Remember Grace
As much as I like to think my memory is strong and full of detail, there is so much that has slipped away. I wish I was better at documenting my life. As much as I like to think my memory is strong and full of detail, there is so much that has slipped away. There are many solutions to this problem; some people are journal writers and have years of memorable moments locked away safely in the pages of their diary. Others choose to take lots of pictures and have boxes of old photos that chronicle special events. And still others have turned to blogging as a source of remembrance. These methods are diverse in nature, but the goal is inherently the same. We all strive to tell our story. We long for opportunities to relive the moments of our lives and without a record these moments are lost forever. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book (John 20:30). Ever wonder how many miracles of Jesus are unknown to the world? How many blind were given sight by His loving touch? How many of the dead were brought back to life? The stories of Jesus’ life here on earth are precious to us because, for believers, it gives a glimpse of what is to come. The unconditional love combined with boundless mercy and infinite power set the stage for the most beautiful collection of stories. If only the disciples had a better memory. Perhaps they could have added more stories to the book, but now it’s too late. These stories have fallen into the past. But wait, look what the next verse says: But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31). We will never know the details of every miracle performed by Jesus, but we can still tell our story. The miracles of Jesus are alive and with us today. Everyone that accepts “Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name,” has taken part in a miracle. I’ll continue to lose certain memories over the years, but I will never forget the miracle of God’s grace. The proof is documented in my heart and written in the journal of my mind. God’s miracle of grace is new each day. If you would like to learn how to accept this grace and start your own story, please visit our website at www.hopeforlife.org or contact me at skye@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: Skye is Response Coordinator for Herald of Truth and writes for HopeForLife. You can reach him at (866) 814-4673 or (866) 814-HOPE or by writing to skye@hopeforlife.org.
Last Man to Surrender
When is it time to surrender? Lt. Hiroo Onada was left on the Island of Lubang in the Philippines on Christmas Day, 1944. He was 22 years old. His standing orders were to “carry on the mission even if Japan surrenders.” As Japan evacuated the island, Onada and three other Japanese soldiers remained behind. One of the four surrendered in 1950. Another was killed in a skirmish with local police in 1954. Another was killed in 1972. Over the years, Lt. Onada lived off the land and raided the fields and gardens of the local citizens. He killed at least thirty nationals during his twenty-nine year personal war. He ignored the leaflets that were dropped and the command given over loudspeakers announcing that Japan and the United States had become allies. At one point, more than 13,000 men were used to try to locate him and convince him to surrender. The cost of that effort was more than half a million dollars. Finally, on March 10, 1974, after more than 29 years, he surrendered a rusty sword to his former superior officer who read a cease-fire order. He was the last man to surrender from World War II. When you think about it, all of us have some battles that we fight. The battle of good vs. evil rages every day around us and in us. We want for good to win and for the evil in our world to lessen. We fight battles over time, priorities, and managing our own lives and families. Sometimes we battle those closest to us with weapons of angry words or unspoken resentments. For some, illness is the battle that consumes our lives. There are battles everywhere. There are some fights we can’t avoid. There are some that are worth fighting. Some aren’t. The key for us is to recognize which is which. Do you need to surrender? You’ve probably heard the old saying that you can “win the battle and lose the war.” The prematurely aged 52-year-old Lt. Hiroo was quoted as saying, “Nothing pleasant happened in 29 years in the jungle.” His battle cost him much more than we can imagine. One thing of which I’m confident, our war has already been won. Jesus made sure of that at Calvary and the empty tomb. The sting of sin is death. The power of death is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Does God Have Faith in Me?
