How People Will Remember You
What counts most in the life you live today? The death of Gerald R. Ford was not the lead story on the newscast I happened to catch on the Sunday closest to the event. It came third, behind reports of the death of a tyrant-murderer and a rock singer. In retrospect, that seems appropriate to the “accidental president” who got very little respect while in office and who was vilified mercilessly for pardoning his predecessor. I am no historian and do not propose to evaluate the brief time President Ford served as our nation’s leader. I am not a political commentator and have no thought of defending or attacking his pragmatic approach to government. But his passing has made me aware of the things people remember about one another. Yes, there were print and television pieces about Gerald Ford that chronicled his involvement in the Nixon pardon, a crisis over the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez, and the Helsinki Accords. There were passing references to an oil shortage and the inflation crisis. But all the coverage I saw wound up focusing on his fundamental decency, his disdain for what one person referred to as the “arrogance of power,” and his devotion to his wife. You won’t always be where you are today. Whether you are a school teacher, bank president, or top-level executive with a major corporation, you will pass the torch to someone else before long. If you are a truck driver, factory worker, or department store clerk, you won’t do it without end. Lawyer, doctor, journalist, entertainer, athlete – nobody fills any role forever. When you move, retire, or die from whatever you are doing today, people will remember you more for who you were than for what you did. Ford projected a sense of sincerity and decency. “Truth is the glue that holds government together,” he said just before taking office, “not only government but civilization itself.” An adopted child, he said his mother and adoptive father had three rules for him and his three half-brothers: tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time. Comedians mocked him as a buffoon for a fall he took coming off a plane, but Ford didn’t put their names on a hit list. He even made a joke of it himself. “I am a Ford,” he quipped, “not a Lincoln.” He and his wife, Betty, appear to have loved each other devotedly. They held hands and even kissed in public – unthinkable until then for an American president. They broke another White House precedent by continuing to sleep in the same bed. They spoke kindly to each other and respectfully of each other. Betty’s cancer and chemical addictions were transformed by a husband and wife team into opportunities for helping thousands of others with similar problems. When all is said and done with your life and career, people are going to remember your character, the way you treated people, and your loyalty to your family more than your work. Wouldn’t it be wise to think about those things now? Maybe that’s why the Bible says: A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1). About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades, been a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities and a med school. He is currently Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Lipscomb University. He is the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles.
Temptation
In an age that has lost any sense of sin, why worry about temptation? C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity, makes the case that resisting temptation is not easy for Christians: A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is… A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. Being tempted does not mean that you have sinned, nor does it mean that you will. Jesus’ temptations Luke 4:1-14) are proof that one is not sinning when he/she is being tempted. It is important, however, to have strategies for dealing with all the temptations we will face in our lives. There are practical ways to deal with temptations that will leave each of us feeling better about ourselves without having to deal with the aftermath of guilt. Stay away from Situations That Make Us Vulnerable We must stay away from people and situations that will cause us to compromise our convictions. Will Rogers was right when he said, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.” Keeping ourselves out of parking spaces that will affect our vulnerability is crucial for our success in saying no to whatever is tempting us. Pray Throughout the Temptation During Jesus’ closing words in the Lord’s Prayer, the Lord taught us to pray, “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NLT). A prayerful lifestyle will help divert our sinful desires away from doing wrong. Our prayers help us keep our spiritual convictions and commitments in focus. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde said, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it… I can resist everything but temptation.” A person with such an attitude will never experience the triumph to overcome and resist those things in our lives that can ultimately destroy relationships, jobs, friendships, or integrity. Prayer is one the best method to keep from yielding to temptation because it keeps our focus on God’s priorities and asks for God’s help for our situations. Take Temptation Seriously Temptation is serious. It must never be taken lightly. It is important to resist any desire that would rob our relationship with God, Jesus, and Spirit. Jesus’ brother James reminds us of the ultimate outcome of temptation when we choose to go with our sinful desires: Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death (James 1:14-15 NLT) James also teaches us how to resist these temptations: Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you… (James 4:7-8). The moment we let our guard down, is the very moment we become vulnerable and more likely we give in to the temptation. Temptation is serious and we must choose to draw near to God for help. While it is extremely important to read and know Scripture, to pray for God’s help, and to resist temptation’s pull, we need human help. We all need someone who we will let hold us accountable. Someone who will be “straight up” and honest with us and our life as Jesus’ disciple. We need to know this person has our best interest at heart. And, we need to invite them to help us with our temptations. At the same time, we must stay focused on God’s will and stay away from those things that will harm us! We must never keep God out of any part of life! We need to keep Jesus on the center stage of our hearts. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do the convincing that God’s way is the right way and help us stay far away from what could tempt us to do wrong. Remember, be God Controlled! About the author: Brian is preaching minister at Central Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He is passionate about preaching the grace of God, the Lordship of Jesus and the indwelling Spirit. Most of all, he believes in preaching Jesus and blogging about practical things that will help believers remain under God’s guidance.
