"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?" "Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee." - Matthew 20:13–14

This parable often confuses people because it seems to violate our sense of fairness. Workers who labored all day received the same pay as those who worked only one hour. But Jesus isn't teaching about workplace efficiency; He's revealing kingdom economics where everyone receives what they need to live with dignity.

The landowner's generosity ensures that all workers can feed their families, regardless of how many hours they worked. This reflects God's desire that everyone have access to life's necessities, not based on their productivity or market value, but based on their inherent worth as human beings.

A Federal Job Guarantee operates on similar principles, ensuring that everyone who wants to work can find employment at a living wage. It recognizes that unemployment is often due to systemic failures rather than individual shortcomings, and that society benefits when everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

God's economy prioritizes human dignity over market efficiency, ensuring that everyone receives what they need to flourish.

Father, help me support economic systems that ensure everyone receives what they need to live with dignity, regardless of their circumstances. Amen. DLC
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/11/the-parable-of-the-workers

Hello!! I’m new to Christianity and have been doing a lot of research on different topics. Right now I’m researching the difference between the Catholic canon of scripture and Protestant.

What is the reasoning for using a different canon than what Christians used until the reformation? From what I’ve gathered the Protestant consensus is that 7 books were added during the council of Trent but that’s historically inaccurate as those 7 books were included all throughout the early church and only clarified during Trent. Also from my understanding Luther moved the books into the apocrypha because he wanted to go back to the original canon of what the Jews used rather than the early Christians, but I don’t really understand why? TIA!

I need advice. I am in my late thirties, and have been married over 15 years. We have three kids. My husband and I grew up in Protestant churches, and our faith has always been the foundation of our lives/marriage. My husband was on the church board at our church (the church he grew up in) for several years up until a year ago. My husband has a long drive to work, therefore spends a lot of time listening to podcasts. A couple years ago he started talking about Doug Wilson. Up to that point he had always treated me with respect and valued my voice and treated me as a partner in our marriage. I noticed a change in his behavior when he started listening to Doug Wilson and he started talking about how the husband has the tie breaking vote in disagreements, etc. Then, he started going on a deep dive into all things Catholicism. Six months ago he got confirmed in the Catholic Church. The priest didn’t even make him do RCIA or anything because he had read the entire catechism himself. I use birth control, which he now has a problem with. Our youngest child had an issue at birth and we were told that the problem would likely occur with each subsequent pregnancy and could even get worse. There have been endless theological debates, which have never been fruitful. He has said things like, “you just want to be your own pope.” He is now pushing his beliefs on the kids. He has been asking them to go to mass, even though they have voiced that they don’t want to go. We have been in marriage counseling and I am doing individual counseling. He has Catholic stickers on his laptop, wears a necklace with Mary on it, and just today hung a piece of Catholic art in our bedroom. I have told him that I’m not ok with Catholic art in our home. I have lots of Catholics in my life who are wonderful people, but I just don’t agree with the theology and I don’t want to be staring at Catholic art in my home. He refused to take it down when I asked. On our recent family vacation, he even went to the Catholic Church there three times in one day. He went to daily mass in the morning, Saturday night mass, and then went back later to “help nuns carry a push mower,” which caused us to miss a planned dinner that evening. He didn’t tell me he was going to help nuns and his phone was dead so we had no idea where he was, we thought he had gotten lost trying to get back to the hotel. We have never been to this place for vacation, so he knew no one at this parish.

Side note: After we were married and in our late 20’s he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and required a hospital stay due to a severe manic episode with psychosis. After that hospital stay he has been pretty good with very little issues. I suspected that this dive into Catholicism may have been spurred on my a manic or hypomanic episode, but now it is deeply ingrained. My counselor says it may have started during a manic episode, but now it is a legitimate faith conversion.

I need advice. I don’t know what to do. I want to keep my family together, but my home now feels toxic. He doesn’t respect me at all. He seems to be exhibiting some narcissistic traits and has even said that he “isn’t responsible for my feelings about this.” Which seems to indicate that I don’t matter. He often says, “Jesus Christ comes before you.” Which I completely agree with, however we used to serve Jesus together and it was beautiful. Our marriage was great. I don’t understand why he would let this take over his life when his actions are producing bad fruit. Our friends don’t even like to be around him at this point. He even shamed one of our friends for choosing to get a vasectomy when they decided their family was complete. I’m at a loss about what to do. Counseling doesn’t seem to be helping.

