The One Year New Testament

Devotional for 06.24.26

2026-06-24T06:34:22Z

Luke 12:35-48

Reflection

Jesus teaches us to live our lives now in light of what is to come. He wants his people to remember that he could return at any time, so they must remain “dressed for action” (Luke 12:35), “awake” (v. 38), “ready” (v. 40), and performing their duties faithfully (v. 42).

Even those who deeply trust Christ must remember that the deceitful desires of sin (cf. Eph. 4:22) still lurk within our hearts, requiring careful scrutiny and resistance. By keeping the promise of Christ’s return before our eyes we can guard ourselves from the subtle drift into a careless lifestyle of self-indulgence that harms others and ourselves (Luke 12:45).

Colossians 2:6-15

Reflection

Through the use of the simple yet profound phrase “in him,” Paul reveals resources available to combat falsehood. In union with Christ, Christians have been rooted, built up, and established in faith (Col. 2:7). In Christ they have been filled with the same authority that Christ possesses (v. 10). In Christ they have been cut off from the present evil realm of the “flesh” (v. 11). In him they have “died” to sin and have been “raised” to new life through Christ’s death and resurrection (v. 12). In him they have been forgiven of all their spiritual debts because of the cross (v. 13). In him they have the certainty of victory over Satan and death (v. 15).

Believers should also practice their daily lives in Christ (vv. 6–7). In other words, the profound truths of the gospel are necessary for our daily obedience. Our motivation and strength to follow the instructions of Jesus are due to the fact that we have already experienced his grace. We can “walk in him” (v. 6) only because of what he has already accomplished on our behalf.

Psalm 30:2-3

Thoughts For Prayer

Strengthen your ability to obey Christ by prayerfully remembering what he has already accomplished for you. We are not called to start from scratch and fix ourselves. We are called to become who Christ has already made us to be.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Andrew & Angie James

Country:

Uruguay

They are organizing an evangelistic outreach trip with a group of young people to a city about two hours from Montevideo on July 25. Please pray for wisdom and guidance as they prepare the program and itinerary and that the Lord would use this opportunity to ignite a lasting passion for evangelism in the hearts of their youth.

Barbados (Caribbean). Population: 283,000 Believers: 34.2%. Since settlement in 1627, Barbados has been Christian. But despite overwhelming religious profession and a large number of evangelicals, real commitment to the lordship of Jesus is the exception rather than the rule. Pray for the Spirit’s renewal and for the church in Barbados to reawaken.

Belize (Latin America). Population: 423,000 Believers: 18.8%. Most Belizeans profess Christianity, but only 10% of the population attend church regularly. People need to encounter the true gospel in ways that are meaningful and sensitive to their culture. The Spanish-speaking immigrants sometimes mix truth with superstitions, the Mayans with paganism, and the Garifuna with black magic. Pray for revival and spiritual conviction for any confusion in beliefs.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.23.26

2026-06-23T06:34:22Z

Luke 12:13-34

Reflection

Jesus warns of the double danger of money. On the one hand, we easily become greedy and covetous about money (Luke 12:13–21); and on the other hand, we are easily anxious about money (vv. 22–34). The gospel teaches us how to defeat both of these destructive sins. We must seek God’s kingdom first (v. 31), which will often mean letting go of our goods and money (v. 33). Jesus motivates us to let go by telling us that God our Father knows our needs (v. 30) and will provide for them all (v. 31). He cares deeply for us (v. 24), and it is his good pleasure to give us what we need most (v. 32). Only this vision of our heavenly Father, combined with the promise of eternal riches (v. 33), can motivate us at the heart level to live free from the love of money (Heb. 13:5) and find eternal joy in following Christ.

Colossians 2:1-5

Reflection

Paul labored in ministry so that the Christians in the Colossian church would be encouraged and strengthened with the knowledge of all the blessings included in their relationship with Christ (Col. 2:1–3). He wants the church to be mature in their faith because of the temptation to give up the faith—especially because of false teaching (v. 4).