Does God have faith in you? In he walked, a sauntering stride, smirk on his face, attitude of disdain for those around him and with utter disregard for the protocols of the realm, until he stood looking in the face of the great King. “What have you been doing?” asks the Ruler. “Oh, just walking around,” was the flippant response and then under his breath “getting people to follow me and not just you.” Then with confidence of faith and knowing all along what the usurper was attempting to do, the Master of His World offered, “Have you considered My servant Job?” It’s an old, old story noted in the first chapter of the Old Testament book of Job. Some scholars think it is actually that, a story, a morality play, while others claim it happened just as described. The take-aways, lessons to be gleaned from the story of Job fill books and commentaries. Yet there is one aspect that is astounding and not always discussed. Why did God even suggest to the devil that he might try to dominate Job? Why would God purposely tell Satan to try his best to turn Job away from God and turn him into a follower of evil? Many claim this was a test of Job’s faith, which God wanted to see if Job was truly a faithful follower of the Almighty. Yet couldn’t it be a test of God’s faith in Job? From the verses in that first chapter it appears that God is confident that Job is a “blameless and upright man, who fears God and shuns evil” (verse 8). Even after Satan is allowed to inflict economical, physical and emotional horrors, God remains undeterred in His unwavering confidence in Job. That faith in His followers is not unique to Job. The writer of Hebrews lists some of those whose faith in God reflected His faith in them: Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel, and others (Hebrews 13). So ultimately the question that must be asked is: Does God have faith in me as He did in Job? And in spite of my incalculable shortcomings and failures, the answer must be yes! That answer is found in the writings of the apostle John in his first letter: And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life. These things I have written that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:11-13). Now the question is, does the Great God Almighty have faith in you? Would he suggest to Satan: “Have you considered my servant _________?” Let’s talk about it, join the discussion on my blog at 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: Bill Brant is the President and CEO of Herald of Truth Ministries based in Abilene, Texas.
Choosing the Right Path
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, The Father is holy and wholly given to doing what is right, just, holy, gracious, and merciful. What about you? What is your consuming passion? Is it to honor the Father? Is it to obey My words and follow My example? Is it to be conformed to the righteous character and gracious compassion of God? Let Me warn you. Long before the instant age you find yourself inhabiting, many folks wanted an instant and easy holiness. The evil one has long twisted the truth and deceived the gullible into taking short cuts. My words today warn you about four deceptions and temptations that the devil will offer you in the name of religion: The wide door and the easy path — the ones that suggest all religions are OK and equal — but that really lead to destruction. The sweet deceiving words of false prophets whose lives (their bad fruit) show they cannot be trusted. Nice sounding religious words of praise and adoration that are disconnected from a life of obedience and end in shocking condemnation. A religion that is quickly embraced, shallowly believed, and focused on appearances, but cannot stand the stress and strain of real life. There is one path, one way, and one truth (John 14:6). Some folks in your day don’t like such talk. In fact, you may bristle at it yourself because you’ve had the easy way peddled to you by false prophets who talk a good religious game while living any way they want. Such talk is foolish. It’s not new or innovative or post-modern; it’s just the lie of the old deceiver who wants to steer you the wrong way so that when the floods of life come… well, he can be there for your destruction. Don’t be deceived. Follow Me. Obey Me. Trust Me. Doing so may look narrow and hard, but I promise you this: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders — it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) Verses to Live These are My words from the Sermon on the Mount about choosing the right path that leads to the Father. If your heart is set on Me — if your heart’s desire is to follow Me and obey Me — then you will be able to resist the deceptions and temptations of the easy way, the false prophets, a religion that is all talk with little obedience, and quickly constructed facade-based religion! Jesus: There are two paths before you; you may take only one path. One doorway is narrow. And one door is wide. Go through the narrow door. For the wide door leads to a wide path, and the wide path is broad; the wide, broad path is easy, and the wide, broad, easy path has many, many people on it; but the wide, broad, easy, crowded path leads to death. Now then that narrow door leads to a narrow road that in turn leads to life. It is hard to find that road. Not many people manage it. Along the way, watch out for false prophets. They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath that quaint and innocent wool, they are hungry wolves. But you will recognize them by their fruits. You don’t find sweet, delicious grapes growing on thorny bushes, do you? You don’t find delectable figs growing in the midst of prickly thistles. People and their lives are like trees. Good trees bear beautiful, tasty fruit, but bad trees bear ugly, bitter fruit. A good tree cannot bear ugly, bitter fruit; nor can a bad tree bear fruit that is beautiful and tasty. And what happens to the rotten trees? They are cut down. They are used for firewood. When a prophet comes to you and preaches this or that, look for his fruits: sweet or sour? rotten or ripe? Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father Who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. At the end of time, on that day of judgment, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive demons out of the possessed in Your name? Did we not perform miracles in Your name?” But I will say to them, “I never knew you. And now, you must get away from Me, you evildoers!” Those people who are listening to Me, those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings — you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. When storms hit, rain pounded down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock. Those of you who are listening and do not hear — you are like a fool who builds a house on sand. When a storm comes to his house, what will happen? The rain will fall, the waters will rise, the wind will blow, and his house will collapse with a great crash. With that Jesus finished His teaching, and the crowds were amazed by all He had said. But Jesus taught in His own name, on His own authority, not like the scribes. (Matthew 7:13-29) Response in Prayer Dear Father, I confess that I want my faith walk to be easier at times. I don’t always understand why I need to obey. Sometimes, I’m not convinced that what I hear is fully true.
23 Jan 2026
For Romans 8:31-39 to come to pass, I think the Lord desires a turn around, where His children have gone astray. I am always amazed by the lengths to which the Lord went in scripture to woo His people back to Himself. May we heed His call when He reaches out to us for God is merciful and does not give up on us. Whenever He calls us back to Himself, may we not hesitate to repent and turn back to Him. Jeremiah 3:6-25.
Sometimes I Just Like to Listen Now
Do you ever take time to listen and not sing? As a young preacher, one of the most intimidating things for me was having a brotherhood legend as one of my elders. It took several years and someone telling me what was happening before I stopped getting nervous. Every time Reuel took a note card out of his front pocket and wrote something down while I was preaching, I wondered what I had said that was wrong. Rather than writing down something I had wrongly said or something he didn’t agree with, I found out he was writing down what he liked and would use in his editorials. What I initially thought was a criticism was actually a compliment.) Another thing Reuel did that often concerned our worship leaders was to simply bow his head and not sing while we were singing congregationally. This was most noticeable on newer, more “contemporary” – whatever that really means – songs. This sometimes threw our worship leaders and irritated other members of the congregation. Finally, I got up enough nerve to go share this information with him. His answer – which I can still hear in his scratchy voice – went something like this: “Well, I sure don’t want to be discouraging during our singing, but sometimes I just like to listen.” No big problem here. No big theological issue or quarrel with song selection or content. With all he had on his plate, with all his years of ministry, with all his concerns about the future of God’s people, sometimes he just wanted to sit there and be blessed by the brothers and sisters as they sang! Years later, we lived in west Texas and suffered through several weeks of icy weather in the western and central parts of Texas. Roads had been closed. Businesses, schools, and churches had been closed. On Wednesday evening, our services were canceled at the building, but our HIP service (HIP stands for High Impact Praise) was conducted at a chapel on a university campus in town. The acoustics were great. There were only four of us who were over thirty years old in attendance. As we began to sing with no amplification or microphones, the sound of over three hundred voices melding into one great sound of praise drove me to sit there in silence. I just listened! As I sat there on the verge of major tear duct leakage, I remembered my elder’s old statement and made it my own. “Sometimes I just like to listen!” Like the proper salve for an open wound, like a glass of cool water on a hot day, and like a breath of fresh air for someone coming out of a mine shaft, this singing filled a deep soul-need. While I hope I’m never warped by an evil spirit as King Saul was, I sure understand how “the tormenting spirit would go away” when David sang and played for him (1 Samuel 16:23). Sitting there listening to these young adults praising God at the top of their voices in such beautiful harmony on a night when most folks in town didn’t venture outside their door sent my tormenting spirits scurrying for cover! I have known for years that praise music juices me in ways that I cannot define. So if you see me with a throng of worshipers and I’m not singing, please know this truth: I’m not angry. I don’t dislike the song selection. I’m not offended by something. it’s just that sometimes I just like to listen! 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.
Sinking or Walking
How are you doing in your walk toward Jesus? The other day, I was reading a passage I have read probably a thousand times. It is the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter joining him for a short while. (Matthew 14:22-33) As I read it this time, however, a new insight popped into my head. I have used that passage numerous times when preaching, but never really thought about the idea that struck me this day. If you are familiar with the story you know that Peter had a faith issue as he began to walk on the water. Then, the crucial verse puts it this way: But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. Peter became afraid and began sinking down into the water. Peter shouted, “Lord, save me!” You know what occurred to me? If I had written that scene, I would have probably phrased it differently – probably something like, “As the winds and rain blew mightily around him, Peter’s faith failed him and as he suddenly splashed down into the water he screamed, ‘Lord, save me!’” Now you may not have noticed the subtle difference, but in the biblical version, Peter appears to have BEGUN sinking into the water slowly – not with a sudden splash. As I read that, the thought occurred to me, “Isn’t that just like how Satan works on us today! He doesn’t cause us to question our faith all at once or tempt us to suddenly become totally lost in sin, it happens gradually as we bit by bit take our eyes off of Jesus.” We have something come into our lives that opens the door for sin, and gradually, it takes us over completely. Just like Peter, we begin to sink an inch at a time. In one of the first few stories recorded in the Bible, Cain is warned by God about this problem. He said to him: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7 RSV) Sin did consume Cain; he didn’t call out to God for help or heed God’s warning. However, Peter cried out to the Lord for salvation. That tells me that we have an important choice that determines our outcome in such circumstances. Just like with Peter, Jesus has invited us to come to him, but do we have faith enough to take the walk across the stormy seas and be with him? An easy task? No! But it is not impossible, for the Lord is with us, calling us, reaching out for us. As Jesus said, “This is something that people cannot do themselves. It must come from God. God can do all things.” (Mark 10:27 ERV) There is an old hymn that puts it this way: I was sinking deep in sin,Far from the peaceful shore.Very deeply stained within,Sinking to rise no more;But the Master of the seaHeard my despairing cry,From the waters lifted meNow safe am I.Love lifted me!Love lifted me!When nothing else could help,Love lifted me. (Love Lifted Me by James Rowe) How are you doing walking on water toward Jesus? Bet you can’t do it by yourself! You need the Master of the universe to lift you up just like the rest of us. Praise God! Just like he did with Peter, he’s willing to do it for us! About the author: Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is good for you! Nelson Mandela took a bit of proverbial wisdom and made it his: “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” Others had said it before him, but Mandela lived it out in a public way, showing nothing but forgiveness toward those who kept him in prison. When inaugurated as President of South Africa, Mandela even invited one of the prison guards to the ceremony. Studies have shown resentment to be harmful to our health, while forgiveness has the opposite effect. A 2004 Harvard study found five principal benefits to forgiveness: Reduced stress Better heart health Stronger relationships Reduced pain Greater happiness Jesus offered more powerful reasons. One is that we forgive others because God forgives us. He told the story of a man who was forgiven an impossible debt who then had another man thrown into prison because of a much smaller debt. God is willing to forgive every one of our sins; how can we then turn around and be unforgiving toward others? Jesus said: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness is good for you. Resentment is harmful. The choice should be easy, yet we often find ourselves keeping a record of the wrongs done against us. Let me encourage you to let them go. Forgive. Move on with your life, focusing on the future and not the past. Find the peace that God can bring to your life when you’re willing to forgive. To talk more about forgiveness, write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or join the discussion at 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.
