CHRIST IS WORTHY

The fifth chapter of Revelation is often treated as a puzzle to be solved. Countless books have been written attempting to identify the seals, predict future events, and decode every symbol.

That is not the right way to approach this chapter or the book of Revelation in general.

The central message of the chapter is not hidden at all. The focus is not the seals. The focus is the Savior.

John sees a scroll in the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne, but heaven falls into silence because no one is found worthy to open it.

The apostle begins to weep, not because he is curious about the future, but because all creation appears helpless before the purposes of God (Revelation 5:1-4).

Then one of the elders speaks words that still sound through the ages: “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed.”

Christ has overcome. He has conquered where every king, prophet, and warrior failed.

John turns expecting to see a Lion, but instead beholds a Lamb standing as though it had been slain.

The victory of Jesus was not won by earthly force but through His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection (Revelation 5:5-6; Philippians 2:8-11).

The worthiness of Christ is the heartbeat of this chapter.

He is worthy because He redeemed us by His blood.

He is worthy because He fulfilled the Father’s will.

He is worthy because He overcame sin, death, and the grave.

Heaven does not sing, “Worthy are the seals.” Heaven does not sing, “Worthy is the scroll.”

The song is directed entirely toward the Lamb. “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood” (Revelation 5:9).

Sometimes believers become consumed with questions God has not fully answered. We want details about prophecy, timelines, and mysteries.

But Revelation 5 gently redirects our gaze.

Before God reveals His plans, He reveals His Son.

Before heaven discusses events, heaven worships Christ.

The greatest truth is not that God has a plan for history, but that Jesus Christ is Lord over history.

The One who opens the scroll is the same One who died for our sins and rose again (Colossians 1:15-18).

The chapter closes with a chorus so vast that John can hardly describe it. Angels, living creatures, elders, and eventually all creation join together in worship.

Their united testimony is simple: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.”

When our hearts become troubled by uncertainty, Revelation 5 calls us back to this foundation.

We will not understand every seal, every symbol, or every prophetic detail, but we know the One who has overcome.

The Lamb is worthy.

The Lamb reigns.

The Lamb has prevailed, and because He has overcome, His people will overcome through Him (Revelation 5:11-13; Romans 8:37).

BDD

HEARTS LIKE JESUS

The greatest need in the church today is not more programs, larger buildings, or greater popularity. The greatest need is for believers to develop hearts like Jesus.

The Lord’s concern was never merely external obedience. He taught that the heart is the source of a person’s words, actions, and attitudes (Matthew 15:18-19).

If we are to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29), we must learn to think, love, and respond as He did.

The Bible reveals several characteristics that marked the heart of Christ and should mark the hearts of His followers.

He was compassionate. When Jesus looked upon the multitudes, He was “moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

The Greek word translated “compassion” refers to deep inward concern. Christ did not merely notice people’s suffering. He cared about it.

He fed the hungry (Mark 6:34-44), healed the sick (Matthew 14:14), and wept with those who mourned (John 11:35).

Christians must guard against becoming indifferent to the needs of others. Paul instructed believers to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted” (Ephesians 4:32).

Hearts like Jesus are compassionate hearts.

He was forgiving. Jesus taught forgiveness and demonstrated it. Even while hanging on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

His teaching was consistent with His example. He commanded His disciples to forgive others from the heart (Matthew 18:35).

Forgiveness does not ignore sin, nor does it excuse wrongdoing. It chooses to release bitterness and leave vengeance in God’s hands (Romans 12:19).

A heart that refuses to forgive cannot truly reflect the spirit of Christ. Hearts like Jesus are forgiving hearts.

He was obedient. Jesus said, “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). His life was characterized by submission to the Father’s will. In the garden He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Obedience was not occasional with Christ. It was a way of life. The writer of Hebrews emphasized that He learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

Modern disciples must resist the temptation to follow personal preference instead of divine instruction.

Hearts like Jesus seek God’s will above all else.

The Christian life is ultimately a matter of transformation. God does not simply want changed behavior. He wants changed hearts.

When believers develop compassionate hearts, forgiving hearts, and obedient hearts, they reflect the character of the Savior.

The goal is not merely to admire Jesus but to imitate Him (1 Corinthians 11:1). As we study His life in the word of God and submit to His teaching, we become more like the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

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Father, help us to develop hearts like Jesus. Fill us with compassion for those who suffer, forgiveness toward those who wrong us, and obedience to Your will in all things. May our words, attitudes, and actions reflect the character of Your Son. In His name we pray, Amen.

BDD

JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

What a mountain peak of grace is found in these words: “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

The believer is not merely forgiven. He is not merely rescued from wrath. He is brought into the family of God and given a share in the inheritance of the Son Himself.

The poorest saint who trusts in Christ possesses riches that no king can count and no thief can steal.

The world may see a weak and struggling Christian, but heaven sees an heir of God.

Consider who Christ is. He is the beloved Son, the One whom the Father has appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2).

The stars belong to Him.

The angels worship Him.

The nations are His inheritance.

And then the Bible declares that those who are united to Christ share in what belongs to Him.

We are not standing outside the palace gates hoping for crumbs from the King’s table. We have been brought into the household itself. Through grace we sit at the table as sons and daughters.

This inheritance was not purchased by our goodness. Had it depended upon our works, we would possess nothing but shame.

The title deed was secured by the blood of Christ.

At Calvary our Lord paid every debt and removed every charge against us. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Because the Son is accepted, all who are in Him are accepted also. Because He lives, they shall live. Because He reigns, they shall reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

Yet the apostle adds a solemn word. “If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

The road to the inheritance passes through a world that rejected its rightful King. The servant is not greater than his master (John 15:20).

If we bear His name, we should not be surprised when we share in His reproach.

But every tear shed for Christ is a seed of coming glory. Every burden carried for His sake will one day be exchanged for a crown that does not fade away (1 Peter 5:4).

How often believers live as spiritual paupers while possessing heavenly wealth!

A prince who has forgotten his identity may wander in rags though an inheritance awaits him.

In the same way, many Christians spend their days focused on earthly losses while neglecting eternal riches.

The word of God calls us to lift our eyes above the dust of this age. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

Our inheritance is reserved in heaven, untouched by decay, protected by the power of God (1 Peter 1:4-5).

One day faith will become sight. The heirs will enter fully into what has long been promised. The redeemed shall stand with Christ in His heavenly kingdom. They shall see His face and share His joy.

The Lamb who was slain will receive the reward of His suffering, and His people will rejoice with Him forever (Revelation 22:3-5).

No sorrow will follow them there. No sin will trouble them there. No grave will threaten them there. The inheritance will be enjoyed without end.

Therefore, child of God, take courage. You may feel forgotten by the world, but you are remembered by your Father.

You may possess little in this life, yet you are an heir of everlasting riches.

Let your heart rest in Christ.

The inheritance is certain because it rests not upon your strength but upon His finished work.

The day is coming when all that is promised will be revealed, and the joint heirs shall rejoice with their glorious Savior forever.

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Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting us into Your family through Jesus Christ. Help us to live as heirs of Your grace and not as slaves to fear. Lift our eyes above the troubles of this world and fix our hearts upon the inheritance that awaits us. Keep us faithful through every trial until we stand in the presence of Christ and rejoice in the fullness of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THAT WHICH IS LACKING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

There is perhaps no statement in all of Paul’s writings that causes the believer to pause more deeply than these words: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24).

At first glance the words seem impossible. How could anything be lacking in the sufferings of Christ? Did not our Lord cry, “It is finished”? Was not the work of redemption completed once and for all at Calvary (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:12)?

Indeed it was.

Nothing can be added to the atoning value of the cross. The sacrifice of Christ stands complete, perfect, and eternally sufficient.

The apostle is not speaking of redemption. He is speaking of representation. Christ has finished His suffering for sin, but the testimony of that suffering continues in His people.

The risen Lord has a Body on earth, and that Body is called to share in the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). What remains is not suffering for salvation but suffering for manifestation.

The world that rejected Christ continues to reject His life wherever it is expressed through those who belong to Him (John 15:18-20).

When Christ walked this earth, the hostility of darkness was concentrated upon Him. Men despised Him, contradicted Him, and crucified Him.

Yet after His ascension, the same opposition turned toward His church.

The enemy cannot strike the glorified Christ in heaven, but he seeks to wound the testimony of Christ on earth. Thus the church enters into sufferings that reveal the character and life of her Head.

In this way the afflictions of Christ continue, not in His Person, but in His people (Acts 9:4).

This explains why the Lord said to Saul on the Damascus road, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Saul had never laid a hand upon Jesus of Nazareth. But in touching the saints he touched Christ Himself.

The union between the Head and the Body is so complete that the sufferings of the church are regarded as the sufferings of Christ.

What an immense truth this is.

We are not merely followers of Christ. We are joined to Him. His interests become our interests, and our sufferings become bound up with His purpose.

The measure of suffering endured by the church is often related to the measure of Christ revealed through the church.

Whenever God’s people move toward a fuller expression of His Son, conflict increases.

The cross is not only the instrument of our salvation. It becomes the principle of our spiritual growth.

God brings His children into situations where self-strength fails, earthly resources diminish, and dependence upon Christ alone remains. Through such dealings, the life of Jesus is manifested in mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:10-11).

Paul could therefore rejoice in suffering. He saw beyond the pain to the purpose. Every trial endured for Christ’s sake contributed to the building up of the church and the unveiling of Christ’s fullness among God’s people.

The sufferings were temporary, but the spiritual increase was eternal.

The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die before there can be fruit (John 12:24).

So it remains throughout this age.

Many believers ask God to use them greatly, yet shrink from the pathway through which Christ is most clearly revealed. We desire resurrection power while avoiding the fellowship of His sufferings.

God’s word shows that the two are inseparable.

The crown follows the cross. Glory follows suffering (Romans 8:17). The church becomes a vessel of heavenly life only as she shares the cost of bearing Christ’s testimony in a hostile world.

Thus, what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ was never anything deficient in His atonement.

Rather, it was the ongoing participation of His Body in making known His life, His character, and His victory throughout the earth until He comes again.

The Head has entered glory, but the Body remains in the battlefield.

Every hardship borne for His name, every rejection endured for His truth, and every sacrifice made for His people becomes part of that great testimony through which Christ is seen and known in the world.

BDD

Livestream Times for Thursday, June 25

All live streams are canceled for the rest of the day due to helping the homeless, the carless, and the hungry.

Tomorrow we will pick back up regularly with 5:30, 10:00, 2:00 and 6:00

THE INCREASE OF CHRIST

When John the Baptist declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), he spoke one of the great spiritual laws of God’s kingdom. These words were not merely an expression of personal humility. They revealed the very purpose of God in the life of every believer.

The Father’s eternal intention is that His Son should fill all things, possess all things, and have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18).

The Christian life is therefore not chiefly about our improvement but about Christ’s increase.

We often imagine spiritual growth as becoming stronger, wiser, and more capable. God’s way is frequently the opposite. He brings us to the end of our own resources so that we may discover the sufficiency of His Son.

The Apostle Paul learned this lesson through painful experiences. After pleading for the removal of his thorn in the flesh, he heard the Lord say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Christ increases where self-confidence decreases.

The cross stands at the center of this divine work. The purpose of the cross is not only to forgive sins but to bring an end to the dominance of the self-life.

God is not merely seeking to make the old man religious. He is seeking to make Christ everything.

Paul testified, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The Christian life begins where self-rule ends and Christ’s rule begins.

This process is seldom comfortable. The Lord often allows disappointments, delays, and difficulties to expose our dependence upon ourselves.

We may call these seasons setbacks, but heaven sees them differently. God is quietly removing the ground upon which the flesh stands.

He is teaching us that spiritual fruit does not come from human energy but from abiding in Christ. As Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The branch does not struggle to produce life. It simply remains connected to the vine.

The increase of Christ also changes the focus of our service. We are naturally concerned with our success, our influence, and our reputation.

The Holy Spirit continually points away from man and toward the Son of God. True ministry leaves people impressed not with the servant but with the Savior.

The Spirit delights to magnify Christ. The mature believer is one who increasingly says with John the Baptist, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27).

One day this work will be complete. The Christ who now dwells within His people by faith shall be openly revealed in glory.

The One who is being formed in us shall be seen in us.

The Father’s purpose will reach its fullness, and Christ shall be all and in all (Colossians 3:11).

Every painful lesson, every humbling experience, and every hidden work of grace is moving toward that great end.

May we therefore welcome whatever increases Christ in our lives.

If He must empty us in order to fill us, let Him do so.

If He must humble us in order to reveal His glory, let Him do so.

The highest blessing is not that we become greater Christians, but that Christ becomes greater in us.

BDD

THE BLESSED HOPE OF HIS APPEARING

The church of Jesus Christ has always lived between two mountains.

Behind us stands the mountain of Calvary where our Lord purchased redemption with His precious blood.

Before us rises the mountain of His glorious return.

The cross is not merely an event of the past, nor is the Second Coming merely a doctrine for debate. Both are living realities.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Yet the same Jesus who ascended into heaven shall so come in like manner as His disciples saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:9-11).

The Christian life is therefore a life of looking back in gratitude and looking forward in hope.

Many prophecies concerning judgment and the end of the old covenant age found their fulfillment in the first century. Our Lord’s warnings regarding Jerusalem were not idle threats. Just as He foretold, the city fell, the temple was destroyed, and the old order passed away (Matthew 24:1-34).

But even after those events, the promise of His final appearing remains. The destruction of Jerusalem was not the ultimate hope of the church. The hope of the church has always been Christ Himself. We do not merely await events. We await a Person.

What a day that shall be when faith gives way to sight.

Today we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We pray to One whom we cannot see with natural eyes. We love One whom we have not physically touched.

Peter reminds us that though we have not seen Him, we love Him and rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

But there is coming a day when the veil shall be lifted.

The King who was mocked shall be admired.

The Savior who was rejected shall be worshiped openly by all creation.

Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).

The certainty of His coming rests not upon our ability to chart prophecy but upon the character of God. Men break promises. Kingdoms rise and fall. The years pass like shadows across the earth.

But God’s word stands forever.

The angels declared that Jesus would return. The apostles proclaimed it. The Lord Himself promised it.

He said, “Surely I am coming quickly.” The church responds, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

If God fulfilled every promise concerning the first coming of Christ, shall He not fulfill every promise concerning the second?

The return of Christ is not given to satisfy curiosity but to produce holiness. John writes, “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (First John 3:3).

A believer who truly expects the Lord’s return cannot comfortably settle into sin.

The expectation of seeing Christ has a cleansing influence upon the soul.

We labor because He is coming.

We forgive because He is coming.

We endure suffering because He is coming.

The trumpet of hope strengthens weary saints during long nights of affliction.

Perhaps no truth comforts the grieving heart more than this. Death is still an enemy, but it is a defeated enemy. The grave is not the last chapter for those who belong to Christ.

Paul declares that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, and thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

What comfort lies in those words. Every cemetery where believers sleep is but a field awaiting the harvest of resurrection morning.

Until that day, let us keep our lamps burning. Let us preach Christ crucified. Let us feed upon His word. Let us love His appearing.

The world may laugh at the promise of His coming, but believers know better.

The same Lord who entered Jerusalem on a donkey shall return in glory.

The same hands that were pierced for our transgressions shall rule forever.

The same voice that cried, “It is finished,” shall one day summon the dead from their graves.

Blessed indeed are those servants whom the Master finds watching when He comes (Luke 12:37).

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Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessed hope of the return of Your Son. Keep our hearts faithful while we wait, our hands diligent in Your service, and our eyes fixed upon Jesus. Amen.

BDD

MAYBERRY AFTER MIDNIGHT

Fans of The Andy Griffith Show might recall that “Mayberry After Midnight” was the gossip column in the local newspaper of the fictional town of Mayberry.

While the community was depicted as peaceful and wholesome, the popularity of that column suggested another reality.

People have always been interested in the private affairs of others. Human nature has not changed since the days of Solomon, who observed that “a perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends” (Proverbs 16:28).

One of the most destructive sins in any community is gossip. Unlike robbery or violence, it often disguises itself as innocent conversation.

A person may begin with the words, “Did you hear?” or “I probably should not tell this, but…” and then proceed to damage another’s reputation.

The Bible identifies such conduct as sinful. Paul included “whisperers” and “backbiters” among those whose behavior was contrary to the will of God (Romans 1:29-30).

The matter becomes even more serious when gossip enters the church. The New Testament repeatedly urges Christians to cultivate unity and peace (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:10).

Yet a single rumor can accomplish what years of faithful labor cannot repair.

The inspired writer declared that “where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” (Proverbs 26:20).

Every congregation that has experienced division understands the wisdom of that statement.

There is also the danger of enjoying gossip. Some listen eagerly because they find pleasure in hearing negative information about others.

Solomon noted that “the words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body” (Proverbs 18:8; 26:22).

Gossip survives because there are willing listeners. If no one desired to hear it, it would quickly die.

Christians should remember that every person bears the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity. The Lord taught, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12).

Few would want their private failures discussed publicly. Few would appreciate being judged on the basis of rumor.

Therefore, the follower of Christ must exercise restraint in speech and charity in judgment (James 1:19; Galatians 5:13-15).

Perhaps the greatest cure for “Mayberry After Midnight” is a renewed focus upon our own spiritual condition. Jesus asked, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3-5).

It is far easier to investigate another person’s faults than to confront our own. Yet genuine discipleship begins with self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The next time a piece of gossip comes our way, we should ask whether repeating it will glorify God, help another person, or strengthen the cause of Christ.

If not, wisdom suggests silence.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification” (Ephesians 4:29).

The church, the family, and the community would all be healthier places if “Mayberry After Midnight” lost its readership.

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Our Father in heaven, help us to guard our tongues and purify our hearts. Give us wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Teach us to encourage rather than criticize, to heal rather than wound, and to build up rather than tear down. May our words honor Christ and reflect Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

“TEXAS FLOOD” AND THE RISING WATERS OF THE HUMAN HEART

In 1958, blues singer Larry Davis recorded a song called “Texas Flood.” Decades later, Stevie Ray Vaughan would introduce it to a new generation, transforming it into one of the most recognizable blues recordings ever made.

The song tells the story of overwhelming loss. The floodwaters are literal, yet they are also symbolic. They represent those moments in life when circumstances rise beyond our control and threaten to carry away everything we hold dear.

The enduring power of the song lies in its honesty. It does not attempt to explain suffering away. It does not offer shallow optimism.

Instead, it acknowledges that sometimes we stand helpless before forces greater than ourselves.

Human history is filled with such floods.

Some are natural disasters. Others are economic collapse, illness, broken relationships, grief, or loneliness.

The writer of Ecclesiastes understood this reality when he observed that “time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

From a historical perspective, songs like “Texas Flood” survive because they speak to universal experiences. Every generation encounters its own storms.

The technology changes.

The cities grow.

The vehicles become faster.

The human heart, however, remains remarkably constant.

Men and women still fear loss. They still long for security. They still seek meaning amid uncertainty.

The ancient words of Psalms remain relevant because they address the same questions that blues musicians sang about generations later (Psalms 42:7; Psalms 69:1-2).

One of the remarkable features of the Bible is its refusal to hide the reality of life’s floods.

Noah witnessed waters that covered the known earth (Genesis 7:17-24).

David often described his troubles as overwhelming waves. “The floods of ungodliness made me afraid” (Psalms 18:4).

Even faithful servants of God experienced times when they felt submerged beneath circumstances beyond their control.

God’s word is realistic about suffering because God understands the world as it truly is.

But the Bible introduces a dimension largely absent from the blues tradition. It teaches that beyond the flood stands a sovereign God.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord declared, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).

Notice that God did not promise the absence of waters. He promised His presence in them.

The difference is profound.

Human wisdom seeks escape from every storm. Divine wisdom offers companionship and purpose within the storm.

The image of a flood is especially powerful because floods reveal foundations. When waters rise, weak structures collapse while strong foundations endure.

Jesus employed this very principle when He spoke of the wise man who built upon the rock and the foolish man who built upon the sand (Matthew 7:24-27).

The storm struck both houses. The distinction was not the severity of the weather but the strength of the foundation.

The song “Texas Flood” remains compelling because it captures a truth every listener eventually discovers.

Life can overflow its banks without warning. The waters can rise overnight. What seemed permanent can suddenly appear fragile.

Yet the Christian finds hope in the One who walked upon troubled waters and calmed the raging sea (Mark 4:39; Matthew 14:25).

He is with us in every storm.

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Father, when the waters of life rise around us, help us remember that You remain upon the throne. Give us faith when we cannot see the shore and courage when circumstances seem overwhelming. Build our lives upon the solid foundation of Christ so that no storm can destroy what You have established. Teach us to trust Your presence in every season and to rest in Your promises. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

BDD

THREE GIFTS OF CHRIST

There are many things that people seek in this world. Some seek wealth, others seek recognition, and still others seek pleasure.

The deepest needs of the human heart, though, can never be satisfied by earthly pursuits. God has provided in His Son the very things for which every soul longs. In Christ we find love, life, and liberty. These blessings are not merely doctrines to be studied. They are realities to be experienced by those who abide in Him (John 15:4-5).

LOVE

The Christian life begins with love because it begins with God. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Before we ever sought Him, He sought us. Before we loved Him, He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10; Romans 5:8). The love of Christ is not merely an example for admiration. It is a divine power working within the believer. As we remain in fellowship with Him, His love flows through us toward others, softening hard hearts, healing old wounds, and teaching us to see people through the eyes of grace (John 13:34-35).

LIFE

Christ did not come merely to improve our lives. He came to become our life. “I am the resurrection and the life,” He declared (John 11:25). The new birth is more than a change of conduct. It is the impartation of spiritual life from above. The believer is united with Christ so that His life becomes the source of our strength, joy, and fruitfulness (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4). Just as a branch lives only by abiding in the vine, so we flourish only as we draw continually from the fullness that is in Him (John 15:1-8).

LIBERTY

Where Christ reigns, liberty follows. The world speaks much of freedom, yet many remain enslaved by fear, guilt, sin, and self. Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). This liberty is not permission to live according to the flesh. Rather, it is freedom to become what God intended us to be. The chains of condemnation are broken, and the burden of striving is lifted because Christ has accomplished our redemption (Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17). The soul that rests in Him discovers a freedom that no earthly power can give and no earthly circumstance can take away.

The believer who walks closely with Christ will find these three gifts growing ever deeper. His love enlarges the heart. His life strengthens the soul. His liberty brings peace and joy. These are treasures that neither time nor eternity can diminish, for they are found in the Lord Himself.

BDD

Livestream Times for Wednesday, June 24

5:30 am

10:00 am

5:30 pm (Revelation Class)

On Tik Tok @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

THE DANGER OF COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OTHERS

One of the most subtle temptations that besets the human heart is the practice of measuring ourselves by the lives of others. It often begins innocently, yet it quickly distorts spiritual judgment.

The apostle Paul warned against this very tendency when he wrote, “But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

The standard of comparison is dangerously flawed when it is drawn from fallen humanity rather than from the holiness of God.

When we compare ourselves with others, we tend to choose the wrong reference points. Either we look downward to those we believe are weaker, producing pride, or we look upward to those we think are stronger, producing despair.

Neither direction produces righteousness.

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men” (Luke 18:11). His comparison did not lead him closer to God but further from justification, because pride had blinded him to his own need.

The Bible consistently directs our attention away from horizontal comparisons and upward toward divine standards. “Be holy, for I am holy,” says the Lord (1 Peter 1:16).

The issue is never how we measure against our neighbor, but how we stand before the Lord of heaven and earth.

When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he did not compare himself to the people around him. Instead he cried, “Woe is me, for I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5).

True spiritual sight always results in humility before God rather than evaluation of others.

Comparisons also distort our understanding of grace. The apostle Paul called himself “the least of the apostles” and later “chief of sinners” (1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15).

Yet he was not engaged in unhealthy self-loathing. Rather, he understood that grace had nothing to do with competition.

In Christ, there is no ranking system of worthiness. Every believer stands accepted not by comparison, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).

There is also a practical danger in this habit: it breeds either envy or pride.

When David compared himself to Saul’s successes, he was tempted to jealousy.

When Jonah compared God’s mercy toward Nineveh with his own national expectations, he became angry.

The heart that is fixed on others will always be unstable. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Stability comes only when the heart is fixed upon the Lord.

The remedy is found in turning our eyes away from men and fixing them upon Christ. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

When the soul beholds the perfection of Christ, all earthly comparisons lose their power.

No one competes at the foot of the cross.

There every sinner is equally needy, and every redeemed soul is equally dependent upon mercy. The ground is level at Calvary.

Let us therefore learn to judge ourselves by God’s word rather than by the fluctuating standards of human opinion.

Paul wrote, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31). Self-examination in the light of the Bible leads not to comparison with others, but to repentance, correction, and growth in holiness.

The goal is not to be better than others, but to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

BDD

CALLING ON HIS NAME

The simplicity of the Christian life is something that many of us overlook.

We desire deeper knowledge, greater strength, and richer fellowship with Christ, yet we often neglect one of the most precious privileges God has given us: calling on the name of the Lord.

From the earliest pages of the Bible, God’s people were known as those who called upon His name (Genesis 4:26). The heart that has discovered its need and God’s sufficiency will continually turn heavenward with this cry.

To call on His name is more than repeating words. It is the expression of a soul that trusts Him.

A child does not merely speak his father’s name. He speaks it because he believes his father hears and cares.

So the believer calls on Jesus because he knows that Christ is alive, present, and attentive to every need.

“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). The promise rests not upon the strength of the one calling, but upon the faithfulness of the One being called upon.

How often the disciples heard the Lord invite them into this life of dependence. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Prayer is not meant to be an occasional activity but the atmosphere in which the believer lives.

As the branch continually draws life from the vine, so the Christian continually receives grace by turning to Christ in faith (John 15:5). Calling on His name is the confession that apart from Him we can do nothing.

We sometimes feel strong and joyful. And at other times darkness seems to cover the path.

Still the invitation remains the same.

In times of victory, call on His name with thanksgiving.

In times of weakness, call on His name for strength.

In times of temptation, call on His name for deliverance.

David declared, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalms 145:18).

God’s presence is not reserved for spiritual giants. It is promised to humble souls who seek Him.

The early Christians understood this secret well. They were described as those “who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

This was not merely a description of what they did. It was a description of who they were.

Their confidence was not in themselves. Their hope was not in earthly resources. Their life flowed from continual dependence upon their risen Lord.

Perhaps the greatest hindrance to prayer is self-sufficiency. We attempt to carry burdens that were never intended for our shoulders.

We labor in our own wisdom and wonder why we grow weary.

But every fresh call upon the Lord is an acknowledgment that Christ is enough.

His grace remains sufficient. His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The more deeply we recognize our need, the more readily we will call upon His name.

Let us then cultivate this holy habit. Let the name of Jesus be upon our lips in the morning, in the midst of our labor, and in the quiet hours of the night.

Let every anxiety become a prayer. Let every blessing become thanksgiving. Let every trial become an occasion to draw nearer to Him.

The soul that learns to call continually upon the Lord discovers that Christ Himself becomes its peace, strength, wisdom, and joy (Colossians 3:17; Philippians 4:6-7).

BDD

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS AND CONTINUES BY FAITH

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth?” (Galatians 3:1).

Paul’s words strike like thunder across a quiet field. The Galatians had begun their journey with Christ in the simplicity of faith, yet false teachers had persuaded them that they needed something more.

They were being told that faith in Christ was not enough.

Human effort, religious performance, and the works of the Law were being added to the finished work of Jesus.

Paul could hardly believe it. Christ had been clearly portrayed among them as crucified (Galatians 3:1), yet they were turning their eyes from the cross to themselves.

The apostle asks a series of questions that cut through confusion. “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2).

They already knew the answer. The Holy Spirit did not come into their lives because they earned His presence. He came when they heard the gospel and trusted Christ.

The blessings of God were not wages paid to deserving workers. They were gifts given to believing hearts (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Then Paul asks, “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

What a lesson for every generation. We are not saved by grace only to be sustained by human strength. The same faith that brings us to Christ is the faith that keeps us walking with Him.

The Christian life is not Christ plus self. It is Christ from beginning to end (Romans 1:17; Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 12:2).

Many believers stumble at this very point. They trust Jesus for forgiveness but then try to live the Christian life through sheer determination.

Before long they become discouraged, burdened, and defeated.

God never intended His children to carry such a load.

The branch bears fruit only while abiding in the vine (John 15:4-5). Victory comes not from self-reliance but from dependence upon the Lord.

Paul reminds the Galatians of Abraham. “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

Long before the Law of Moses was given, Abraham stood justified before God by faith.

He trusted God’s promise when circumstances seemed impossible. His righteousness was not earned. It was credited to him because he believed.

The principle has never changed. God still saves sinners through faith in His Son (Romans 4:3-5).

The message of Galatians 3:1-6 calls us back to the simplicity of the gospel.

We begin by faith. We continue by faith. We grow by faith. We stand by faith.

Let us never trade the freedom of grace for the bondage of self-effort.

The cross is sufficient. Christ is sufficient.

The believer’s confidence rests not in what he has done for God, but in what God has done for him through Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:9).

______________

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Guard us from trusting in our own works, wisdom, or strength. Teach us to walk by faith as Abraham did and to depend daily upon Your grace. Keep our eyes fixed on Christ crucified and risen. May we never forget that the life we began through faith must also be lived through faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

PERFECTED THROUGH SUFFERING, SAVING THROUGH OBEDIENCE

“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).

The glory of Christ shines with unusual brilliance in Hebrews 5:9. Here we behold our Lord Jesus Christ standing before us as the completed Savior, the One who has fully accomplished the work given Him by the Father.

The verse does not suggest that Jesus was ever imperfect in character or sinful in conduct. Rather, it declares that through suffering, obedience, and death He was brought to the full completion of His redemptive mission (Hebrews 2:10; Luke 24:26).

What a Savior we have! He learned obedience through the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

The Son of God entered the school of human sorrow. He walked dusty roads. He endured rejection from men. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

At last He drank the bitter cup in Gethsemane and bore the curse of the cross. When He cried, “It is finished,” the work of atonement stood complete (John 19:30).

Nothing could be added to it.

Nothing could improve it.

The sacrifice was perfect because the Savior was perfect.

Notice that He became “the author of eternal salvation.” Men author books, compose songs, and build monuments, but Christ authored salvation itself.

The stream of redemption flows from Him alone.

The prophets pointed toward Him.

The sacrifices anticipated Him.

The promises found their fulfillment in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).

There is no eternal salvation apart from Christ because there is no other sacrifice for sins, no other mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

The salvation He gives is eternal salvation. Earthly things fade. Kingdoms rise and fall. Wealth takes wings and flies away. Even our mortal bodies return to dust.

But the salvation secured by Jesus endures forever.

The believer rests upon a foundation that cannot crumble because it is established by the blood of the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20).

“Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

What God begins in Christ He intends to bring safely to its appointed end.

Yet the verse speaks of a people who receive this salvation: “all who obey Him.” True faith is never a dead thing. It bows before the King it trusts.

The obedience mentioned here is not the earning of salvation but the response of faith to the Savior.

When the gospel calls, faith answers.

When Christ commands, faith follows.