It is extremely important for Christians to regularly read and study the Bible and listen to Christ-centered Bible teaching. As we grow in our knowledge of Christ through the Word of God, we can combat false teaching in whatever shape or form it may come.

Psalm 119:159-162

Thoughts For Prayer

Ask God to make you a man or woman who deeply loves his Word. Pray that you would not be content with being vaguely familiar with what the Bible says, but that you would feast on the Scripture as though your life depends on it—because it does.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Truth For Life

Country:

United States of America

Pray for new Truth For Life team member, Brian VanHaitsma. Ask the Lord to guide and direct him as he gets up to speed in his new role on the Truth For Life Digital Communications team. Also, pray that the entire staff may be helpful to him and expedite his learning curve. Please keep in prayer God’s work throughout the world through Truth For Life as the program goes out each day to people listening in many countries. In particular, praise God for how he is using The Man on the Middle Cross booklet to introduce Jesus to unbelievers. By God’s grace, the booklet is now published in more than thirty languages. Pray that God’s Spirit will work powerfully through this small evangelism book to lead many to saving faith.

Bangladesh (Asia). Population: 175,687,000 Believers: 0.4%. Pray for leadership for the churches. Earlier movements brought thousands of people into the church. But the lack of trained, godly leadership eventually left many believers with weak and shallow faith. Poverty limits the number of full-time ministers and theological students, but churches also lack spiritually mature lay leaders. In Bangladesh, as in any nation, robust discipleship processes would go a long way to solving these challenges.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.22.26

2026-06-22T06:34:22Z

Luke 12:1-12

Reflection

We have a sinful yet natural tendency to be afraid of people who have the power to end our lives (Luke 12:4). Jesus shows how foolish this fear is, because the end of our physical lives is not the end of us; instead we should fear our Creator God, who has the power and authority to destroy both our bodies and our souls on the day of judgment (v. 5). We cannot understand the grace and forgiveness that the gospel announces unless we first understand that God is the final Judge of our sinful lives (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5).

Yet the kind of “fear” we should have of God should not be the same as the fear we have of other humans. Rather, we are to have a deeply worshipful respect for God because he knows us intimately and cares for us above all his creatures (Luke 12:7). When we know that the Judge of the universe is carefully and lovingly watching over our lives, we can simultaneously fear God (vv. 4–5) and “fear not” (v. 7). This is the kind of fear that Jesus himself demonstrates toward his heavenly Father (see Isa. 11:2–3).

Colossians 1:24-29

Reflection

The only content of Paul’s ministry is Christ: “Him we proclaim” (Col. 1:28; cf. 1 Cor. 1:23; 2 Cor. 4:5). Our message is not fundamentally about good behavior or ethics, but Christ. Paul’s method of ministry was to teach the Scriptures in a way that focused on Christ and what he has done to save sinners, not on what sinners must do for God. Paul had learned to view all the Scriptures through this Christ-centered lens (Col. 1:25–27). God gives Paul the strength to labor tirelessly with this content and method toward a specific goal: to “present everyone mature in Christ” (v. 28).

Here we see an excellent model of Christian ministry: Paul’s content, method, and goal revolve around Jesus Christ, ensuring that people are served in the best possible way. When we follow this example we can be sure that others will receive the maximum benefit from our service, and that Christ alone will get the glory.

Psalm 128:1

Thoughts For Prayer

The fear of the Lord does not paralyze us but produces good fruit in our lives. Ask God that he would place this healthy fear within your heart so that you can live free from the slavery that comes from fearing the opinions and agendas of the world.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Chris and Leanne Harrington

Country:

Japan

They have been praying that the Lord would send more harvesters into the field in Japan, and the Lord has been answering that prayer. Please pray for three new missionaries who have arrived in Japan in the past month. We serve a creative God who has so uniquely called each of them to Japan in such personal ways. Pray for them as they settle into their new communities. May they connect well with their new church, community, and missionary teammates. Pray that the Lord will send more long-term missionaries to the ends of the earth to share the good news of the gospel among the unreached people of the world.

