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

Saturday 4th Apr 2026

Today's Reading

Sunday, April 5 : Acts of the Apostles 10,34a.37-43.
Peter proceeded to speak and said, "You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."

Today's Bible Verse

Today's Verse - Ephesians 1:7

In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.
—Ephesians 1:7
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Forgiveness! What a sweet and precious gift. What we were powerless to fix or pay for, God did for us in Jesus. He gave us the gift of forgiveness. With him, each day is a fresh start and a rebirth of the springtime of our souls. But my, such a terrible cost he paid to give it to us! Jesus paid for what we could not afford so we could find "the riches of God's grace" in Jesus. Praise God!
My Prayer...
Thank you, Father, for your anguish and cost to forgive my sins by the blood of your Son. I refuse to take the cost of my sin lightly. I commit to live for your glory in appreciation for your grace. In the name of him who sacrificed all for my salvation and gave me the gift of "the riches of God's grace," I pray. 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 2:21-22 - Verse for Apr. 4th

For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
—Proverbs 2:21-22
Ⓒ 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"

Everyone on Earth (Apr. 4th)

I will praise the LORD, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.
—Psalm 145:21
Ⓒ 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!"

'Father and Son, Greater Works!' - John 5:19-20
So Jesus explained [to the leaders who wanted to kill him], "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished."
—John 5:19-20 NLT
Key Thought
Astonished? Yes, that is the word for it. Jesus will do many more miracles in his ministry, he will touch many more people, and he will teach many other awe-inspiring truths. The people around Jesus haven't begun to see all that the Father will reveal through his Son. The greatest of the revelations, however, will bring the people to full astonishment: The Father will raise his Son from the dead and bring him back to life in their presence. They will be astonished. Then some of them will begin to do great works in his name,^[1] and the work of Jesus will continue to astonish as he works through his disciples. Jesus' work is astonishing! And, if you will look closely, some of that astonishing work is being done in you!
[1] John 14:12.
Today's Prayer
Righteous and Almighty God, your power is incredible, and your holiness is unapproachable. Thank you for bringing this astonishing set of characteristics together in Jesus and then sharing Jesus with us as our Savior. Give me eyes to see his astonishing work, not just as I read the stories of his life, but also as I live for him and he does his work through me. In Jesus' name, I pray. 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

Good Friday
(Friday, 03 April 2026)

Holy Saturday

Easter Sunday
(Sunday, 05 April 2026)

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"

'Unselfish Submission to Bless and Protect' - 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
—1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NLT
Key Thought
Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 was transformational in two powerful ways:
1. He emphasized the equality of men and women in their sexual roles in marriage.
2. He stressed that the key to this sexual equality was each submitting, so that each "gives authority over [their] body" to their spouse.
The first was revolutionary because, in most ancient cultures, a woman had no authority over her or her husband's body. Wives were often treated as little more than property. A husband was free to express himself sexually in marriage, and many men felt they had the freedom to express themselves outside of marriage. The wife didn't have these freedoms. Paul taught that the sexual responsibilities of each one were reciprocal in the LORD: "... each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband."^[1]
Our verses today go deeper into this theme. Both spouses have the responsibility to fulfill the sexual needs of the other. The husband's concerns must not be about fulfilling his demands in their sexual relationship but about fulfilling his wife's needs.^[2] The wife's concerns must not be about fulfilling her demands in their sexual relationship but about fulfilling her husband's needs. While the wife's responsibilities were well understood in the culture in Paul's time, he challenged Christian husbands to live with this same concern for their wives!
The language of the New Living Translation in these verses is beautiful, powerfully capturing Paul's sentiments: each "gives authority over [their] body" to their spouse. Sexual intimacy in marriage is not supposed to be about getting what I want but giving my spouse what she needs as we honor the LORD in our sexual relationship. Paul anchors this idea of honoring the other in the sexual relationship to two primary truths. Applying these truths to myself,
- I submit myself to my spouse as part of my worship, my reverencing, of Christ.^[3]
- Jesus is my ultimate example as I open my heart to bless and serve others before seeking my will.^[4]
Finally, notice Paul's second paragraph of teaching in today's verses. The sexual intimacy practices of a Christian couple should be part of their shared conversation and understanding with each other. This understanding is vital as they center their lives on honoring the LORD Jesus through prayer while providing each other sexual protection from a sexually unhinged world.
[1] 1 Corinthians 7:2.
[2] Philippians 2:3-4 NIV.
[3] Ephesians 5:18-21 ESV. Paul teaches that five types of worship accompany being filled with the Spirit: "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," "singing," "making melody to the Lord with your hearts," "giving thanks," and "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." The word beginning each of these five items is based on an active verb that describes being filled with the Spirit and is similar to the teaching in Hebrews 12:28-29, 13:1-4.
[4] Philippians 2:1-11.
Today's Prayer
Father, in a world so focused on selfish desires, I ask for the Holy Spirit's power to help me follow the example of Jesus in all of my relationships, especially my relationships with those closest to me. I want to be sexually pure. I want to do what is best for my spouse if I am married or to prepare myself for my spouse if I am not. Please guide me as I want to live into the joy of sexual intimacy in ways that honor You, help me remain holy, and bless those I love. In Jesus' name, I 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.

Free Bible Studies

Pastor Chuck Smith

Pastor Chuck Smith founded Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California and served there until he went to be with the Lord in 2013.

The C2000 teachings take you through every verse in the Bible and are now free to download. Pastor Smith delivered these sermons from 1979 to 1986, and his messages are still as rich and relevant today.

A new movie about the life of Pastor Chuck Smith has recently been released. You can watch the trailer below:

Access Pastor Smith's Sermons

Kay Arthur

Kay Arthur is an international Bible teacher, author and co-founder of Precept Ministries. Her inductive study method makes understanding the Bible accessible to lay persons.

Kay is intelligent, funny and a fabulous communicator. Here is the site to access her free teachings from Precept Ministries.

Access Kay Arthur's Teachings

More Life-Changing Resources:

The Cure: What if God isn’t Who You Think He is and Neither are You?

This is a must-read on God’s grace and living authentically, written by John Lynch, the founder of Trufaced.

The Cure gives the diagnosis of this century’s religious obsession with sin-management. It has poisoned the Church, obscuring the Original Good News and sending millions away-wounded, angry and cynical, from nearly any organized expression of faith. The Cure offers an authentic experience in Christ that frees some from a self-rewarded righteousness, and others from a beaten down striving for a righteousness they can never seem to attain. The Cure infuses a relational theology of grace and identity, which alone can heal, free and create sustainable, genuine, loving, life-giving communities.

Order "The Cure" from Amazon

Trueface (free podcast)

Many have turned away from organized religion after being wounded by church leaders preaching about an angry, judgmental God. What if there’s another path?

Access the Free Podcasts

Coping with Spiritual Challenges

Stand your ground in the midst of spiritual challenges. Dr. Ed Laymance of Impact Counseling and Guidance Center offers free downloads and sermons that demystify spiritual warfare.

This isn’t the Hollywood version of these real-life struggles.