DBF-001-031 continues with John 2:10. The master of the feast recognizes that something unusual has happened: the best wine has been kept until now. We should keep the focus on Christ’s provision and avoid turning the verse into a promise of material abundance.

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DBF-001-031

Today’s Scripture

John 2:10 (ESV)

“And said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’”

Opening the Scriptures

The master of the feast had tasted the wine, but he did not know where it had come from.

He called the bridegroom and expressed his surprise.

Normally, the better wine was served first. Yet at this wedding, the master believed that the best had been kept until later.

What he did not know was that the bridegroom had not provided this wine.

Jesus had.

The master could recognize the quality of the gift, but he did not recognize its source.

The servants knew.

Behind what appeared to be an unexpected provision stood the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

John is steadily directing our attention away from the wedding itself and toward Jesus.

Living God’s Word Today

There is a danger in receiving God’s gifts while forgetting the Giver.

Every day we receive things we can easily take for granted.

Food.

Shelter.

Family.

Friendship.

Strength for another day.

Opportunities to serve.

Most importantly, for those who belong to Christ, forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

Scripture reminds us:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17

Yet we must also be careful about what this miracle does not teach.

Jesus turning water into wine does not promise Christians wealth, comfort, success, or an easy life. The apostles themselves would later suffer greatly for following Christ.

The greatest gift at Cana was not the wine.

The greatest gift was Christ Himself.

That remains true today.

God may give us much or little in this world. Our circumstances may change. Health can fail. Possessions can disappear. Human relationships can disappoint us.

But the Christian’s greatest treasure cannot be measured by earthly prosperity.

We have Christ.

In Him we have something infinitely greater than temporary comfort: reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sin, and the certain hope of eternal life.

The master of the feast enjoyed the gift without knowing its source.

Let us not make the same mistake.

Recognize God’s goodness.

Give thanks for His daily provision.

But never become so occupied with God’s gifts that you forget the God who gives them.

Treasure Christ above everything He gives.

Question for Today

Do you value God’s gifts more than you value God Himself?

Respond: “Christ is my greatest treasure.”

Psalm 32:1-2 KJV
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

Hallelujah!!

That is the believer's state of right standing with God.

By the grace of God, because of our faith in Jesus and his "finished" work at the cross, we are not only blessed with already having all of our sin debt washed away in the blood of Christ (our transgressions forgiven and sins covered), but also we enjoy a continued blessing going forward of God not counting our iniquities against us. We are forgiven, and we continue to be held in a state of sinlessness.

Such blessings are not due to our performance. They are due to God's mercy and grace.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 KJV
"And all things are of God, who 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

#grace #mercy #faith #cross #forgiveness

Monday Encouragement — Now Let Us Live What We Believe

Blessings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yesterday we had the wonderful privilege of gathering with God’s people on the Lord’s Day. We worshiped our sovereign God, heard His precious Word proclaimed, prayed together, and were reminded once again of the saving grace that is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But now Monday has arrived.

The worship service has ended, but our worship has not.

Today we return to our homes, workplaces, ministries, communities, responsibilities, and challenges. And this is where the truth we heard yesterday must become visible in the way we live today.

It is easy to proclaim our trust in God while surrounded by fellow believers on Sunday. The greater challenge comes on Monday when difficulties return, unexpected problems arise, and the noise of this world begins competing for our attention.

Yet the God we worshiped yesterday is the same God who walks with us today.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8

Whatever this week brings, let us resist the temptation to immediately depend upon our own understanding and strength. Before making decisions, pray. When difficulties arise, pray. When opportunities appear, pray. When someone needs encouragement, ask God to give you the words to speak.

And wherever the Lord places us this week, let us remember that we carry something this world desperately needs—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are not called merely to observe the darkness around us. We have been commanded to carry the Light into it.

There may be someone God places before you this week who needs to hear that there is hope. Someone may need to experience Christian compassion. Someone may simply need to see through your life that Jesus Christ truly makes a difference.

Let us therefore begin this week asking one simple question:

“Lord, how can You use me today for Your glory?”

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” — Colossians 3:23

May the Lord guide our steps, guard our hearts, strengthen our faith, and give us courage to faithfully proclaim Christ wherever He sends us.

Yesterday we gathered to worship.

Today we go forth to serve.