Bahrain (Asia). Population: 1,643,000 Believers: 2.9%. Bahrain enjoys greater freedoms than almost all Gulf countries and therefore is spiritually strategic. Praise God for the local believers! Some worship with the various established churches, and others gather in more informal networks. Pray especially for unity and cooperation among these groups as a testimony to their fellow Arabs.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.21.26

2026-06-21T06:34:22Z

Luke 11:37-54

Reflection

One of the main reasons Jesus sometimes offends people is because he constantly presses his gospel message to the level of the heart (Luke 6:6–11; 11:45). God sees the hearts of all humans and is not impressed with mere outward religion. He does desire good deeds in our lives, but they are supposed to flow from hearts of love that are fueled by faith in Christ (v. 42b; Eph. 2:10; Gal. 5:6). Humans have a tendency to easily and subtly replace this with heartless religious activities and duties that merely have the appearance of godliness.

Jesus points out three ways in which his gospel reveals our brokenness and sin —ways in which we may be no different than the Pharisees: first, some have an outward appearance of cleanness but are full of greed on the inside (Luke 11:39); second, some sacrifice a portion of their possessions while neglecting to love God or others (v. 42); and third, some do good simply because they love the honor that it brings them (v. 43). Jesus not only points out these problems with our hearts. He also invites us to die to such double-living and to live by the Spirit, being transformed from the inside out (Matt. 5:48; Rom. 12:1–2; Col. 3:1–10). Indeed, to be internally transformed is the only way to be truly changed on the outside.

Colossians 1:15-23

Reflection

In this moving passage, Paul declares the supremacy of Christ over all things, visible and invisible. From the creation of all things (Col. 1:16–17) to the salvation of our souls (v. 20), Christ is Lord of all. He is the One through whom all things were created (v. 16) and the One who provides peace with God through his blood on the cross (v. 20). He is the head of creation (vv. 15–17) and the head of the church (vv. 18–20).

Here is the awe-inspiring mystery of Jesus Christ—the hands that molded the universe were pierced for the sake of those who were alienated, hostile, and evil (vv. 21–22). Because of Christ’s sinless life and sacrificial work on the cross we are now graciously considered holy and blameless before God. Here again Paul tells us that the gospel is our daily source of strength; we are to be “stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard” (v. 23).

Psalm 143:5

Thoughts For Prayer

Remember that you must never move on from the gospel. Even though you have heard it before, you need to hear it again. Pray that God would give your heart a desire to grow ever deeper in your understanding of his grace to you in Christ.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

The City Mission

Country:

United States of America

In April, The City Mission hosted its annual fundraiser gala. They are thankful for the generous donations that will allow them to continue to serve men, women, and children in crisis—offering shelter, food, safety, and hope in the gospel. Pray for enough volunteers and staff to support every aspect of The City Mission—Crossroads for men in crisis and Laura’s Home and Pathways for women and children in need of a safe home.

Aruba (Caribbean). Population: 108,000 Believers: 7.6%. The evangelical presence has grown, predominantly due to the more recent arrivals. Large numbers have immigrated from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia, but evangelical growth is not even. There are several English-speaking churches and many congregations using Papiamento. Pray for a greater impact on the Asian immigrant population.

The Bahamas (Caribbean). Population: 403,000 Believers: 35.9%. Christian commitment is low and nominalism widespread, despite nearly all Bahamians claiming to be Christian. Most households own a Bible; few actively read it. Pray for revival and for a missionary vision among believers.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.20.26

2026-06-20T06:34:22Z

Luke 11:29-36

Reflection

When the “queen of the South” went to Jerusalem to visit Solomon (1 Kings 10:1–13), she was astounded at his wisdom because “Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her” (1 Kings 10:3). But now that Jesus has come, “something greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11:31) —Jesus is the ultimate expression of true wisdom. With the arrival of Jesus, “something greater that Jonah is here” as well (v. 32) —Jesus is the ultimate prophet who speaks God’s words to his people.

