24th June 2026

The Rod of Jesse

"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."

Isaiah 11:1

Today's Bible Reading: Isaiah 11:1-2.

During World War II, Hitler's bombers rained destruction upon London from the skies. Over 15,000 people lost their lives and many parts of the city were reduced to rubble. Yet when spring came, an amazing thing happened. Beautiful wildflowers, many of them thought extinct, sprang up in the midst of the devastation. Botanists concluded that the seeds had laid dormant under buildings and other structures until the bomb blasts exposed them and gave them the opportunity to germinate.

Isaiah foresaw a day when Israel also would be devastated. The word for stem means a stump. David's lineage would be decimated. His mighty family tree would be chopped down to a stub. Yet God would be faithful. Out of that "stump" would come the One who would be the Saviour of the world. At a time when civilisation lay devastated by the effects of sin, when the rubble of broken lives would be scattered over the countryside, a Branch from a tree long thought dead would appear with the promise of new life. And so it happened. Paul declared, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).

If the landscape of your life has been ravaged by discouragement and despair, look to Jesus, who is able to bring the hope of new life. Perhaps you have lost a loved one and life looks bleak. Maybe health problems have left you feeling like you're living in a war zone. Or family problems have created craters deep enough to swallow you whole. God will still be faithful to you. Give Him the "stump" of your life and watch Him grow a healthy and prosperous branch. Only the Rod of Jesse can give you such hope. God can bring riches out of rubble.

Prayer: Mighty Lord God, help me to remember, that what ever my situation, You hold me in the palm of Your mighty hand. I bless and praise You, in Christ's name. Amen.

23rd June 2026

Faith Pleases God

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Hebrews 11:6

Today's Bible Reading: Romans 10:1-21.

Faith pleases God more than anything else. The Christian life is dependent upon faith. We stand on faith; we live on faith. Faith is loved and honoured by God more than any other single thing. The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach that we have to God. No man has sins forgiven, no man goes to Heaven, no man has assurance of peace and happiness, until he has faith in Jesus Christ. You may be saying, “God, I believe You are great, but I do not believe Your Word; I do not believe what You say.” In order to please God, you must believe Him. Perhaps your faith is small and weak. It does not matter how big your faith is, but rather, where your faith is. Is it in Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for your sins? If not, read the Bible, believe the Bible, and put your faith in God today, through His Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, may my faith in You and Your abundant promises be ever increasing each day. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.

22nd June 2026

One Reason

"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren,

that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest . . ."

Hebrews 2:17

Today's Bible Reading: Hebrews 2:14-17.

Jesus Christ, came for one reason: to reconcile us to God. God created us, and our lives are only fulfilled when we know Him and follow His will for our lives. But our sins have turned us away from God, and our greatest need is to have our sins forgiven and our lives transformed by His power within us. Through His death on the cross Jesus made this possible, and that is why He came. He declared, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). 

The greatest discovery you will ever make is that God loves you, and Christ gave His life so you could come to know God personally. May today truly become a time of celebration for you, as you turn to Christ for the forgiveness you need and commit your life without reserve to Him. 

Prayer:   Lord Jesus Christ, thank You, that you came to save me. Amen.