God’s Horizon
How far can you see? The first day of the week exploded on the eastern horizon. The few clouds left in this winter sky were ablaze with the promise of a gorgeous new day. On the opposite horizon, the full moon slowly made its way toward its vanishing point. Growing larger with each barely perceptible slip, the blue moon was still fully illuminated in the dusk of pre-dawn. In stereo, the music of both horizons spoke of a gentle night that had past and the glory of the coming Lord’s Day. Caught between the majesty of the night’s moon and the beauty of the sunrise, I slowed my car and thought for a moment of trying to capture the event on film. It would take at least three careful clicks of the camera. What I would capture, however, couldn’t begin to do justice to this incredible moment. I decided not to stop. While some of the picture might be magnificent, this was a moment to be remembered in its richness, not abridged in a two dimensional snapshot that could not do justice to the Creator’s wondrous work on the canvas of our world. I chose instead, to ponder the wonder of God’s love for us. The God of all eternity – who spoke and made our wondrous universe and who paints each sunrise – is accessible and attentive to me. Unbelievable! I slid in Chris Rice’s wonderful song, “And Your Praise Goes On” and enjoyed a few moments of glorious praise – the praise of my heart, the praise of Chris Rice’s song, and the stereo praise of the morning. Then it hit me. God has revealed himself as “The One who is and who was and who is to come.” (Revelation 1:8) The horizon of God’s existence is sunrise, sunset, and the ground in between, all at the same time. The dynamic painting unfolding before me, behind me, and around me, was God’s canvas and symbolic of his horizon. The beginning, the end, and the now are all together in one frame. What I could only dream of capturing with my camera with three pictures, God always is. Then it hit me again. God has given us a gift to help us share his horizon. The Lord’s Supper joins us in all three dimensions: we remember Jesus’ death for us at Calvary, we discern his Body present with us as we share the Supper with others, and we anticipate his triumphant return all in the same Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:24-29) We see the moon setting, the sun rising and also live in the space between with Jesus as our Lord! For a moment, we get to step outside our shallow view of time and walk with God on his horizon. As we do, we get to anticipate that horizon one day being our own! May his glory, his comfort, his grace, and his children’s praise, go on and on! About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Learning to See
When was the last time your really opened your eyes? A worthy goal for each of us is learning to see. Have you ever puzzled over those statements in the Bible about people who had eyes but could not see? Tried to figure out the occasional exhortation for people to see things that are right before their eyes? It isn’t really that difficult. We use the same figure of speech still. “Open your eyes, man!” somebody tells his friend. “Can’t you see she’s in love with you?” Or perhaps it is a parent to a child: “The answer is already there, if you will just open your eyes to see it.” In the Bible and in everyday conversation, statements such as these seldom have anything to do with physical eyesight. The issue isn’t glasses, contacts, or laser surgery. It almost always has to do with perception and understanding. It is the sort of seeing we have in mind with the word “insight.” Using the coming months as a learn-to-see time challenges each of us to view reality more spiritually. Yes, we pray for the Kingdom to come. But we can do more in the meanwhile than just tread water. We can submit to spiritual discipline in the same way athletes accept physical training and conditioning. Take a sticky note and print these words in bold letters: “Your task today is to honor God in all you do!” Put the note on the first thing you will see in the morning – coffee cup, makeup or shaving mirror, computer screen. When you see that