If the queen of Sheba listened to the wisdom of Solomon, and the people of Nineveh responded to the preaching of Jonah, how much more should God’s people listen and respond to the ultimate man of Wisdom, the supreme Prophet, Jesus. He is God’s final Word to us (cf. John 1:1).

Colossians 1:1-14

Reflection

As Paul begins his letter to the young Christians in Colossae, we see that the grace of the Father (Col. 1:2), the gospel of the Son (v. 5), and the love of the Spirit (v. 8) are enabling this church to experience and show the reality of Christ in their lives. With the help of faithful partners in ministry like Epaphras, Paul calls on the Colossian Christians to remember who they are and what they have because of Christ’s wondrous work of grace and truth (vv. 6–7).

The fruitful work of God in Colossae is the direct result of the church being delivered from the realm of darkness and transferred into the realm of light (vv. 12–13). Through Christ’s work on the cross, they have been rescued from and forgiven of their sins (v. 14). Because of this transfer from darkness to light, Paul calls the Colossians to live a new life that pleases God and bears good fruit (v. 10; cf. Matt. 7:17–19). With the knowledge, wisdom, and power that God will provide (Col. 1:9–11), believers can endure the trials and tribulations of the Christian life with patience, joy, and thanksgiving (vv. 11–12). It is the gospel itself that creates this kind of fruitful Christian life (v. 6), and therefore we do not “graduate” from the gospel of grace (see v. 23). Instead, we must move more deeply into the gospel over time, growing to appreciate the profound grace of God as we realize how profoundly sinful we really are.

Psalm 81:13-14

Thoughts For Prayer

God desires that people listen and respond to his Word. Pray once again for those who are not listening to the gospel of Jesus —they are ignoring the One who is himself God’s own Word to us.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Edgar (& Lety) Rivera, Neri (& Karina) Rivera

Country:

Mexico

Pray that God will continue to give Edgar wisdom as he works with the Mexican board for the MAF work in Mexico. Praise the Lord that their daughter, Esther, is back in college after dealing with some health issues. Pray for the two ESI groups that Edgar is leading in Oaxaca and for a new group forming in Pachuca. Pray for wisdom and safety for Edgar and Lety as they have received threats but desire to continue to encourage the pastors and believers in Oaxaca. Pray that Neri will have wisdom as he facilitates ESI groups in the state of Chiapas. Pray for continued growth of the church plant. Praise God that they were able to move into a more affordable house, which better fits their needs with the foster children living with them. Pray for strength for Neri as he continues battling lymphoma and for wisdom to work within his physical limitations. Neri recently received the last dose of chemo in the current round of treatment and will be evaluated for further treatment in July. Pray for healing for Neri and for extra strength for Karina during this difficult season in their lives. Pray for their daughter, Sara, who would like the opportunity to attend high school in the USA.

Azerbaijan (Asia). Population 10,398,000 Believers: 0.2%. God raised up an Azeri church, even amidst trials! Only 40 known Azeri believers lived in the country in 1991. Now there may possibly be as many as 10,000, with the majority in Baku. Even more ethnic Azeris follow Christ inside of Iran. Even so, most Christians in Azerbaijan are primarily of foreign ethnicities (Armenian, Russian, Georgian, others). Pray for good fellowship among all the believers.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.19.26

2026-06-19T06:34:22Z

Luke 11:14-28

Reflection

The gospel brings the blessing of God (Luke 11:28). This is not a statement about financial success or physical health, though these are also gifts from God. Rather, to be blessed means to experience peace with God through Jesus Christ (1:79; 2:14; John 14:27; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:17).

Jesus describes those who receive this blessedness as people who hear and keep the Word of God (Luke 11:28). This gives us a description of how we should approach God’s Word: we must hear before we are able to obey. We must receive the message of God’s kindness and love, which the Holy Spirit uses to transform our hearts. Only then are we able to follow after Jesus and keep his Word.

