Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. . . . Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking. (Eph. 5:3–4)

Expanded Passage: Ephesians 5:3-5

The Saturn V rocket that launched Neil Armstrong to the moon was powerful, but even it had limits. When weight became a limiting factor, engineers implemented the Super Weight Improvement Program. As part of this, they redesigned key systems and removed others, including removing the windows and chairs for the astronauts, because keeping any of these conveniences would bar Armstrong and the other astronauts from reaching the moon.

Similarly, the pursuit of Christlikeness demands leaving things behind. Sexual immorality (i.e., any sexual activity outside of that between a husband and wife), impurity (i.e., anything morally impure), and greed are obvious candidates. Paul then raised the bar by commanding that obscenity (i.e., shamefulness, filthiness), foolish talk (i.e., discussing things contrary to God’s wisdom), and coarse jokes (i.e., suggestive or explicit humor) be left behind too. These, Paul wrote, are “improper for God’s holy people” (v. 3) and “out of place” (v. 4), and those who insist on keeping them will have no inheritance in God’s kingdom (v. 5). That is, they will never reach the Christlikeness they seek. These are the limiting factors that would bar Christians from their inheritance.

Just as engineers realized they needed to leave behind seats so the Apollo astronauts could reach the moon, Christians must leave behind anything, even our most treasured conveniences, which will bar them from reaching Christlikeness.

Leave behind everything that keeps you from being like Jesus.

Jeremy Geerdes is a pastor in Des Moines, Iowa. He is passionate about holiness and his family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children. (Eph. 5:1)

Expanded Passage: Ephesians 5:1-2

In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged America to land a man on the moon. This bold vision captivated the world and birthed the Apollo program, leading to Neil Armstrong becoming the first man on the moon in July 1969. Apollo, however, did not appear out of thin air. Earlier, in May 1961, Alan Shepherd became the first American in space when he launched aboard a Mercury capsule dubbed Freedom 7, and in 1964, the Mercury program was succeeded by Project Gemini. In many ways, Apollo was modeled after the examples of these programs, incorporating what worked and fixing what did not.

In Ephesians 5, Paul continued to describe how the Christian should live in response to the grace God offers through Jesus Christ. Instead of giving detailed instructions, though, he encouraged his readers and us simply to strive to be just like our loving heavenly Father. That is, the apostle exhorted Christians to show the world the same sort of love that God showed them. The ultimate earthly expression of that love, of course, was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (v. 2), but Jesus actually exemplified God’s love in every word, deed, and attitude.

Christians say and do many things, but ultimately, their objective must be to exhibit God’s love. Therefore, we must pattern our lives—every word, deed, and attitude—after Jesus who came before us.

Follow God’s example of love by pursuing Christlikeness.

Jeremy Geerdes is a pastor in Des Moines, Iowa. He is passionate about holiness and his family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise. (Ps. 119:41)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:41-48

My husband and I lived overseas together for nearly a decade. The first years after we moved back to the States were lonely ones for our family. We moved four times in two years. With every move, it felt like we were starting over. We longed for community, but we didn’t know how to find it. Finally, we moved for what we hoped would be the last time, but we felt discouraged. Would we ever find what we were looking for? In just a short time, God, in his goodness, provided exactly the church community we needed. From the first day we visited, they welcomed us and made us feel right at home. We found our people—our community.

The author of Psalm 119 was looking for the fulfillment of God’s promise—his unfailing love and salvation. While he waited, he reaffirmed his commitment to trust in the Lord’s word, delight in his commandments, and meditate on his decrees. The author professed truth and kept his eyes on the Lord, believing that this promise would be fulfilled.

Just like the author, we often find ourselves in seasons of waiting and wondering. But how often do we proclaim our unwavering intentions to hold on with hope? God doesn’t ask us to have the answers. He just asks us to trust his word and put our hope in him.