note every morning, breathe this simple prayer: “Holy God, let my eyes be open to your presence and your will throughout this day.” Then taking your shower or eating a bagel can be an exercise in gratitude. Walking outside lets you reflect on the beauty of God’s creation. Hearing music or seeing children on their way to school is his invitation to joy. Getting caught in traffic can be turned into a prayer that God teach you patience. Dealing with students, clients, or colleagues can be your opportunity to serve them in Christ’s name. Celebrate their successes. Be a friend in their distress or discouragement. Before going to bed each night – perhaps with these two questions written on a bookmark in your Bible – ask: When did I feel most alive to God and others today?When did I most feel like life was being drained from me? End your day by thanking God for the former and surrendering the latter to his grace. This is no “magic formula” for spirituality. It is nothing more or less than the daily routine of many Christians whose goal is to grow in likeness to Jesus. This simple plan could open your eyes to things you have been missing. But I tell you, open your eyes. Look at the people. They are like fields ready for harvesting now. (John 4:35 ERV) About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades, been a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities and a med school. He is currently Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Lipscomb University. He is the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles.
Putting Words into God’s Mouth
Did God really say that? It’s frustrating when facts ruin a good story. I was researching the famous statement that cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made after the first successful space flight, when he commented that he hadn’t seen God in space. Trouble is, there’s no record of Gagarin having said anything like that. Turns out that Gagarin was a religious man, an active member of the Russian Orthodox church. General Valentin Petrov, a close friend of Gagarin, offers this quote from the cosmonaut: “An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and his heart.” Just because someone says a famous person said something, doesn’t mean they actually did. We’ve seen example after example of that on the Internet. One person misquoting another is far too common. It happens with God, too. People stand up and say, “God likes this” or “God hates that,” when God never said anything of the sort. Even Christians end up misquoting God or putting words into God’s mouth. So what can we do? Here are some suggestions: Read the Bible. I know that seems obvious, but it’s a step that many skip. If you want to know what God said, read it for yourself. Learn to differentiate between what God says and man says. Did you know that not everything in the Bible is true? That is, at times the Bible gives us an accurate report of what men have said, even when those men aren’t right. We see that in the book of Job, for example, when we have the reporting of entire speeches by Job’s friends, only to have God say to them, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right.” (Job 42:7) Sometimes, the words recorded in the Bible aren’t God’s words, but man’s. Don’t put words into God’s mouth. If you’re going to say, “God says,” make sure you’re actually quoting God. If you’re going to say, “The Bible says…,” make sure you’re quoting the Bible and not giving your interpretation of what is written. Fact check what others tell you about God. This goes back to the first point. Don’t accept what others tell you about God until you see it for yourself in the Bible. When you start to see what God really has said, you’ll learn that he has good news for this world. If you want to know more about that good news, Write me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or join us on www.hopeforlife.org. (Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org) About the author: Tim Archer is the author of Church Inside Out and leads a seminar by the same name on behalf of Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry.
