften it enough to create snakes and the
other animals God created. I once used a whole block of clay to create a farm
with cows, pigs, and people. I had trouble with the chickens. I also made several
rabbits that looked like snowmen with big ears. I might have become a sculptor,
but my figures never seemed natural. Even so, I would have enjoyed animating
them the way some filmmakers can do it. With imagination, animation, and
special effects, they can almost make us believe their clay figures are living.
But without someone living to move them, they are just sculpted pieces of
life-less clay. In creating humans from the dust of the earth, God made them in
the image of God and breathed the breath of God (the spirit of God) into them.
We are reminded that “we are dust, and to dust we shall return.” No matter how
we try to beautify this body of flesh, it will one day return to dust and be
useless. The only thing that will matter is the breath or spirit of God living
in us. Have you been searching for meaning as you try to beautify and glamorize
your body and the work it can do? Or, have you been nourishing your
relationship with the One who gives your life meaning? Jesus sends His Spirit
through His Word to give us Life! Thanks be to God. Eternal Life is His gift to
those who will receive His spirit and life through His Word!
PRAYER
Breathe on me, breath of God. Put your life within me and
mold me into the person you wish me to be. Help me to care for my body so that
I might do your will as long as I can do so. I give you thanks for the gift of
eternal life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
February 3, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 24:1-27; Hebrews 12:3-11; John 7:1-13
SCRIPTURE
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify
against it that its works are evil. John 7:7
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I lived a pretty protected life as a kid. I didn’t realize
how much until I went away to college and entered the “real world.” Without a
question, roads, distance, and farm work isolated us. Seeing the first black
person in the city was a shock. Without a doubt, we were prejudiced, verging on
bigotry. However, we were equal opportunity bigots. We used the “N” word (it
seemed to be OK then), but we also used the “B” (Bohunk), the “P” (Polock), and
the “C” (communist) word, hating one as much as the other. As an “H” (hick)
farmer’s kid, I got some ribbing, too, although I can’t say it was anything
compared to the other words. As I became friends with some of them, I understood
that we didn’t hate the individuals. We hated something about their roots or
reputations. Jesus warned his disciples that the hatred they would experience
would not be about them as individuals but Him and all He stood for. It was
“guilt by association” for His followers. We’ve discovered the same thing with
our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters. At every age, hatred has sought
someone to blame for our failures and evils. If there is a spirit of hatred in
you about anyone or any group, take it to Jesus and let Him deal with it. The
world does not hate you. It still hates Jesus for demanding that we love God
and our neighbor - no matter how different, how difficult, how strange they may
be. The world especially hates to be encouraged to love our enemies. Jesus
loved His enemies enough to die for them. Are you up to the challenge?
PRAYER
I am sorry for the hatred that lies within me, O God.
Cleanse me of it and restore me to love others different from me, whether of a
different economic class, shade of color, or religion. Let me show my love for
you by loving others. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
February 4, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 24:18-38, 49-51; Hebrews 12:12-29; John 7:14-36
SCRIPTURE
John 7:33-34 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little
while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me,
but you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dad took me with him on the tractor during a blizzard to
feed the neighbor’s livestock. The neighbor got stuck near town and was
alright, but couldn’t get home to feed and water the animals. He called to see
if Dad could do it. We finished our chores, dressed up with extra layers of
clothes, and headed out on the tractor with a snow shovel on the front and a
small canvas cover covering the sides of the tractor and some of the area in
front of the steering wheel. It wasn’t much protection, but with the bitter
cold wind and snow swirling around us, we were happy for what we had. At one
point, the visibility was so bad that Dad stopped the tractor and told me to
stay there while he tried to find the location of the neighbor’s lane. We had
brought a long rope, which he tied around himself, and disappeared. My eyes
continued to search but saw nothing until the rope got tight, and suddenly,
there he was. We repeated the process every few yards. It seemed to take
forever, but eventually, we reached our destination, fed and watered the
animals, and headed home. Jesus and the disciples were facing a different kind
of blizzard - a blizzard of sin, death, and evil. Jesus told them he would
disappear from their presence for a while, and they would not be able to
follow, but He would return to take them with Him. The next time you feel
overwhelmed, over your head, or just lost, give thanks that Jesus is not! He
knows where He is, and He knows where you are - you have His baptismal mark,
which is like the rope that led Dad back to me. Your link to Jesus will lead
Him back to you, even if you don’t see it! Another reason to give thanks!
PRAYER
Thank you, dear Lord, for the lifeline of my baptism in
which you always hold me tight and know where I am. It is good to know that you
will never let me get lost in the blizzard of sin which tries to get me off
track. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
February 5, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 24:50-67; 2 Timothy 2:14-21; Mark 10:13-22
SCRIPTURE
Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of
God as a little child will never enter it.” Mark:10:15
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I was a child, some things were much easier for me to
do than for Mom, Dad, or any of my grandparents. I could shinny up a tree to
pick fruit without breaking limbs. I could squeeze through a small hole in the
corn crib to fix a broken board or shift the elevator spout. I could fight off
a whole army of cut-throats, murderers, and bank robbers with my Roy Rogers
gun. I could perform weddings, baptize cats, and conduct funerals in a grain
bin. I could believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, as
well as believe that God was born as Jesus, that Jesus could heal anything, and
that Grandma went to heaven because Jesus went first to build her a palace fit
for a queen. I could believe, without any reservation, that one day I would get
to live there too! Jesus was a little child once, too, just like you and me. I
can only imagine what His imagination created! Sadly, as I grew older, I was
forced to reason things out, think things through, and analyze things in the
light of our “enlightened” scientific discoveries. Like the theology of an
earlier age that tried to “de-mythologize” everything in the Bible, the world
wants us to explain all the miracles and all the mysteries away. Our adult
minds may be willing to do so, but the little child in me refuses. I don’t need
to know how God adopts us in Baptism or how Christ is present in Holy
Communion. I’m happy to know they are sacred mysteries known only to God.
