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-001-032

Today’s Scripture

John 2:11 (ESV)

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

Opening the Scriptures

John identifies Jesus’ turning water into wine as the first of His signs.

This was not merely a remarkable act of kindness at a wedding.

It was a sign.

A sign points beyond itself.

The miracle revealed something about Jesus’ identity, authority, and glory. He was not simply a teacher, prophet, or miracle worker. He was the Son of God, possessing divine power and acting with divine authority.

Jesus did not perform this sign to draw attention to Himself in a worldly way. He revealed His glory so that His disciples would see more clearly who He was and believe in Him.

The miracle met a real need, but its deepest purpose was spiritual.

The wine was temporary.

The revelation of Christ was eternal.

Living God’s Word Today

It is possible to experience God’s blessings without truly recognizing what they reveal about Him.

We may thank God for answered prayer, provision, healing, or protection, yet fail to grow in our knowledge of Christ.

But God’s works are meant to lead us to worship.

Every answered prayer should deepen our trust.

Every provision should remind us of God’s faithfulness.

Every moment of grace should direct our hearts toward the Savior.

The disciples saw what Jesus had done, and they believed in Him.

Their faith was not based on vague optimism or personal feelings. It was strengthened by seeing His glory revealed through His works.

Our faith also rests on the revelation God has given us through Scripture. We may not witness Jesus turning water into wine, but we have the testimony of those who saw Him, heard Him, and recorded His works for us.

John wrote his Gospel so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in His name.

Do not stop at admiring what Jesus does.

Ask what His works reveal about who He is.

He is powerful.

He is compassionate.

He is faithful.

He is worthy of trust and worship.

The purpose of every true encounter with Christ is not merely to make life easier.

It is to make Him known.

Let God’s works lead you to greater faith in Jesus.

Question for Today

What has God done in your life that has helped you see more clearly who Jesus is?

Respond: “Jesus is worthy of my faith and worship.”

A Nugget of Truth.
There comes a point when we realize that nothing in this world can truly give lasting peace. Money can disappear, circumstances can change overnight, and even the strongest people eventually reach the end of their own strength. The only place where the soul finds real security is in Jesus Christ. His blood was shed so that we could be forgiven, restored, and brought back to God.

When we place our trust in Him, we are not trusting in our own ability to survive life's storms, but in the Savior who has already overcome sin and death. That does not mean life will always be easy, but it means we never have to face it alone. No matter how uncertain the future seems, those who belong to Christ can rest in His promises because He never abandons His own.

As the psalmist wrote, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). The Bible also reminds us, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14). So instead of placing our confidence in temporary things, let us draw near to the Lord each day, knowing that the safest place we can ever be is in the hands of Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Daily Bible Lesson.
CAN BEAUTY BECOME A LIE?

THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL BEAUTY, AND THE BEAUTY CHRIST WANTS TO CREATE.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness.” — Exodus 20:16

We usually think a lie must be spoken.

But can deception also be displayed?

A complexion made to appear different.
Artificial lashes presented as natural.
Artificial nails.
Artificial hair.
Filters that create another face.
An appearance deliberately designed to make the artificial appear real.

Here is the searching question:

IF GOD REQUIRES TRUTH FROM OUR LIPS—DOES HE ALSO CARE ABOUT THE TRUTH OUR APPEARANCE COMMUNICATES?

God is not against beauty.

HE CREATED BEAUTY.

But Scripture directs us away from making outward appearance our treasure and toward something cosmetics can never manufacture:

THE BEAUTY OF A CHRIST-TRANSFORMED CHARACTER.
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① WHEN APPEARANCE IS USED TO DECEIVE, TRUTHFULNESS IS AT STAKE

“Putting away lying, speak every man truth.” — Ephesians 4:25

Falsehood is not merely pronouncing an untrue sentence.

We can misrepresent ourselves by intentionally creating a false impression.

