Pathways Press.com

Written by Keri Eichberger, a contemporary writer.

If you ever end up empty of a sense of safety, serenity, comfort, or care, and you seek to find it in connection with someone, can I remind us both of something? We can do none of this apart from Jesus. We must first connect with him. And not just temporarily. Remain means to stay. So if and when we drift a bit, we need to return. Remaining in Jesus looks like refreshing our communion every morning, and then holding his hand through every moment we encounter, through the entire day. Going to him over and over. In all our work, in every decision, in each conversation. Talking to him, leaning on him, listening to him. And as we do our connection grows stronger, along with the sweet fruits we crave. Understanding, affection, attention, approval. Jesus gets you and me. He cares and comforts. And not like anyone else can. Apart from him—away and at distance from him—we will not find that which we want, that which we sometimes feel desperate for at the depths of our souls. Remain ever so close to him. And you will find the comfort, connection, and fulfillment your heart and soul are searching for.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:5]

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Written by Barbara Boyd, a contemporary journalist.

If the distance between the Earth and the sun, which is 92 million miles, was the thickness of a piece of paper, the diameter of our galaxy would be a stack of papers 310 miles high. And our galaxy is less than a speck of dust in the part of the universe that we can see. And that part of the universe might just be a speck of dust compared to all the universe. And if Jesus is the Son of God who holds all this together with the word of his power, is this the kind of person you ask into your life to be your personal assistant? … If you intellectually assent, “Yes, I think Jesus is probably the Son of God; I think he probably died for our sins,” but he is not the center of your life, then you may think you understand, but you really don’t. It’s not just a matter of commitment or lack of discipline, there’s spiritual deadness; you don’t really see it, understand it, get it. Wake yourself up!

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [Psalm 91:1]

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Written by John Mark Comer, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his course on Practicing the Way.

Ours is the digital age. Indeed, one interpretation of the sociopolitical chaos of the last few years in America and beyond is that it’s not about politics at all; it’s about the social disruption caused by the shift from an industrial to a digital world. We’re living through a key inflection point in human history, and we’re feeling the vertigo of an entire world turned upside down in just a few decades. I grew up in Silicon Valley, and I’m well aware of the power of tech for good. But for all the genuine value it’s added to the world, digital technology has had … disastrous effects on our generation’s formation. It’s formed us to expect life to be easy, fast, and controllable.  After all, we can just slide our thumb and dinner will magically appear at our door twenty minutes later…. As a result, we are conditioned to expect quick, fast results with minimal effort, all at our beck and call. We often carry this mindset over into our formation—we assume we just need to find the right technique or life hack to solve the problem of the soul. But in reality, formation into the image of Jesus is hard, slow, and we are not in control. There’s no killer app, no quick fix, no shortcut. The formation of the human soul is more like growing a vineyard than ordering takeout.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! [Psalm 139:23-24]

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Todays devotion is from “The Sayings of the Desert Fathers,” a compilation of sayings from the desert monks of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in the fourth to sixth centuries.

What is pure prayer? Prayer which is brief in words but abundant in actions. For if your actions do not exceed your petitions, then your prayers are mere words, and the seed of the hands is not in them.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. [Colossians 3:23-24]

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Written by Uli Chi, a contemporary business leader, writer, teacher, and mentor.

The early 20th-century evangelist, Billy Sunday, was asked what the ideal Christian life looked like. He was said to have replied: “You walk down the ‘sawdust trail’ in the revival tent. You accept Jesus at the altar. And then you walk out of the tent, get hit by a truck, and go straight to heaven.” No backsliding, no spiritual growth necessary, “instant eternity!” That’s a far cry from the biblical story told about Jesus. To grow up like Jesus means learning to grow up as a human being. To learn to love God and to love your neighbor. To be curious about the world God created and entrusted to us. And to discover our vocation and contribution to that world. That kind of formation takes a long time and requires us to be immersed in the ordinary circumstances of life.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9]

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Written by Steve Robinson, a contemporary pastor and author.

Have you ever caught yourself drifting—slowly sliding away from the simple truth of Christ into a mindset of performance, shame, or self-effort? That’s what happened in Galatia. Paul’s heartbreak was that believers had embraced “a different gospel,” one that sounded spiritual but stripped away the power of Christ. The true gospel is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is not Christ plus works, Christ plus rules, or Christ plus our own strength. It is Christ alone. Paul makes it clear: grace is God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. The gospel saves us, yes—but it also changes us. It reshapes our desires, rewrites our story, and sets us free from shame, addiction, and fear. False gospels abound: religion that says you earn your place, works that trust in your goodness, broad roads that claim all paths lead to God, or hyper-grace that avoids repentance. Each one leaves us empty because they either add to or subtract from Jesus. The real gospel is Christ in us, living through us by His Spirit. The question is: where are you tempted to drift? Has your faith turned into striving, or loosened into apathy? The invitation today is to come back to the center—the cross, the empty tomb, and the Spirit who empowers new life.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]

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Written by Mark Roberts, a contemporary writer.

One of my friends went on a mission trip with members of his church to an impoverished area in southern Africa. Upon arriving, he was struck by how little the people he was visiting had in material wealth. They lived on the edge of serious poverty. But on the first night of his visit, his hosts prepared an elaborate and delicious feast for him and his fellow guests. At first, he felt guilty eating this feast, knowing what a sacrifice it was for his hosts. But when he saw their joy in serving him, his guilt subsided. His acceptance of their exceptional generosity gave them a chance to rejoice and, indeed, to flourish. They were flourishing by living richly through giving richly. 

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. [Proverbs 11:24-25]

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This prayer is from the Pray.com app.

God, I thank You for Your love for me today. I thank You for Your hand leading me. I thank You for Your Spirit guiding me, as I reach for higher and greater things in Your name, Jesus. Everything I do today is to glorify You. Let every person who sees me be inspired themselves to reach for more of what You have for them, more of what You have called them to—for Your glory. I command anything within me that wants to play it safe or desires things to be easy to leave my heart, my mind, my life right now. I don’t want anything less than Your best for me. “Faith” is the word that will direct and define my day, because I am reaching for the increase that You have promised me. God, I praise You for building me up on the inside, so that nothing I face on the outside can tear me down. Continue to strengthen me today. Bring breakthroughs in every area of my life— mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Bring breakthroughs in my work, in my relationships, and in my family. Where I am weary or discouraged, where I have been hurt or wounded, I ask You to comfort me. Heal me, inside and out. Surround me once again with Your unfailing love. Draw close to me, as I draw close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Increase my honor and comfort me again. [Psalm 71:21]

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Written by George Mueller (1805-1898), an English evangelist and one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren Movement.  This is an excerpt from his book “Life of Trust.”

“And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be, if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:7].

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Written by Timothy Keller (1950-2023), an American Presbyterian pastor, preacher, theologian, and Christian apologist.

From the time Jesus’ identity is revealed, he begins to say, “Follow me.” If he is who he says he is, what does it mean to follow him? Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means setting a new priority, finding a new identity, and living a new mercy. All three are critical; they all fit together… Discipleship is not just a matter of bending your will to Jesus’ will; it’s melting your heart into a whole new shape… A disciple is not only someone who has set a new priority, but someone whose entire identity has been reshaped and forged… But you can’t change your identity by just deciding. It’s not an act of the will. You cannot change your identity without a radical experience of mercy! without a radical experience of grace! without a radical experience of love!…Reason and willpower are not enough… Follow Jesus. He’ll give you what you need. He’s a wonderful counselor… He will love you singularly. He will love the real you. He will love you into a whole new identity.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [Luke 9:23-24] 

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