September 27 — "Learn From Their Mistakes"

Today's Reading: Matthew 23:1-22

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day, though outwardly religious, practiced a kind of spirituality that missed the heart of God. Their mistakes stand as warning signs, but also as roadmaps showing us the opposite way—the way of humble, authentic faith that truly pleases the Lord.

In this passage, Jesus issues a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They loaded people with heavy religious burdens but didn’t lift a finger to help. They performed their deeds for show, loved titles more than truth, and polished their outer appearance while their hearts remained filthy. They honored prophets of old but lived in rebellion against God’s voice in their own day. In their culture, the Pharisees were admired as spiritual elites, yet Jesus exposed their hollowness, pronouncing woe after woe upon their phony practices. A “woe” was a stern pronouncement of God’s displeasure, and a harsh warning of coming consequences. Their mistakes remind us that outward religion without inward devotion is not only empty—it’s offensive to God.

Imagine a diner who always posts pictures of gourmet meals but only eats microwave noodles at home. The outward image looks impressive, but the reality is disappointing. That’s what the Pharisees did spiritually—polishing their image while starving their souls. God’s call is not to spiritual selfies, but to authentic communion with Him.

For us today, the temptation to fall into “Phariseeism” faces all of us. We can slip into a faith that looks busy and respectable on the outside but fails to love, serve, and obey from the heart. We may say the right words, attend the right events, even quote Scripture—but if we’re seeking applause or avoiding surrender, we’re walking in Pharisaic footsteps. God delights in sincerity, humility, and love that flows from a heart transformed by His Spirit.

The lesson is clear: learn from their mistakes. Ask God to reveal areas of pretense in your own walk with Him. Replace performance with passion for Christ, reputation with relationship, and empty duty with joyful devotion. Open the doors of your life wide to grace, mercy, and truth. Let the inside match the outside, so what people see is the overflow of a genuine love for Jesus.

May the Lord guard your heart from hollow religion and fill it with the joy of sincere devotion. May your life shine with authenticity, and may every step reflect the kind of faith that thrills the Father’s heart. 

September 26 — "Like Angels in Heaven"

Today's Reading: Matthew 22:23-46

The resurrection life will be more glorious than our wildest dreams. Even the most treasured relationships we experience on earth—like marriage—will be elevated, expanded, and completed in the radiant presence of God. This isn’t love lost—it’s love perfected.

In Matthew 22:30, Jesus responded to the Sadducees, who tried to corner Him with a convoluted question about marriage in the resurrection. He told them their error stemmed from not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. They were stuck viewing eternity through earthly lenses, unable to grasp that Heaven isn’t just life 2.0—it’s a brand-new reality where God Himself satisfies every longing. Relationships in Heaven won’t be diminished—they’ll be gloriously fulfilled. We’ll love more deeply, understand more fully, and rejoice more purely than ever before, because Christ’s presence will bind us together in perfect fellowship (1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:3–4).

Now, when Jesus said we’ll be “like angels,” He didn’t mean we’ll “become” angels—Scripture makes it clear they’re a different kind of creation altogether. Instead, He pointed to three powerful ways our resurrected life will be similar to theirs:

1. No Marriage in Heaven – Angels don’t marry or reproduce (Luke 20:35–36), and in the resurrection, neither will we. Not because love disappears, but because marriage’s purpose—to multiply, to offer companionship, and to reflect Christ’s love for the Church—will be fulfilled and gloriously surpassed in Heaven.
2. Immortal and Glorified – Angels don’t die, and guess what? We won’t either (Luke 20:36). Our resurrected bodies will be robed in immortality (1 Corinthians 15:52–54), untouched by death or decay—forever free.
3. Single-Minded Devotion – Angels worship and serve God without pause (Isaiah 6:2–3; Revelation 5:11–12). In Heaven, liberated from sin and distraction, we too will live in undivided, joyful devotion to Him.

Being “like angels” doesn’t strip away our humanity—it perfects it. We’ll still be us—recognizable, whole, and glorified. No longer bound by death or sin, we’ll experience love, worship, and fellowship at heights we’ve never imagined.

So don’t anchor your hope in fragile earthly arrangements. Fix your eyes on Christ’s promise of resurrection life. Love boldly, forgive lavishly, and serve with joy—because the best is yet to come.

Today, may the Lord lift your gaze to the breathtaking glory of resurrection life, anchor your heart in His eternal promises, and flood you with hope for the day when love and life are perfected in His presence forever. 

September 25 — "Called. Chosen. Clothed."

Today's Reading: Matthew 22:1-22

God’s invitation to salvation is gloriously wide—but let’s be honest, not everyone responds.

Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” That line wraps up His parable of the wedding feast, where the original invitees refused to come. So the King extended the invitation to others—good, bad, and everything in between. The call went out broadly, but only those properly dressed were allowed to stay.

