Somewhere between routine and radical lies the mystery of how God chooses to work through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Most of us wrestle with the tension of believing God can do miracles and wondering whether He’d ever do them through us. The story in Mark 6 opens not with an altar call or miracle crusade, but with something far more intimate and uncomfortable: rejection. Jesus—God in flesh—returns to His hometown of Nazareth. The miracle-working Rabbi, the Friend of sinners, the Healer of diseases, the Preacher of the Kingdom, comes not to conquer but to teach and heal. But the people who knew Him best rejected Him hardest. “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary…?” (Mark 6:3). They weren’t asking out of curiosity; they were asking with contempt. They had already decided that a man from Nazareth couldn’t possibly be the Messiah. And because of their unbelief, Scripture tells us “He could do no mighty work there…” (Mark 6:5). Let that sink in. The unlimited power of Jesus met the immovable wall of human pride. Not because He lacked divine ability—but because faith creates the atmosphere where God moves freely. Jesus marveled at their unbelief. And yet, instead of giving up, He moved on—still teaching, still loving, still empowering. His next move? Equipping His disciples to carry the fire forward.   Read More

The sun had barely climbed over the hills when a small boy tugged at his father’s robe. His feet were dusty from wandering too close to the camp’s edge. In his hand, a stick. In his eyes, a question. “Daddy, what’s that big pile of rocks for?” The father followed his son’s gaze. There they stood—twelve large stones, stacked one upon the other, worn but unmoved. The formation was unremarkable to the untrained eye. But to those who remembered, it was holy. The man smiled. Not because the question was simple—but because it opened a sacred door. A door to memory. A door to testimony. A door to worship. He knelt beside his son, placed a weathered hand on his shoulder, and began to speak—not just of stones, but of rivers parted, promises kept, and a God who walks with His people. That moment was never about rocks. It was about remembrance. It’s a scene as ancient as Joshua and as current as your kitchen table. Because even today, the question lingers—sometimes from our children, sometimes from the skeptics, sometimes from our own hearts in dry seasons: “What do these stones mean?” Why do we worship? Why do we trust this Book written centuries ago? Why do we tell old stories with tears in our eyes and fire in our voices? Why do we keep stacking moments of faith when the world calls it foolish? We remember so we don’t forget. We tell the story so the next generation will still know His name. In this devotional, we will journey back to the banks of the Jordan River and watch a miracle unfold beneath the feet of a faithful people. But more than that, we will learn how to build “memorials” of our own—spiritual markers that declare to every wandering eye and doubting heart: “Here is where God showed up. Here is where God made a way. Here is where I crossed over—and I will never forget.”  Read More

The Gospel of Mark, chapter 11, opens with a vivid and symbolic moment in the life of Jesus—His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. After three years of public ministry marked by miracles, parables, compassion, confrontation, and teaching, Jesus now begins the final week of His earthly life. This journey toward the cross did not begin in a palace or on a battlefield but on the dusty road leading to the gates of the holy city. As they approached Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, Jesus instructed two of His disciples to retrieve a colt from a nearby village—an animal no one had ever ridden. This wasn’t a last-minute travel arrangement. It was a deliberate fulfillment of prophecy. Zechariah had written centuries earlier, “Behold, your King is coming to you… lowly and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9, NKJV). The King of kings was declaring His identity not with a golden chariot or a royal procession, but with meekness and intentional humility. Unlike earthly rulers who assert their power through might, Jesus unveiled His authority through surrender and peace.  Read More

We all build plans. Whether it’s college, a career path, a relationship, or a five-year vision board, we design routes we believe will lead us to where we want to go. But sometimes life gets interrupted. Like Paul on his voyage to Rome, we are suddenly caught in a storm. And then, when we finally think we’re in the clear, we get bitten by a snake. What do you do when you’re following God’s will, but everything falls apart? That’s what this devotional is about: learning to trust God’s plan when the wind is against you, when the waves are higher than your head, and when life seems to keep striking at you. The storm and the snake don’t mean God’s forgotten you. They often mean He’s preparing you.  Read More

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to hardship, but in Acts 24–26, the scene changes. No longer traveling freely, preaching in cities or planting churches, Paul is instead in chains—defending himself before some of the most powerful political and religious leaders of his time. But what appears to be a legal defense is something far more significant: it’s a pulpit. In the face of injustice, intimidation, and incarceration, Paul refuses to compromise or grow silent. Instead, he embraces every opportunity to preach Christ. His trials become testimonies, and his chains become a stage for the Gospel. These three chapters challenge us to consider: What does it mean to live boldly for Jesus when the cost is high, when the audience is intimidating, and when the outcome is uncertain?   Read More

The story of Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison is more than a record of miraculous deliverance—it is a profound testimony of unwavering faith and radical obedience under pressure. As we journey through Acts 16:19–34, we witness how God's presence can turn injustice into redemption, despair into praise, and prison cells into altars of salvation. This account invites us to look beyond our immediate trials and recognize the divine opportunities that hardship often conceals. Through their steadfastness, Paul and Silas reveal that true victory in the Christian life is not the absence of suffering, but the faithfulness to worship and witness "no matter what."   Read More

Before Saul became Paul, the renowned apostle and church planter, he was a zealous Pharisee committed to protecting Judaism from what he believed was heresy. Saul of Tarsus was born into a devout Jewish family, a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28), and educated under Gamaliel, a highly respected rabbi (Acts 22:3). He was passionate about the Law, steeped in the traditions of the elders, and deeply nationalistic. To Saul, followers of Jesus—later called Christians—were dangerous heretics who threatened the purity of the Jewish faith. By the time we meet Saul in Acts 9, he had already made a name for himself as a fierce persecutor of Christians. He was present and approving at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58–8:1). This act seems to ignite an even deeper fervor in Saul. He launched an aggressive campaign against the church, “breathing threats and murder” against the disciples (Acts 9:1). With the high priest's blessing, he set out for Damascus, a city roughly 150 miles northeast of Jerusalem, intending to arrest any believers he found and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. This journey was not merely a business trip. It was a declaration of war against the early church. Saul's very presence caused believers to scatter in fear. He was the embodiment of religious zeal turned violent, a man fully convinced that he was doing God's will by stamping out the Jesus movement. And yet, God saw something more. The sudden appearance of a blinding light and the voice of Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. This was not just a physical interruption, but a spiritual collision. The light of Jesus exposed Saul's misguided passion, and in an instant, the hunter became the hunted—pursued by grace, not wrath. The days following this event were pivotal. Blinded and humbled, Saul fasted and prayed. God then called an unlikely servant, Ananias, to go minister to Saul. Ananias hesitated—understandably so. Saul was infamous. But God had chosen Saul for a divine mission: to be a vessel to carry His name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). This moment in Damascus is a turning point not only for Saul but for the entire history of Christianity. The one who once tried to destroy the church would soon be used by God to build it more than anyone in his generation. This lesson reminds us that God doesn't just stop us in our tracks; He reroutes our entire purpose. Saul went from religious terrorist to missionary titan. That kind of radical transformation is only possible by the mercy and power of God.   Read More

In Acts 10, we find Peter standing at a critical crossroads—not just for himself, but for the future of the Church. Up to this point, the message of Jesus was largely shared within Jewish circles. Even after the Day of Pentecost, when thousands were filled with the Holy Spirit, the assumption was simple: the gospel is for the Jews first. The idea that salvation could extend freely to Gentiles—the outsiders, the enemies—was unthinkable. Acts 10:9–16 captures a divine interruption in Peter’s life. As Peter goes up to the rooftop to pray, he falls into a trance. He sees a vision of a sheet descending from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals—many considered "unclean" according to Jewish law. A voice tells him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." (Acts 10:13). Understandably, Peter resists. Eating what was forbidden would make him ceremonially impure. But the voice insists: “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:15). Peter’s initial confusion is understandable. For his entire life, he had been taught to see the world through a strict lens of clean versus unclean, insider versus outsider, holy versus profane. But God was showing him something far bigger: this wasn’t really about food—it was about people. While Peter is still trying to grasp the vision’s meaning, messengers from Cornelius, a Roman centurion and a devout Gentile, arrive at his door. Cornelius had also been visited by an angel, instructed to send for Peter so he could hear the gospel. The timing is no accident. The vision was God's way of preparing Peter’s heart for a reality-shaking truth: the dividing lines that humans had drawn were being erased by the blood of Jesus.   Read More

When we think of sacrifice, we often picture someone giving up something valuable for someone they love—a parent for their child, a soldier for their country. But what if someone willingly gave up everything for someone who had nothing to offer in return? That’s the story of the Cross. The cross stands as the ultimate symbol of grace—God’s unmerited favor toward humanity. Long before we ever sought Him, Jesus already chose to endure suffering, shame, and death for us. His sacrifice wasn’t based on our potential, our promises, or our goodness. It was based solely on His unstoppable love. In Luke’s Gospel, we find Jesus positioned between two criminals during His crucifixion. One man mocks Him, demanding a miraculous rescue. The other, a thief acknowledging his guilt, turns to Jesus in faith, asking simply to be remembered. And Jesus, even while bleeding and gasping for breath, extends salvation instantly: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). At the same time, Jesus utters a prayer that echoes through history: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). In the face of brutal injustice, His heart beats with mercy. These moments at Calvary unveil the essence of God’s grace—it is given without condition, extended even to those who nailed Him to the tree. Paul, in Romans 5, elaborates on this overwhelming love. He reminds us that Christ died not for the deserving, but for the undeserving. In a world where love is often conditional and performance-based, the gospel flips the script. While we were still enemies of God, still steeped in sin, still blind to our need—Christ died for us. It wasn’t because we were good; it was because He is good. The death and resurrection of Jesus shift the narrative of humanity. Instead of being condemned by our sin, we are offered justification—a legal declaration of righteousness—and reconciliation—a restored relationship with God. This grace doesn’t just change our destination; it changes our identity.   Read More

The story of Rahab takes place during a critical and dramatic time in Israel’s history—the conquest of Canaan. After spending 40 years wandering in the wilderness, Israel was finally stepping into the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. Jericho was the first major obstacle they would face: a well-fortified city known for its high walls and strong defenses. Militarily speaking, Jericho was almost impossible to breach by conventional means. Spiritually, however, it stood as a symbol of opposition to the promises of God.  Read More

Have you ever received kindness you didn’t expect? Maybe someone paid for your coffee, forgave a debt, or showed up for you when you felt alone. These moments remind us of the grace of God—a grace that reaches beyond what we deserve and extends love simply because of who He is. The story of David and Mephibosheth is a powerful example of how God’s grace works. Mephibosheth, the crippled grandson of Saul, had every reason to fear David. In those times, kings often wiped out the previous king’s family to secure their own reign. But David did something radical: he sought out Mephibosheth not to harm him, but to bless him. Why? Because of his love for Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s father. This is a picture of how God extends grace to us—not because we deserve it, but for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. This truth runs through all of Scripture. From Adam and Eve receiving garments instead of immediate judgment, to Jesus dying for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), God's grace consistently reaches the undeserving. We often struggle to accept this truth because human nature conditions us to think in terms of merit. But grace is unearned. It cannot be bought, bargained for, or worked towards. It is freely given, and our only response should be gratitude and transformation. If God’s grace is truly unmerited, then it is also freely available to all—even those we might think are unworthy. Just as Mephibosheth received a place at the king’s table despite his past and his condition, so too does God invite us to sit at His table, regardless of our brokenness.   Read More

The book of Judges records a dark and turbulent time in Israel’s history. After the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell into a repetitive cycle: they would forget God, worship idols, and fall into sin. As a result, God would allow enemy nations to oppress them. Then, in their desperation, they would cry out to Him for deliverance. In His mercy, God would raise up a judge—a leader empowered by His Spirit—to rescue them and restore order. Unfortunately, after each victory, Israel would eventually turn away from God again, and the cycle would repeat. By the time we reached Judges 6, Israel had been suffering under Midianite oppression for seven years. The Midianites were a fierce nomadic people who, along with their allies, would invade Israel during harvest season, destroying crops and livestock. This left the Israelites in a state of fear and poverty, hiding in caves and strongholds to survive. It was in this desperate situation that God chose Gideon—an unlikely hero—to be Israel’s deliverer. Gideon was not a mighty warrior; in fact, he was hiding from the Midianites when God called him. Yet, God saw something in Gideon that Gideon did not see in himself. God was not looking for someone with military expertise or great influence—He was looking for someone who would obey Him, trust His power, and lead Israel back to faithfulness. Gideon’s call reminds us that God does not choose people based on their credentials or personal strength. Instead, He chooses those who are willing, even if they feel inadequate. His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The world may value status, experience, and confidence, but God values humility and reliance on Him. When He calls someone, He equips them and strengthens them for the mission ahead. Just as Gideon had to overcome fear and doubt, we, too, may struggle with feeling unqualified or uncertain. But when God calls, He promises to be with us. His presence, not our ability, is what guarantees victory. This story reminds us that God often chooses the weak to accomplish His purposes so that His strength may be revealed.   Read More