Proclaim your trust in God for an unfulfilled promise in your life.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him. (2 Thess. 1:12)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

We pulled out all the stops for the party. After serving as missionaries in Eastern Europe, we were moving back to the States. It was time to say goodbye to the teachers we had been working with for nearly a decade. We wanted them to know how thankful we were for them, so we held a party in their honor. After food and games, we gave each teacher a small gift with a handwritten card. Words of affirmation and encouragement are rare in their culture, so we hoped this would be especially meaningful. Then the teachers did something surprising—they began to honor us! They presented us with a beautiful painting, gave us notes they had written, and shared memories about the impact we had made in their lives.

Paul opened his letter to the church of the Thessalonians with a blessing of grace and peace. He praised them for their endurance in the face of trials and encouraged them to hold on to their faith. Why? So Jesus could be glorified.

We wanted our teachers to feel honored. Instead, they made us feel like it was worth it all. As Christians, we experience many kinds of pain in our lives—suffering, trials, and challenges. We endure these things so our Lord Jesus may be glorified through us. Sometimes, Jesus flips the tables and glorifies us in the process!

Celebrate a time Jesus has been glorified through your life.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling. (2 Thess. 1:11)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

When my mom died, I found a notebook by her reading chair. It was a weekly planner, but it didn’t record any dates or events. Instead, it listed the names of people she was praying for. Some names were listed daily, some weekly, and some monthly. There were names of people who followed Jesus and of people who she wanted to follow Jesus. I saw the names of family members, friends, and missionaries. She even prayed for people she never met—people I was sharing Jesus with as a missionary. I can picture her in the early morning hours with her coffee in one hand, her prayer notebook in her other hand, and her Bible open on her lap.

Long before I saw my mom praying, Paul prayed for the church of the Thessalonians. He knew firsthand how hard it was to hold on to faith in the midst of persecutions and trials. He wanted the believers to know they weren’t alone in their pain. In fact, they were constantly being prayed for. It’s harder to give up hope when you know there are people cheering you on!

God doesn’t expect us to walk through life’s challenges on our own. He gives us people like Paul and my mom who pray constantly. As believers, we also have a responsibility to pray daily for those God puts in our lives.

Pray for someone today—then tell them about it.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Those who do not know God . . . will be . . . shut out from the presence of the Lord . . . on the day he comes to be . . . marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thess. 1:8–10)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10

My husband was a caver when we lived in Eastern Europe. The country was full of caves, and he wanted to explore them all. To enter these caves, he needed a harness and ropes to descend into the depths. He also needed a special, high-powered headlamp to illuminate the pitch black. On one trip, my husband and his friends descended nearly 1,000 feet underground and stayed there for more than forty-eight hours. They relied on their equipment and each other for safety—they had no contact with world above. What an amazing feeling it must have been to ascend at the end of two days below ground and feel the sun shining again!

Paul contrasted those who know God and those who do not. By describing what eternal separation from God looks like, Paul provided a not-so-subtle motivation for the church to keep holding on to a life of faith—to keep believing and obeying Jesus.

Cavers will either be engulfed in the complete darkness of a cave or they will reemerge into the light of day. Believers will either be shut out from the presence of the Lord or they will marvel at him in his glory. Paul put the choice in front of the church—and in front of us. We can reject him when it feels too hard, or we can hold fast to our faith in Jesus.

Marvel at how the Lord has been good to you.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

As a result, you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (2 Thess. 1:5)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

People who set out to hike the Appalachian Trail are known as thru-hikers. Their goal is to hike nearly 2,200 miles through fourteen states—from Georgia to Maine. They carry everything they need in a pack on their backs. Every day, they hike up and down mountains. They sleep outside in their tents. During their hike, they may encounter challenges ranging from blisters and hunger to thunderstorms, fatigue, loneliness, and injury. Many give up and go home. Others are forced to quit, even though they don’t want to. But there are some every year who complete the entire trail. When this happens, they become known as a 2,000-Miler. In nearly a hundred years, fewer than 30,000 people have completed this journey.

