Matthew 11-12, Psalm 86
Matthew 11:25-26 (NLT)
“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!’”
In Matthew 11:25–26, after Jesus denounced the cities that did not repent despite the many miracles He performed among them, He prayed to the Lord about what had been revealed and what remained hidden. Jesus praised Father-God for revealing His truth to those who received it with humility. The truth of the Lord was hidden from those Jesus called the “wise and learned” but revealed to “little children.” The contrast is not between intelligence and ignorance, but between self-sufficiency and humble dependence on the Lord. Father-God's truth is revealed to those who are humble, receptive, and willing to trust Him rather than relying solely on their own wisdom.
These verses stood out to me because I never fully understood what it meant to have childlike faith. One Bible commentary I read noted that having childlike faith doesn't mean you are ignorant. It means that, as a believer, you are willing to put your trust in the Lord like a child would instead of relying solely on your own human wisdom and understanding or taking pride in your religious knowledge or position. It means a believer is open, humble, and receptive to the Lord's revelation.
I know for myself that I have always struggled with fully trusting the Lord because my mind would constantly fight against surrendering to Father-God rather than relying on the wisdom and understanding He gave me. I couldn't learn or think my way into the Lord's revelation. I had to surrender and be open to receiving what Father-God wanted to reveal to me so that I could learn to apply it to my own life. Surrender is not an easy process for me, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to do it daily, bit by bit.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls us to humbly trust Him and receive what Father-God reveals to us—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Monday, August 31, 2026
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Day 240 Bible Readings - Matthew 10:14-15 (NLT)
Matthew 9-10, Psalm 85
Matthew 10:14-15 (NLT)
“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”
In Matthew 10:14–15, Jesus gives specific instructions to His disciples when He sends them out to spread His teachings. If they are not welcomed by a household or town and their message is not received, the disciples are to leave and move on. Christ then tells them that there will be severe consequences for rejecting His message, even greater than the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.
What I like about these verses is that they remind me that, as a follower of Christ, my responsibility is to faithfully share the message of the Lord. I am not responsible for making another person accept it. The Holy Spirit works in people's hearts and draws them toward Father-God. For a long time, I felt that it was my responsibility not only to share the teachings of the Lord but also to save people. When my attempts at sharing didn't go well or were rejected, I blamed myself for not being good enough or strong enough in my faith in Father-God to save anyone, and I stopped sharing.
It wasn't until I became born again that I came to understand that it is the Holy Spirit who draws a person to the Lord. I can share my faith and testimony, but I also need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern when and how to share with others. And if I share in obedience to His guidance and nothing appears to happen, I can still know that I was obedient to what the Lord asked me to do. The response belongs to the person hearing the message; my responsibility is to be faithful in sharing it.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us that sharing our faith is part of our obedience to Him—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 10:14-15 (NLT)
“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”
In Matthew 10:14–15, Jesus gives specific instructions to His disciples when He sends them out to spread His teachings. If they are not welcomed by a household or town and their message is not received, the disciples are to leave and move on. Christ then tells them that there will be severe consequences for rejecting His message, even greater than the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.
What I like about these verses is that they remind me that, as a follower of Christ, my responsibility is to faithfully share the message of the Lord. I am not responsible for making another person accept it. The Holy Spirit works in people's hearts and draws them toward Father-God. For a long time, I felt that it was my responsibility not only to share the teachings of the Lord but also to save people. When my attempts at sharing didn't go well or were rejected, I blamed myself for not being good enough or strong enough in my faith in Father-God to save anyone, and I stopped sharing.
It wasn't until I became born again that I came to understand that it is the Holy Spirit who draws a person to the Lord. I can share my faith and testimony, but I also need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern when and how to share with others. And if I share in obedience to His guidance and nothing appears to happen, I can still know that I was obedient to what the Lord asked me to do. The response belongs to the person hearing the message; my responsibility is to be faithful in sharing it.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us that sharing our faith is part of our obedience to Him—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Day 239 Bible Readings for August 29 - Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)
Matthew 7-8, Psalm 84
Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)
“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:17–20, Jesus tells us that, like a tree, false prophets are known by their fruit, their actions and character. A Bible commentary I read noted that believers need to pay attention to the manner of living, the content of the teaching, and the effect of the teaching of anyone who claims to speak for the Lord.