Philippians 4:21-23

Reflection

Paul ends the letter with the same blessing of grace with which he began (see Phil. 1:2), providing the Philippians with the fuel they need to live the life of humble joy that he has called for. From first to last, the letter to the Philippians is centered on the grace of God —to receive it, to rest in it, and to work it out in everyday life.

Psalm 119:2

Thoughts For Prayer

Enjoy the blessing of God by hearing his Word and walking in his ways. Pray that the Scripture would impact you deeply so that your life will be changed from the inside out.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Health For Her Cleveland

Country:

United States of America

As their marketing increases for the month of June, pray that they will have the capacity to handle the new patient load. Pray that more women will choose life for their babies and find abundant life for their souls. Pray for both physical and spiritual health for their staff.

Austria (Europe). Population: 9,114,000 Believers: 0.5%. Austria, a nation of culture, music, art, and beautiful scenery, lies for the most part spiritually empty. While 84% of Austrians believe in God (high for Europe), few have met Jesus personally. Rates of suicide, abortion, and alcoholism indicate the great need for spiritual foundations. Pray for the shell of religion in this nation to be filled by the living presence of Christ.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.18.26

2026-06-18T06:34:22Z

Luke 11:1-13

Reflection

This passage contains shorter versions of several of the teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). These verses instruct us in how to pray, providing both a model prayer (Luke 11:2–4) and the reason we should be confident when we pray (vv. 5–13). The entire passage encourages us to have a simple trust in God as our loving Father, knowing that if we ask and seek and knock he will provide for us according to his generous and Fatherly good nature.

Philippians 4:10-20

Reflection

As Paul nears his conclusion, he returns to the theme of rejoicing in the midst of difficulty (Phil. 4:10). Even though he delights to see that the Philippians have a revived concern for him (v. 10), his strength is found elsewhere. Paul’s stability is not dependent upon their support (v. 11). He has learned the secret of facing both plenty and hunger by finding contentment in Christ (vv. 12–13).

Our contentment as Christians, likewise, rests in Jesus. Paul teaches us to look beyond our circumstances, whether we have much or little, and rejoice in Christ. In him, we have all we could ever need or desire.

Psalm 40:16

Thoughts For Prayer

If we are not content in Christ we will easily become unstable in times of plenty or in times of need. Ask God to fill you with a steady joy in him so that your heart and faith will be stable regardless of your financial situation.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Johannes (& Mathapelo) Thaele

Country:

South Africa

Please pray for Johannes and others there who are facing difficulties because of the rising cost of diesel. The prices increased again in May. As a result, everything is expensive, and recently, there has been violence in their communities. People were looting the shops and taking food because they couldn’t afford to buy it. Pray for solutions and for God to intervene in their situation. Pray for peace between the U.S. and Iraq and for the leaders who are responsible for this matter. They are having a youth camp this month. Pray that it will be beneficial to those who attend. Pray that the students will understand the Bible, develop a good relationship with Christ, and that they will be the hands, feet, and mouths of Jesus to others.

Australia (Pacific). Population: 26,974,000 Believers: 14.4%. The church in Australia faces a mighty challenge. The strong influence of Christianity declined as the country became more diverse in religions and became more secular in its public life and laws. Many Australians see the church as intolerant, abusive of its power, and anti-progressive in its values. Pray for revival in the church that will affect every area of Australian society.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.17.26

2026-06-17T06:34:22Z

Luke 10:38-42

Reflection

This short story reveals the ever-present temptation to substitute selfreliant religion for the gospel. Even Christians can slip into a mentality that attempts to earn God’s favor with our acts of devotion. The gospel, however, calls us to reorient our lives around the message of God’s gracious love for us in Christ. Rather than emphasizing what we are doing for God — even doing good things such as serving —the one thing that is “necessary” and the “good portion” (v. 42) is to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to him. To our surprise, we can actually become “distracted with much serving” (v. 40). Jesus invites us to enjoy his presence before he commands us to perform our duties. Above all, to follow Jesus as a disciple means to be with him and listen to him. This alone enables us to take up our cross daily and follow him (9:23).