Paul knew the believers in the church of the Thessalonians were suffering. He offered them hope that their suffering was not in vain. He could not take away their pain. Rather, he reminded them that God saw what they were going through, and one day, he would enact justice.

A hiker is willing to endure pain and discomfort in order to earn the title of 2,000-Miler. But this is only an earthly achievement. How much more should we hold on in the midst of suffering? Because one day, it will lead to the greatest honor of all—to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.

Set your sights on the ultimate honor.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. (2 Thess. 1:3)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

The tornado sirens blared their warning as we took refuge in the basement. Moments later, the wind shrieked and engulfed our house. We waited in the darkness, wondering about the damage. When the storm calmed, we saw a large tree had narrowly missed smashing onto our roof. We could only stare in awe of God’s faithfulness and protection. Everyone around us discovered similar damage and near misses, including our church community. On Sunday morning, we gathered together without power. We shared stories of how God protected us—each story building our faith stronger. We sang with sunlight streaming through stained glass. The pastor preached without a microphone. It was good to worship God together after the storm.

When hard things happen, it can be easy to forget about God’s faithfulness. But Paul didn’t forget. He wrote words of encouragement and gratitude to the church of the Thessalonians. In fact, he celebrated that in spite of trials and persecutions, the church’s faith was growing stronger! Their love for one another was growing deeper. Paul commended the church for their endurance in the face of hardship.

Paul couldn’t tell the believers when their suffering would end. He could only spur them on to continue growing in their faith and love for one another. When we gather with other believers and share stories of God’s faithfulness, our faith and love grow stronger.

Tell a story of when God provided in a hard situation.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:2)

Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2

Lucia had had a long, hard day. She felt exhausted and discouraged. When she stopped at the post office to pick up a package, she had no idea what it could be. Then she suddenly realized who sent it. The whole way home, she could only think about how good God is. Even on one of her hardest days, he showed her how much he cared for her and loved her! When I sent Lucia the package, I had no idea how God would use it. We had been neighbors and friends when I was a missionary in Eastern Europe. Now, even though I don’t live next to Lucia anymore, I long for her to experience the favor and peace of God in her life. This particular package arrived just when Lucia needed encouragement.

Paul knew the church of the Thessalonians was going through suffering and persecution. But he didn’t just jump into the hard stuff. He took the time to open his letter with a reminder of God’s grace and peace. He wrote a blessing inviting God’s presence. Paul’s greeting set a foundation of encouragement from which he could address the challenges the church was facing.

Our words have the power to remind each other of God’s goodness. Just as Paul encouraged the church with his opening words, we can all bless and encourage others on their hard days—from near or far.

Speak an encouragement of grace and peace into someone’s life.

Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees. (Ps. 119:33)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:33-40

God gave a specific instruction to every Jewish king. There is no way to know whether every king followed or delegated that responsibility, and undoubtedly some may have ignored God’s directive altogether, but the command was very clear. God said in Deuteronomy 17:18–19 that without exception, upon taking office, the monarch was to handwrite a copy of the law of God and to read it all the days of his life. If a king followed this directive, the consequence would be that the king would learn to revere God and would rule justly, rightly, and humbly.

It is within this context that we read Psalm 119, historically attributed to King David by Jewish rabbis. There is no doubt in my mind that David, as the second king of Israel, would have done exactly what God had told the new king to do. David would have personally written out the entire law of God and been keenly aware of what it said. But in Psalm 119 we see David asking God for an even richer understanding and appreciation of God’s holy decrees.

How much more today do we need spiritual leaders who both know God’s Word and have an increasing desire to be totally aligned with his will and ways? As the psalmist says, may the Lord’s words be like honey on our lips (Ps. 119:103).

Spend some time pondering the importance and application of God’s Word.

Stephen Elliott serves as national superintendent of The Wesleyan Church of Canada and director of the Pastoral Ministry degree program at Kingswood University (CA). He has been happily married to his high school sweetheart since 1975.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.