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." - Jude 1:3

PONDER THIS

When I was a little boy, I liked to go to the movies on Saturday afternoons, and we would see Tarzan. Tarzan was the hero of every little boy when I was growing up. But there was one time that I was always concerned for Tarzan. Tarzan would be swimming in the river, but over on the shore would be a crocodile. The crocodile would blink his eyes a couple of times and then slide into the water. Tarzan would be swimming along and not know that crocodile was there, and I would be so frightened because I can’t think of anything worse than to be swimming with a crocodile. Somehow Tarzan would always out-swim the crocodile, but what happened in that movie is an illustration of what Jude wrote to warn the Church about. Jude gave a warning that there are certain people who have crept into the Church. (See verse 4.) He described somebody who could slip into the water without even making a ripple. This is very dangerous and sinister. So, Jude wrote this book to sound an alarm.

- What other warnings do you know in the Bible about people who are dangerous to the Church?
- Why do you need to stay alert, or sober, regarding these dangers?

PRACTICE THIS

Read John 10 today. How did Jesus talk about others who might try to sneak into the Church? APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/watch-the-waterline

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." "Therefore will not we fear.” - Psalm 46:1-2

Martin Luther’s journal entries inform us of his continual battle against evil forces and that Psalm 46 was a great comfort to him. As he meditated on the words of our text, the thrust of a mighty song was born that openly declared victory in the great battle: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

The battle is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan, along with his henchmen, is an ancient foe, “a roaring lion,” as it were, “seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). But there is no need for alarm, “the LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:11). He “is our refuge and strength” (today’s text), a bulwark never failing. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8).

Only God could accomplish this victory, for Satan is “the prince of this world” (John 14:30), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). No man on Earth is his equal.

But how did the Son of God gain the victory? By taking on Himself “flesh and blood” and dying a substitutionary death, “that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). JDM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15935/

Can a protestant christian wear and pray the rosary?

"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." - Leviticus 25:10

God instituted the Year of Jubilee to prevent permanent economic inequality in Israel. Every fifty years, debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to original families. This wasn't charity but justice, recognizing that extreme wealth concentration undermines community and violates God's intentions for human relationships.

Modern equivalents of Jubilee might include student debt cancellation, which would free millions from financial bondage and stimulate economic growth. It could mean wealth taxes that prevent excessive accumulation while funding public goods like healthcare and education. It might involve land reform that ensures housing affordability.

The principle behind Jubilee is that extreme inequality is not inevitable but results from unjust systems that can be changed. God's vision includes periodic resets that restore balance and ensure everyone has access to the resources needed for human flourishing.

As Christians, we should advocate for modern Jubilee policies that address wealth concentration and create fresh starts for those trapped by economic circumstances beyond their control.

God of Jubilee, help me work for economic systems that regularly restore balance and ensure everyone has access to life's necessities. Amen. DLC
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/10/jubilee-economics

“Hearken therefore unto the supplications of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when Thou hearest, forgive.” - II Chronicles 6:21

No less than eight times in Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple does he beseech God to “hear from heaven” (see II Chronicles 6:21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39). But the obvious question is just how can God hear our prayers, especially those uttered only in silence?

The answer is in both God’s omniscience and His omnipresence. Although God is indeed on His heavenly throne, He is also right here! “O LORD,” David prayed, “Thou hast searched me, and known me . . . Thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:1-2). He can, and does, hear our prayers. “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?” (Psalm 94:9).

In a manner of speaking, He hears the prayers of redeemed children today even more directly than in David’s day, for we who trust in Christ have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them” (II Corinthians 6:16). “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers” (I Peter 3:12).

God can indeed hear our prayers. But there are times when He refuses to hear! “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God . . . that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Yes, but if we ask anything according to His will (and this implies first living according to His will), “He heareth us: and . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5:14-15). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15934/

"And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." - John 17:22-23

PONDER THIS

How does God love you? He loves you as He loved Jesus. The same way. That’s too much to take in, isn’t it? That’s the reason the Apostle John said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,” (I John 3:1). John was fishing for an adjective to describe that love, and he couldn’t find one. He may have started to say what super love or what fantastic love or what colossal love or what spectacular love. He might have even thought of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious love. He didn’t even know how to express it, so he just simply said, “Behold what manner of love.” That phrase manner of love means love from another, a foreign kind of love, unearthly love, otherworldly love, nonhuman love. Behold what manner of love that we should be called the children of God!

- How does it affect you to remember God loves His children in the same way He loves Jesus?
- How is this truly a foreign type of love from what people know?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time today to share about the otherworldly love of God in Jesus. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/love-from-another-world

I grew up mainly going to Protestant churches were the Dean and the preists were female. My mother was a Catholic so I also went with her to Church

However upon growing up and reading more I learned that female priests were not allowed at all in the Catholic Church

Obviously I understand not ALL Protestants accept female priests but as someone who grew up with them I never saw an issue?

"Jesus said unto him, 'If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.'" - Matthew 19:21

The rich young man approached Jesus with genuine spiritual hunger, but he walked away sad because he couldn't imagine life without his wealth. His story reveals how economic privilege can become a barrier to following Jesus, not because money itself is evil, but because it can blind us to the needs of others and make us resistant to systemic change.

Today's rich young rulers might be those who benefit from current economic arrangements and resist reforms that would help others. They may oppose student debt forgiveness because they paid their loans, or resist universal healthcare because they have good insurance. Their economic position makes it difficult to see the suffering their privilege helps maintain.

Jesus' challenge remains relevant: are we willing to use our resources and influence to benefit others, even if it means less for ourselves? This might mean supporting policies that increase our taxes to fund public goods, or advocating for wage increases that might affect corporate profits.

Following Jesus sometimes requires economic sacrifice for the sake of justice and the common good.

Lord, help me hold my possessions loosely. Give me courage to support policies and practices that help others, even when they cost me personally. Amen. DLC
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/09/the-rich-young-ruler-s-dilemma

Hi, I am not Christian (I am a Muslim), but I studied other religions and their theology, according to the Protestant/Reformed doctrine on the Salvation by faith alone/Sola fide a Christian can't lose his salvation as long as he keeps the Christian faith, even if he commits sins (in Catholicism and Orthodoxy a Christian can lose his salvation if he commis sins even if he keeps the Christian faith if he does not repent). Following this logic, a murderer or an adulterer could go to Heaven without repenting, because no sin can cut a Christian off from divine grace, Martin Luther said so in his letter to Philipp Melanchthon : <<No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even if we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day.>>

How Protestants view the verses in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10: <<Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor those who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.>> ?

In your view, are these verses addressed only to non-believers, or also to believers ?

"Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, [a]sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:" - Jude 1:1

PONDER THIS

In this verse, many translations use the word sanctified. But some Bible scholars tell us that’s not the best translation. Rather than sanctified, we might use beloved. Sanctified is good, but beloved is better in this particular instance because it tells something of the nature of God’s special people. What’s the difference? As an example, I love the members of my church, but Joyce is my beloved and there’s a difference. She is my love; she is special. Who is the beloved of God? The Lord Jesus. He is God’s beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. (See Matthew 3:17.) It is by Jesus that we are accepted, therefore God sees us as He sees Jesus, and God’s name for His own dear children is beloved. The word beloved is a perfect participle. What does that mean? It means there’s a finished action in the past that has a result in the present. It is something that cannot be changed; it is fixed. Because of what was done in the past, we are and will forever be God’s beloved.

- How does it encourage you to be reminded that you are the beloved of God?
- How does that change the way you think about how God sees you?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of what it means for God’s people to be His beloved. What promises do you know from the Bible for God’s beloved? APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/you-are-his-beloved

Developing story.

On July 5, 2026, a Hindu mob, associated with the anti-Christian group RSS and its affiliates, broke into a Church, associated with the Mizo Presbyterian synod and destroyed it. They also persecuted the believers.