Believers need to consider whether a person's actions, attitudes, and character are aligned with the Lord's will and the teachings and commandments found in the Bible. A person's actions should consistently reflect their identity in Christ. Although Jesus is specifically speaking about false prophets in these verses, the principle of examining the fruit of our lives can also be applied to every believer in Christ. Earlier in the chapter, Christ warned against judging other people without first examining ourselves.
When I read these verses, I am reminded that I need to constantly ask myself: Do I bear good fruit for the Lord? Do my actions and attitudes reflect my identity in Christ? Since I became born again, I find myself looking at people to see whether they reflect the Lord in their actions, especially if they've been born again for a long time. I look for role models to emulate in church. Who produces good fruit? Who reflects Father-God in their actions and behavior? And I ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help me discern what to incorporate into my own behavior so that I can bear good fruit for the Lord.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in bearing good fruit for the Lord's glory—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)
“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:17–20, Jesus tells us that, like a tree, false prophets are known by their fruit, their actions and character. A Bible commentary I read noted that believers need to pay attention to the manner of living, the content of the teaching, and the effect of the teaching of anyone who claims to speak for the Lord.
Believers need to consider whether a person's actions, attitudes, and character are aligned with the Lord's will and the teachings and commandments found in the Bible. A person's actions should consistently reflect their identity in Christ. Although Jesus is specifically speaking about false prophets in these verses, the principle of examining the fruit of our lives can also be applied to every believer in Christ. Earlier in the chapter, Christ warned against judging other people without first examining ourselves.
When I read these verses, I am reminded that I need to constantly ask myself: Do I bear good fruit for the Lord? Do my actions and attitudes reflect my identity in Christ? Since I became born again, I find myself looking at people to see whether they reflect the Lord in their actions, especially if they've been born again for a long time. I look for role models to emulate in church. Who produces good fruit? Who reflects Father-God in their actions and behavior? And I ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help me discern what to incorporate into my own behavior so that I can bear good fruit for the Lord.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in bearing good fruit for the Lord's glory—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Friday, August 28, 2026
Day 238 Bible Readings - Matthew 5:15-16 (NLT)
Matthew 5-6, Psalm 83
Matthew 5:15-16 (NLT)
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
In Matthew 5:15–16, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers that they are the light of the world. Like a lamp that is placed on a stand to give light to everyone around it, believers need to reflect Father-God through the way they live. Jesus says that when people see our good deeds, they should glorify Father-God in heaven.
One Bible commentary I read noted that Christ never challenged His followers to become light. Jesus said they already are light, and it is our responsibility to let that light shine before people in darkness. Christ wants our light to be intentional, like a lamp placed where it can be seen, so that through our good deeds other people will glorify the Lord we serve.
F. F. Bruce wrote in his book The Book of Acts that Jesus knew there would be a strong temptation for a person with light to hide it, so as not to draw the world's attention and expose themselves to people who hate the light. I know that for a long time in my life, I did hide my Christian faith because of criticism. But now that I've recognized the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life, I feel much more confident about sharing my faith. I have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me discern when it is appropriate to share and what to share with people. And I know that when I am obedient to the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am following the Lord's direction for my life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls His followers to shine His light before the world—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 5:15-16 (NLT)
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
In Matthew 5:15–16, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers that they are the light of the world. Like a lamp that is placed on a stand to give light to everyone around it, believers need to reflect Father-God through the way they live. Jesus says that when people see our good deeds, they should glorify Father-God in heaven.
One Bible commentary I read noted that Christ never challenged His followers to become light. Jesus said they already are light, and it is our responsibility to let that light shine before people in darkness. Christ wants our light to be intentional, like a lamp placed where it can be seen, so that through our good deeds other people will glorify the Lord we serve.
F. F. Bruce wrote in his book The Book of Acts that Jesus knew there would be a strong temptation for a person with light to hide it, so as not to draw the world's attention and expose themselves to people who hate the light. I know that for a long time in my life, I did hide my Christian faith because of criticism. But now that I've recognized the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life, I feel much more confident about sharing my faith. I have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me discern when it is appropriate to share and what to share with people. And I know that when I am obedient to the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am following the Lord's direction for my life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls His followers to shine His light before the world—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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