For Those Seeking
Note from Jesus Dear Seeker, Folks have talked for centuries about My methods as a teacher. Many have been intrigued by My stories that are often called parables — “everyday stories with heavenly meanings” is one description of them. There are several reasons I told these stories: Using stories with subjects and items that you see in your everyday life allows My stories to be recalled when you see the subject or item in your daily experiences. Stories are often better remembered than instruction because you use different parts of your brain to process stories. I occasionally like to sneak a humorous, ironic, or happy element into the stories to make them fun as well as memorable. Stories often elicit more emotion than simply making a point without the stories. My stories often make you think to gather the meaning or truth behind the story. I like to make you think! Thinking makes you own the truth because you’ve discovered it instead of having someone spoon-feed it to you. I always challenge you to follow Me as your Lord, to seek to bring My kingdom to your world, and to place your loyalty fully with Me. I want you to be a seeker — a seeker of My kingdom and a seeker of My truth. Your commitment to being a seeker opens the door for My stories to reveal God’s truth. However, there is an element of My stories that some miss even though I emphasize this truth in My teaching. My stories not only reveal truth, but they also can conceal truth. Those who do not seek Me and who do not seek My kingdom first will have the truth of many of My stories concealed from their hearts. There are several reasons for this concealment. Sometimes things are concealed from non-seekers in My stories because: The stories could get believers in trouble. In cultures pressured to express their first loyalty to king and country, some of My teachings are quite dangerous for believers. Some non-seekers have hard hearts. They can’t understand because they don’t want to understand. They don’t believe because they won’t believe. The promises and hopes of a certain story are only for believers, seekers, and followers. My stories explain hidden and obscure truths that are beyond the understanding of non-seekers because of their lack of faith — they do not share the worldview of a seeker. Remember the promise I made to you in My Sermon on the Mount? “Just ask and it will be given to you; seek after it and you will find. Continue to knock and the door will be opened for you. All who ask receive. Those who seek, find what they seek. And he who knocks, will have the door opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Well, it’s true, and using this ASK principle (asking, seeking, and knocking) when you look at My stories is one of the ways you can discover this truth for yourself! So ASK. The Spirit of Truth within you, the Holy Spirit I sent to be with you and inside you, will help unlock the meaning and mystery of My stories and guide you into all truth! Verses to Live There is a vital reality that is a great reason for you, as a seeker, to rejoice. What is this reality? It is that I will open your minds and explain the truths of my stories if you will ask. As is illustrated at the end of the verses below, My disciples requested an explanation of one of My parables. The verses tomorrow show that I responded to the disciples’ request. Jesus gave all these teachings to the crowd in parables. Indeed, He spoke only in parables in fulfillment of the prophetic words of the psalms: I will open My mouth in parables; I will tell them things that have been hidden and obscure since the very beginning of the world. Then Jesus left the crowds and returned to … [the] house. His disciples followed Him. Disciples: Explain to us the story You told about… (Matthew 13:34-36) Response in Prayer O Father, thank You for the stories of Jesus. O Lord Jesus, thank You for sharing the mysteries and truths of heaven with me in stories. O Holy Spirit, please open my heart to receive the truth of Jesus, please open my mind to understand the truth of Jesus, and please use my hands to do the work of bringing Jesus’ kingdom to this world. 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.
22 Jan 2026
So, maybe things have not worked out like you had hoped. Life is tough and you are going through a rough patch. Just consider the words of Paul to the Romans, chapter 8 verse 31-39. The God of all creation did not spare His own Son for your sake. Let’s assume that this story of the death of Jesus for all mankind is true. That Jehovah stopped and thought of you and me, and decided to sacrifice His son, so that we may be saved and have everlasting life. What manner of love is that? How important are we to the King of kings? That’s how much He loves us. So, look to Him and thank Him. Look around you and realise that things could be much worse. Appreciate the “little things” even as you trust Him for more, like His love for you and me. Then trust Him because He truly cares for you.