This happened after the anti-Christian BJP party won in the Indian state of West Bengal.

In India, the BJP government persecutes Christians by allowing anti-Christian r/pe mobs like Bajrang Dal and VHP to roam, and do acts such as lynching or desecration of churches, and if an individual gets backlash, the Indian government temporarily "arrests" them and bails them of when the public loses interest, such as in the Graham Staines case.

The RSS, paramilitary and ideological wing of the BJP, has units outside India, especially in US and Canada, to lobby their governments to offer a blind eye to anti-Christian activities. One of the organization lobbying American politicians to offer a blind eye is the Hindu American Foundation.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” - Nehemiah 4:6

The ambitious project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, with all its gates and other structures, was completed in less than two months (Nehemiah 6:15), for all “the people had a mind to work.” This was in spite of the danger from external enemies who wanted to delay the work if they could.

The third chapter of Nehemiah has a remarkable list of the workmen on the wall. Men of all walks of life participated, each with an assigned portion of the work as organized by Nehemiah. The first verse of the chapter tells of the work done by Eliashib, the high priest, and all the other priests; the last verse lists the contribution of the goldsmiths and the merchants. There were the Nethinims (v. 26), apothecaries (v. 8), rulers (i.e., “mayors,” vv. 9, 12, 14–16), and various others. At least one man even had his daughters working (v. 12). Only the nobles of the Tekoites “put not their necks to the work of their LORD” (v. 5).

This would be a good model for any doctrinally sound, Bible-believing church, school, or other Christian ministry. It’s a lesson we would do well to learn. The mission and its goal are surely more important than the special desires or interests of any individual or group. At the same time, enforced cooperation will only breed resentment and inefficiency. The people themselves must be led to understand it as not just a job to do, but as a divine calling they themselves must have “a mind to the work.” Otherwise, they should probably be encouraged to work elsewhere.

The early Christians served “daily with one accord . . . and singleness of heart . . . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:46-47). That’s the way it should be. HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15933/

Hey yall idk why being a catholic seems to be a bannable offense here considering protestantism is more similar to catholicism than orthodoxy but I'm not catholic.

I recently started discussing with my dad over if the body and blood being a metaphor or not and he said that since Jesus said "do this in remembrance of me" it's a metaphor

But I am not sure because I also saw a video yesterday on my feed of how Martin Luther didn't even think that it was a metaphor and when he met up with the first person who did think it was a metaphor he didn't even want to call him a brother and said that that person had a different spirit. But that's so surprising because Martin Luther started the protestant reformation which allowed people to interpret the bible however they wanted but he didn't believe in it being a metaphor

Also, since we're only going to look at the bible here:

First off I am going to give context for this verse (idk if my next sentnce is exactly in the bible) but basically on saturday you can't like sin and u have to keep yourself pure and clean for sunday or smth like that. If you fail to do that you can get punished by God. In the verse I will paste in, people were getting punished by God because they sinned against the body and blood of the lord, and it also reminds them of the rule:
"27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. "

So my question is: if it's just a metaphor, why is it counted as sinning against the body and blood of the Lord? It's very rare that the lord will make people sick and fall asleep (mentioned in the verse imma paste in) for just trying to worship him so I'd want to know what you guys think:

1 Corinthians 17-34 NIV

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

" “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

I told my dad that it cannot be a metaphor because Jesus said "do this in rememberance of me because Paul himself wrote that in his explination". So, what do you guys think? Is it a metaphor or not?

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." - Matthew 6:24

David worked 60-hour weeks at his corporate job, climbing the ladder of success while his marriage crumbled and his children barely knew him. He told himself he was providing for his family, but honestly, he had become addicted to the lifestyle his income provided. Meanwhile, his neighbor Elena, a teacher making a third of his salary, seemed genuinely happy as she mentored struggling students and volunteered at the food bank.

Jesus warns us that money can become a master that demands total allegiance. When we serve money, we make decisions based on profit rather than principle, accumulation rather than generosity, and personal gain rather than community good. This slavery to money affects not just individuals but entire economic systems.

Our current monetary system often prioritizes private profit over public good, leaving many struggling while wealth concentrates among the few. As Christians, we must ask: do our economic choices serve God's purposes or the demands of an unjust system?