Searching for the answers is more exciting for the child in me than having all
the answers. Are there remnants of the little child still in you? Maybe you
should polish off your Bat Man wings and exchange them for angels’ wings, fly
past the moon, Mars, and Pluto, and into God’s heart - somewhere near your own!
Let your little child live again so you can receive the kingdom of God and
enter it, not with fear and trembling, but with joy and celebration!
PRAYER
Sit me in your lap and wrap your loving arms around me, dear
Father. Let the child in me again wonder at the mysteries of life. Help me trust
enough in you that I am content knowing that you can do everything and are
all-knowing. It is in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
February 6, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 25:19-34; Hebrews 13:1-16; John 7:37-52
SCRIPTURE
They replied to (Nicodemus) “Surely you are not also from
Galilee, are you? Search, and you will see that no prophet is to arise from
Galilee.” John 7:52
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The Poet Laureate of the United States several years ago was
Ted Kooser. Ted lived near a tiny town in Nebraska I never heard of. Had
someone suggested that someone so important could come from there, most people
would have been surprised. Expanding the search beyond the little town to
include the whole county might give it more prestige as an area from which
someone famous might come. A person doesn’t have to live in a community very
long before discovering that parts of the area are less highly thought of than
others. It may be “across the tracks,” “the north side,” or even a particular
school district that gains a reputation for being higher class, or lower class,
or “not someplace you want to be seen.” Galilee was just such a place among the
very religious. But, guess what?.... Small towns and regions of the country also
had reputations that day. The religious leaders considered the whole of Galilee
a lost cause - spiritually. They evidently “talked funny,” lived too close to
Gentiles and Samaritans, and were located too far from the Temple to be
religious enough for the especially religious. Nazareth was a town in Galilee
from which Nathaniel didn’t think any good could come. There may be no
prophecies about your community, county, or even state, but have you considered
that God’s presence can make a difference - no matter what contrary things are
said about it? God may be counting on you to be that difference for Him -
wherever you are!
PRAYER
Most of the time, I feel so insignificant, O God. How can
you possibly use someone such as me? But I know you are a God who can use
anything or anyone for your kingdom. Use, guide, and help me make a difference
in my community. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
February 7, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 26:1-6, 12-33; Hebrews 13:17-25; John 7:53-8:11
SCRIPTURE
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and
said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a
stone at her.” John 8:7
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Carolyn was a tattletale. She was only in our country school
for a year, but in that year, she got everyone in trouble with Miss Robinson at
one time or another. Sometimes, her “tales” were not strictly correct or were
misunderstood. She saw John put a tack on Dennis’ seat but failed to see
Margaret pick it up before he sat on it. She saw me slip a frog into my desk
that was waiting and hoping for a chance to make an appearance on the teacher’s
desk. None of us, except maybe Dennis, were innocent, but Carolyn was a
nuisance. She was describing where Marlin had hidden the chalkboard eraser in
the boy’s outhouse when the teacher stopped her and surprised us all. “I’m sure
Marlin will put the eraser back where it belongs, but you were two minutes late
getting to your seat because you were spying on him, Carolyn, so you are as
guilty as he of breaking the rules!” Jesus was dealing with tattletales, too.
They had evidence the woman was committing adultery and wanted Jesus to approve
of stoning her. He didn’t deny what the law required. He merely forced the
tattletales to acknowledge that they were sinners deserving punishment, too.
Sin is sin, no matter how little or big it appears. The grace and mercy of God
come to us in the same way they came to the woman and with the same instruction
- “Go and sin no more!” We don’t need a tattletale to point out our sins. We
need to be honest with ourselves. When we are, “God who is merciful and slow to
anger” will forgive our sins. Thanks be to God!
PRAYER
I hate to admit it, my Heavenly Father, but sometimes I
relish being a “tattletale”; looking at someone else and seeing how sinful they
have been. I am sorry that I “ tsk” at what they do wrong, but I don’t see how
I am just as convicted. Thank you for being so forgiving, even to me. In your
Son’s name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
February 8, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 27:1-29; Romans 12:1-8; John 8:12-20
SCRIPTURE
He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury
of the temple, but no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come. John
8:20
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Some things we did on the farm took time and they couldn’t
be rushed. Milking cows by hand, collecting eggs, planting crops and harvesting
crops, making butter or ice cream, or stacking hay were only some of the
activities that took time and patience. Rushing any of them could harm animals,
the quality or quantity of produce, or us. We weren’t always patient “waiters,”
and sometimes we learned the lessons the hard way. For example, helping a
duckling out of its shell to be born would cause its death. But we eventually
learned how to wait for the right time. Animals giving birth to their young
didn’t ask for our convenient schedule. When the time was right, they had their
young. No doubt, the animals and crops knew something we should all learn. The
scriptures remind us of it sometimes. The phrase “his hour had not yet come”
appears 12 times in the gospels! God had a plan, and the events leading to our
salvation were not rushed. It might be a lesson for us when we think our lives
are on hold and not moving fast enough in the direction we want them to go. God
likely has a plan for you, and “the hour has not yet come.” Instead of
struggling with impatience, why not ask God to show you what He wants you to do
until “the time has fully come”? Thank God, who gives us the days and the hours
of our days and knows what is best for us. God gives us every opportunity to
become all He intended us to be!
PRAYER
I sometimes struggle with patience and waiting until “your
time” has come, O God. Open my eyes so that I might see that you have time for
everything, and it may not be mine. Thank you for this day and what lies ahead,
even if it’s not on my timetable. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
February 9, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 27:30-45; Romans 12:9-21; John 8:21-32
SCRIPTURE
They did not understand that he was speaking to them about
the Father. John 8:27
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Our 4-H club spent one Saturday afternoon each summer
visiting each other’s farms to see our projects firsthand. The car I was riding
in was late arriving at one of the farms because someone had to use the
restroom. We raced to the pen, where the other club members listened to the
county agent describe an animal. As I looked at the scrawny newborn calf, still
unsteady on his legs, looking for his mother’s udder, I heard: “strong, broad
shoulders, big beefy ribs, well-proportioned front and hind quarters, and
powerful muscular legs....” I looked again to see if he was seeing something I
wasn’t. This puny little creature didn’t fit that description at all. The agent
continued, “Those were the characteristics of the father of this calf. We’ll
have to wait to see if he lives up to his father’s image.” I wasn’t crazy after
all! He was talking about the bull, not the calf. The Jewish leaders, with
their preconceived images of a victorious warrior messiah, were looking only at
the “man,” Jesus, who came to be a different kind of Messiah and missed the
message entirely. They could not hear the Father’s Word and will for them and
all humankind. We can become so short-sighted that we, too, miss the full scope
of God’s plan and purpose for us. Worship and Bible study help us readjust our sights
to see and hear the One of whom Jesus speaks. May you discover the thrill of
discovering something new about the Father daily!
PRAYER
I am honored that you have called me your child and that I
might call you Father, dear God. Walk beside me each day through my studies and
worship so that I might know more about you. There is so much more that I can
learn, and I am excited about the opportunity. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
February 10, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 27:46-28:4, 10-22; Romans 13:1-14; John 8:33-47
SCRIPTURE
Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you
do not hear them is that you are not from God. John 8:47
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I love children, and they seem to enjoy being around me. In
my congregation in Nebraska before retiring the first time, it was not unusual
for me to have 20 or 30 children come up for the children’s sermon. My office was
the first place some younger ones headed when their parents brought them to
church. (OK! I’ll be honest. It may not have been all me. It could have been
the piece of candy they got to take with them when they left.) Some of the
younger children have certain words they have trouble saying. When I can’t
understand, I usually look to an older brother or sister who knows their
“language” and can interpret for me. The family of God has a language of its
very own, too. It’s not big words like eschatology, or hermeneutics, or
exegetics. It’s a language of simple words - words of the heart of God speaking
to our hearts, and our hearts speaking to God’s heart. Having studied German, I
know that when I don’t use the language, I lose it. So it is with the special
language of the people of God. We need one another to share in worship and
Bible study to ensure we “translate” the Word the way God intended it to be.
The man who shot John Lennon heard a voice he thought was telling him to kill
Lennon. Sadly, what he was hearing was neither the will of God nor in keeping
with the Word of God. It was the voice of deception. Have you been practicing
your “family of God language” listening skills? Worship is an excellent place
to start. Then, consider adding a Bible study with other Christians and a time
of private devotions. May you discover the “sweetness” of the Word that is far
better than a piece of candy!
PRAYER
Thank you for your sweet Word, dear Lord. I pray that I
might listen to it carefully and often to distinguish your Word from others.
Thank you for the opportunities to study and hear that Word. In the name of
Jesus, the Word made flesh. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
February 11, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 29:1-20; Romans 14:1-23; John 8:47-59
SCRIPTURE
Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my Word will never see
death. John 8:51
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I didn’t want to take lessons on how to present a prize-winning
animal at the fair. It was hot. The carnival rides were beckoning, almost
shouting at me to take advantage of them. Besides, I already knew how to lead a
steer around the ring! But Dad insisted. I reluctantly took my steer into the
ring with all the others. As the lesson progressed, I discovered I had been
breaking most of the showmanship rules in my previous presentations. The instructor’s
conclusion sank in: “Follow these simple rules, and the judge will give your
animal the ribbon it deserves. Break the rules, and the judge will dock your
animal several points for each rule broken. A blue ribbon could become a red
ribbon or a purple ribbon. Following those rules that afternoon, I earned a
purple ribbon in my category! Jesus taught His followers a similar lesson.
Keeping His Word will ensure that we receive what we deserve. It won’t earn our
salvation because He has already done that. But it will help us walk
confidently in His Word. In scripture, when something is repeated, its
importance is magnified. Jesus repeats this phrase three times in this section
of John’s gospel! Are you interested in “never seeing death” - only seeing the
living, loving Lord? Jesus’ lesson is not complicated. “Keep my word.” Of
course, that means you need to know, learn, and live it, but the results will
be well worth the effort since you have been saved by grace!
PRAYER
O, my stubborn heart! I am sorry that I so reluctantly
listen to your Word and more reluctantly try to change my way of doing things,
dear God. Help me listen to it better and turn my whole life toward you. Thank
you for the promises that I know are true. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
February 12, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 29:30-35; 1 Timothy 3:14-4:10; Mark 10:23-31
SCRIPTURE
(The disciples were greatly astounded that Jesus told them
how difficult it is for the rich to enter heaven, and asked,) “Then who can be
saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals, it is impossible, but not
for God; for God, all things are possible.” Mark 10:26-27
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dad made a lot of things look so easy. A stubborn rusty bolt
that had skinned my nine-year-old knuckles came out almost effortlessly for
him. He made things that seemed broken and beyond repair work like new. They
didn’t always look like new, but they worked! Even after he retired, he loved
fixing up old step ladders and making them solid again. They were much heavier
than before, but moving them would have taken a tornado. We sold some of them
at Mom’s auction, and my only thought was, “They’re getting their money’s
worth!” Not all fathers are good earthly models for the heavenly Father. Dad
wasn’t always that perfect model, either. But the Father’s light occasionally
peaked through my father’s hands and heart. He helped me realize that some
things seemed impossible to me but were easy for him to fix. Jesus tried to
share that same good news with us all concerning His Father - our heavenly
Father. Just because it is impossible for us humans/mortals, don’t think it is
impossible for God. I know several people considered “rich” by others, with
whom God has been at work and for whom wealth has not become their God. Rather
than allowing their gifts to drag them down, they use them to glorify God in impossible
ways. Don’t pre-judge. Instead, consider your riches. Do they help you glorify
God, or do they cause you to be drawn away from worship and service to God’s
people? If you’re struggling, thank God that God can do what you cannot. Then,
turn your struggles over to God and take the next indicated steps.
PRAYER
I am so happy you can do what is impossible for me, dear
Heavenly Father. Thank you for the gifts and abilities that you have given me.
I pray that I might use them for your glory. I put those things that I cannot
do into your hands. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
February 13, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 30:1-24; 1 John 1:1-10; John 9:1-17
SCRIPTURE
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar
began to ask, “Is this not the (blind) man who used to sit and beg?” John 9:8
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Before taking our pigs to the fair, we’d have to herd them
out of the mud they loved to play in on hot summer days near the cattle tank.
That disgustingly dirty job made it difficult to tell us from some of the pigs.
We then had to wash them clean. They usually loved the water hose and often
chewed on it if we let them. Since pigs don’t sweat, this was a real treat for
them. By the time we finished, they looked better than we did! I thought of
that, watching a segment of “Amazing Make-overs,” where ordinary, poorly
dressed people were put through a “make-over.” Hair, nails, skin, and clothes -
right down to the underwear on some. They were made over so thoroughly their
families could hardly believe their eyes. Jesus did a “make-over” for the blind
beggar. The neighbors had seen him daily begging for a living. What a shock it
must have been to see the new man able to see and take care of himself for the
first time any of them could remember. Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus could do a
“make-over” for each of us? He can and does. The swiftness of the “make-over”
often depends on how cooperative we are with Him in changing directions
(repenting) and allowing Him to dress us with the “whole armor of God”! Since
we know He can and will, let’s ask that He begin again today to make us over
into the person He created us to be. By the grace of God, some may be further
ahead in the process than others. May the world see something new and exciting
in you they’d like to learn more about!
PRAYER
You and I know my heart, O God, and I often don’t like what
I see when I examine it. Make me over, cleansing me and changing me into the
follower you would have me be. Dress me in your love and caring for others and
your creation. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
February 14, 2026
Valentines
Day
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 31:1-24; 1 John 2:1-11; John 9:18-41
SCRIPTURE
The blind man answered (the religious authorities), “I do
not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind,
now I see.” John 9:25
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
In those innocent days, before we worried about strangers
kidnapping children, I had to stay after school for talking without raising my
hand. I was in first grade. My sister was in kindergarten. In good weather, we
walked the mile and a quarter home together. We were the only students living
in that direction. She walked out of the school to the road and just stood
there and wept, worried that I would have to stay all night. Fifteen minutes
seemed like an eternity to her, but when I came out, I saw the man who worked
on the REA power lines trying to calm her down. When he saw me, he asked if we’d like a ride home. The offer
sounded good to me! He took us to the end of our lane and then left. When we
arrived at the house, Mom asked who brought us home. I replied that I didn’t
know his name. I just knew he was nice enough to give us a ride. (We also got a
lecture on “not riding with strangers” back then.) The blind man hadn’t learned
to read because he was blind, so he couldn’t read Jesus’ portfolio (had Jesus
had one). Nobody had told him much about Jesus except that He healed people and
he was blind, but now he could see! That’s all that mattered. What more do we
need to know about Jesus? We’ve heard His story. We’ve read His story. We’ve
confessed His story. Those who know Him, love Him, and discover - have their
blindness lifted - one miracle after another. Have you shared that love with
someone special today? Happy Valentine’s Day!
PRAYER
You are Love, O God. Thank you for sharing that love with me
through the gift of Jesus Christ. Make my heart grow fonder for you every day.
When it does, help me share that great love with others so they will grow to
love you. In the loving name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
February 15, 2026
The
Transfiguration of Our Lord
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 31:25-50; 1 John 2:12-17; John 10:1-18
SCRIPTURE
The thief comes only to steal and, kill and destroy. I came
that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When my grandparents “modernized” the old farmhouse, they
had to learn many “new-fangled” things. They moved an old school house they had
used for a summer kitchen down the hill near the well for feed storage. They
added a room to replace the summer kitchen and an indoor bathroom. They also
added some basement area and plumbing for the kitchen. All plumbing, especially
the indoor bathroom, required a septic tank. The “learning curve” came when
some men came a year or two later to insist that the septic tank be cleaned
out. Not knowing any better, my grandparents unwittingly gave permission and
paid for the job. The “salesmen” had set my grandfather against my grandmother,
telling each the other had approved. It was too late when my father found out
and ended the feud. Their check was already cashed, and raw, smelly sewage had
been spread around the front yard. According to the sheriff, they were con
artists preying on new septic tank owners. Jesus came to clean up sin and evil,
not to spread it. Unlike the con artists, Jesus was not asking for “cash in
advance.” He was offering His services - His life - as a gift of grace. There
was no fast talk nor any deception. Jesus came to give life, even when it cost
Him His own. Jesus provides the perfect model for us. Anyone who claims to
provide us with any of the “gifts” of God “for a price,” either with money or
work, is a thief who comes to con us out of that for which our Savior already
paid - big time! Thank God for all the blessings you enjoy as a free gift!
PRAYER
Many out there try to sell me on the idea that I must buy
your love and salvation, O Christ. Thank you for being the free gift you gave
us all. Keep me from restricting your love to others, but help me to give
freely of that love. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
February 16, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 32:3-21; 1 John 2:18-29; John 10:19-30
SCRIPTURE
Jesus answered (the authorities asking if He was the
Messiah), “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s
name testify to me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my
sheep. John 10:25-26
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Some “shirt-tail” cousins came to fish at Hansen’s Dam near
our farm. The fishing was not good, so they dropped in for a visit. Ray and I
were both six, but he was a “city kid,” and I was a “farm hick.” He was trying
to tell me about some incredibly expensive toy he got for his birthday. He even
offered to bring it over so we could play with it. I was having trouble seeing
why it was so expensive. We seemed to have created far more fun things out of
scraps of lumber and discarded pork and bean cans. The more he talked, the less
impressed I was. It must have shown because he acted disgusted. The next time I
was in the “big city,” I came across the toy he described. Seeing the colors
and the fantastic array of detailed parts, I could see why Ray was so excited
about it. It was beautiful, and, for a few minutes, my eyes looked with envy at
what I could have played with had I paid attention. But he was not a farm kid,
so why should I have believed him? Jesus had that problem with the religious
authorities. Their minds couldn’t grasp how this Galilean could possibly
be all people claimed Him to be. Even His own words went in one ear and out the
other! They could not hear or believe because they were “big city boys”; they
were not members of His flock. Jesus gives us a “faith lesson”. Not everyone is
open to receiving the Good News. As members of Jesus’ flock, may we continue to
listen for the voice of the One who was, who is, and who always will be.
PRAYER
I’m sorry, dear Jesus when I don’t believe the story of your
Good News. How can you be so wonderful and loving to someone like myself? I am
so thankful, though, that it is true! Open my ears so I truly listen to that
news when it is told. I pray this in your name, dear Christ. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
February 17, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 32:22-33:17; 1 John 3:1-10; John 10:31-42
SCRIPTURE
But if I do (the works of my Father), even though you do not
believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the
Father is in me and I am in the Father.
John 10:38
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I was painting a wind-breaker fence in the cattle yard
during a break at the seminary. One of many cars passed by on the gravel road
nearby. One, however, turned around, came back, and stopped along the side of
the road by the barn. A young man I didn’t recognize got out, came to where I
was painting and introduced himself. He had been one of the “big kids” when I
was in kindergarten and first grade. I was a total blank. I didn’t remember
him, although his name tugged at my memory. Then he told me where he lived and
reminded me of his parents and the long lane (nearly a half mile) on which Dad
and I got stuck trying to visit them. Besides his name being “Larry,” he was a
complete blank until I remembered his parents. Then bits and pieces of memory
crept back. I tried to learn to ride a bike using his bike - several sizes too
big for me - on the rutted lane of our country school. I learned to duck when
he came past my desk if I didn’t want my ear snapped, my hair pulled, or some
nasty spitball dropped down the back of my shirt. From the stories I remember
hearing, he lived up to his father’s reputation, which I didn’t think was so
good. Jesus lived up to the positive reputation of His Father. He could confidently
point to the works He was doing, knowing that they fit every description of a
gracious, loving Father. Could you do the same? Are your words and actions the
kind that give a positive witness to your Father in heaven? May the Light of
the Epiphany season continue to shine in your heart and brighten your life so
that you are a true positive reflection of your Father in heaven!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for making me yours in the waters of
my baptism and for making me an heir of your kingdom. As I seek your words,
shine your light on me and inspire me to be more like you every day. When
people see me, let them know that I am truly yours. In your Son’s name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
ASH WEDNESDAY,
February 18, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 35:1-20; 1 John 3:11-18; John 11:1-16
SCRIPTURE
Those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in
them. John 11:10
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the jobs I liked least in the winter was checking on
the chickens at night. Aside from the obvious - mud, snow, ice to plow through,
and foul-smelling noisy fowl - it was dark at night. It was exceptionally dark
near the chicken coop because the yard light didn’t reach that far. Stepping
out of the light of the yard light meant walking blind for several hundred
feet. Any branches that fell on the path, any dead animals the dog dragged
there, or any wild animal - skunk or possum that chose the same path - could
mean trouble. With a healthy imagination, I was also sure there were numerous
grotesque and evil demons lurking in those shadows, just waiting to stick out
their toe to make me trip so they could pounce on me! However, I convinced Mom
that a flashlight would be a good investment, and the demons fled, and the wild
animals hid. I avoided land mines and other obstacles aimed at making my job
harder and more painful and possibly even fatal. I don’t know that Jesus had to
check on chickens in the dark, but He certainly knew the dangers of the night.
He didn’t need a flashlight. He was the Light. Jesus offers to be that
light in each of us as we walk through the shadows and darkness of our world.
Knowing Christ gives us a light within to shine in those places that cause us
to stumble. Are there things in life that cause you to stumble? Why not let
Christ’s light shine to illuminate your way? His offer is always good: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but
have the light of life.” (John
8:12)
PRAYER
I pray, dear Jesus, that you be my light, guiding me through
all the real and imagined obstacles that might be in my path today. Steer me
clear from those things that are not healthy for my body or soul until I come
into your light for eternity. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
February 19, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 1:20-33; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Mark 10:35-45
SCRIPTURE
...Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your
servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Mark
10:43b-44
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I voted for Margaret. Zeke wanted me to vote for him for
student president. He threatened to lock me in the storm cellar if I didn’t.
Margaret didn’t threaten or promise anything. She had helped me find my desk on
my first day of kindergarten. Margaret warned me about the tacks someone (Zeke?)
had strategically placed on my seat. She helped Marlin with a difficult
assignment. She swept the floor when Landon and I spilled sand from the
sandbox. She never had a mean or nasty thing to say about anyone. Margaret
didn’t want the office. She preferred to do things quietly without being
noticed. Even though she was one of the “big kids,” she had a loving heart for
us “little kids.” I guess that was the primary reason I voted for her. I never
told Zeke. I knew he’d kill me. I think he suspected, though. When he lost, he
seemed to get meaner than before. Jesus knew human nature enough to know that
there are those with a heart for serving, like Margaret, and those who want the
glory. I’ve found many “Margarets” in the church, both men and women. These are
the ones who often say, “Don’t tell anyone I did this.” or who do their serving
when there’s no one else around. They love to help others without recognition,
and they seem to thrive on acting as part of a “little Christ” anonymously. In
my mind, I join Jesus in believing that they are the ones for whom I will vote
“greatest of them all”! Who will you vote for?
PRAYER
Thank you, dear Lord, for the “Margarets” of this world who
have come to serve without thinking of “what’s in it for me?”. Mold me into
that type of person who only wants to serve you by serving others. In the name
of the servant-king, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
February 20, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 3:11-20; 1 John 3:18-4:6; John 11:17-29
SCRIPTURE
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, my brother
would not have died. John 11:21
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My cousin Lorna suffered from polio when she was young and
the after-effects as she grew older. She never let her affliction get her down,
at least not that I ever saw. Despite braces and crutches, she could chase
through the cornfields with the best of us. I lost contact with Lorna when I
went off to school. She married, had four great kids, and lost her husband
before I returned to enlist her aid in planning a family reunion. Lorna was a
true woman of God who “gave thanks in all circumstances.” She would have hit me
with a crutch if I had called her a saint! Lorna died in December 2006. As sad
as I was, I couldn’t wish her back to suffer more from the return of some of
the polio symptoms and cancer. One of her friends told me she died and added
that “Lorna was dancing in heaven.” I could only smile and declare, “Thank you,
Jesus!” So often, we are like Martha in wanting those who have gone to be with
God back with us. Take time to read the rest of the story in John’s gospel.
Before bringing Lazarus back, Jesus wept. To wish for Lorna to return from her
dance with the “Lord of the Dance,” where there is no more pain, suffering, or
sorrow, would make me weep, too. I praise God for the gift of Lorna in my life
and the gift of His grace to receive her into the place He has prepared just
for her. Martha did not realize that Jesus is always with us in this life and
the next. After all, He truly is the “resurrection and the life!”
PRAYER
Thank you, dear God, for all those saints dancing with you.
Forgive me when, in my own needs, I wish them to return from such a glorious
time with you. Help me be patient, knowing we will all dance forever someday.
In the name of the “Lord of the Dance,” I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
February 21, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 4:1-27; 1 John 4:7-21; John 11:30-44
SCRIPTURE
Jesus wept. John 11:35
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Growing up, I heard the phrase, “Big boys don’t cry.” I
remember being clobbered by the swing at school when I was eleven. I was
talking to one of the other kids and wasn’t paying attention when two feet came
out of nowhere, walloping me near my rib cage. It not only knocked me down, but
it also took my breath away, nearly knocking me out. I thought I was going to
die. Against such sage advice, I cried anyway. It hurt, and I was scared. I
find it comforting to know that “big boys” sometimes cry. Peter wept bitterly
when he realized he had denied Jesus. And “Jesus wept.” In the gospels, Jesus
cries three times. Once, he wept when He looked at Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and
wept for it and what it did to the prophets. A second mention of Jesus weeping
came when His friend Lazarus died, and He prepared to bring him back from death
and his place in heaven (John 11:35). The third could have been a shout, but I
believe the human nature of Jesus wept or cried out in pain and despair. It
takes place on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Weeping releases pain, sorrow,
despair, and, yes, even joy, relief, and sheer happiness. Big boy that I am, I
am not ashamed to say that I weep for all those reasons too. The preacher in
Ecclesiastes reminds us also that “There is a time to weep and a time to
laugh.” May you discover the
cleansing power of tears and the relief of knowing that Jesus has wept for you
and with you! May you weep tears of grief and pain when it is time to weep and
laugh with tears of joy when it is time to laugh!
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for being so much like the rest of us,
feeling sorrow, joy, heartbreak, and love. Let me never be so stoic that I
cannot weep or laugh with others when it is the right time. It is in your
all-embracing love that I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
February 22, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 6:1-19; 1 John 5:1-12; John 11:45-54
SCRIPTURE
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of
the council and said, “What are we to do? This man (Jesus) is performing many
signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the
Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” John 11:47-48
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Farming has made some radical changes over the years. I grew
up with farming. At the time, it was hard to see that anything so radical was
taking place. However, I witnessed the change from workhorses to tractors. My
father was the first farmer in our county to use a tractor. Grandpa bought it
but refused to use it. The technological age was just too much for him. As Dad
stretched further and further to use the “new-fangled” technology, the tension
and distance between Dad and Grandpa were also strained. I heard a heated
argument between them over a piece of farm equipment. Although many of the
words from Grandpa were in heated German and were not intended for my tender
ears, I got the general message. “This new technology was going to lead to the
ruin of the farm.” (That’s a cleaned-up version.) While the religious leaders
of Jesus’ day longed for the Messiah and wanted changes, they wanted them on
their terms. They feared the backlash that a Messiah like Jesus would cause;
the upsetting of the “status quo” that allowed them to live in relative harmony
with their sworn enemies – the Romans – might be lost. Are there times when you
would rather keep things as they are, even though you don’t like them, rather
than take a chance on making them better? Jesus didn’t take that route. He was willing
to go to the cross so that we would have Life. May you discover the excitement
and the joy of doing something new for Jesus – outside your comfort zone – today!
PRAYER
Most of the time, dear Heavenly Father, I am comfortable
with how things are. Forgive me for my selfishness when I want to keep your
church and my life stagnate when change is needed to bring more people to know
you. Change me. I am yours. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
February 23, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 7:1-27; 1 John 5:13-21; John 11:55-12:8
SCRIPTURE
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always
have me. John 12:8
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I liked Miss Shierloh, my first teacher. She was the teacher
who spent all night at school with us during a blizzard and then walked to my
grandparents’ home with me the next day across the cold, deep snow drifts. On the
last day of school, I packed my broken crayons and all the paper treasures
crammed into my desk. I asked Miss Shierloh what we would be learning next
year, and she told me I’d have to wait to see. I liked mysteries, so I didn’t
think much about it. When I arrived at school the following fall, I raced in to
see Miss Shierloh but found she wasn’t there. Miss Robinson was taking her
place. I was both surprised and puzzled. Miss Shierloh, I was informed, was
teaching in another country school. The disciples had been with Jesus for a
while and thought they had signed up for a lifetime job. Their confidence in
His eternal nature increased as they came to know Jesus as the Messiah. He had
to remind them that some things in this world seem to go on and on (like the
Ever Ready bunny), but He, in His human nature, would not. Reading the gospels,
we see Jesus repeating that message often, but it didn’t sink in. Whenever
there is a death, we are reminded that this is not our eternal home. We are
reminded that what we have now will not last. What is important to you? May you
always find true joy in the One who was not limited to a time, place, and a
specific group of disciples who promises to be with us always!
PRAYER
O Immanuel, you are always with me and will never leave me.
This knowledge brings me great comfort. Thank you for those you gave me so I may
know them, even briefly. In your name, O Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
February 24, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 8:1-21; Philemon 1-25; John 12:9-19
SCRIPTURE
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but
when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written of
him and had been done to him. John 12:16
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My uncle Orville convinced me that I could be a big help to
him with a little job. One of my other uncles was a plumber who needed concrete
well casings. He had the forms and the materials. We had to mix the
ingredients, shovel them into the forms, tamp them down, and remove the form
when the concrete had set enough. It sounded much easier when he described it
to me than when we got there and started doing it. Once I had the hang of it,
my uncle had to “take care of something” else, and I was left to work on the
casings myself. It wasn’t until I was about to drop from exhaustion and my
other uncle arrived that it dawned on me that I was being “used.” I received
sore muscles, blisters, and fifty cents for an afternoon of hard labor. Jesus
wasn’t trying to get out of work or get the disciples to do His work. Jesus was
trying to multiply His ministry through His disciples. Many of the things He
taught them went entirely over their heads. They didn’t connect. Their
preconceived ideas blocked their understanding of the actual message. Some
people do that with worship and Bible study. They let the words and the actions
go in one ear and out the other, and it may be years later, or some great
crisis in their lives, that finally helps them see the connection. Next time
you worship or study your Bible, pray for the wisdom to grasp what Jesus wants
you to hear and know. He’ll be happy to have you on His team.
PRAYER
Thanks for calling me to be on your team, dear Jesus. I also
thank you for other team members so that I don’t have to go it alone. Give me
understanding in my study of your Word and as I listen in worship. I ask for
the wisdom only you can give so that I can hear and understand what you want me
to know. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
February 25, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 8:22-36; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; John 12:20-26
SCRIPTURE
Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will
my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. John 12:26
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I loved marching band. Even though I carried the big
wrap-around bass horn, the heaviest instrument in the band, something was
exciting about being in the parade. We got to wear neat uniforms that were hot
in the summer and not warm enough in cold weather. There was the challenge of
keeping lines straight, staying in step, and following the signals of the drum
major. In addition, crowds were on the streets or in the stands at football
games. We were required to memorize fairly intricate marching patterns for all
home football games. The result was sometimes comical to the crowd but
embarrassing to the band member who “marched to a different drum.” I resembled
that description the night I missed a cue, did an about-face, and marched
halfway down the field before realizing I was all alone. I had to race back,
find my position, and get back in step, which took most of that number. Perhaps
that is a good analogy for the way many of us are in our walk with the Lord. We
get distracted or lose our spiritual direction in the chaos of trying to keep
up with the world. Fortunately, Jesus acts as the drum major, calling us back
to formation with Him and His plan. The good news is that we are always
welcomed back - justified - “just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned.” May you increasingly
march to the Lord’s drum and keep in step with His will for you and your life!
PRAYER
Keep me alert to your signals, O Jesus, so I will always be
in step with you. I know my life will be better when I do. Thank you for your
love and grace, which welcomes me back whenever I get out of step. It is in
your name that I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
February 26, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Malachai 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Luke 9:18-27
SCRIPTURE
Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my
followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow
me. Luke 9:23
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I was nine, I led a major safari into a dark and
dangerous African jungle. I had to recruit my team as we were gathering
supplies and weapons. My sister was OK with it but insisted on taking her tea
set. My twin brothers were all excited about the journey. My younger brother
wasn’t sure he wanted to go but didn’t want to be left behind. That should have
been a warning because, within a short time before we’d even passed around the
snake pit dividing our grove of trees from the “real” jungle, my brother wanted
to go back. My sister offered to take him back, so we waited. The wait seemed
to take forever. Finally, I ran back to see what was taking so long, only to
find my sister having “coffee” with my brother and not wanting to take the
safari. By the time I returned to the twins, they had found something else they
wanted to do. If you’ve never done it, going on a safari alone isn’t as
exciting or fun. Jesus wasn’t playing a children’s game. Jesus was leading a
“safari to Life” - eternal life. He was being honest with would-be disciples.
Any journey requires sacrifice. The safari or journey Jesus was inviting them
on would require giving up their plans to follow His plan without reservations
or hesitations. It is the same journey Jesus invites you and me to take with
Him daily. Are you willing and able to “take up your cross to follow Him”? It
won’t be easy. It won’t be safe. It won’t always be “fun,” either. But the
company and the destination will make it all worth it. Are you ready for a
spiritual safari with Christ? You are invited!
PRAYER
As I journey through this jungle of life, I am so glad you
are with me, O Holy One. This journey won’t always be easy. It is full of
heartaches and pits. I also know that with your love and guidance, I will get
through it, and one day, I will be in paradise with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
February 27, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 27:1-12; Philippians 2:1-13; John 18:15-27
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath.
Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:11
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We had a warm spell in the middle of winter one year. The
temperature was above freezing, the snow disappeared, and trees threatened to
bud. Dad considered Saturday a perfect day to clean out the chicken house! We
moaned and groaned because we wanted to go to town to have fun with our
friends, AND the smell in the chicken coop in the middle of a relatively warm
winter day was enough to gag anyone. But the job had to be done! Most of the
family was employed to do it. My youngest brother and sister were too small, so
they stayed in the house. About halfway through loading the first of several
loads of manure, my brother came out to tell me someone wanted me on the phone.
It was my best friend, inviting me to go to the big city with him and another
friend. I wanted, in the worst way, to join them. I thought of a dozen excuses,
promises, and outright lies that might work to get me out of the hen house, but
in the end, I had to give them up. Dad, Mom, my sister, and twin brothers were
expecting me to pitch in and pitch out! The cup Jesus was about to drink was
worse than the smelliest chicken coop in winter. It was the accumulated filth
of the sins of all people of all times. He had the means of escape. He even had
a friend willing to fight with a sword to the death, not to mention a legion of
angels at His command, but to Jesus, doing His Father’s will was far more critical
than some temporary and fleeting pleasure. How committed are you to doing your
Father’s will? He did not desert you when your sins were on the line. He does not
desert you even now. He promises to be with you always, even to the end of
time!
PRAYER
What? Run the other way? Yes, I know, dear Jesus, that
sometimes I am tempted to do so, and sometimes I avoid what you expect of me. I
also know that you are there beside me, having already taken the cup given to
you. Forgive me and lead me back to your ways. In your name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
February 28, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 30:1-4, 24-33; Philippians 3:1-11; John 18:28-38
SCRIPTURE
(When asked by Pilate if He was the King of the Jews) Jesus
answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” John
18:34
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Although I only intended to write devotions for a small
group of people with email for a single Advent season, I am now well into my 20th
year. My small group has expanded. Daily emails are sent, and numerous printed
copies are picked up at church monthly. In addition, several other churches and
individuals receive them and pass them on and on and on. Requests come at least
once weekly, and I often wonder who told the person about my devotions. I must
admit a feeling of disbelief that so many people would identify with my stories,
comment on the faith lessons they have gained, and often express appreciation
for Pastor Freeman’s prayers. I can identify with Jesus’ question of Pilate. It
certainly had a more profound and theological purpose than mine because Jesus
was searching Pilate’s heart. His question is one we all should identify as we
share the story of God’s love. Is His story just hearsay or gossip, or is it
truly something we can share from our hearts? Jesus wants to be more than a
figment of someone’s imagination. He wants to be the real and living Lord
of our lives. The only way that can happen is if we allow our relationship with
Him to become intensely intimate. Are you ready for a relationship like that?
Jesus was. Jesus is! Jesus will always be!
PRAYER
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