As we begin The Bible Marathon, there's a general introduction, giving three reasons as to why I am "running" this marathon (the first fifteen minutes). After that, we consider Genesis 1:1 and four Bible passages that give us the reasons why God created the heavens and the earth. https://youtu.be/isYZ9jvmy08 Since The Bible Marathon is also "run" in order to distribute 100,000 Bibles to the persecuted church, your purchase of the entire online bookstore for only $5.00 is greatly appreciated. For all the info, go to www.TheBibleMarathon.com #thebiblemarathon #thecauseofchrist #christcenteredbooks #toeverychristian #christian #bible #faith #christianliving #jesus

There is a difference between being saved and living as a disciple of Jesus—and understanding that difference can completely change how we approach the Christian life. https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/25/saved-by-grace-called-to-follow-the-difference-between-salvation-and-discipleship/ Salvation is a gift. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not because we have worked hard enough, behaved well enough, or earned God's acceptance. But salvation is not the end of the journey. Jesus calls those He saves to follow Him. “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 MEV Discipleship is the daily decision to surrender our plans, habits, relationships, priorities, attitudes, and desires to Jesus. We don't obey Christ to earn salvation. We obey because we belong to the One who saved us. Salvation changes our standing before God. Discipleship changes the way we live. Salvation rests on what Christ has done. Discipleship responds to what Christ has said. The question isn't only, “Am I saved?” We should also be asking: “Am I actually following Jesus?” Read the new blog: Saved by Grace, Called to Follow: The Difference Between Salvation and Discipleship #Salvation #Discipleship #FollowingJesus #SavedByGrace #ChristianLiving #Faith #JesusChrist #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianFaith #BibleTeaching #FollowJesus #GraceThroughFaith

The Coming of Elijah and the Restoration of All Things Jesus taught that before the great and terrible Day of the Lord comes, there would be a work of restoration. He spoke about the coming of Elijah, the one who would come to prepare the way and restore all things. Hallelujah! Just as God sent Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord and to prepare the nation of Israel to recognize and receive the Son of God, once again we see the manifestation of this ministry. At that first moment, the mission was directed toward the nation of Israel, the Jews. Elijah came to prepare the people for the manifestation of the Messiah. But in this final manifestation, the mission is broader. It is not limited only to the Jews, but reaches all the peoples of the earth, especially the Church that is spread among the nations. However, this time the mission is even broader. It is not only about preparing the way and presenting Jesus Christ to the people. It is also about confronting the works of darkness, bringing down the power of Satan, and confronting his kingdom. It is a ministry of restoration, preparation, and spiritual confrontation. God is calling His people back to His Word, to repentance, holiness, and true worship, preparing them for the manifestation of the Lord. Hallelujah! The God who sent Elijah in the past is the same God who continues to work to restore all things and prepare His people for the great Day of the Lord.

Wednesday evening Bible study. Bless us Lord. Continue The Book of Romans “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *God wants our hearts in this relationship. To daily grow and learn how to Live, pleasing To God. “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *it’s here we learn and grow how to Live. Trusting God. God gives us what we need to serve Him. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *enthusiastically Rejoice. Keep on Praying. Honorable Peace. Kindness Do Good. “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *do what is right. Bless those in authority. Honor God do what is right. “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *don’t even allow it, give up sinning. Be Full of Christ. *All Jesus, no more of the flesh. *back to verse 2 Daily forever Transforming *Life being pleasing and perfect “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *people having issue with meat offered to idols. Still hung up on religious customs. *its all about the Heart. “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *Jesus Standing in our Place. We’ve got to be assured of Living for Him. It’s about our Heart. “So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *be living and honorable. Goodness and Peace. Pleasing to God. “Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *do what is Right. *Trust God… it’s about the Heart. Relationship with God, relationship with one another…

CHRISTIANITY IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY How long does it take a Christian to reach completeness, to become spiritually mature; to display all God intends him to be? The simple answer: a lifetime. Christianity is a lifelong journey, an adventure. It's not an event or a temporary project. In Phillipians 3, Paul had just written about his goals to gain Christ, and be found in Him with the righteousness that comes only through faith in the sinless Son of God. He wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, even through fellowship with His suffering. (Phil. 3, 8-11) Paul had come far in his spiritual growth, he had completely surrendered all his former status for the cause of the gospel of Christ. He had progressed from persecuting followers of Jesus to teaching believers how to live the christian life. (Phil. 3, 17) Throughout the epistles, christians are instructed and encouraged to "grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord". We are to "press on ... that we may "lay hold of that which Christ Jesus" has obtained for us. (Phil. 3, 12) "Press on" suggests pursuing the goal with all deliberate speed and intentionality. It is a continual action and each new day presents another opportunity to become more of what God has designed us to be.

THE REALITY OF DEATH WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR VERY LAST BREATH? “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.” — Hebrews 9:27 Death is one of the realities that every human being eventually faces. We can avoid talking about it. We can stay busy. We can accumulate possessions. We can build businesses. We can pursue careers. We can become famous. We can become wealthy. We can travel the world. We can take care of our bodies. But eventually, every earthly journey comes to an end. One day, every heartbeat will stop. One day, every breath will cease. One day, the opportunities of this present life will come to an end. And when that final breath comes, there is one question that matters more than almost anything else: WHERE WILL YOU GO? Not: “How much money did I have?” Not: “How successful was I?” Not: “How many people knew my name?” Not: “How beautiful was my house?” Not: “How many possessions did I leave behind?” The question is: “AM I READY TO MEET GOD?” --- 1. DEATH IS NOT RESPECTFUL OF AGE Death doesn't ask whether you're young or old. It doesn't ask whether you're rich or poor. It doesn't ask whether you're famous or unknown. It doesn't ask whether you're prepared. Death comes to kings and ordinary people. The Bible reminds us that our earthly lives are temporary. Psalm 90:12 says: > “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Our time on earth is precious because it is limited. You don't know how many mornings you have left. You don't know how many sunsets you have left. You don't know how many birthdays you have left. You don't know how many times you will hear the voice of someone you love. Therefore: Don't waste the life God has given you. --- 2. YOUR LAST BREATH WILL NOT BE THE END OF EVERYTHING For the Christian, death is not the end. Jesus said in John 11:25: > “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” Jesus Christ conquered the grave. The resurrection of Jesus means death does not have the final word. For those who belong to Christ, there is the hope of resurrection and eternal life with God. That is why Paul could write in Philippians 1:21: > “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” This doesn't mean we should seek death. It means that the believer can face death knowing that Jesus has already conquered the grave. --- 3. BUT THE BIBLE ALSO WARNS US ABOUT JUDGMENT We cannot preach only the comforting parts of Scripture. The Bible tells us: Hebrews 9:27: > “Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.” There is accountability before God. Our lives matter. Our decisions matter. Our relationship with God matters. The Bible speaks about a final judgment. Revelation 20:12 describes the dead standing before God and being judged. This should awaken us. Not merely frighten us. Awaken us. Because God's warning is an expression of His mercy. God doesn't warn us because He wants humanity to perish. He warns us because He calls people to repentance and salvation. --- 4. YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR POSSESSIONS WITH YOU You may spend your entire life collecting things. But when your final breath comes, everything you accumulated remains behind. You cannot put your bank account inside your coffin. You cannot take your house into eternity. You cannot take your automobile. You cannot take your career. You cannot take your social-media followers. You cannot take your earthly reputation. The question is not: “What did I own?” The question is: “Whom did I belong to?” --- 5. JESUS ASKED A QUESTION THAT SHOULD SHAKE EVERY HEART Jesus said in Mark 8:36: > “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” Think about that. You could theoretically gain everything this world has to offer— and still lose the most important thing you possess. Your soul. You can be successful and spiritually lost. You can be admired and spiritually empty. You can have possessions and have no peace with God. You can fool people. You can even fool yourself. But you cannot fool God. God sees the heart. --- 6. THE MOST IMPORTANT PREPARATION FOR DEATH The most important preparation isn't buying a cemetery plot. It isn't writing a will. It isn't organizing your possessions. Those things have their place. But the most important preparation is: BE READY TO MEET JESUS. Jesus said in John 14:6: > “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Not in our accomplishments. Not in our morality. Not in religious performance. Not in trying to make ourselves worthy. We need the grace of God. We need forgiveness. We need Christ. --- 7. SALVATION IS NOT SOMETHING WE EARN Ephesians 2:8–9 teaches that we are saved by grace through faith—not because of our own works. This is incredibly important. You cannot make yourself worthy of salvation. You cannot become good enough to force God to accept you. The Gospel is that Jesus Christ came for sinners. He died for our sins. He rose from the dead. And He calls us to repentance and faith. Salvation is God's gift. But we must receive that gift. --- 8. REPENTANCE MEANS TURNING TOWARD GOD Repentance isn't simply saying: “I'm sorry.” Biblical repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It means surrender. It means: “Lord, I don't want to live my way anymore. I want Your way.” It doesn't mean you will never stumble. It means you stop making peace with sin. You stop treating rebellion against God as something you don't care about. You bring your failures to Christ. You confess them. You receive His forgiveness. And you keep walking with Him. --- 9. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH One of the most dangerous lies is: “I'll get right with God later.” Later may never come. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Next year is not guaranteed. Another decade is not guaranteed. Your next breath isn't something you can demand. Therefore: DON'T WAIT. If God is calling your heart today, respond today. If you need to repent, repent today. If you need to forgive someone, forgive today. If you need to return to Christ, return today. If you've been running from God, come home today. --- 10. THE CROSS IS GOD'S ANSWER TO OUR SIN At the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the judgment deserved by sinners. He suffered. He bled. He died. And then He rose again. The cross tells us two things simultaneously: Sin is serious. And: God's love is astonishing. Romans 5:8 tells us that God demonstrated His love for us through Christ dying for us while we were still sinners. Think about that. Jesus didn't wait until we became perfect. He came to save sinners. --- 11. THERE IS HOPE FOR THE PERSON WHO FEELS TOO FAR GONE Perhaps someone reading this thinks: “I've failed God too many times.” “I've sinned too much.” “God could never forgive me.” Listen carefully: The Gospel is not: “Fix yourself and then come to Jesus.” The Gospel is: “Come to Jesus.” Bring Him your brokenness. Bring Him your shame. Bring Him your failures. Bring Him your regrets. Bring Him your fears. Bring Him your past. Bring Him your sins. And surrender them to Him. Jesus is the Savior. You don't have to save yourself. --- 12. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOUR LAST BREATH COMES? One day, every one of us will face that moment. The room may become quiet. The sounds of this world may fade. The things that seemed so important may suddenly seem insignificant. And the question will no longer be theoretical. It will become personal: “WHERE AM I GOING?” For the person who belongs to Christ, there is hope. Jesus promised eternal life. Jesus promised resurrection. Jesus promised that He would never abandon His people. And ultimately, Scripture points us toward a future where death itself is defeated. Revelation 21:4 gives this glorious promise: > “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.” That is the Christian hope. Death does not get the final word. Jesus does. --- 13. THE FINAL CHOICE Every person must ultimately answer the question of what they will do with Jesus. Will you reject Him? Ignore Him? Postpone Him? Or surrender your life to Him? Jesus calls: Come home. Come to the cross. Come to forgiveness. Come to grace. Come to salvation. Come to eternal life. --- FINAL APPEAL My friend, don't wait for your final breath to think about eternity. Think about eternity now. You still have an opportunity to seek God. You still have an opportunity to repent. You still have an opportunity to pray. You still have an opportunity to forgive. You still have an opportunity to love. You still have an opportunity to serve. You still have an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. And most importantly: You still have an opportunity to surrender completely to Jesus Christ. The question isn't merely: “WHEN WILL I DIE?” The deeper question is: “AM I READY WHEN I DO?” And an even more important question: “DO I BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST?” Because when your final breath comes, your earthly story will be finished. But your eternal destiny will not be. So make sure your heart is right with God. Make sure your hope is in Christ. Make sure your faith is genuine. Make sure you are walking with Jesus. And when that final moment comes, may you be able to say: “JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.” “MY HOPE IS IN HIM.” “I AM READY TO MEET MY KING.” --- DEEP PRAYER FOR SALVATION, REPENTANCE, AND ETERNAL LIFE Heavenly Father, I come before You with humility, reverence, and a sincere heart. Thank You for giving me the gift of life. Thank You for every breath. Thank You for every day You have allowed me to see. Father, forgive me for the times I have taken life for granted. Forgive me for the times I have focused more on this temporary world than on eternal things. Forgive me for my sins. Forgive my rebellion. Forgive my pride. Forgive my selfishness. Forgive the things I have said, thought, and done that have dishonored You. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Lord Jesus Christ, I recognize that I cannot save myself. I cannot earn eternal life. I cannot make myself righteous. I need You. I need Your mercy. I need Your grace. I need Your forgiveness. I need Your blood to cleanse me. I need Your resurrection power to give me new life. Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Take control of my heart. Take control of my thoughts. Take control of my desires. Take control of my words. Take control of my decisions. Take control of my future. Teach me to hate what You hate and love what You love. Give me a genuine desire for holiness. Give me a genuine desire for Your Word. Give me a genuine desire for prayer. Give me a genuine desire for Your presence. Help me not merely to talk about Christianity. Help me truly follow Jesus. Holy Spirit, examine my heart. Reveal anything in me that needs to change. Expose the things I have tried to hide. Give me courage to repent. Give me strength to turn away from sin. When I stumble, keep me from running away from God. Teach me to run toward God. When I am tempted, give me strength. When I am discouraged, give me hope. When I am afraid, give me peace. When I feel condemned, lead me back to the cross. When I fail, teach me to confess and repent rather than surrender to despair. Father, prepare me for eternity. Don't let me become so comfortable with this temporary world that I forget the eternal world. Teach me to number my days. Teach me to live wisely. Teach me to love people while I still have time. Help me forgive those who have hurt me. Help me ask forgiveness where I have hurt others. Help me make peace where peace is possible. Help me use the remaining days of my life for Your glory. And when my final breath eventually comes, may I not be trusting in my possessions, my accomplishments, my religious performance, or my own goodness. Let my confidence be in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus, You are my Savior. You are my Lord. You are my hope. You are my resurrection. You are my life. And when I stand before You, let me be found trusting in You. Father, prepare my heart for that day. Until then, help me live every day with eternity in view. Let my life be a testimony. Let my words point people toward Jesus. Let my actions demonstrate Your love. Let my testimony give hope to the broken. And let me never forget: THIS LIFE IS TEMPORARY. ETERNITY IS FOREVER. JESUS IS THE WAY. JESUS IS THE TRUTH. JESUS IS THE LIFE. Father, I place my life and eternity into Your hands. May I live for Christ. May I die in Christ. And may I spend eternity with Christ. In the mighty, precious, holy, and victorious name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. 🙏✝️❤️🕊️

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* PRIORITISE MISSION. *TEXTS:* MATTHEW 24:14; MARK 13:10. *MATTHEW 24:14.* 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. *MARK 13:10.* 10. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. *TOPIC:* PRIORITISE MISSION. *THE MESSAGE:* Jesus made it clear that the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all nations before His return. The ultimate goal of missions is to establish the Lordship of Christ across the earth, not through force, but through the willing submission of hearts to His saving grace. Only through faith in Christ and His redemptive work can humanity be delivered from the bondage of sin, self, and Satan to serve God truly. As recipients of God's mercy and grace, we cannot remain silent about it. The good news is too powerful to be kept to ourselves. Like the young Karl Kumm of blessed memory, mission must be our priority. Be actively engaged through proclamation, prayers, and giving. Take the gospel to the dark corners of your world - home, neighbourhood, school, and workplace. *REFLECTION:* This gospel of the kingdom must be preached. *PRAYER:* Lord, revive my passion for lost souls. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 37-39. ED.ii. DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah." - Revelation 11:15 When Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, was told to come to king David's palace, he must have trembled all over his body. He must have thought David wanted revenge on him for what his grandfather Saul had done to him. When Mephibosheth entered the palace, he fell before king David's feet and exclaimed: 'What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?' We will also have a heavenly palace where the living God is. There are many people, including Christians, who tremble in fear of the King, the living God, they fear to stand before His throne. They are afraid of what God will do to them. Will He be angry because of the sins they have committed? This is how they think, because they believe that God is an angry and stern God. Do not be afraid for God Today I want to tell you that God is a God of love and grace. He does not want anyone to perish. He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. You do not have to be afraid if you know that you are a child of God. When the time comes and the Lord calls you to come to His palace, do not be afraid to let go of the earth and courageously enter your King's palace. When you enter as Mephibosheth did, Jesus Christ will be standing there. Throw yourself at His feet, this is all you have to do and He will do the rest! He is a good God. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. ⏤ Philippians 4:11 Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God. ⏤ Arthur Pink Almighty God, who has ordered our lives and appointed the place where we live—grant us the grace to accept cheerfully and to occupy contentedly the station in life that You, in Your providence, have assigned to us. Help us to see its sacredness because it is Your fatherly choice for us and Your gift to us. Surely, the place You have prepared for us, and where You have set us, must be the best place for us—the place where we can best grow as Christians, where the atmosphere is most healthy for us, and where the experiences are best suited to develop our character. It must also be the place where we can do the best service for You. Help us to accept it with confidence and to live in it without discontent. Sometimes we are tempted to complain. We think others are more favored, have easier lives, less care and toil, and more ease and comfort. We imagine that if we could trade places with others, we could live more sweetly and make more of our lives. Forgive us for this sin of discontentment with our place in life. You know what is best for us. You know where we can be of the most use to You and others, where the work is that You have for us to do. So, we earnestly pray, our Father, for the spirit of cheerful acceptance of Your plan and Your way for us. Help us to accept Your guidance and to do the things that come to us day by day from Your hand. Then, at the end, we can rejoice in the blessing of those who have done Your will and served our generation. We ask all this through Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/52/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* PRIORITISE MISSION. *TEXTS:* MATTHEW 24:14; MARK 13:10. *MATTHEW 24:14.* 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. *MARK 13:10.* 10. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. *TOPIC:* PRIORITISE MISSION. *THE MESSAGE:* Jesus made it clear that the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all nations before His return. The ultimate goal of missions is to establish the Lordship of Christ across the earth, not through force, but through the willing submission of hearts to His saving grace. Only through faith in Christ and His redemptive work can humanity be delivered from the bondage of sin, self, and Satan to serve God truly. As recipients of God's mercy and grace, we cannot remain silent about it. The good news is too powerful to be kept to ourselves. Like the young Karl Kumm of blessed memory, mission must be our priority. Be actively engaged through proclamation, prayers, and giving. Take the gospel to the dark corners of your world - home, neighbourhood, school, and workplace. *REFLECTION:* This gospel of the kingdom must be preached. *PRAYER:* Lord, revive my passion for lost souls. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 37-39. ED.ii. DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah." - Revelation 11:15 When Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, was told to come to king David's palace, he must have trembled all over his body. He must have thought David wanted revenge on him for what his grandfather Saul had done to him. When Mephibosheth entered the palace, he fell before king David's feet and exclaimed: 'What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?' We will also have a heavenly palace where the living God is. There are many people, including Christians, who tremble in fear of the King, the living God, they fear to stand before His throne. They are afraid of what God will do to them. Will He be angry because of the sins they have committed? This is how they think, because they believe that God is an angry and stern God. Do not be afraid for God Today I want to tell you that God is a God of love and grace. He does not want anyone to perish. He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. You do not have to be afraid if you know that you are a child of God. When the time comes and the Lord calls you to come to His palace, do not be afraid to let go of the earth and courageously enter your King's palace. When you enter as Mephibosheth did, Jesus Christ will be standing there. Throw yourself at His feet, this is all you have to do and He will do the rest! He is a good God. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. ⏤ Philippians 4:11 Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God. ⏤ Arthur Pink Almighty God, who has ordered our lives and appointed the place where we live—grant us the grace to accept cheerfully and to occupy contentedly the station in life that You, in Your providence, have assigned to us. Help us to see its sacredness because it is Your fatherly choice for us and Your gift to us. Surely, the place You have prepared for us, and where You have set us, must be the best place for us—the place where we can best grow as Christians, where the atmosphere is most healthy for us, and where the experiences are best suited to develop our character. It must also be the place where we can do the best service for You. Help us to accept it with confidence and to live in it without discontent. Sometimes we are tempted to complain. We think others are more favored, have easier lives, less care and toil, and more ease and comfort. We imagine that if we could trade places with others, we could live more sweetly and make more of our lives. Forgive us for this sin of discontentment with our place in life. You know what is best for us. You know where we can be of the most use to You and others, where the work is that You have for us to do. So, we earnestly pray, our Father, for the spirit of cheerful acceptance of Your plan and Your way for us. Help us to accept Your guidance and to do the things that come to us day by day from Your hand. Then, at the end, we can rejoice in the blessing of those who have done Your will and served our generation. We ask all this through Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/52/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

“Don’t let yesterday’s burden become today’s barrier to tomorrow’s miracle.” Hebrews 12:1 — “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” This verse tells us not only to lay aside sin, but also to lay aside “every weight.” Because burdens can become a definite hindrance to reaching the purpose and destiny God has set before us. If we continue carrying the wounds, disappointments, rejection, failures, guilt, bitterness, worries, and the inability to forgive others from our past, we cannot run with complete faith on the new path God has placed before us. God brought Lot and his family out of destruction. As they left Sodom, God clearly commanded them not to look back. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26) Her feet were moving forward, but her heart was being pulled backward. This is also a warning for us. God may have brought you out of an old situation. But if you continue carrying old wounds and memories, your body may move forward while your heart remains stuck in the past. Run away from sin. Lay your burdens before God. Stop constantly dwelling on the past, and run toward the future God has prepared for you. Your past does not have to become the verdict of your future. God still has a path for you; there is still a race to run, a goal to reach, and a miracle ahead of you. Don’t carry yesterday’s burden while running toward tomorrow’s miracle. Lay it at the feet of God and run! When the burden becomes lighter, the race becomes faster. When the heart is set free, faith becomes stronger. The moment you surrender your burden to God can become the beginning of your new race! Hepsi Sam ✍️

I N V I T A T I O N Dear Brothers and Sisters, If the WARS between nations are to end, the time has come to establish a 'Democratic World Government' elected by people around the world. If the people of the world are unable to pressure world leaders to do this, a 'Third World War' could break out at any time. If that happens, there will not be a single human left on this earth to even write the history of the human race. Understanding this terrifying reality and urging world leaders to act is the responsibility of all human beings on this planet. It is in this context that the people's movement 'International Action Council for Democratic World Government' has been working globally since 1985. Irrespective of party, political, caste, or religious differences, all peace-loving people across the world can become members of the 'International Action Council for Democratic World Government'. Membership is free. All Action Council members who work for 'World Peace' will be declared as 'Peace Ambassadors'. Those interested in working as a 'Peace Ambassador' for the Action Council should send their name, age, address, e-mail ID, WhatsApp number, and photo, along with any ID card, to the WhatsApp number +91 9315503394. Details must be written in English. Please do not call this number; send a message only. Thank You Rajeev Joseph Chairman International Action Council for Democratic World Government New Delhi, India Whatsapp: +91 9315503394