Serving Christ Together for His Glory Alone.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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DAILY SPRING DEVOTIONAL. By Deborah Chinedu. Founder, Dominion Life In Christ Global Community. Monday, 24th August, 2026.
https://lnkd.in/p/etNPBydP

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom 5:8-10)

Ellen G. White
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. – {UL 243.1}
There is constant temptation for human beings to consider that any influence they have gained is the result of something valuable in themselves. The Lord does not work with these, for He will not give to any human being the glory that belongs to His own name. God would have everyone under His supervision, and recognize that to God belongs all the glory of their success.... – {UL 243.2}
If the human worker will walk in all humility of mind, looking to God, trusting in Him, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, the Lord will cooperate with him. It is God that works in us to do His will for His own name’s glory. He will give His wisdom, His divine power, to everyone who is doing His service. He makes the humble trustful servant His representative—the one who will not lift himself up, and think of himself more highly than he ought to think. The life of such an one will be dedicated to God as a living sacrifice, and that life He will accept and use and sustain.... – {UL 243.3}
Our life is not our own. It is Christ’s life. All is His, and we are to spend our powers in doing the will of God. Watch and pray; spend and be spent in doing His will from the heart. Carry every entrusted capability as a sacred treasure, to be used in imparting to others the knowledge and grace received.... – {UL 243.4}
Nehemiah, after gaining so great an influence over the [Persian] monarch in whose court he lived, and over his people in Jerusalem, instead of ascribing praise to his own excellent traits of character, his remarkable aptness and energy, stated the manner just as it was. He declared that his success was due to the good hand of God that was upon him. He cherished the truth that God was his safeguard in every position of influence. For every trait of character by which he obtained favor, he praised the working power of God.... And God gave him wisdom, because he did not exalt himself. The Lord taught him how to use the gifts entrusted to him to the very best advantage, and under the supervision of God, these talents gained other talents.... – {UL 243.5}
Every jot of influence is to be appreciated as the gift of God. The eye of the mind is to be single to the glory of God. Then the sense of responsibility will increase. Our talents will be put out to the exchangers to increase and double. There are hundreds of men and women who, if they had a proper appreciation of the heavenly trust, would go diligently and earnestly to work to use what they have.—Letter 83, August 17, 1898, to a leading minister in Australia. – {UL 243.6}

Need to know.
Tomorrow is not promised. James 4:14 says, “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” We often say, “I will do it tomorrow,” but none of us knows what tomorrow will bring. The time to seek God is now. The time to repent is now. The time to forgive is now. The time to obey His Word is now. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Do not wait for the perfect moment, because the moment God has given you is today. Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Make your heart right with God while you still have breath. Put away the sin you keep postponing. Forgive the person you have refused to forgive. Return to prayer. Return to His Word. Believe in Christ and walk in obedience. We are not promised tomorrow, but we are responsible for what we do with today. Be ready. Stay ready. The time to live for God is now.

Did you know?
Nothing in this world is more valuable than knowing Jesus Christ personally. Success, possessions, and achievements may satisfy for a season, but they cannot save the soul or give the hope of eternal life. Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"(John 14:6). God has already shown the depth of His love by giving His only Son, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16).

To know Christ is more than agreeing with facts about Him—it is trusting Him, following Him, and allowing Him to transform every part of our lives. As Paul wrote, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). When Jesus becomes the center of our lives, we receive forgiveness, peace with God, and the sure hope of eternal life, a treasure far greater than anything this world could ever offer.

Let's talk about it.
ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED — A DANGEROUS DOCTRINE

The statement “Once saved, always saved” sounds comforting, but if it is understood to mean that a person can never fall away from Christ regardless of how they later live, it contradicts the serious warnings of Scripture.

Jesus said, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13

Why would Christ emphasize endurance if salvation made perseverance irrelevant?

The Bible repeatedly warns believers about falling away:

Hebrews 10:26–27 — deliberately continuing in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth brings fearful judgment.

1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

John 15:6 — Jesus warned that branches that do not remain in Him are cast forth and burned.

Revelation 2:10 — “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Matthew 24:13 — “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Biblical salvation is not a license to live in rebellion. Grace forgives sin, but grace also teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11–12).

We are saved by grace through faith—not by works—but genuine faith produces obedience and a transformed life (Ephesians 2:8–10; James 2:17).

So the issue is not whether God is faithful. He is. The issue is whether we will continue abiding in Christ.

Don't let a false sense of security replace watchfulness, repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10

Eternal life is promised to those who continue in faith and faithfulness to Christ.

Amazing Love