DATE POSTED
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 53:5-6 (MSG) … it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole.  Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.  We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on Him, on Him.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

We love the idea of gifts so much that we can sometimes think the gift in the manger is what began everything. And while it’s true that Jesus had to be born for His life to have meaning for us, our focus today should go even deeper.

These verses remind us why we no longer bring sacrifices to the temple. Sin still requires a sacrifice – but Jesus became that sacrifice for us. Just as people then needed a Savior, a sacrificial Lamb, we need our Savior (Jesus) today more than ever.

No amount of good works – giving, helping others, or even attending church out of habit – can serve as a sacrifice acceptable to God. That’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus, so that we could be saved.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Salvation comes through belief—nothing we do can replace that or add to it.

I look forward to the day when all believers, you and I, will gather together at the feet of Jesus, worshiping and praising Him forever.

PRAYER
It is very challenging for us to even think of sacrificing, as our ancestors were led to do at the temple. But in our day of knowledge, we tend to think that we know how to best do this, or at least we simply ask artificial intelligence to give us directions! However, I praise You Lord Jesus for all that you did on Calvary so that I might have eternal life with You and The Father in heaven one day. Our verses today help us to turn our eyes towards Calvary and once again thank You for being our sacrifice – once and for all. My sincere prayer today is that this short devotional, and this special season in the church calendar, will open the eyes of many who have heard Your message, but never placed their faith and trust in Jesus. Please Lord, soften the hearts of all who will ponder the story again this year, and cause them to actually allow the sacrifice You made for us to impact their hearts to a point of surrender and to receive the gift of Eternal Life. I love You Lord, and I love and appreciate everyone who takes a moment to read these devotionals. Have Your will and way in their hearts and their lives this Easter season, please Lord Jesus. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!