In ancient Jewish weddings, kings often provided garments for their guests. These weren’t optional—they signified honor, acceptance, and alignment with the host’s generosity. Refusing the garment was a bold insult. Showing up without it? A defiant rejection of the King’s way. In Jesus’ story, no one who sincerely wanted to come the King’s way was turned away. Those excluded either rejected the invitation outright or tried to enter on their own terms—without the garment.

The “chosen” aren’t a lucky few. They’re the ones who heard the call, responded with humility, and received the King's robe. Scripture affirms this open invitation again and again:

• John 3:16 – “Whosoever believes in Him”

• Acts 2:21 & Romans 10:13 – “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”

• Titus 2:11 – “The grace of God has appeared… to all people”

• 1 Timothy 2:4 – “[God] desires all people to be saved”

• Revelation 22:17 – “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”

Today, that invitation still goes out through the preaching of the Gospel. Many hear it. But not all respond. Some ignore it. Others resist it. And some try to come clothed in religion or good works—not in Christ’s righteousness.

So don’t shrug off God’s call. If you’ve heard the Gospel, respond with faith. Don’t assume proximity to church, or knowledge of the Bible, or being a "good" person is enough. Put on the King's garment—the righteousness of Christ offered freely to all will accept it. Trust His finished work, walk with Him daily, and let His Spirit shape your life.

Today, may the Lord clothe you in His righteousness, stir your heart to say “yes,” and fill you with joyful anticipation for the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

September 24 — "Have You Never Read?"

Today's Reading: Matthew 21:23-46

Jesus had a way of cutting through the noise, exposing the stark difference between knowing words about God and truly knowing the God of the Word. In Matthew 21, He challenges the religious leaders, saying that if they had truly grasped Psalm 118:22-23, they’d recognize what God was doing right in front of their faces. Right there. No mistaking it.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus kept circling back to one soul-piercing question: Have you not read? He wasn’t trying to shame them—He was trying to wake them up. Their issue wasn’t access to Scripture; it was a lack of understanding and obedience. They could quote verses like pros, yet they missed the Cornerstone Himself—standing right in front of them.

In the ancient world, the cornerstone was the first stone laid when building a structure. It was large, carefully cut, and set at the corner to ensure the whole building would be properly aligned and stable. When Jesus applied Psalm 118 to Himself, He revealed that, although the religious elite rejected Him as unworthy, Yahweh made Him the Cornerstone—the bedrock of God’s entire Kingdom. What they tossed aside, God lifted up as central and essential—the very foundation of salvation.

See, spiritual blindness isn’t just about access to God’s truth; it’s often fueled by pride and resistance to that truth. You can have a Bible on your shelf, a verse on your lips, even a theology degree on your wall—and still miss the heartbeat of God. Jesus didn’t mince words: “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”

We live in a time when Bibles are everywhere—apps, websites, pockets, motels, shelves galore. But the question still echoes: Have you never read? Or maybe more pointedly: Have you truly read with ears open and heart receptive? The Scriptures aren’t just for information; they’re for transformation. They point us to Christ, the Living Word, the rejected Stone who became the Cornerstone of salvation.

Think of it like this: a map only helps if you follow it. Having the directions won’t get you anywhere unless you actually walk the path. In the same way, the Bible isn’t meant to sit in our heads like trivia; it’s meant to guide our feet into truth, obedience, and worship.

Today, may the Lord stir up a deeper hunger in you for His Word. May your eyes behold Christ as the Cornerstone, and may every time you open the Scriptures, you not only read them—but be read by them—shaped and strengthened by the living voice of God. 

September 23 — "Save Us Please! Save Us Now!"

Today's Reading: Matthew 21:1-22

The crowd’s cry in Matthew 21 still reverberates with soul-shaking power: “Hosanna in the highest!” At first glance, it sounds like simple praise—like a cheer at a parade. But oh, it’s so much more. That one word carries a depth of meaning that reaches far beyond palm branches and celebration.

Originally, “Hosanna” came from the Hebrew phrase Hoshi’a na—“Save us, please!” It’s found in Psalm 118:25: “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!” It was the desperate cry of a people aching for rescue. But over time, the word evolved. It became not just a plea for salvation, but a shout of triumph—“Salvation has come! Victory is here!” What began as a prayer of desperation bloomed into a declaration of hope.

On that first “Palm Sunday” in Jerusalem, the crowd shouted “Hoshi’a na” with both meanings packed into one breath. Some were pleading, “Save us from Rome!” Others—without even realizing it—were proclaiming a deeper truth: Jesus had come to save them from sin and death. They thought they were welcoming a political hero. Heaven knew they were welcoming the Savior of the world.