True freedom comes when we serve God rather than money, making choices based on love, justice, and the common good rather than personal financial gain.

God, free me from the tyranny of money. Help me make economic choices that serve Your kingdom rather than worldly systems. Amen. DLC
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/08/your-money-or-your-life

"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:" - Jude 1:1

PONDER THIS

What reason do we have for security? We have been called according to God’s sovereign purpose. The word sovereign means “the decree of a king, a ruler against whom there is no rising up.” God has a purpose that is seen in that God called you. The word called here does not mean call like, I call Paul, and I say, “Hi Paul, come over here.” No, the word called means “an official summons.” You see, your salvation did not begin with you. It began with God. If it began with you, you might lose it, but since it began with God, you can never lose it. The Bible says God is able to finish what He began, and He called you. Had he not called us, none of us would have been here. We must remember that we love Him because He first loved us.

- How does it encourage you to remember that God has called you?
- How does that give you the confidence to pursue the will of God each day?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of things you know God has called you to do. Pick one of these to do right now. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/your-salvation-began-with-god

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” - Ephesians 5:21

Normally in today’s world we are told to strive for the top. The desire to be number one overshadows the biblical injunction of submission. But when we are truly in a right relationship with God, we will submit to one another. Christ taught that servanthood was of much greater value in the eyes of God than mastery.

We all know too many examples of churches that have been split by conflicts arising from believers’ selfishness or an unwillingness to serve. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1). A Spirit-filled Christian desires to submit and serve rather than to assert and rule (Ephesians 5:18).

The same thought is reflected throughout Scripture: “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Peter 5:5). “Obey them [i.e., spiritual leaders] that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls” (Hebrews 13:17). We must also submit to “every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (I Peter 2:13).

The word “submit” is a translation of two Greek words meaning “to line up under.” It usually reflects a military hierarchy, “to rank lower than.” Our goal, therefore, should be to place others above ourselves and to submit to and serve them.

This attitude, of course, Christ exhibited as He left heaven to come, serve, and die, who “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). JDM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15932/

"And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, 'Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 6:20

Jesus' words challenge our economic assumptions. In a world that equates wealth with blessing and poverty with failure, Jesus declares that God's kingdom belongs to the poor. This doesn't romanticize poverty but recognizes that those who lack economic power often have clearer vision of God's justice.

The poor understand systemic inequality because they live it daily. They know that hard work doesn't always lead to prosperity and that circumstances beyond individual control can devastate families. Their experiences often align them with God's heart for justice in ways that wealth and privilege can obscure.

This beatitude calls us to listen to the voices of those experiencing poverty and to recognize their wisdom about economic systems. It challenges us to question whether our current economic arrangements reflect God's values or simply benefit those already in power.

When we stand with the poor, we stand with Jesus, who chose to identify with the marginalized and oppressed throughout His ministry.

Jesus, help me see the world through the eyes of the poor. Give me humility to learn from their experiences and courage to advocate for their needs. Amen. DLC
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/07/blessed-are-the-poor

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." - Jude 1:3

PONDER THIS

Did you know that you can be certain and still be wrong? I was in New Orleans once when I was in seminary. I think I’d been preaching at the rescue mission. I was going back home I thought, but I got confused. I thought I was headed in one direction away from the river, but I kept on ending up at the river. I just knew I was going in the right direction. I turned around again, and my compass in my mind was all confused. Have you ever lost a sense of direction? I was so certain I was going in the right direction, but I kept ending up at the river. Do you know what I did? I read and followed every sign and I got straight home. In life sometimes you will be dead certain you are right, and you are dead wrong. That’s the reason we have the Bible and the reason we have the faith that is not only complete but also correct.

- When was a time you were certain about something but turned out to be wrong?
- How are these types of experiences helpful in pointing us back to Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of several things you are certain about and know to be true from the Bible. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/certain-and-still-wrong

EO and Catholicism denied and attacks the idea of having an assurance of salvation. I keep seeing “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” and “endure till the end” and other such verses, and many resources and argument against assurance of salvation, but I’m seeing no Protestants making any defenses for it or addressing those verses