The same Lord who said, “Come to Me” also said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 11:28; Matthew 16:24).

A profession without submission is a flower without fragrance and a tree without fruit.

How searching this truth is. Many admire Jesus as a teacher. Others praise Him as a moral example. Some even confess Him with their lips while resisting His authority in their lives.

But the Lord does not offer Himself in fragments.

He is both Savior and King.

The heart that truly trusts Him desires to obey Him. As Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Let us then fix our eyes upon this perfected Savior.

When conscience accuses, flee to Him. When temptation assaults, cling to Him. When death approaches, rest in Him.

He has passed through suffering, conquered the grave, ascended to glory, and secured eternal salvation for His people (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).

There is no safer refuge for a sinner than the wounded hands of Christ.

______________

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your beloved Son, who through suffering completed the work of redemption and became the author of eternal salvation. Help us to trust Him fully and obey Him gladly. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

BDD

JESUS OUR HIGH PRIEST

The Book of Hebrews lifts our eyes to the greatness of Jesus Christ in a way no other book does. From beginning to end, its steady refrain is simple and glorious: Jesus is better.

Better than angels, better than Moses, better than the old covenant, better than the sacrifices offered day after day.

He is the One.

He is the Way.

He is what everything is about.

And among its many treasures, nothing shines brighter than the doctrine of Christ as our High Priest.

Under the old covenant, the people approached God through a system of earthly priests—men who were themselves sinners—offering repeated sacrifices in a physical sanctuary.

They had to atone for their own sins before they could even represent the people. Their ministry was necessary but never complete.

Jesus is nothing like them.

He had no sins of His own to confess. He is perfect, holy, and undefiled.

Instead of offering the blood of animals, He offered Himself. Instead of entering a tent made with hands, He entered the true and heavenly sanctuary.

And while the Levitical priests stood daily to offer sacrifices that could never fully remove sin, Jesus offered one sacrifice—once, for all—and sat down.

His atonement is finished, full, and eternal (Hebrews 9:11-12, 14, 24, 26).

His priesthood is eternal because He is eternal.

The Bible declares that He is a priest “forever” after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17). That means His covenant is better, His work permanent, His salvation unshakable (Hebrews 7:11-12, 22, 24).

What the old covenant hinted at, He accomplished completely (Hebrews 10:10-14).

But we must never forget the humanity of our High Priest.

He could not offer Himself for us unless He first lived perfectly among us. Hebrews tells us He became flesh and blood—He was “made like His brothers and sisters”—so that He could redeem us, sympathize with us, and help us in our weakness (Hebrews 2:17).

He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). That means His compassion is not theoretical; it is experiential.

He knows what it feels like to be human (Hebrews 2:18; 5:2).

He knew frustration. He knew grief. He knew betrayal, exhaustion, hunger, loneliness, and sorrow.

Whatever burdens you carry today, your High Priest understands them from the inside.

He has walked this earth, lived this life, and felt these pains.

And now He sits at the right hand of God, representing you with a perfect salvation and a perfect understanding of your need.

There is no greater encouragement than knowing Jesus is your High Priest.

Because of Him, you receive grace instead of judgment and hope instead of fear.

Because of Him, you look toward heaven as your home.

Because of Him, you do not need an earthly priest. He Himself is your access to the Father (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19-22).

You can draw near with full assurance, knowing you are welcomed, heard, and loved.

Even in trials, you can hold fast to your confession because your High Priest holds fast to you (Hebrews 4:14).

He intercedes for you at this very moment (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).

You may not understand everything about His intercession, but you can rest in the truth that it is real, powerful, and good. You have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1–2).

The truth that Jesus is your High Priest is reason enough to rejoice. He has done for you what you could never do for yourself.

He saves you, stays with you, stands for you, and remains on your side forever.

There are no words adequate to describe His majesty, but the more you learn of Him, the more your love and gratitude will grow.

Study Him.

Trust Him.

Draw near to Him.

Christ our High Priest is your hope, your confidence, and your everlasting joy.

Bryan Dewayne Dunaway

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THE LONE RANGER: THE PURSUIT OF DOING GOOD

The Lone Ranger was one of the most recognizable heroes in American culture. Dressed in a mask, riding a white horse named Silver, and accompanied by his faithful friend Tonto, he traveled the frontier seeking justice wherever wrong was found.

Though fictional, the character provides an interesting illustration of a principle found throughout the Bible: the responsibility of good people to actively do good.

The Lone Ranger did not spend his time merely criticizing evil. He confronted it. Whether facing outlaws, protecting settlers, rescuing the innocent, or defending those who could not defend themselves, he understood that goodness requires action.

The Bible teaches the same lesson. Peter described Jesus as One “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Our Lord did not simply preach righteousness; He practiced it. He helped the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the grieving, and sought the lost.

One of the admirable features of the Lone Ranger was that he often helped people who could offer him nothing in return. His actions were not motivated by wealth, fame, or personal advancement.

While he was a fictional hero, his conduct reflects the principle taught by Christ: “When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3).

Genuine goodness is not performed for applause. It is rendered because it is right.

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes that Christians are to be people of action. Paul affirmed that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). James warned that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Good intentions alone accomplish little.

A hungry man needs food. A lonely person needs encouragement. A struggling family needs assistance.

God calls His people not merely to admire goodness, but to practice it.

There is another lesson worth noting. The Lone Ranger often stood against the majority. Many times he opposed powerful men, corrupt officials, or popular opinion.

The Christian likewise must sometimes stand alone. Noah stood alone. Elijah stood alone. Paul frequently stood alone.

Truth is not determined by numbers. The servant of God must have the courage to do what is right even when others choose the easier path.

Of course, every human hero falls short of the perfect example. The Lone Ranger was an imaginary character.

Jesus Christ is the living Son of God.

But the popularity of such heroes reveals something about the human heart. People admire courage, honesty, sacrifice, and justice because these qualities reflect the character of God. When we see them displayed, even imperfectly, we recognize their value.

The challenge for Christians is simple. We do not need a mask, a silver bullet, or a white horse. We need hearts devoted to God and hands willing to serve.

The world has enough spectators. It needs disciples who, following the example of Christ, go about doing good.

Every day presents opportunities to encourage the discouraged, help the needy, defend the truth, and glorify God through acts of kindness.

The question is not whether opportunities exist.

The question is whether we will seize them.

BDD

ABIDING ON THE ONLY GROUND THAT HOLDS

There is a matter so central to the Christian life that everything else must bow before it. It is not a secondary doctrine, nor a passing emphasis, but the very governing principle of all spiritual existence.

The believer does not merely begin in Christ and then move on to other foundations, but lives entirely upon Christ as his appointed sphere of life, his appointed wisdom, and his appointed strength.

The Father has not left us to wander in a thousand directions to find Him; He has placed all fullness in One, that in Him alone we might know God.

From the foundation of the world, the purpose of God has been fixed in Christ. He is not an accessory to redemption, nor merely a means to an end, but the chosen One in whom all divine purposes are gathered and revealed.

Outside of Him there is only confusion, striving, and spiritual blindness. In Him there is light, order, and the unveiling of the Father’s heart.

Thus the Christian life is not a search for many things, but a resting in One Person.

We must understand also that there is a fierce resistance to this truth. All the subtle powers of darkness are engaged first to keep people from coming into Christ at all, and then, having failed there, to draw them away from simple dependence upon Him.

If they cannot prevent entrance, they will attempt distraction. If they cannot stop union, they will strive to weaken abiding.

The enemy labors to dislodge the believer from living wholly upon Him.

This is why our Lord speaks with such solemn clarity: “Abide in me” (John 15:4). It is not a suggestion for spiritual improvement, but a command guarding the very life of the branch.

The branch does not merely visit the vine for occasional supply; it lives by remaining in vital union with it. “Except you abide in me,” He says, and in that word there is both warning and necessity.

To drift from abiding is not to adjust one’s spirituality, but to forfeit the very flow of life.

And here lies the great secret of the Christian walk: Christ Himself is both the sphere and explanation of all true living. “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

Not Christ added to life, but Christ as life.

Not Christ as occasional helper, but Christ as continual reality. Where He is truly the center, there the soul finds direction, strength, and clarity.

Where He is displaced, even subtly, confusion begins to return.

It is therefore on this ground alone that the believer finds both purpose and preservation. God is not discovered in scattered spiritual pursuits, nor in shifting religious emphases, but in steadfast union with His Son.

Abide there, and the light of God remains steady. Wander from there, and even good things become poor substitutes for the living Christ.

This is the governing matter of the Christian life: not merely that we have believed in Christ, but that we continue in Him, live in Him, and refuse every pressure—whether from the world, the flesh, or the adversary—to be moved from that holy ground.

For there, and there alone, the life of God flows unhindered, and the purpose of our creation finds its unfolding.

BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

John begins with astonishment rather than explanation. The word “behold” arrests the reader and demands a careful, reverent pause. This is not ordinary love, nor predictable mercy, but something so vast that it must be seen before it can be fully considered. The verse draws us upward to the Father and inward to the wonder of what He has done.

THE PATERNITY OF THE FATHER

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…” (1 John 3:1). The source of this love is not abstract kindness but the Father Himself. The word “bestowed” shows generous, unearned giving—love flowing freely from His own heart.

This truth is anchored in the larger revelation of God’s word: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The giving of the Son shows that love originates in the Father’s nature, not in human worth.

Even in the picture of the prodigal son, the father runs and embraces the returning child while he is still far off (Luke 15:20), showing that divine love moves first and welcomes freely.

THE PASSION OF THE FATHER

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…” (1 John 3:1). This love is not passive feeling but active expression. It enters history and reveals itself in sacrifice.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The word “demonstrates” shows love made visible, not hidden or theoretical. The timing—“while we were still sinners”—reveals the depth of divine passion.

God’s love does not wait for improvement; it moves toward us in our need and displays itself in the cross.

THE PRIVILEGE OF THE PEOPLE

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). The result of this love is identity transformation. We are not only forgiven but named.

The phrase “called children of God” is Heaven’s declaration of adoption. Those once far away are now brought into the family of God, not as outsiders but as sons and daughters. This is more than pardon; it is placement into relationship, where the love that saved also welcomes and keeps.

John’s command to “behold” remains the key to the whole verse. The more this love is seen, the more the heart is changed by it. Pride weakens, fear fades, and assurance grows where divine love is understood.

The greatest wonder is not only that God loves, but that His love makes us His children. To live in that reality is to live in the center of grace.

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Father, open our eyes to truly behold this love. Remove dullness from our hearts and replace it with awe. Teach us to live as those who are not only loved, but called Your children through Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD