SUNday, MAY 18, 2025
“The only thing faster than light is darkness running away.”
'Jesus is my Savior ONLY when I make Him Lord of my life'
By Faith We Understand ...
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (NKJB) Hebrews 11:1
"But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but (born) of God." (NKJB) John 1:12-13
"We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal." (CJB) 2 Corinthians 4:18
" For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." (NKJV) Romans 5:10
SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2025
Today’s daily Bible reflection is based on the story of stepping into your divine purpose with courage and clarity. Once driven by a dream to become a firefighter, the speaker discovered a different kind of rescue mission—one that involves saving souls, not just lives. His transition from professional athlete to passionate evangelist reveals that every believer carries a spiritual urgency.
TODAY's VERSE
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." Romans 1:16
MEDITATION
What if your biggest fear was the very thing keeping someone else from knowing Christ?
This story begins with a man who wanted to save lives as a firefighter, but ended up rescuing souls with the Gospel. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s plans often redirect us to something even more impactful than we ever imagined. While firefighting may save bodies, evangelism reaches eternity. That kind of purpose isn’t exclusive—it’s yours too.
What keeps you from speaking up? Is it fear of judgment, opposition, rejection, or inadequacy?
We often hesitate to share our faith because we think we’re unqualified. But evangelism isn’t about being eloquent or flawless. It’s about letting the light of Christ shine through you. Like flipping a light switch, it doesn’t matter who does it—the power comes from the light, not the hand. Romans 1:16 says the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. You just have to be willing.
Are you watching from the sidelines while others step into the mission?
The speaker recounts a tragic story of inaction—of people witnessing suffering and doing nothing. Spiritually, we’re guilty of the same when we avoid sharing Jesus. But the call is clear: don’t be a bystander. Be a Gospel first responder. Training like “Just One” helps equip us with simple tools and confidence. And when you pair up with someone, you’re reminded that you don’t have to go alone.
Is your identity tied to old dreams, or have you embraced God’s purpose for your life?
Our identity isn’t in what we used to want, but in who Jesus is. Galatians 2:20 says we are crucified with Christ—it’s no longer us, but Him living through us. That changes everything. This life isn’t about self-preservation, but self-sacrifice for the sake of others. Be bold. Speak life. And let Jesus live through you.
"... but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense (give the reason) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; " (NASB) 1 Peter 3:15
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Hebrews 12:28
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
Wisdom from Above - James 3:13
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
REFLECTION
Think about where God has placed you today. It may look like success to others, but you know He’s still working on your heart. Ask yourself if you’re using your position—whether in your home, workplace, or community—to reflect God’s wisdom and compassion in sharing the light of Jesus. Be mindful of how you prepare, plan, and forgive, knowing that each season has a divine purpose.
This weekend, take a moment to evaluate your purpose. Have you been waiting for the “right moment” to share your faith? Let today be that moment. Identify one person in your life who needs encouragement or truth, and reach out. Whether it’s a conversation, a prayer, or an invitation to church, take the step. Pair up with a friend and commit to completing an evangelism training together this month.
".... ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.."
" For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
REMEMBER
As true believers, on that day we were 'born again' 1 Peter 1:23 we received that same Holy Spirit, Jesus received from above at His baptism Matthew 3:16 , which enables us to hear God's Word to live in harmony with God, and do the works God the Father has appointed for us to do Ephesians 2:10 in the Name of His Son, our Lord, Master and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The perfect unity of the Son with His Father is God's plan from creation for us as believers, to live humbly, truthfully, victoriously, in harmony and love with our Heavenly Father and with all mankind, as much as it is possible. Romans 12:18
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you." Matthew 6:33
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
OBSERVATION
The Christian life is not about self-sufficiency, human ambitions or temporal worldly victories, but surrender and humble obedience, about faithfully living out God's purpose for us, experiencing life more abundantly John 10:10 by following the Jesus in the Scriptural Principles of God’s Word.
Godliness is about letting Jesus transform our hearts and lives daily, not in self-sufficiency, and not in rituals or in man's religious traditions, but for truth in Godly harmony and unity in our relationships. Hebrews 12:11
Godliness begins on a personal level. It’s shaped by our daily choices to obey and follow God in the trials and daily challenges, even in the quiet, everyday moments of our private thought life. When we choose holiness over self-gratification and live with integrity, we build the character God uses to transform us (sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Jude 1:1 ) to bring renewal, justice, harmony and victory.
We must see that each thought and word, and each action we take is part of our lifelong journey. By letting God shape our character, we learn to love others (like Jesus did) and we can spark change in our families, communities, and culture.
Let’s step forward in faith, becoming vessels of God’s grace.
Through us, in loyal Godly friendships, revival and unity can begin — first personally, then all around us in fulfilling God's purposes (Luke 2:14).
SCRIPTURE
"Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (CJB)
"For we are His (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
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FAITH SPOTLIGHT
“You are a child of God! Many people, during times of adversity, feel worthless and weak. But you are not! You’re stronger than you think!
Phil. 4:13 says: I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.”
No matter where life has brought you to in this moment - through the good and through the bad - Jesus has been with you, drawing you to Himself. He is the promised Immanuel. He is God with us.
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"... saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. "
Galatians 5:22-23
SCRIPTURE
"If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Psalm 127:3
IN TODAY'S ACCOUNT
"faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
PRAYER
Our Father Jehovah in heaven, our great God and LORD,
When you give me a promise I chooses to believe I will see the full manifestation of that hoped for promise. My faith assures me it will happen even though I have no evidence of it at this moment. By faith I believe in Jesus is the Son of the Living God. By faith I trust in your word. By faith I believe what you say to me by your spirit. My faith is what the enemy attacks because faith is my confidence and trust in you. If the enemy can weaken that confidence I am rendered powerless against him. I trust in you Lord, your word and your promises. I have not seen heaven but I hope I will see you there by my faith in you.
Again afresh today I surrender all that I am and all that I have to You Father, to be used to reach others with Your Word for Your kingdom and Your glory.
I pay and ask for Your preservation and blessings Father, In Jesus’ precious and holy Name,
Amen.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
"Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful."
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. " James 4:7
"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:11
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ..."
"For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4
REMINDER
We are imperfect humans and will make mistakes every day, but when we have expressed true repentance, and have taken steps to walk in obedience and humility in God's way, Jehovah our Father will not hold our past sins against us. Do not continue to punish yourself, because your past sins and mistakes may limit what you can do in His service. Jehovah God does not keep thinking about your sins, and neither should you.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
"Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7
"Change your hearts and lives! Turn back to God so that your sins may be wiped away." Acts 3:19
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 8:12
“Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Hebrews 1
God’s Supreme Revelation
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins ( once for all - Heb.7:27; 9:12; 10:10 ), sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ... " (NKJV)
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." - Ephesians 6:16
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in (His) power."
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead."
- Colossians 2:8-12
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Keep in Step with the Spirit
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." - Jude 1:24-25
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life (for the kingdom of God) shall preserve it."
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” – 1 Peter 5:6
John 4:24 reads:
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth."
Scriptures to consider ...
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
Colossians 3:2
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:16
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” - Matthew 16:24
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
Ecclesiastes 12:13
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. "
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.”
1 Corinthians 15:50
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
ADDITIONAL SRCIPTURES - to grow and strengthen faith ...
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. "
Romans 10:17
"In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.
1 Peter 5:10
"But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33 KJV
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. "
Romans 8:5-6
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."
Jude 1:21
“He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.”
1 John 4:8
John 4:24 reads:
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth."
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Scriptures to empower us
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,"
Ephesians 5:8
"Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:35
“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
"But he (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.
Isaiah 53:5-8
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead."
Colossians 2:8-12
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Some portions partly borrowed from PRAY.COM *
** Scriptures used are taken from a variety of Bible translations **
(This page is updated daily by Peter Brenner)
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