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For world-changers who understand their higher calling begins and ends with Him.

Spirit

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Daily Bible Readings

Tuesday 21st Apr 2026

Today's Reading

  • Tuesday, April 21 : Acts of the Apostles 7,51-60.8,1a.
    Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:  "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,  you always oppose the Holy Spirit;  you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it." When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

Today's Bible Verse

  • Today's Verse - John 10:28-30

    Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

    —John 10:28-30

    Thoughts on Today's Verse...

    "He's got the whole world in his hand." Yes, the song may be true, but in a much more significant way, God holds us, each of his children of faith, in his hands. As we entrust our lives to him in faith, his grace ensures that no one and nothing can steal us away from his grace, his promises, and his eternal loving care. Our future in Jesus is secure. We are in God's hands!

    My Prayer...

    O LORD, thank you for your steadfast and secure love. Thank you for the assurance that my future rests in your hands. Thank you for holding me in your protective grace. May I live today with confidence and joy, knowing that no matter where I find myself, you are there to uphold and sustain me. I thank you for this assurance, in Jesus' name. Amen.

    All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's "Daily Wisdom"

  • Proverbs 12:8 - Verse for Apr. 21st

    A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.

    —Proverbs 12:8

    Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

Today's "Passion for Praise"

  • Make a Joyful Symphony (Apr. 21st)

    Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

    —Psalm 98:5

    Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

Today's "What Jesus Did!"

  • 'What Good Is That?' - John 6:8-9

    [After Philip said that even wages from months of work wouldn't be sufficient to feed the crowd following Jesus] Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?"

    —John 6:8-9 NLT

    Key Thought

    Our resources are limited. God's aren't. Our wisdom is limited. God's isn't. Our power is limited. God's isn't. What we offer, in the face of a great need, is small... until it is brought to God through Jesus, and then it is multiplied, empowered, enhanced, broadened, increased, and made to be sufficient. As observed in yesterday's devotional, this expansion of our resources and abilities is not just our hope; it is God's track record throughout time with his people. Let's bring him what we have now to do his work, and not wait until we think we have the plan, the power, and the resources to do what only he can do. Let's quit waiting and wandering and wondering and bring him what we have.

    Today's Prayer

    LORD God Almighty, God of Israel and God of the nations, I come offering you who I am and what I have to be used for your work in the world. I know that my resources and abilities may not go very far in the view of a world in so much need, but I bring them to you because you are the mighty God and they are what I have. I believe that you can do more with them than I can. In Jesus' name. Amen.

    Related Scripture Readings

    Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Liturgical Holidays

Ascension
(Thursday, 14 May 2026)

Pentecost
(Sunday, 24 May 2026)

Whit Monday
(Monday, 25 May 2026)

Trinity Sunday
(Sunday, 31 May 2026)

Today's "Together in Christ"

  • 'Women Who Supported Jesus' Ministry' - Luke 8:1-3

    Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

    —Luke 8:1-3 NLT

    Key Thought

    Over the years, whenever I have spoken on these verses and other similar passages, [1] many people are surprised to learn that a group of Galilean women supported Jesus' ministry financially and encouraged Him by their presence. [2] Several different women anointed Jesus, extravagantly honoring Him. [3] Jesus blessed many women by personally ministering to them. [4] A group of women remained faithful to Jesus during His horrific death and burial when the men abandoned, denied, and betrayed Him. [5] Both an angel and Jesus also gave some women the responsibility to be the first to declare His resurrection. [6] Some of these women were present as the disciples were praying at Pentecost when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit. [7] Reminded of these examples, some have remarked: "Oh yes, I do remember these now!" So my question related to our relationships in Christ is this: Why do we not remember the vital role played by women in Jesus' ministry more readily, and why do we not encourage women to follow the example of those women today? Hmm!"

    All four gospels stressed the presence of faithful women during the LORD's Passion. [8] Even when the men grew frightened, then abandoned Jesus and hid in a locked room, the women continued to follow Him and bore witness the horrific events of the cross. [8] As is typical of John, the fourth gospel emphasizes things in detail that the other gospels omit. In this case, John's gospel stresses the importance of women we don't find mentioned in the three other gospels - the Samaritan woman at the well, [9] the adulterous woman, [10] and the vital connection between Martha and Mary with their brother Lazarus and their faith in Jesus. [11]

    What are we to make of this? I believe the New Testament stresses several realities of our Christian faith directly tied to women: [12]

    • God values women and considers them equal in importance, value, and significance to men and has done so from the very beginning of creation. [13]
    • In Christ, as disciples of Jesus, women are indispensable to men, and men are indispensable to women in the spiritual family of God. [14]
    • Women played a vital role in the ministry of Jesus as partners and supporters of His ministry. [15]
    • Women were treated with dignity and respect as Jesus served and ministered to them when they were often neglected in their culture and community. [16]
    • Jesus emphasized that the importance He placed on women in ministry should not be taken from them. [17]

    Amazingly, in the New Testament, Jesus is never accused by His critics of abusive or sexually immoral behavior with a woman. The LORD Jesus left us an example of non-sexualized and non-abusive friendship and ministry partnership with women in His family of believers.

    • As we journey ahead and look at healthy and proper relationships in God's family, the LORD's example must play a significant role in helping us know how to treat and value people of both genders, all backgrounds, and all ages. Godly men and women need each other to live productive lives while passionately displaying the Kingdom of God!

    [1] Mark 15:40-41; Matthew 27:55-56.
    [2] This financial support from women is the emphasis of today's verse and other similar passages.
    [3] Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 16:1; Luke 7:36-50; John 11:1-3.
    [4] For a few examples: Mark 5:21-43, 7:24-30; Luke 7:11-17, 36-50, 8:2, 10:38-42; John 4:1-30, 8:1-11, 11:1-44.
    [5] Mark 14:50; Matthew 26:70-74, 27:55, 28:5-11; Luke 22:47-48, 23:27, 24:1, 5, 11, 22, 24; Acts 1:14, 2:17-18.
    [6] Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 24:8-12, 22-24; John 20:11-18.
    [7] Acts 1:14, 2:17-18.
    [8] John 19:25-27; Luke 23:55-56; John 20:1-18; Matthew 27:55-61; Mark 15:40-41.
    [9] John 4:1-42.
    [10] John 8:1-11.
    [11] John 11:1-45, 12:1-3.
    [12] This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Notice all the women listed in Romans 16:1-16.
    [13] Genesis 1:26-27, 31.
    [14] 1 Corinthians 11:11-12.
    [15] See today's verses and also Mark 15:40-41 and Matthew 27:55-56.
    [16] We see this dignity and respect in Jesus' ministry to the Syrian woman (Mark 7:25-29), the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman caught in the act of adultery, the women who anointed Him, and the widow at Nain - references listed above. Note that some of these women were not Jewish.
    [17] Luke 10:39-41. By allowing Mary to sit at His feet, Jesus was defending her right to be one of His disciples (rabbis) in training - see Paul's claim for sitting at Gamaliel's feet for a parallel in Acts 22:3 NRSV. Luke uses the parable of the "Good Samaritan" and this story of Mary at Jesus' feet to make the point that, in Christ, "There is no longer... male and female." (Galatians 3:26-29)!

    Today's Prayer

    Loving Father, I know the problems with sexual immorality in our world and in Your churches break your heart. Please help us be wise in treating each other as men and women. Open our eyes to Your Scriptures to see how women and men played a vital role in Your unfolding story of redemption in every era, regardless of the freedoms and roles allowed in culture. Thank You for Jesus, Your model of godliness in all relationships. Thank You, Jesus, for valuing people of each gender, every race, and any social standing. Help us empower each of Your disciples to serve You with dignity, appreciation, and support. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

    Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. 'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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