So before the mirror, ask:

“AM I SIMPLY BEING CLEAN AND PRESENTABLE—OR AM I TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING ARTIFICIAL APPEAR NATURALLY MINE?”

Scripture does not specifically say, “makeup and wigs violate the Ninth Commandment.”

The biblical principle is broader and deeper:

WHEN APPEARANCE IS INTENTIONALLY USED TO DECEIVE, THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUTHFULNESS IS AT STAKE.

And context matters. A wig used because of illness, hair loss, protection, or genuine practical need should not automatically be branded dishonest.

God wants truth not merely upon our lips—

“Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” — Psalm 51:6
---

② MAKEUP CAN COVER A BLEMISH—BUT IT CANNOT CREATE BEAUTY OF CHARACTER

Peter redirects our attention:

“Let it be the hidden man of the heart… even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” — 1 Peter 3:4

Paul adds:

“In modest apparel… with good works.” — 1 Timothy 2:9–10

God moves beauty:

FROM DISPLAY → TO CHARACTER.
FROM VANITY → TO MODESTY.
FROM HUMAN APPLAUSE → TO GOD'S APPROVAL.
FROM MAGNIFYING SELF → TO REVEALING CHRIST.

No foundation can produce purity.

No lipstick can create kindness.

No artificial lashes can produce humility.

No wig can manufacture contentment.

No filter can create holiness.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FACE CANNOT COMPENSATE FOR AN UNCONVERTED HEART.

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30
---

③ ARTIFICIAL BEAUTY CAN QUIETLY TEACH THE HEART: “THE REAL YOU IS NOT ENOUGH”

Cover this.

Lengthen that.

Darken this.

Lighten that.

Change the hair.

Reshape the face.

Hide every imperfection.

And tomorrow—

BUY SOMETHING ELSE.

Eventually the danger becomes bigger than cosmetics.

The mirror begins preaching:

“GOD'S WORKMANSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH.”

But Scripture answers:

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:14

Your deepest question is not:

“Am I attractive enough for people?”

It is:

“AM I BECOMING LIKE JESUS?”
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④ THERE ARE REAL PHYSICAL RISKS—BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY HARMLESS

Science requires honesty.

Not every cosmetic is dangerous, and many properly formulated products are safely used by most people.

But cosmetic does not mean risk-free.

Dermatology recognizes both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetic ingredients.

Fragrances, preservatives, hair dyes, resins and adhesives can trigger reactions in susceptible people.

Products used around the eyes may cause irritation or allergy; contaminated eye cosmetics can contribute to infection.

False-eyelash adhesives can also provoke irritation or allergic reactions.

Hair dyes and some products used with artificial hair can likewise expose sensitive skin to allergens.

So the Christian principle of health asks:

“Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19

WHY ADD AN UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE SIMPLY TO CREATE AN APPEARANCE?

BEAUTY SHOULD NEVER BE PURCHASED AT THE EXPENSE OF HEALTH.

And cosmetics cannot permanently reproduce what sleep, nourishing food, exercise, cleanliness, sunlight, temperance and healthful living help cultivate naturally.

THE HEALTHIEST GLOW CANNOT BE PAINTED ON.
---

⑤ THE MENTAL DANGER MAY BE EVEN MORE SUBTLE

The most dangerous mirror is the one that whispers:

“DON'T LET THEM SEE THE REAL YOU.”

When we feel unable to leave home without enhancement…

when compliments determine our worth…

when comparison controls our happiness…

when we repeatedly inspect perceived flaws…

when appearance consumes excessive money, thought, time and emotional energy—

THE OUTWARD IMAGE HAS BEGUN TO GOVERN THE INWARD PERSON.

Research on appearance-focused media repeatedly links appearance comparison and exposure to idealized or heavily edited images with increased body dissatisfaction and related psychological distress.

The gospel offers another identity:

YOUR VALUE IS NOT MEASURED BY A MIRROR.

It was demonstrated at CALVARY.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:18–19

YOUR FACE DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR WORTH.
THE PRICE CHRIST PAID REVEALS YOUR WORTH TO HIM.
---

⑥ VANITY CAN BECOME EXPENSIVE IN MORE WAYS THAN MONEY

Ask what artificial beauty may consume:

MONEY that could bless others.

TIME that could be invested in prayer, family and service.

THOUGHT that could dwell upon eternal things.

CONTENTMENT through constant comparison.

SIMPLICITY through dependence upon fashion.

HEALTH when unnecessary products cause reactions.

And potentially—

SPIRITUAL ATTENTION, when the question becomes “How do I look?” more often than “How does Christ look through my life?”

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — Matthew 6:21

That makes this deeply personal:

HOW MUCH OF MY PEACE DEPENDS UPON HOW PEOPLE SEE ME?
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⑦ WHY CHOOSE NATURAL CHRISTIAN SIMPLICITY?

Not because neglect is holy.

Not because attractiveness is sinful.

Not because everyone who wears makeup is vain.

And certainly not because Christians should police another person's face.

Choose simplicity because it can help cultivate something better:

TRUTH instead of artificial impression.
CONTENTMENT instead of comparison.
HEALTH instead of needless exposure.
MODESTY instead of display.
STEWARDSHIP instead of unnecessary expense.
FREEDOM instead of dependence upon appearance.
CHRIST instead of self at the center.

Ellen White wrote:

“God is the author of all beauty.”

Christian simplicity therefore does not mean:

“MAKE YOURSELF UNATTRACTIVE.”

It means:

STOP LETTING THE WORLD DECIDE WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL.

Be clean.
Be neat.
Be healthy.
Be modest.
Be appropriately dressed.
Be beautifully Christlike.

BUT NEVER LET FASHION BECOME YOUR MASTER OR APPEARANCE BECOME YOUR IDENTITY.
---

⑧ THE GREATEST DANGER IS SPIRITUAL

We can spend an hour preparing the person everyone sees—

and minutes preparing the person GOD SEES.

Correct the complexion—
while leaving anger untouched.

Arrange the hair—
while neglecting prayer.

Perfect the outward appearance—
while tolerating pride.

Cover blemishes—
while hiding cherished sin.

Then Jesus takes us past the mirror:

“Cleanse first that which is within.” — Matthew 23:26

CHRIST DID NOT DIE TO GIVE US A BETTER MASK.
HE DIED TO GIVE US A NEW HEART.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” — Psalm 51:10

**HEAVEN IS NOT PREPARING FACES FOR DISPLAY.

HEAVEN IS PREPARING CHARACTERS FOR ETERNITY.**
---

⑨ BEFORE THE MIRROR—ASK SEVEN QUESTIONS

Is it truthful?
Is it modest?
Is it necessary?
Is it healthful?
Is it good stewardship?

Am I content with how God made me?

Does it help reveal Christ—or magnify self?

Christianity does not merely ask:

“WHAT CAN I GET AWAY WITH?”

Love asks:

“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” — Acts 9:6
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CHRIST OFFERS WHAT THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY NEVER CAN

Makeup can change a complexion.

Artificial hair can change an appearance.

A filter can change a photograph.

BUT ONLY JESUS CAN CHANGE THE PERSON.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

He replaces—

vanity with humility,
comparison with contentment,
insecurity with identity in Him,
self-display with modesty,
falsehood with truth.

This is not permission to ridicule women, condemn those dealing with hair loss, or judge another person's heart by appearance.

REFORM WITHOUT CHRIST BECOMES CONDEMNATION.
REFORM THROUGH CHRIST BECOMES TRANSFORMATION.

Bring Him the insecurity.
Bring Him the vanity.
Bring Him the craving for approval.
BRING HIM THE MIRROR.

“Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [we] are changed into the same image.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18

DON'T SPEND YOUR LIFE PERFECTING AN IMAGE THAT TIME WILL ERASE—WHILE NEGLECTING THE CHARACTER CHRIST WANTS TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY.

Every cosmetic eventually washes away.
Every artificial enhancement is eventually laid aside.

Youthful beauty fades.

BUT THE BEAUTY CHRIST WRITES INTO THE CHARACTER CAN ENDURE FOREVER.

LET THE FACE BE SIMPLE.
LET THE LIFE BE BEAUTIFUL.
LET THE HEART BE TRUE.
LET THE CHARACTER REVEAL CHRIST.
AND ABOVE EVERYTHING—LET JESUS BE SEEN.

August 25th, 2026
Read: Psalm 56:4

The psalmist praises God's Word because it gives him firm ground for trust. Human threats remain real, but they no longer possess ultimate authority over his heart. The eternal truth of Scripture is precious not merely because the Bible is ancient or has crossed many cultures, but because the God who spoke is faithful in every age. When fear of people begins to govern our choices, we return to His promises. Trust in the Lord frees us to obey without being controlled by what flesh can do.

Prayer
Thank You, Great and Eternal God, for being more stable than the ground I stand on, more resilient than the mountain peaks I aspire to, and more steady than the waves on the oceans I adore. I put my soul, my future, and my life in Your hands. I try to live in a way that will please You. I want my life to be characterized by steadfast devotion to You. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

Sex ed can change lives. Fictional or real .

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am reaching out to your ministry because I desperately need prayer.

I have been going through a very deep spiritual struggle, and I feel lost, frightened, and spiritually exhausted. I love Jesus Christ and I sincerely want to follow Him, but I have become deeply afraid about my eternal salvation.

Matthew 7:21–23 has been weighing extremely heavily upon me. When I read Jesus' warning about people saying, “Lord, Lord,” but being told that He never knew them, I become terrified that somehow I could be one of those people.

I am deeply afraid of hell and of being separated from God forever.

I examine my life and see so many weaknesses, failures, sins, inconsistencies, and areas where I struggle. I keep thinking that I am not doing enough, that I am not good enough, or that perhaps God does not truly accept me.

Sometimes I struggle to believe that God is truly merciful and gracious toward me. His judgment and holiness can seem so overwhelming that I forget how enormous His love and grace are.

I know intellectually that salvation is by grace through faith and not by my own works, but my heart struggles to rest in that truth.

I feel as though I am constantly trying to make myself right with God, yet I know I cannot save myself.

I need Jesus.

I need His mercy.

I need His grace.

I need His forgiveness.

I need the Holy Spirit to transform me.

I need to know that I am truly loved and accepted by God through Christ.

Please pray that God would take away this overwhelming condemnation and replace it with genuine biblical assurance.

Please pray that I would understand Matthew 7:21–23 correctly and not allow fear to destroy my relationship with Jesus.

Please pray that I would truly know Jesus—not merely know about Him.

Please pray that the Holy Spirit would search my heart, reveal anything that needs to change, lead me into genuine repentance, and give me a deeper love for God.

Please pray that I would stop trying to save myself through my own efforts and learn to completely trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Please pray that Romans 8:1 would become deeply rooted in my heart:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Please also pray that I would truly believe the words of Jesus:

“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” — John 6:37

I don't want to run away from God because I am afraid of Him.

I want to run toward Him.

I want my relationship with Jesus to become real, deep, genuine, and unshakable.

Please pray for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, renewed faith, spiritual discernment, freedom from condemnation, freedom from fear, genuine repentance, and a restored joy in my salvation.

Please pray that God would help me surrender everything to Him and trust His character even when my emotions tell me otherwise.

I am asking you to please stand with me in prayer.

Please pray for my mind, heart, soul, faith, salvation, relationship with Jesus, and my entire life.

I especially ask that you pray that I would come to understand the difference between Holy Spirit conviction that draws me toward Christ and condemnation that makes me believe I am hopeless and rejected.

I don't want to be a fake Christian.

I don't want to merely have religious words.

I want to know Jesus Christ personally and sincerely.

I want to love Him.

I want to follow Him.

I want to surrender my life to Him.

And I want to spend eternity with Him.

Please pray that God would meet me exactly where I am and lead me into a deep assurance that rests not in my ability to be perfect, but in the mercy, grace, righteousness, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to pray for me.

May the Lord bless you and everyone in your ministry abundantly for standing in the gap for people who are struggling.

In the precious name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

With heartfelt gratitude and Christian love,
Markus Klinger from London Ontario Canada

THE FRUITFULNESS OF FRIENDSHIP

“I have called you friends.” — John 15:15

We do not truly understand the joy of giving ourselves to God until we completely surrender to Him.

Many times, our surrender sounds like:

“I will do it if…”
“Well, I suppose I have to give my life to God.”

There is no real joy in surrender when we are still holding back.

But when we truly surrender ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to show us the joy that Jesus had in doing the Father's will.

Jesus is our example. He said:

> “I delight to do Thy will, O my God.” — Psalm 40:8



Jesus did not obey God with constant complaints. He willingly gave Himself because He loved the Father.

Is Jesus truly first in my life?

Self-sacrifice has no real value if Jesus is not at the centre of it.

We may sacrifice our time, money, comfort, or relationships, but the most important question is:

Am I doing it because I love Jesus?

When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, surrender becomes an expression of love rather than a burden.

Love like Jesus

We must also be careful not to allow our personal preferences to control who we love.

Sometimes we naturally feel closer to certain people because we have similar interests, personalities, or backgrounds. But as Christians, Jesus should be our greatest connection.

Christian love is not simply about loving people we naturally like.

It means learning to love people the way God loves them.

Jesus said:

> “I have called you friends.”



This friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He gives us, not our old nature.


True friendship with Jesus produces a life of surrender, love, and obedience.

When we truly love Jesus:
We willingly surrender to Him.
We find joy in doing His will.
We stop living only for ourselves.
We learn to love people beyond our natural preferences.
Our lives become more like His.

The more we love Jesus, the more we will desire to give our lives to Him.

WE DO RECOVER. AND THIS IMAGE PROVES IT.

Nearly 1,500 REAL PEOPLE. 1,500 REAL STORIES. 1,500 LIVES that show recovery IS possible.

I took the photos that were submitted for my WE DO RECOVER videos and brought them together to form one powerful image of JESUS.

Look closely…
Those aren't random faces.

THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO RECOVERED.

Every tiny photo represents a person, a battle, a story, a comeback, and HOPE for somebody who may still be fighting today.

And together, their faces tell one HUGE message:

WE DO RECOVER.
Chains CAN break.
Lives CAN change.
Hope IS real.
And no story is too far gone for God.

If you're still in the fight, LOOK AT THESE FACES.

RECOVERY HAS A FACE—AND THERE ARE NEARLY 1,500 OF THEM RIGHT HERE.

If you're in recovery, comment “WE DO RECOVER!”
SHARE this so someone struggling sees what's possible.

FOLLOW FoxxFusion Ministries as we continue to RECOVER OUT LOUD and give hope to those who still need it.

#WeDoRecover #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoverOutLoud #JesusChangesLives #FoxxFusionMinistries

THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.

https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/

The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers:

Christ had the preeminence.
 They feared God more than people.
 They prayed believing God could move.
 They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.
 They lived with eternity in view.
 They confronted sin while extending grace.
 They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus.

The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century.
The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century.
Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask:

Lord, what needs to change in me?

Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval?
Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something?
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
Do I pray expecting God to work?
Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences?
Do I live like eternity is real?

We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies.

We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives.

Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple:

Lord, do it again.

Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts.

#ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewal