DATE POSTED: ^day, September ^, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:5-10 (NLT) – ⁵ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷ For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. ⁸ And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. ⁹ We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. ¹⁰ When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. ¹¹ So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

DEVOTIONAL: To be united with Christ in His death and resurrection is much like being grafted into a living tree. I was blessed to have a father-in-law who taught me the art of grafting in agriculture. You can take a healthy branch and lay it beside a tree, tie it to a limb, or even tape it securely in place, but nothing remarkable will happen. However, when that branch is properly grafted into the tree, it begins receiving nourishment, sap, and life from the tree itself because it has become united with it. The branch no longer relies on its own weak resources – it lives entirely off the strength of the root.

This illustration helps me better understand what Paul taught in Romans 6. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are united with Him. His death becomes our death. His victory becomes our victory. His resurrection becomes our resurrection. Just as that branch becomes one with the vine, we become one with the Savior.

Paul reminds us that our “old sinful selves were crucified with Christ” (v. 6). This does not mean that we suddenly become sinless, but it does mean that sin is no longer our master. Before salvation we lived according to our sinful nature and stood condemned before a holy God. Through Christ, however, the power of sin has been broken, and we have been set free to live for Him.

Just as Jesus died in obedience to His Father, we are called to leave behind our old way of life. The attitudes, habits, and desires that once controlled us are no longer to define us. We have been given a new identity in Christ.

Paul also points us to the resurrection. Because Christ was raised from the dead, those who belong to Him share in His life. This promise reaches beyond the grave into eternity, but it is also a present reality. We are alive to God today. We can walk in victory, experience His peace, follow His direction, and live for His glory.

Verse 11 brings Paul’s teaching home to our hearts: “So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” What an incredible truth! Because we are united with Christ, we no longer need to make excuses for sinful living. Instead, we can rejoice in the new life He has given us and trust Him to guide our steps toward righteousness.

Dear friend, if you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, I encourage you to surrender your life to Him today. Be grafted into the Savior through His wonderful grace. There is life in Him that you will find nowhere else.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take a few moments today to slowly read Romans 6:5-11. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life where you may still be holding on to attitudes, habits, or desires that belong to your old nature.

Remember that through Christ, the power of sin has been broken. You do not have to live as you once did. Thank God for the new life He has given you and ask Him to help you walk each day in the victory that is yours through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your only Son to die in our place. Thank You that through faith in Jesus Christ we can be forgiven, made new, and united with Him in both His death and resurrection. Help us to consider ourselves dead to the power of sin and alive to You. Strengthen us through Your Holy Spirit to walk in obedience, trust Your direction, and reflect Your love in all we do. Remind us daily that our hope is secure because Christ lives. May our words, thoughts, and actions bring honor and glory to Your name. In the precious name of 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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!

DATE POSTED: Monday, September 21, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:1-4 (NLT) –.¹ Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? ² Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? ⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

DEVOTIONAL: In Romans 5:20, the apostle Paul introduces a mind-blowing truth: where sin abounded, God’s grace abounded all the more. But Paul knew human nature. He anticipated that some might twist this truth into a license to keep sinning, assuming that more sin simply gives God more opportunities to display His grace.

Paul responds with immediate and emphatic clarity: “Of course not!”

Paul reminds believers that we have died to sin. This does not mean that we never struggle with temptation, but it does mean that sin is no longer the master of our lives. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. The old life that was dominated by sin has been replaced by a new life that seeks to honor God.

Consider a person who has received mercy after facing the consequences of wrongdoing. Would he immediately desire to return to the same actions that brought him trouble? Certainly not. Gratitude for mercy creates a desire for change. In a much greater way, the believer who has experienced God’s saving grace should desire to walk in obedience rather than return to a life of rebellion.

Paul points to baptism as a beautiful picture of this spiritual reality. When we are baptized, we publicly identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Going beneath the water symbolizes the burial of the old life. Rising from the water reminds us that we have been raised to walk in newness of life through the power of Christ.

As we process what this looks like in our daily lives, two practical questions often arise:

1. “What if I haven’t been baptized yet? Am I still saved?”

Remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He had no opportunity to enter a baptismal pool, yet Jesus promised him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Salvation is a gift received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. However, just as you naturally want to share exciting news about your family with the world, baptism is your opportunity to publicly celebrate your new life in Christ. It is an outward expression of an inward transformation—a sacred step where fellow believers rejoice with you and commit to lifting you up in prayer.

2. “I was baptized years ago, but lately I feel far less enthusiasm for the Lord.”

Consider how marriage works. If you only spoke to your spouse once or twice a week, or spent quality time together once or twice a year, that relationship would quickly drift into coldness and distance. Strong, vibrant marriages are built on daily, sweet communion. Your relationship with God is no different. Spoken prayer, listening to His voice through Bible study, and walking in loving obedience are the daily habits that keep the flame alive.

Relationships flourish and enthusiasm is energized based on what we put into relationships, not what we hope to receive from them.

The Christ who died for us and rose again has called us to a new life. May we never treat His grace as permission to sin, but rather as motivation to pursue Him with all our hearts.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take a sincere look at your walk with Christ today. Has your love for Him grown stronger, or have other priorities crowded Him out?

If you sense that your passion has cooled, recommit yourself to spending time with the Lord in prayer, Bible study, and obedience to His Word. Remember that Jesus willingly went to the cross because of His love for you. Let your response be a renewed desire to love, honor, and follow Him more faithfully.

PRAYER: Lord God, I recognize that a deep and lasting relationship with You requires intentional commitment, daily devotion, and a heart yielded to Your Word. Where my enthusiasm has cooled, reignite the fire of Your Holy Spirit within me. Draw me so close to You today that when others interact with me, they see the character, love, and grace of Jesus reflected in my words and actions. Fill me afresh with Your presence, Lord. Be glorified in my life and in every encounter I have today. I also pray for those in my circle of influence who do not yet know You as Savior. Soften their hearts, open their eyes to Your grace, and bring them into the peace and contentment that only comes through a relationship with You. I pray all these things in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord. 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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!

DATE POSTED: Sunday, September 20, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:18-21 (NLT) – ¹⁸ Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ¹⁹ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. ²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DEVOTIONAL: While it might seem like the Apostle Paul spends a great deal of time contrasting Adam and Jesus, his explanation is vital to our spiritual understanding. Between the two of them, Adam and Jesus represent all of humanity—and every person who has ever lived is ultimately identified with one or the other.

Without any choice on our part, we were all born identified with Adam, inheriting a sinful nature. However, we can choose to be born again by making a conscious decision to receive Jesus as Lord, placing our identity firmly in Him. Without this spiritual rebirth, we face eternal separation from God in Hell.

But praise God, the story does not end there!

How do we make this choice? Jesus Christ came into the world and accomplished what no one else could do. Through His perfect obedience, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection from the grave, He provided a way for sinners who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven and gain a right relationship with God. While we had no choice in being born into Adam’s family, God has graciously provided a way for us to be born again into the family of Christ.

Some might object, thinking, “I don’t have any real connection to Adam.” But whenever we sin, we demonstrate our connection to the man who first brought sin into the world. Others might feel they have no association with Jesus, yet God in His infinite mercy grants every person the freedom to choose where they will spend eternity. Sin cannot enter Heaven; unless you decide to lay down the heavy burden of sin and trust Christ for your salvation, God’s Word warns that you remain separated from Him.

Scripture leaves no doubt about the path to peace with God:

— Romans 10:9–10: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

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

If you feel hesitant today, know that many of us who now walk with Jesus once struggled to take that same step of faith. Rest assured that Jesus is patient, loving, and kind. He created you in His image and longs for a relationship with you. He has given us His Word as our guide to receiving Him as Savior.

If you would like help taking this step, please reach out to a Bible-teaching pastor at a local church, or send a message directly to NuggetsFromGodsWord@Outlook.com. We would be honored to share from God’s Word and help you make the single most important decision of your life.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: We are only guaranteed the present moment. If the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart right now, do not delay. Reread Romans 10:9–10 and John 3:16, turn to Jesus in prayer, and surrender your life to Him today. God went to extraordinary lengths by giving His only Son so that you could have a right relationship with Him. Respond to His call today and step into the new life He has prepared for you.


PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are full of mercy and truth. I believe Your Word when It tells me of the sacrifice You made for my sins on the cross. I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. Cleanse me today, forgive my sins, and grant me the power to overcome the ways of this world so that I may walk in obedience to Your Word.

I long to be with You in glory when my time on earth is done, knowing this is only possible because of Your shed blood and victorious resurrection. Because You rose from the dead, I trust that You will raise me up to spend eternity in Heaven with You and the Father. Teach me Your ways, Lord, and guide my path every day as I walk closely with You. In the precious name of 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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!

DATE POSTED: Saturday, September 18, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:15-17 (NLT) – ¹⁵ But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. ¹⁷ For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

DEVOTIONAL: In the preceding verses, Paul began introducing a remarkable contrast between Adam and Jesus Christ. In today’s passage, he expands upon that comparison and reveals a glorious truth: while Adam’s sin brought death and condemnation, God’s grace through Jesus Christ brings forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life.

Throughout Scripture, we find several meaningful comparisons between Adam and Christ. Notice how the tragedy that entered the world through the first Adam is completely overcome by the victory secured through Jesus:

Adam	Jesus
First man, formed from the dust (Gen 2:7)	The Lord from heaven; the Last Adam (1 Cor 15:45, 47)
First to sin, bringing death to the world (Rom 5:12)	Dealt decisively with sin, bringing life (Rom 5:18–19, 1 Cor 15:22)
Disobedience brought condemnation (Romans 5:18)	Perfect obedience brings justification (Rom 5:18)
Sin separated humanity from God (Genesis 3:23-24)	Reconciles believers directly to God (2 Cor 5:18)
In Adam all die (1 Corinthians 15:22)	In Christ all shall be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Paul’s goal was not simply to compare two men. His purpose was to show the overwhelming superiority of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Adam’s sin affected every person born into this world, bringing condemnation and death. Yet Christ’s work is far greater. Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, He offers forgiveness for sins, righteousness before God, and the promise of eternal life to all who place their faith in Him.

What wonderful encouragement this provides for believers today! While Adam reminds us of humanity’s fall, Jesus reminds us of God’s redemption. Through Adam came death, but through Christ comes life. Through Adam came separation from God, but through Christ comes reconciliation. Through Adam came condemnation, but through Christ comes justification.

We serve an awesome God who not only created us but also provided the way of redemption through His Son. Because of Jesus, believers have more than hope for tomorrow; they have purpose, joy, and victory to experience today. Sin and death do not have the final word. Jesus does.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Share that joy of knowing what tomorrow holds in store for you. If you chose to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are assured of taking part in that glorious resurrection on the day God calls us home. Share with them the hope you have found in Jesus Christ. Let them know that because of God’s wonderful grace, forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life are available to all who trust in His Son.


PRAYER:Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful grace displayed through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that through Adam sin entered the world and death followed, but we rejoice that through Jesus we have forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. Thank You that Your grace is greater than our sin and that Your gift of salvation is available to all who believe. Help us to live each day in the victory Christ has secured for us and to boldly share this hope with those around us. May our lives point others to the Savior who conquered sin and death once and for all. In Jesus’ precious name, 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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!

DATE POSTED
Thursday, September 17, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 5:12-14 (NLT): ¹² When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. ¹³ Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. ¹⁴ Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 

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.

As we read today’s verses, it may be tempting to move quickly past them without fully grasping their significance. Yet every word of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for our understanding. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired Paul to write these words for our instruction, and they reveal an important truth about our condition and our need for a Savior.

Paul takes his readers all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3, Satan, speaking through the serpent, questioned God’s command and tempted Eve to doubt the word of God. Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and Adam knowingly followed her into disobedience. Even before a written law was delivered through Moses, God’s original instruction was broken.

As a result, sin entered the world through Adam, and death followed. God had warned Adam in Genesis 2:17 that disobedience would bring death. From that moment forward, the effects of sin spread throughout all humanity. Paul points to the undeniable reality that death reigned from Adam to Moses, even before God gave His Law through Moses. The presence of death was the result of sin.

Paul’s purpose is not merely to recount history. He is preparing his readers for a glorious truth. Adam serves as a picture of one who was to come. Through Adam came sin and death, but through Jesus Christ would come righteousness and life. Paul will unfold that contrast more fully in the verses ahead.

As we consider these truths, we are reminded that every funeral, every graveyard, and every reminder of mortality points back to humanity’s fallen condition. Yet for the child of God, death is not the end of the story. Because Christ came, died, and rose again, we have hope beyond the grave. The same Savior who conquered death offers eternal life to all who place their faith in Him.

As we share God’s Word with others, let us ask the Holy Spirit to prepare both our hearts and theirs. God did just this in Acts 10, when He prepared Peter to share the Gospel with Cornelius. Only God can soften hearts, open eyes, and draw people to Himself. Our role is to faithfully share the truth while trusting God to do His transforming work.

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Challenge: When called to share God’s Word with someone, do not only pray for the recipient, but ask God to also minister to your own heart as you go. Additionally, the next time you attend a funeral or face the reality of grief, look beyond the pain brought on by Adam’s fall. Reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which secured eternal life for every believer. Even in the face of death, we have an unshakable hope!

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Prayer: Almighty and everlasting Father, thank You for the eternal hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. Though sin and death entered the world through the first man, Adam, we praise You that the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Your precious Son brought eternal life to all who believe. I pray for everyone reading these words today. Soften hearts, Lord, and draw them by Your Spirit toward Your saving truth. Prompt those who do not yet know You to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord today. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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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!

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, September 15, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 5:9-11 (NLT): ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

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.

Romans 5 reminds us of one of the greatest blessings available to every believer: through Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemned sinners standing at a distance from God, but forgiven children welcomed into a restored relationship with Him.

Therefore, from this reminder, it is evident right from the opening verses of today’s Scripture, the incredible grace of God. Although we have fallen short of His expectations and have strayed from His teachings, God did not abandon us in our sin. Instead, through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, He made a way for us to be justified and restored into a right relationship with Himself.

The Bible remains the world’s best-selling book, yet many who own a copy rarely open its pages or allow its truths to shape their lives. Nevertheless, God’s Word clearly points us to the hope found in Christ. And this should be the primary input for our heart. Paul reminds us that through the blood Jesus shed on the cross, our sins can be forgiven, and we can be saved from God’s condemnation.

However, it is important to remember that this gift is not automatically received by every person. John 3:16-17 tells us that God gave His Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Earlier in Romans chapter 5, Paul reminds us that it is through faith that we are made right or justified before God. Salvation is God’s gift, but it must be accepted through faith in His Son.

Consider the relationship between a husband and wife. Before marriage, they may have been strangers. But once married under God’s ordinance, they spend their lives learning about one another, growing closer, and seeking to please each other. So it is with God. Through Jesus Christ, we are brought into a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. We become recipients of His grace, mercy, and love.

Because of this relationship, we should desire to draw closer to Him every day through prayer, reading His Word, meditating on His truth, and following His guidance. The more we fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, the more His character will be reflected in our lives. If Jesus truly reigns within our hearts, His presence will become evident in our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. The total output from our heart.

This is where today’s theme becomes especially important: your input will determine your output. When God’s Word becomes your daily input, Christlike living becomes your output. The things that consume our hearts inevitably shape our lives.

I love the sentiment shared by Paul in verse 11 when he tells us that we can rejoice in our relationship with God. Not because we have somehow achieved perfection, but because Jesus Christ has reconciled us to the Father. Imagine the excitement of becoming friends with someone greatly respected or influential. We naturally want to talk about them and share our joy with others.

How much greater should our joy be when we consider that the King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator of the universe, and Savior of our souls has made a way for us to become friends of God? What an amazing privilege! Through Christ, we have been welcomed into a relationship that will last for all eternity.

Today’s Challenge

Who is your closest friend? Who occupies most of your thoughts? Who do you talk about most often?

Take a moment today to evaluate the input filling your heart and mind. Is it drawing you closer to Christ, or pulling your attention elsewhere? The evidence will often be seen in your output: your words, attitudes, choices, and priorities.

God has given believers the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and direct them each day. Listen carefully to His leadership. Fill your heart with God’s Word and watch as the life of Christ shines through you.

PRAYER
Father God, thank You for loving us even when we were consumed in sin. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to shed His blood so that we might be forgiven, justified, and restored into a right relationship with You. Help us, in our input, to fill our hearts and minds with Your Word each day so that, in our output, our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions reflect the presence of Christ within us. Through the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, draw us closer to You and help us rejoice in the privilege of being called Your friend. In the precious name of 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!

DATE POSTED
Sunday, September 13, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT): ³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

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.

Paul makes a statement here that seems almost impossible at first glance:

“We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials.”

How can anyone rejoice in tribulation?

The word translated tribulation comes from the Greek word thlipsis, which carries the idea of pressure, affliction, or being pressed from all sides. It paints a picture similar to olives being crushed in a press to produce oil. While no one enjoys being under pressure, God often uses life’s crushing moments to accomplish His greatest work within us.

Our ultimate example is Jesus Himself. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He experienced such agony that His sweat became like drops of blood. Yet He willingly surrendered Himself to the Father’s will. Through His suffering came salvation for all who believe.

As believers, we often discover God’s power most clearly during our most difficult seasons. When we surrender our trials to Him, we begin to experience His sustaining grace firsthand. What once seemed impossible becomes possible through His strength. What once appeared overwhelming becomes another testimony of His faithfulness.

This is why Paul could speak so confidently about tribulation. Throughout his ministry, he endured persecution, hardship, imprisonment, rejection, and countless challenges. Yet rather than destroying his faith, those experiences strengthened it. Each trial became another opportunity to witness God’s power at work.

Notice the progression Paul describes:

• Tribulation produces endurance.
• Endurance produces character.
• Character produces hope.

God does not waste our struggles. He uses them to shape us into believers whose faith has been tested and proven. Through repeated experiences of His faithfulness, our confidence in Him grows stronger.

Many Christians have observed that when we ask God for patience, it seems like He often allows us to face circumstances that require patience. In the same way, God develops spiritual maturity not merely through instruction, but through experience. Often the lessons we treasure most are those learned in the valleys of life.

The message of the old song Through It All captures this truth beautifully: had we never faced difficulties, we might never have learned how faithful God truly is. While we would never choose many of our trials, we often look back and see God’s hand sustaining us every step of the way.

Perhaps you are reading this today and have never experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ. You may wonder how anyone can move from frustration and fear during life’s hardships to the confident hope Paul describes. The answer is found in a relationship with Christ. When the Holy Spirit begins drawing you to God, you will find yourself asking spiritual questions and seeking eternal answers.

When you place your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you begin a journey marked by His presence, His guidance, and His transforming power. He does not promise a life free from tribulation, but He does promise that you will never face it alone.

As you walk with Him, you will discover that He is the God of the mountaintops and the valleys. He is present in seasons of victory and in seasons of suffering. And one day, you may look back on your greatest trials and recognize that they became some of God’s greatest tools for strengthening your faith and equipping you to encourage someone else.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Without Jesus, you are left to handle all aspects of your overwhelming life alone. But remember that with Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He is able, He is all powerful, and because He loves you so much, you are not alone in the tribulations of life. Better still, you will one day reflect on how He uses the lessons learned in your tribulations to strengthen you to help others overcome theirs! Know Jesus today and know this peace, dear friend!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, when problems and trials come into my life, help me to see beyond my present circumstances and trust Your greater purpose. Remind me that You are using every difficulty to strengthen my endurance, develop godly character, and deepen my hope in You. Give me the faith to surrender my burdens into Your capable hands and the confidence to believe that You are working all things together for good. Thank You for never leaving me alone in my tribulations and for walking with me through every valley. May my life become a testimony of Your faithfulness and grace. In Jesus’ name, 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!

DATE POSTED
Saturday, September 12, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 5:1-2 (NLT): ¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

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.

One of the most difficult things for us as humans is extending grace to someone who has wronged us. Even after a person repents and turns from their wrongdoing, we often expect them to spend a long season proving themselves before we fully accept that they have changed. We may forgive, but we struggle to forget.

How different is the heart of God!

In human courtrooms, we often demand that the judge throw the book at offenders and issue maximum punishment. However, Paul reminds us in Romans 5 that those who place their faith in Jesus Christ are justified before God. In other words, they are declared righteous in His sight, not because of their own goodness, but because of what Christ has done on their behalf. The penalty for sin has been paid in full by Jesus. The stain of guilt has been removed. The believer stands before God no longer condemned, but accepted.

What a remarkable truth! The God who knows every thought, every failure, and every secret of our hearts chooses to extend mercy rather than condemnation to all who come to Him through faith in His Son. Instead of receiving the judgment we deserve, we receive grace. Instead of being treated as enemies, we are welcomed as His children.

Paul goes on to remind us that through Christ we now stand in a place of undeserved privilege. We did not earn God’s favor. We could never work hard enough to deserve His acceptance. Salvation is, and always has been, a gift of God’s grace. Jesus accomplished everything necessary for our redemption through His death and resurrection.

This gift is available to all who believe. Scripture repeatedly teaches that everyone who places their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be saved. Those who receive Him can live with confidence, knowing that heaven is their eternal home and that their relationship with God has been secured through Christ.

To reject Jesus, however, is to remain on a path separated from God—a trajectory that leaves us bound to the enemy and eternal separation from our Creator. While Hell is a very real place, the way to life is clear: Jesus paid it all, but the choice to trust and accept Him rests with us.

Perhaps the most comforting promise in these verses is that we have peace with God. The separation that sin created between God and mankind has been removed. Because of Jesus, we no longer need to fear God’s judgment. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing that we are loved, forgiven, and accepted.

Friend, my prayer is that you know this peace personally. Not merely a peace that calms life’s troubles, but the deep and lasting peace that comes from being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. And if you have already trusted Him as your Savior, rejoice today. You stand in His grace, rest in His peace, and look forward with joy to the day when you will share in His glory. Plan to join me around the feet of Jesus in everlasting worship to Him! That’s my King, and I pray you can say the same!

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE While you are able, ensure your eternal destiny is secure. If you have never placed your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, make today the day you step out of guilt and into God’s standing grace. One decision changes your trajectory for all eternity.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of salvation that comes through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that we are not made right with You because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.

Thank You for declaring us righteous, forgiving our sins, and bringing us into Your presence through Your amazing grace. Help us to live each day in the peace that comes from knowing we belong to You. May we never take for granted the privilege of standing in Your grace and looking forward to the glory that awaits us.

For those who have not yet trusted in Jesus, soften their hearts and draw them to Yourself today. May they come to know the joy, forgiveness, and eternal hope that are found only in Christ.

We ask these things in the precious name of 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!

DATE POSTED
Thursday, September 10, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 4:20-25 (NLT): ²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

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.

For those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior, there is immense strength and comfort in knowing we do not walk this journey alone. When you make the life-altering decision to trust Christ, looking around at an uncertain world can sometimes feel isolating. You might even wonder: Am I the only one striving to walk in peace with God?

In those moments, God graciously anchors us in His Word. He reminds us that our security doesn’t rest on our feelings, but on His unchanging character. Just as God encouraged Abraham in Genesis, the Apostle Paul brings Abraham’s example forward in Romans to remind us that faith is what makes us right with God.

Paul goes on to tell us that this truth was not recorded for Abraham alone. God intended for future generations, including us, to learn from Abraham’s example. The same God who credited righteousness to Abraham now offers righteousness to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

The difference is that we now know the full story of God’s redemption. Jesus was delivered over to death because of our sins, and He was raised from the dead so that we might be made right with God. Through faith in Christ, we too can stand before God forgiven, accepted, and declared righteous.

That should encourage every believer. We serve the same unchanging God that Abraham trusted. The God who kept His promises then, is faithfully keeping His promises now. He still strengthens His children. He still guides their steps. He still provides hope in difficult circumstances. And He still honors genuine faith.

This leads to an important question for us today: Where do we stand in the eyes of Almighty God?

It is easy to show up every time the church doors are open, engage in public prayer, and consider ourselves “active believers.” But are we living in genuine surrender? Are we an encouragement to our local pastors and leaders, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them in God’s work? Or are we relying on religious routine while harboring cold, unloving attitudes?

Abraham was human, yet God credited him with righteousness because of his deep, active faith. God knows every hidden detail of our hearts—and He invites us beyond mere religious duty into full surrender to Jesus as Lord.

The question each of us must answer is this: Have I truly placed my faith in Jesus Christ? Not merely believed facts about Him, attended church, or tried to live a good life, but trusted Him completely as Savior and Lord?

God declared Abraham righteous because of his faith. And God still responds to faith today.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Take an honest inventory of your heart today. Are you relying on outward church involvement, or are you walking in daily, surrendered faith?

Ask God to strengthen your faith as He did Abraham’s. Draw near to Him, depend on His promises, and surrender every area of your life to His leading. Then live with confidence, knowing that those who place their faith in Christ are made right with God through Him alone.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Abraham and the faith that pleased You. Thank You even more for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins and rise again so that I might be made right with You. Strengthen my faith when doubts arise. Help me trust Your promises even when circumstances seem impossible. Draw me closer to You each day, and teach me to surrender every area of my life to Your will. May my life bring glory to You as Abraham’s faith did. In the precious name of 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!

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, September 8, 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
I would love for you to read today’s Scripture in your own personal Bible!

Romans 4:16-19 (NLT): ¹⁶ So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. ¹⁷ That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.¹⁸ Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” ¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

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.

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift…”

Imagine if God’s ultimate promise—our salvation—depended on our good works or perfection under the law. We would live in constant anxiety, wondering if we had done enough to earn His favor or if one misstep would cause Him to revoke it.

But praise God that salvation is God’s gift. It is not earned. It is not purchased. It is received through faith in Jesus Christ because of God’s amazing grace.

How do we walk in this kind of faith? Paul points us to Abraham as an example of such faith. Scripture tells us that Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous. Abraham’s faith was remarkable, but even more remarkable was the God in whom he placed his faith. Verse 17 describes Him as the One “who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.”

When Abraham looked at his circumstances, there seemed to be little reason for hope. He was nearly one hundred years old, and Sarah had long since passed childbearing age. Humanly speaking, God’s promise appeared impossible. Yet Abraham continued believing because he trusted the God who made the promise.

Throughout his life, Abraham demonstrated faith by following God’s direction without knowing where the journey would lead. He believed God’s promises when they seemed impossible. He obeyed when he did not fully understand. He trusted that God would provide whatever was needed. Abraham’s confidence was not in himself, but in the faithfulness of God.

When life presents overwhelming challenges, where do you place your trust?

I was reminded of Abraham’s kind of faith when a missionary spoke to our church’s Men’s Group. He shared that after accepting the call on His life by God to serve overseas, he put his home up for sale. Instead of investing the proceeds for his eventual return to the States, he donated the entire sum to his home church. When asked why he didn’t save a safety net for his future, his response left us speechless: “Since I was fully convinced God called me to the mission field, I was just as confident He would provide a home for me when it was time to return.”

That kind of radical reliance on God mirrors the faith Jesus marveled at in Mattew 8:10 when he said: I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

As I meditated on this reminder from Paul today, I must honestly admit that I have not often exercised that kind of faith. Yet God continues teaching His children to trust Him. Faith grows as we learn to depend upon Him daily. As we trust Him in the small matters of life, we become better equipped to trust Him when larger challenges arise.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE

When you encounter an impossible situation, where do you turn first? Do you place your confidence in your own understanding, or do you trust the God who brings life from death and creates something from nothing?

Some people turn to the vices of this world when difficulties arise. But God calls His children to trust Him completely. Whatever challenge stands before you today, remember that the God Abraham trusted is the same God we serve. He remains our Strength, our Guide, our Provider, and our Helper.

Place your faith in Him today. The God of the impossible is still at work.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You that salvation and Your promises are free gifts of grace, received by faith and not earned by our own works. Thank You for the example of Abraham, who trusted You even when Your promises seemed impossible from a human perspective. Forgive us for the times we allow fear, doubt, and circumstances to weaken our confidence in You. Help us to remember that You are the God who brings life from death and creates new things out of nothing. Strengthen our faith day by day, Lord, so that we may trust You in the small, everyday moments so that when giant obstacles stand before us, our eyes remain fixed on Your power and goodness. In Jesus’ name, 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!