Today’s Verse – Galatians 5:16
Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. —Galatians 5:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I don’t want you to think about an orange rhinoceros flying with blue wings. Now quit it. I don’t want you to think about that orange rhinoceros anymore. You know there is no such thing as an orange rhino that flies, much less one that flies on blue wings. Quit thinking about him and his blue wings! Of course, the point is straightforward: the more we try not to do something, the more we focus on it, the more we ensure that we will do what we are not supposed to do. That’s why the gift of the Holy Spirit is so important to us as we seek to honor and obey our LORD and Savior Jesus and avoid sin. He enables and empowers us to move beyond our sin and to quit thinking about it. The Spirit empowers us, not by focusing on the sin we want to avoid, but by enriching us and “distracting” us with the important things of God (Galatians 5:22). As we focus more on Jesus, the more the Spirit transforms us away from our sin that we want to avoid and thinking about, and transforming us toward the character of Jesus: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect and contemplate* the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). * The Greek word (ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ) means both “reflect” and “contemplate” as most translations suggest in their footnotes. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Abba Father, I thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives in me and is now interceding with you for me (Romans 8:26). Please fill me with your Spirit so that my life more nearly reflects your will and focuses on your concerns as the Spirit transforms me to become more and more like my LORD and Savior. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
16 Jan 2026
Over and above reasoning capacity, God has graciously given us everything we need for life and godliness. This is connected to our knowledge of God. May we get to know Him more and may He keep revealing Himself to us. And as that happens may we purpose to increasingly possess the qualities that reflect Him and keep becoming more fruitful. 2 Peter 1:3-9.
My Counterintuitive Kingdom
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Many mortals chase after so many things thinking that a fulfilling life will be found in those things… those pursuits… those possessions… that power… that position… that reputation. However, a fulfilling, meaningful life for you as My disciple is found in living for the kingdom of God. To live for this kingdom means that you take the righteous character and gracious compassion of My Father — the values that will be present when the kingdom is fully realized at My return — and put them into practice right now! What you will hear Me teach below is counterintuitive both to you and to those who want to tell you how to be successful. Very few of your “how to be successful” promoters tell you: to be “spiritually poor.” to “mourn.” to be “meek and gentle.” to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” to be “merciful.” to be “pure in heart.” to be “a peacemaker.” to allow yourself to be “persecuted because of righteousness.” But I tell you that you are “blessed” if these characteristics are true of you! In fact, there will be those who take advantage of you for these things; yet I remind you, you are “blessed” if you have these characteristics and do these things! Notice that while the crowd is gathered around Me, these words and the words of the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount that follows are for My disciples. The crowd does not understand them. When you are persecuted, ridiculed, called weak, and considered out of touch for living these things, remember that these are the same things that My opponents did to Me for living this way. But also remember how My life was victorious (Philippians 2:5-11). My Father will see that your life will matter, that you will be “blessed,” and that you share in My victory! There is a time in every person’s life when he or she will need to have the blessings of heaven, to be comforted, to have security while on earth, to be shown mercy, to know the Father’s intimate presence, and to know that her or his eternal destiny is secure. However, all of these things will be lost to some people. They will have forfeited them by chasing after other things. However, you, dearly beloved who live for the Father’s will, will have them all. They will be yours because you live the values of the King. Verses to Live Remember when I told Peter to fish in a different place, even though he just knew he would not catch fish? But he did it anyway because I asked him to do so. Do you remember what happened? He caught so many fish he couldn’t haul them in by himself (Luke 5:1-7). So when I call you to live the kingdom lifestyle that is counterintuitive to the world — to live the character and compassion of the Father — then please know I want to bring you more grace than you can ever imagine. I want to bless you with what lasts! Now when He [Jesus] saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him. And He began to teach them. Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor — the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn — they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek and gentle — they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness — they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful — they will be shown mercy. Blessed are those who are pure in heart — they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers — they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness — the kingdom of heaven is theirs. And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward. (Matthew 5:1-12) Response in Prayer Father in heaven, as Your child, I confess that I see the world telling me to live in a very different way from what I find Jesus teaching in these Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. I need the help of the Holy Spirit to apply these truths to my life and live them out in ways that reflect Your character and compassion. I ask for this grace in Jesus’ name. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2026, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Beyond the Sacred Page
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, The Bible is a precious treasure. Don’t neglect it. Use it and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. Remember! It is a tool that the Spirit uses to shape your life and to point you to Me. Even the best of religious people can get so caught up in trying to prove themselves right by the Bible that they lose sight of the goal and the gift. The goal of the Scriptures is to find Me! That’s why My beloved disciple John identified Me as God’s Message, the Word, that became flesh (John 1:1-18). That’s also why the apostle Paul could say that faith in Me was necessary to unlock the salvation promised in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15), that I am the “yes” to God’s promises and the One through Whom every “Amen” can be spoken (2 Corinthians 1:18-20). I am the goal of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in you (2 Corinthians 3:18) and the goal that the apostles were trying to reach in their work with you (Galatians 4:19; Colossians 1:28-29). I am the Father’s ultimate, greatest, and clearest Word (Hebrews 1:1-3). The gift you receive when you understand that the Bible points to Me and when you follow Me is life! I came to give you full, abundant, and purposeful life (John 10:10). I want you to experience true life, which is life in Me (John 14:1-6; John 17:1-3). I want you to have life through faith in Me (John 20:30-31; 1 John 5:13). So let the Bible bring you to Me and find the life I long to share with you! Appreciate the Bible, use the Scriptures, and learn the message of the word of God. But, don’t worship the Bible. Worship God — Father, Son, and Spirit. Seek Me! Love God with all you are. Don’t substitute the Bible for the Holy Spirit. Seek the Father to Whom the Scriptures point and from Whom the Scriptures come. Sadly, many of the religious people in My days on earth were so caught up in looking at tiny little arguments over the Scriptures, so caught up in trying to prove themselves and their traditions to be right, that they missed Me — the very One to Whom the Scriptures point. I am so glad you are taking this year to journey with Me through the New Testament. So I want to encourage you to continue this spiritual exercise to help you along your journey this year, and every time you open the Bible going forward. As you study the Bible, pray this simple prayer: Father, thank You for Your Scriptures. Open my heart to hear Your truth. Holy Spirit, please open my eyes to the message Jesus wants me to put to work in my life. Jesus, conform me to Your will and help me find true life in You. Amen. Verses to Live There are a couple of big points made in this passage, but notice especially the message with bold emphasis. This point is the one I want you to see… to be your focus… and to help you find life in Me! Jesus: The Father does not exert His power to judge anyone. Instead, He has given the authority as Judge to the Son. So all of creation will honor and worship the Son as they do the Father. If you do not honor the Son, then you dishonor the Father Who sent Him. I tell you the truth: eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One Who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life. I tell you the truth: a new day is imminent — in fact, it has arrived — when the voice of the Son of God will penetrate death’s domain, and everyone who hears will live. You see, the Father radiates with life, and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power to exercise judgment over all of creation. Indeed, the Son of God is also the Son of Man. If this sounds amazing to you, what is even more amazing is that when the time comes, those buried long ago will hear His voice through all the rocks, sod, and soil and step out of decay into resurrection. When this hour arrives, those who did good will be resurrected to life, and those who did evil will be resurrected to judgment. I have not ever acted, and will not in the future act, on My own. I listen to the directions of the One Who sent Me and act on these divine instructions. For this reason, My judgment is always fair and never self-serving. I’m committed to pursuing God’s agenda and not My own. If I stand as the lone witness to My true identity, then I can be dismissed as a liar. But if you listen, you will hear another testify about Me, and I know what He says about Me is genuine and true. You sent messengers to John, and he told the truth to everyone who would listen. Still his message about Me originated in heaven, not in mortal man. I am telling you these things for one reason — so that you might be rescued. The voice of John the Baptist, the wandering prophet, is like a light in the darkness, and for a time, you took great joy and pleasure in the light he offered. There’s another witness standing in My corner Who is greater than John or any other man. The mission that brings Me here, and the things I am called to do, demonstrate the authenticity of My calling which comes directly from the Father. In the act of sending Me, the Father has endorsed Me. None of you really knows the Father. You have never heard His voice or seen His profile. His word does not
15 Jan 2026
We were given the capacity to reason, let us use it wisely. May we not be distracted and lose faith in God. Let us trust God and live for Him without complicating matters. May we use our time constructively serving God and He will keep blessing us. Mark 11:27-33.