Philippians 4:1-9

Reflection

Paul now addresses two partners in ministry and then the Philippian church as a whole. The ministry partners Euodia and Syntyche need to agree in the Lord (Phil. 4:2). Their disunity contradicts the model of Christian servanthood and humility outlined in 2:1–11.

Rather than conflict, the church body should be filled with joy (4:4) and peace (v. 7), because the Lord is near (v. 5). God conquers anxiety that creates tensions in and among believers when we prayerfully bring our requests to God with thanksgiving. This results in God’s all-surpassing peace in our lives (v. 7). In context, vv. 8–9 are a reminder to think about all that is true—but particularly what is honorable, pure, and lovely in the gospel. Our Christian community is to be marked by unity and joy, but relational conflict and anxiety rob our churches of joy. God’s presence means that we can develop thankful, prayerful, and peaceful hearts marked by a joyful reflection on what is good. Do you find yourself anxious? Take time to memorize and meditate on Philippians 4:4–7.

Psalm 119:103

Thoughts For Prayer

Like Mary, we must make it a priority to listen to the words of Jesus. Pray for the wisdom and determination to continue prioritizing God’s Word each day so that you are regularly reminded about who he is and what he has done.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Parkside Green

Country:

United States of America

Please pray for the Lord to use Pastor Adam’s preaching from the book of Jonah and their numerous summer gatherings to help the people of Parkside Green grow as followers and ambassadors of Jesus. Ask the Lord to accomplish his purposes globally through those they support: Dr. Jen Kintner as she travels and the UAE continues to experience upheaval; Bryan and Erin Joseph in the busy season of hosting mission groups in Mazatlán, Mexico; and Brett and Jennifer Wright as they navigate a busy and challenging mission flight schedule from Uganda to several surrounding countries in turmoil.

Armenia (Asia). Population: 2,952,000 Believers: 8.7%. Armenia was the world’s first Christian nation, with a Christian legacy of more than 1,700 years. Praise God for the survival of the Armenian church through the centuries, despite frequent and harsh oppression. Pray that Armenian Christians might become a source of light and blessing to the region.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.16.26

2026-06-16T06:34:22Z

Luke 10:25-37

Reflection

The lawyer asks Jesus what must be done in order to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). Jesus’ response is summed up by the first and second greatest commandments (v. 27; cf. Matt. 22:37), both of which are matters of the heart. This man, who wishes to “justify himself” (Luke 10:29), seems to believe that he has loved God and others well enough to merit eternal life. Jesus, however, uses this story of the “good Samaritan” to reveal the lawyer’s defective heart.

Jesus is not interested in our attempts to earn eternal life. Sinful human beings are incapable of living up to the requirements of God’s perfect standard, and therefore our only hope is to put our faith in the Son of God who lived a perfect life on our behalf. Once we have tasted the kindness of God’s mercy to us, we will be transformed so that we become the kind of people who show that same mercy to our neighbors (vv. 36–37).

Philippians 3:12-21

Reflection

Paul turns our eyes away from “earthly things” (Phil. 3:19) by reminding us that our citizenship is in heaven (v. 20). This future glory is something that Paul is “straining forward” to obtain (vv. 13–14). He wants the Philippians to imitate him (v. 17) as he forgets about what lies behind and strives toward what lies ahead, pressing toward the prize in heaven (v. 13).

Tearfully, however, Paul points out that many are enemies of the cross (v. 18). They set their minds on earthly things (v. 19) and do not look forward to the return of Christ (v. 21). Their end is destruction (v. 19). This is the destiny of all those whose hearts are not transformed by the gospel. As those who belong to Christ, we must not become enslaved by our appetite for the pleasures of this world (v. 19). Our citizenship is in heaven, where Christ has been exalted (2:9–11). With Paul, we eagerly strain toward our heavenly prize.

