Oswald Chambers, with his usual bold clarity, reminds us today that true spiritual maturity isn't about living in a continuous state of emotional inspiration. It's about quietly walking by faith, even in obscurity. While God may give us mountain-top moments of light and glory, those are His gifts—not His requirements for us to act.

This morning's reflection from Abide Above invites us into a deeper understanding of love—not as a principle or doctrine—but as a Person who draws us into ever-deepening intimacy. C.A.C. begins with the truth every believer first encounters: Christ loved us so much that He saved us. But that first experience of His love—at the Cross—is merely the beginning.

This morning’s devotional from eManna invites us to consider Joseph as the clearest Old Testament foreshadowing of the perfection of Christ. Unlike other notable figures—David, Moses, Solomon—Joseph’s scriptural record carries no stain, no documented defect. He’s not presented as flawless in behavior alone, but as one whose life points forward to Jesus—the true and final Good Shepherd.

Paul opens this letter not with complaint about his suffering, but with gratitude. Even while imprisoned, he celebrates the grace of God revealed in the Colossians' lives. These believers had heard the gospel from Epaphras, a fellow laborer in the faith, and were now walking in faith and love—clear signs of their transformed hearts. Paul emphasizes that this transformation didn't come from personal effort but from the Spirit's work in them. He reminds us that the gospel is spreading and bearing fruit because it is rooted in grace, not human striving.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a call to remain rooted in the sufficiency of Christ. Written from Roman house arrest, possibly chained to a guard while awaiting trial before Nero, Paul’s heart overflowed not with fear but with concern for the flourishing of the body of Christ. Even under pressure, his thoughts were with the believers in Colossae—people he had never met but loved deeply in Christ.

John 16 carries the tone of a parting gift from Jesus—a message spoken to hearts soon to be torn by grief, then flooded with joy. Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution, not to frighten them, but to reassure them that their suffering will not be unexpected, meaningless, or endured alone. He speaks as a Shepherd who knows the valley ahead and lovingly tells them what is coming, and why.

Many seek peace through human effort—through religion, philosophy, or personal striving—only to come up empty. Some turn to systems that promise enlightenment, rules that demand perfection, or rituals that attempt to erase guilt. Yet, no system, no ritual, no philosophy can remove the deep weight of sin. Only in Christ do we find the reality of total forgiveness and freedom from condemnation.

E. Stanley Jones draws us into the heart of what it means to be “in Christ”—a phrase that surpasses all religious identifiers. Being in Christ is more than being in the church, more than embracing right doctrine or living out good behavior. It’s not even merely being born again. To be in Christ is to live in love—a particular kind of love—the self-giving, limitless love that flows from Christ Himself.

Today’s devotional entry by Ray Stedman draws from Leviticus 27, where Israelite vows to the Lord were assessed by fixed valuations, depending on the age and gender of the person being offered. These vows weren’t empty pledges; they were heartfelt offerings — often made on behalf of others — in response to the desire for God’s blessing. A parent might vow to dedicate their child to God’s service, or a friend might pledge a gift if God would work in someone’s life. And when someone made such a vow, they were expected to fulfill it with exactness.

Today’s reading draws our gaze to the unrelenting love of God—a love that chooses to see His people through the covering of Christ’s blood, not through the blemishes of their faults. A.B. Simpson brings out the mystery and mercy found in Isaiah’s words: “They are My people… so He was their Savior.” Even though they had lied and failed, God speaks as if He saw none of it.

Today’s reading by Bob Hoekstra reveals the heart of new covenant living: a life that draws its sufficiency entirely from God, not self. The devotional reflects on several beautiful traits that are meant to grow in the life of the believer—triumph, godly fragrance, sincerity, and being a living letter of Christ. But rather than prescribing a method of self-improvement, Bob reaffirms what Paul makes clear: Who is sufficient for these things? Not us. Only God.

Oswald Chambers invites us to stop striving to manufacture love and instead rest in the reality that true love flows from God through us. This love—described in 1 Corinthians 13—is not premeditated or calculated. It is not the result of a disciplined self-improvement project, nor is it stirred up through willpower. It arises spontaneously, like a spring erupting from deep within, and catches us by surprise when we look back and realize how unselfish and kind we were in the moment.

Today’s Abide Above devotional cuts to the root of a subtle but dangerous mindset: trying to grow spiritually through self-imposed effort. We’re reminded that spiritual liberty cannot be manufactured through religious rules, personal discipline, or outward regulations. The apostle Paul questions why believers—who have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world—would return to living as though they are still bound by its systems (Col. 2:20).

Today’s eManna devotional invites us to live from the unshakable awareness that we are not under the curse, but under the blessing. It compares the lives of those still marked by complaining, darkness, and bitterness with that of Joseph—who endured betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment without resentment. Instead of seeing these experiences as curses, Joseph saw the hand of God in every trial, saying in effect, “God sent me here.” He chose praise over blame.

As I settle down to memorize 2 Corinthians 3:18, I am finding the verse to be incredibly rich with beauty and life application. In this verse, Paul contrasts the old covenant’s fading glory with the surpassing and permanent glory of the new covenant, which is revealed through the Spirit. Under the old covenant, Moses veiled his face because the Israelites could not bear to look upon God’s fading glory. But under the new covenant, believers—because of their union with Christ—behold the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces. This beholding is not merely visual; it is relational and spiritual. As we behold Christ through the Spirit, we are being transformed into His image, not by human striving but by the indwelling power of God. This transformation happens progressively, “from one degree of glory to another,” as we walk in the freedom and life of the Spirit.

T. Austin-Sparks draws us into the mystery of our union with Christ by pointing us to Jacob’s ladder — a connection between heaven and earth. Jesus, he reminds us, is the true and living ladder, the Son of Man upon whom heaven is opened, and angels ascend and descend. Through this living connection, Jesus was — and still is — both fully present on earth and yet always in perfect union with heaven. His source of power, wisdom, and life never came from within this world’s corrupted systems but from the incorruptible resources of His heavenly home.

Esther opens with the grand display of King Xerxes' empire, stretching across 127 provinces from India to Cush. He ruled from a position of enormous wealth, and to reinforce his majesty, he orchestrated a six-month festival to show off his splendor to leaders and nobles. Then, as if that weren’t enough, he extended a second banquet in Susa for everyone else, rich and poor alike. Nothing was spared—gold goblets, endless wine, opulence unmatched.

The book of Esther is a quiet testimony to the thunderous faithfulness of God. Though His name is never explicitly mentioned, His hand is unmistakably present, guiding events from behind the curtain. We’re introduced to a Jewish woman named Esther, who becomes queen in a foreign empire just as a genocidal plan unfolds against her people. While the Persian Empire may rule the land, and an evil official named Haman plots destruction, the true Sovereign is unseen yet unfailing.

Ezekiel 44 continues the prophet’s vision of the future temple, a sacred space now governed by holiness and order, as a reflection of God's unwavering presence and glory. The chapter opens with a striking image: the east gate of the outer court is permanently shut. Why? Because the glory of the Lord entered through it. That gate is now sealed, set apart for the Prince alone—symbolizing exclusivity, reverence, and the sanctity of God's dwelling place. Then, as Ezekiel is led to the front of the temple, he witnesses the overwhelming return of God’s glory. Once again, Ezekiel falls to the ground in worship.

Psalm 4 opens with David crying out to God during a season of personal attack and slander. His confidence isn’t rooted in his circumstances, but in the character of his “righteous God.” The study Bible notes emphasize that David isn’t demanding that God merely “listen,” as if God were distant or distracted. Instead, David is appealing to the God who vindicates the faithful—who knows, sees, and responds with favor.