And that’s the breathtaking beauty of “Hoshi’a na”: it’s both a cry of the heart and a confession of faith. It means, “Lord, save me right now!” and also, “Lord, You’ve brought salvation, and I’m rejoicing!” Few words in all of Scripture carry that kind of dual punch—desperation and delight, plea and praise.

In our own walk with Jesus, “Hosanna” gives voice to the tension we live in. When you’re in the thick of a trial, whisper it as a prayer: “Hosanna—Lord, save me!” When you’re basking in God’s faithfulness, shout it as praise: “Hosanna—my Deliverer has come!”

So today, let “Hoshi’a na - Hosanna” be ever on your lips. In your need, let it rise like a prayer. In your joy, let it soar like a song. Because Jesus has heard your cry—and He’s already given you His victory.

May the Lord fill your heart today with the cry and the confidence of “Hosanna”—that in your weakness, you may find His rescue, and in your worship, you may rejoice in His triumph. 

September 22 — "Twice His"

Today's Reading: Matthew 20:17-34

Picture a little boy who builds a toy boat with his own two hands. He carves it, assembles it, fastens it together, paints it, and cherishes it. But one day, it drifts away on a pond and vanishes. Heartbroken, the boy later spots his beloved boat in a pawn shop window. Though he made it—so it’s rightfully his—the shopkeeper insists he must buy it back. So the boy works, saves, and finally pays the price to reclaim his treasure. Clutching his boat once more, he whispers, “Little boat, you’re twice mine—first I made you, and then I bought you. Now you’re really mine!”

That story mirrors the truth of Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” In the ancient world, ransom was the payment to release a slave or prisoner. It was the exact price required to buy back one’s freedom. And that’s what Jesus did for us. He created us in His image, which means we already belonged to Him. But sin carried us away, and like the little boat, we ended up in the pawnshop of bondage to sin. Though Jesus was our rightful Owner by creation, He chose to buy us back by ransom satisfying the demands of justice and love. Now we are twice His. He chose to buy us back with His own life. He made us once—and then He ransomed us. We are twice His.

Think about that! You are not only His by design—you are His by redemption. That means your worth is beyond question. You are not cheap, not accidental, not disposable. You were bought with the most precious currency ever paid: the blood of Christ. That also means your life is no longer your own. If you’re twice His, then every breath belongs to Him, and every day is an opportunity to live as His treasured possession.

So when guilt whispers that you’re not enough, remember: you’re twice His. When fear tells you that you’re abandoned, remember: you’re twice His. And when the enemy tries to chain you back to sin, stand tall in the truth that you’re twice His—made and bought, cherished and claimed.

May the Lord fill your heart today with the unshakable joy of knowing you are twice His. And may that truth set you free to live in bold love, humble service, and radiant hope until the day you see Him face to face. 

September 21 — "Envious of God’s Generosity"

Today's Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

God’s Kingdom doesn’t run on merit—it runs on grace. Undeserved, unearned, wildly generous grace. In the parable of the vineyard workers, Jesus flips the scoreboard and reveals a truth that rattles human pride: while we tally up effort, He pours out unearned mercy. The last become first, the first become last, because the Father delights in giving freely—not by our rules, but by His heart.

In Jesus’ day, day laborers lived hand-to-mouth, utterly reliant on landowners to feed their families. Getting hired late in the day could mean going home empty-handed. But in this parable, the master pays the latecomers a full day’s wage—a jaw-dropping act of generosity. When the early birds grumble, the master replies, “Can’t I do what I want with my own money?” Translation: God gives grace on His terms, not ours.

This story wrecks the spirit of comparison and competition. We might side-eye someone’s blessing—“Why her?” or “How did he get saved so late and still receive eternal life?” But Heaven isn’t a prize for performance; it’s a gift. Our God is lavish, not stingy. His mercy toward others doesn’t shrink His mercy toward us—it multiplies it.

Picture this: two travelers board a plane. One booked months in advance, the other snagged a last-minute seat. When they land, both arrive at the same destination, same time. The early planner might mutter, “But I prepared, I waited, I booked early!” Yet both made it because of the ticket—not the hustle. That’s grace. That’s how God works. His grace—not our grind—is what gets us our ticket home. And yes, He absolutely gets to do it that way.

So let’s swap envy for celebration. Instead of resenting someone else’s blessing, rejoice in God’s mercy. Cheer for every prodigal who stumbles home, every eleventh-hour sinner who gets swept into salvation. And remember—your own rescue wasn’t “fair.” It was mercy. The Lord handed you a ticket you didn’t earn. So live humbly, serve joyfully, and trust the Master’s generosity.

Today, may the Lord uproot every trace of envy from your heart and plant deep gratitude in its place. May He open your eyes to fresh mercies and free you from comparisons that steal your joy. And may you walk in the glad confidence that His generosity toward others only magnifies His goodness toward you.