Psalm 16:11

Thoughts For Prayer

Realize that all of us have a natural appetite for sin. Only Christ can change our hearts and empower us so that we do not satisfy every craving that arises. Pray for those in your life who are self-destructing because of their sinful indulgence, and ask God to give them a hunger for eternally satisfying delights.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

J & A, Asia

Country:

Pray that J and A may be a light in their interactions with locals despite their very minimal ability to communicate. Pray for wisdom in conversations with their language teachers as relationships develop and discussions become more personal. Pray that their small groups (the only church there) will be able to use their gifts for God's glory and for the equipping of his saints. Pray for their three-year-old son, A, who has been struggling to sleep through the night since they left Ohio in July 2025. He has been thriving in their new home and making many new long-term friends for the first time in his life, and for that they feel deeply blessed.

Argentina (Latin America). Population: 45,851,000 Believers: 9.1%. Evangelical Christians grew from less than 1 million in 1980 to possibly over 4.5 million by 2020. Renewal, evangelism, and prayer touched the nation. Argentinean evangelists, teachers, and missionaries touched the world! Godly, united leadership is necessary for the future. Pray for students in the hundreds of seminaries, Bible schools, and programs.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.15.26

2026-06-15T06:34:22Z

Luke 10:1-24

Reflection

Those who depend on their own wisdom and understanding (Luke 10:21) cannot discover the realities of God’s kingdom and Christ’s salvation (vv. 1–20). If that were the case, then people could take credit for “finding” the truth, which would give them a reason to boast in their own accomplishment. Therefore, God has hidden himself from those who would take pride in finding him (v. 21). Jesus says that knowing him does not ultimately depend on man’s careful examination, but on God’s gracious revelation (vv. 21–22). God has reserved for himself the right to reveal himself to us, and therefore he is the only one who deserves the praise for our inclusion in his kingdom. In the words of James and Peter, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

Philippians 3:1-11

Reflection

In these verses Paul demolishes any dependence on human ability for righteousness (faithfulness to God’s standards). The “dogs” who “mutilate the flesh” (Phil. 3:2) are people who taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul lists the reasons that he himself might put confidence in his human achievements (vv. 4–6) only to claim that these trophies are nothing but rubbish (vv. 7–8a) in comparison with the righteousness that comes from God by faith (vv. 8b–9). Rather than taking pride in his own accomplishments, Paul says he “gains” Christ by losing these things (v. 8). His salvation and ours come not from our accomplishments but from depending on nothing but the Savior, in whom we receive God’s gift of righteousness (v. 9).

Paul not only wants God’s gift of righteousness, but he wants to know Jesus himself. He wants to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, sharing in his suffering (v. 10) and death so that he might arrive at the resurrection (v. 11). Paul is not saying that he wants to suffer in order to “earn” resurrection life. Rather, he wants a deep personal relationship with Jesus and knows that suffering and even death allow him to experience the life-giving power that brought Jesus up from the grave.

Let us say with Paul that we consider the achievements of our lives to be “rubbish” compared to the accomplishments and value of our Savior. In Christ, we can not only say such things but also discover that the great wonders of the resurrection are ours as we participate in the sufferings of Christ.

Psalm 42:1-6

Thoughts For Prayer

There is nothing on earth that compares to the satisfaction of truly knowing Christ. Even suffering is an opportunity to grow close to him in profound new ways. Pray that your trials would not be wasted, but instead that God would use them to bring you into closer relationship with him.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Jon (& Ruthie), Ambassadors Football, Matt (& Laura) Pheneger, Goran (& Beth) Tomic

Country:

United States of America

Ambassadors Football is grateful for their partnerships with churches, denominations, and other organizations around the world in the spreading the gospel. One of these organizations is TryPraying, which is an evangelistic booklet that introduces people to prayer. TryPraying approached Ambassadors Football, asking for stories they could use for their World Cup booklet version. The booklet shares seven life stories, four of which are about people connected to Ambassadors. The plan is to distribute these booklets at the venues around the U.S. hosting the World Cup matches. Please pray that this and other partnerships will draw people to Christ.

Anguilla (Caribbean). Population: 15,000 Believers: 17.2%. Pray that this small island and its churches may not be bypassed by the Holy Spirit. Pray that religious traditions might be infused with real spiritual life. Pray that Christ’s followers may function effectively as a united body.

Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean). Population: 94,000 Believers: 19.9%. Antiguans are almost all Christian by background, including many evangelicals, but complacency prevails in the face of serious moral and spiritual challenges. Pray for revival that galvanizes Christians to prayer and for involvement that impacts their society.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.

Devotional for 06.14.26

2026-06-14T06:34:22Z

Luke 9:57-62

Reflection

Christ does not merely call his disciples to believe certain truths and perform certain moral actions, but to follow after him. Luke has shown us that the call of the gospel does have a cost: it reveals and challenges our values and our hearts (recall Luke 2:35 and 8:14). The call of Christ lays bare whether we are devoted to God’s kingdom or whether we are split in our allegiance.

Philippians 2:19-30

Reflection

The examples of Jesus (Phil. 2:1–11) and Paul (vv. 16–17) are not the only motivation for living joyful, selfless, and humble lives. Paul now gives the Philippians two more familiar models of servant-humility: Timothy (vv. 19–24), whom Paul hopes to send to the Philippians; and Epaphroditus (vv. 25–30), whom Paul has already sent.

Rather than looking to his own interests (v. 4), Paul’s teammate Timothy is “genuinely concerned” for the “welfare” of the Philippians (v. 20). Similarly, Epaphroditus (vv. 25–30), another partner in the gospel, demonstrates Christlike, other-centered gospel service as he nearly dies for the sake of the gospel (v. 27). Paul’s sense of gospel unity and partnership with Epaphroditus is so strong that he speaks of him as a “brother,” “fellow worker,” “fellow soldier,” “messenger,” and “minister”— all in just one verse (v. 25). Living for Christ is not easy. It requires humility, service, and courageous dependence on God’s grace. Let us look around ourselves for men and women of God who are examples of Christlike humility and service. We should honor such people (v. 29) and follow their lead, not in place of Jesus but for the sake of Jesus.

Psalm 145:10-12

Thoughts For Prayer

Ask God to help you maintain a single-minded devotion to his kingdom today (cf. Luke 9:57–62). Remember that he has rescued you from the darkness of this world. Let his values and priorities drive you and shape the way you live.

Missions Prayer Requests

Supported Worker:

Kep & Debbie James in Africa, Europe, and the Americas

Country:

Join Kep and Debbie in praising the Lord for what they saw him doing in April when they spent time in Africa with Fulani church planters, studying the book of Romans with them. Pray for good fruit in evangelism and discipleship as the church planters go out in teams this month to plant churches in very difficult areas across North Africa. Pray for their ESI leader, Pastor Elias Chitibwe, in Lusaka, Zambia, as he leads ESI groups in Zambia and works overseeing ESI groups in Harare, Zimbabwe. Kep and Debbie visited two of these groups during their visit to Zambia in April and were encouraged to see evidence of God’s grace in their lives. Pray for gospel impact as the groups continue studying through the book of Romans.

Angola (Africa). Population: 39,040,000 Believers: 22.5%. Biblical Christianity grew, even amidst war and poverty! The first president, a Marxist, vowed to eradicate Christianity in 20 years. He failed! The number of evangelicals grew four times larger from 1990 to 2010, and it continues to grow today. The church needs much prayer to overcome the wounds of past conflict. Pray for forgiveness and love in action. Only a few congregations have trained pastors. False beliefs, ignorance of the Bible, witchcraft, and animistic practices pollute many lives and churches. Pray for Christian unity, holy living, and biblical faith.

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The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.