VERSE OF THE DAY:
2 TIMOTHY 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.
POWER, LOVE, AND DISCIPLINE
One of the miracles of salvation is that when we have faith in Christ, God not only saves us, He also gives us the power to live according to His will for us. Your life in Christ is one that is empowered by the Holy Spirit living within you.
This is a great gift, but a big shift. It often takes time to change how we things and act. We may have bad habits that take hard work to correct, or patterns of though that are challenging to break.
Thankfully, God promises to be with us and to empower us to make this changes in our life. When Paul is writing to his mentee Timothy, he encourages him to continue to develop the gift that God has given to him. While we are saved in an instant, it takes a lifetime to develop and work out what God is doing inside of us.
Paul reminds Timothy that God's Spirit does not give us fear or cowardice. Those things are tools of the devil who is trying to keep us from God. But the Spirit of God empowers us with confidence in Him. He gives us this power to live our the purposes of God in our life. This power is one that we need to continually remember as we face challenges.
The Spirit of God also empowers us to love others It can be difficult to love people, especially those who may have hurt us. But God promises to give us His power and love so that we can be a light to everyone around us.
God's Spirit also empowers us with self-discipline. We won't experience spiritual change and growth if we don't train and practice-but that takes time, dedication, and endurance. We need to be consistent in doing the things that God asks us to do, including reading His Word and talking to Him. Thankfully, when we belong to God, He helps us. He gives us the strength, stamina, and soundness of mind to build habits that help us become more like Him.
So take some time today to talk with God. Ask Him to empower you by His Spirit toward confidence, love and self-discipline. Consider how God is leading you to change the way you live. As you do that, remember that God doesn't give us fear, He fills us with love because He wants us to experience a confident relationship with Him.
SHARE YOUR FAITH
We need the Spirit of God to do the work of God. Ask Him to lead you in every area of life, especially as you share your faith!
God, thank You for taking fear's power and replacing it with gifts from Your Spirit: power, love, and self-control.
I know that I will be afraid at time but because You are with me, I don't have to keep living in fear. Please replace my doubts and fears with thoughts about what's good and true. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 SAMUEL 6-8
LUKE 15:1-10
THE PHILISTINES RETURN THE ARK
THE ARK MOVED TO KIRIATH-JEARIM
SAMUEL LEADS ISRAEL TO VICTORY
ISRAEL REQUESTS A KING
SAMUEL WARNS AGAINST A KINGDOM
PARALBE OF THE LOST SHEEP
1Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
7In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
NUMBERS 5:5-10
PURITY IN ISRAEL'S CAMP
5Then the Lord said to Moses, 6“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. 7They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged. 8But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, the payment belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, and they will be purified and made right with the Lord. 9All the sacred offerings that the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. 10Each priest may keep all the sacred donations that he receives.”
INSIGHT
Numbers 5 restates a law first given in Leviticus 6:1-7 that when someone harms a neighbor through deceit, theft, or fraud, they must confess and not only make full repayment but add a fifth of the value to it. They must also sacrifice a ram as a guilt offering. Numbers 5 adds a further stipulation that if restitution can’t be made directly to the person wronged, and if they have no close relative to pay restitution to, then repayment should be given to the priest—returning what they’d wrongly taken back to God (v. 8).
This highlights the truth that harming another also damages someone’s relationship with God (v. 6). Yet this provision of offering a sacrifice and making restitution to a priest also highlights God’s grace. Even when it’s impossible to correct the wrong done to another, because of Christ’s sacrifice, when we confess our sin, God still provides a way to a restored relationship with Him.
By: Monica La Rose
ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS
A judge used a unique approach to address shoplifting—sentencing offenders to wash cars in a local store’s parking lot as part of their community service. He hoped it would deter future thefts and serve as a vivid reminder of the consequences of wrongdoing. He emphasized that actions have consequences and accountability matters.
The judge’s sentence reflects the instruction in Numbers 5:6-7: “[One] who wrongs another . . . must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution.” In these verses, we see the importance God places on acknowledging wrongdoing, confessing sin, and seeking restoration. And they underscore a profound truth: Every offense revealed disloyalty to the ideals of Israel’s society and showed that the offender was “unfaithful to the Lord” (v. 6).
Just as washing cars in public serves as a humbling consequence that encourages reflection and responsibility, God called Israel to recognize their sins honestly—confessing them and seeking forgiveness. True freedom came when they confronted their actions, made amends, and embraced His grace.
Today, let’s take a moment to reflect sincerely on our lives before God. As we seek reconciliation and restitution where necessary (see Matthew 5:23-24; Luke 19:8-10), His mercy and forgiveness will restore us to wholeness.
By: Marvin Williams
REFLECT AND PRAY
How can you pursue reconciliation with someone you’ve wronged? Why is restitution so important?
Dear God, please show me where I’ve been wrong and help me pursue reconciliation and restitution. in Jesus' name, Amen.
EVERYDAY EVANGELISM
TIME TO GO
"Go and make disciples of all nations… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
Reflect on what you’ve learned over the past 9 days. From offering prayer to leading someone to Christ, each act of evangelism is a step toward living out the Great Commission. It’s not about being perfect or doing everything at once, it’s about recognising the ordinary everyday moments we have as opportunities to step into the Great Commission.
And if sharing doesn’t go well, if there’s silence, rejection, or it ends awkwardly, don’t panic or replay it forever in your mind. Leave the outcome with God, keep loving the person genuinely, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom about whether to follow up later or simply stay present and consistent.
As you go forward, remember that God has equipped you for this mission. His Spirit empowers you, His Word guides you, and His presence goes with you. Pray for courage to step into the opportunities He places in front of you, trusting Him to use your obedience for His glory.
This is your commissioning moment. You’ve been called, equipped, and sent to share the good news of Jesus with the world. Go boldly, knowing that the harvest is plentiful and God is with you.
What’s your next step in living out the Great Commission, and how will you commit to taking action today?
Pray:
Lord, I surrender to Your call to go and make disciples. Thank You for equipping me through Your Word and Spirit. Help me to step out in faith, embracing each opportunity to share Your love. Let my life reflect Your goodness and point others to Jesus. Strengthen my resolve to trust You with the results as I live out the Great Commission. in Jesus name, Amen.
