#101 WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS 9-7-26

Oh what sadness is found in the words wasted days and wasted nights. They sound like the title of an old song playing somewhere in a room after midnight, when the lights are low and a man has too much time to remember.

Freddy Fender made those words famous in his 1975 hit “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights,” a song he had originally recorded years earlier and then revived during his remarkable comeback. The recording became a major country and pop success, reaching number one on the country chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.

But behind the melody is a thought that reaches far beyond music. There are days that disappear without purpose. There are nights that become nothing more than hours we survived. There are pages on the calendar that turn, never to return.

But it does not have to be that way. Not when you know Jesus. With Christ, even an ordinary Tuesday can become sacred ground. A lonely night can become a night of prayer. A failure can become a lesson in grace. A sorrow can become a place where we discover that He is near. Jesus does not promise that every day will be easy, but He gives every day meaning. He does not promise that every night will be peaceful, but He promises to remain with us through the darkness. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

The Christian does not have to look backward at a graveyard of wasted time. We can look forward, because every morning is another opportunity to walk with Christ, love someone, serve someone, forgive someone, tell someone about Jesus, and become a little more like Him.

One day there will be a final night. The clock will move for the last time. The calendar will turn to a page we will never see. And when that moment comes, the question will not be how many hours we possessed, but what we did with the hours God gave us. We do not have to live with wasted days and wasted nights. We can give our days to Jesus and let Him fill our nights with His presence. We can redeem the time because the days are passing (Ephesians 5:15–16).

And when this life is over, we will discover that the days surrendered to Christ were never wasted at all. They were being invested in eternity.

BDD

#100 THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 9-7-26

Darkness can sometimes seem to surround us. We cannot see what is ahead, we cannot understand what is happening, and sometimes we cannot even see our way forward. It can be a very frightening—even devastating—feeling.

But darkness has never been able to overcome the light of God. The light may seem small in the night, but it is always enough to lead us home. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS
There are definitely going to be dark valleys. The Bible makes this clear. God promises that He will be with us in them. The presence of darkness does not mean the absence of God. Sometimes we discover the brightness of His presence most clearly when everything around us is dark. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

THE LIGHT STAYS IN THE DARKNESS
Things change. Our circumstances change. Our perspective changes. Our feelings change. But Jesus does not change. The same Lord who was with us in the sunshine is with us in the storm. When we cannot see Him working, we can still trust that He is working. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

THE LIGHT STRENGTHENS US IN THE DARKNESS
God often does some of His deepest work in the places we would never have chosen to go. Trials can teach us to pray more deeply, trust more completely, and lean more heavily upon Christ. The darkness may weaken our confidence in ourselves, but it can strengthen our confidence in Him. “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

THE LIGHT SEES US THROUGH THE DARKNESS
The darkness is not our destination. It is only part of the journey. We may have to walk through it, but we do not have to remain there. God is leading us somewhere. His grace is sufficient for today, His strength is sufficient for tomorrow, and His promises are sufficient for eternity.

And one day there will be no darkness at all. The night will be finished, the struggle will be over, and we will stand in the presence of the One who has been our light all along. Until that day, keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep praying. Keep your eyes upon Jesus. The darkness may surround you, but it cannot overcome the Light.

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Lord Jesus, when life becomes dark, help us remember that You are still with us. Shine Your light upon our path, strengthen our hearts when we are weak, and give us faith to keep walking until You bring us safely through the darkness and into Your eternal light. Amen.

BDD

#99 BECAUSE HE CAME 9-7-26

When we come to the end of life’s journey, many of the things that seemed so important will suddenly seem very small. It will not matter how much money we accumulated, how popular we became, how many people knew our name, or whether we could have been elected to public office. The great question will be this: Did we know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Everything else will eventually pass away, but what we have in Christ will endure forever.

HIS ARRIVAL

Jesus came into this world. The eternal Son of God took upon Himself flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God came near. He did not remain distant from our suffering, our sorrow, and our struggles. He entered our world as a meek and lowly servant. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life for many (Matthew 20:28)

If you want to know what you mean to God, look at the arrival of Jesus. God did not merely send a message. He sent His Son. He came near because He loved us. He came seeking the lost. He came to bring us back to God. (Luke 19:10; Romans 5:8).

HIS ATONEMENT

Jesus did not come merely to live a good life and leave us an example. He came to die. At the cross, He gave Himself for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). His death was not an accident. It was the accomplishment of God’s redemptive purpose (Acts 2:22-24). He bore our sins so that we might have forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

Everything we have spiritually is because of Him (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3). Our forgiveness is because of Him. Our hope is because of Him. Our salvation is because of Him. We can look toward heaven with confidence because Jesus accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:28).

HIS ASCENSION

Jesus did not remain in the grave (1 Corinthians 15:4). He conquered death, rose victorious, and ascended on high. He led captivity captive and was exalted at the right hand of God. The One who humbled Himself in Bethlehem and surrendered Himself at Calvary now reigns in glory (Ephesians 4:8; Philippians 2:8-11)

Because He lives, death is not the end for those who belong to Him (2 Timothy 4:6-8. Because He reigns, we have a King. Because He has ascended, we have a Savior who has entered heaven on our behalf. Our hope is not resting upon a dead teacher from the past. Our hope is resting upon a living Lord who conquered death and reigns forever (Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 1:17–18)

HIS ASSISTANCE

And here is the wonder of it all. The Jesus who came into the world, died for our sins, rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven is not absent from us. He helps us now. He strengthens us now. He walks with us now. Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

Therefore, there is nothing to fear when Christ is our Lord and Savior. We do not have to face life alone. We do not have to face our failures alone. We do not have to face suffering alone. And we do not have to face death alone. We live by faith in Jesus, depending upon Him in all things. His grace is sufficient, His presence is real, and His promises are sure (2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 13:5-6)

At the end of the journey, it will not be our possessions that matter. It will not be our popularity, our position, our accomplishments, or our influence. What will matter is Jesus.

His arrival. His atonement. His accomplishment. His ascension. His assistance.

Because He came, God came near. Because He died, our sins can be forgiven. Because He rose, death has been conquered. Because He ascended, He reigns in glory. Because He lives in us, we can walk through this life without fear and look toward eternity with hope.

Everything we have is because of Him.

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Lord Jesus, help me never to forget that everything I have spiritually is because of You. Thank You for coming near, dying for my sins, conquering death, ascending into glory, and continuing to help me each day. Teach me to live by faith, depend upon You in all things, and fear nothing because You are with me. Amen.

BDD

#98 NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL 9-7-26

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) Paul was not embarrassed by the gospel. He was not ashamed of its message, its demands, or its Christ. And neither should we be. In a world that increasingly has little respect for the things of God, we must be people who are willing to stand openly and confidently for Jesus.

DON’T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL’S POWER.

The gospel is the power of God to save (Romans 1:16). Paul told the Corinthians that the message of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). There is no other message like it. No philosophy can transform the human heart like the gospel. No political movement can reconcile a sinner to God. No self-help program can do what Jesus does. The gospel takes broken people and gives them hope. It takes sinners and calls them to repentance. It takes people who were far away and brings them near to God through Christ.

We have to believe in the power of the gospel. We have to preach it, live it, and proclaim it without apology. The world does not need a watered-down gospel that makes people comfortable. It needs the gospel that changes lives because it is the power of God.

DON’T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL’S PRINCIPLES

The gospel does not leave us the way it found us. When Christ comes into our lives, He begins changing the way we think, the way we speak, the way we treat people, and the way we live. The great principles of the gospel are summed up in love. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).

Jesus perfectly embodied those principles. He loved God completely. He loved people sacrificially. He touched the untouchable. He welcomed the rejected. He forgave the repentant. He served those who could do nothing for Him in return. He ultimately demonstrated His love by giving His life for us. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

We should never be ashamed of the principles of the gospel. Love is not weakness. Forgiveness is not weakness. Humility is not weakness. Compassion is not weakness. Serving others is not weakness. These are the marks of a life being transformed by Jesus.

DON’T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL’S PERSON.

The gospel is one message about one Man. His name is Jesus.

Everything we have is because of Jesus. Everything we are is because of Jesus. Everything worthwhile that we do is because of Jesus. Everywhere we go, we should carry the influence of Jesus with us. We are vessels of His love, ambassadors of His grace, and witnesses of His goodness.

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32–33)

So don’t be ashamed of Him.

He is the best Friend you will ever have and the greatest Person who ever lived. There is no one like Him. No one can do what He can do. No one loves you the way He loves you. No one can forgive like He forgives. No one can save like He saves. No one can comfort like He comforts. No one can walk with you through life and death like Jesus.

The gospel is not merely a system of beliefs. It is the good news about Jesus Christ. He is the center of our faith, the foundation of our hope, and the reason for everything we are and everything we do.

So let us lift our heads and proclaim Him without shame. Let us believe in the power of the gospel. Let us live according to the principles of the gospel. And above everything else, let us love and honor the Person of the gospel.

Jesus is the gospel we proclaim. Jesus is the Savior we trust. Jesus is the Friend we love. Jesus is the Lord we follow. And Jesus is the One we must never be ashamed to confess.

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Lord Jesus, give us courage to never be ashamed of Your gospel. Help us believe in its power, live according to its principles, and boldly proclaim Your name. Make us vessels of Your love wherever we go, and let our lives point people to You. May we confess You before men with joy, knowing that You are the greatest treasure we could ever possess. Amen.

BDD

#97 COUNT THE COST 9-7-26

Jesus never called us to follow Him without first considering what following Him would require. He did not hide the cost of discipleship. He did not promise that the road would always be easy, that obedience would never hurt, or that faithfulness would never demand sacrifice. He simply said, “Count the cost.” Before we build, we count the cost. Before we go to war, we count the cost. And before we give ourselves completely to Christ, we must count the cost (Luke 14:28–33).

COUNT THE COST OF FAITH

Faith is more than believing that God exists. Faith trusts Him when we cannot see what He is doing. Faith obeys when obedience is difficult. Faith walks when the road is uncertain. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going because he trusted the God who called him (Hebrews 11:8). Real faith will cost us our right to always understand. It will cost us our demand for control. Sometimes it will cost us comfort, security, reputation, and the approval of others. But whatever faith costs us in this life, it can never compare with what faith receives in Christ.

COUNT THE COST OF FOLLOWING

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23). Following Jesus means that Jesus gets to lead. We do not choose the road and ask Him to walk behind us. We surrender our will to His. Sometimes following Him means leaving something behind. Sometimes it means saying no to something we desperately want. Sometimes it means standing alone when everyone else is going another direction. But the greatest tragedy is not that following Jesus costs something. The greatest tragedy would be to spend our lives following everything except Jesus.

COUNT THE COST OF FRUITFULNESS.

Everybody wants fruit, but fruitfulness requires pruning. Jesus said that the Father prunes the fruitful branch so that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2) God may remove attitudes, habits, relationships, ambitions, and desires that keep us from becoming what He wants us to be. Fruit does not grow without roots, and spiritual fruit does not grow without abiding in Christ. “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5). Fruitfulness will cost us something because God is not merely interested in making us comfortable. He is interested in making us useful.

COUNT THE COST OF FAITHFULNESS

It is easy to begin. It is harder to continue. There are people who start with enthusiasm but disappear when the excitement fades. Faithfulness keeps praying when the answer seems delayed. Faithfulness keeps serving when nobody notices. Faithfulness keeps loving when love is not returned. Faithfulness keeps preaching when people refuse to listen. Paul could say at the end of his journey, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7) The goal is not merely to start well. The goal is to finish well.

And perhaps this is the greatest cost of all. Count the cost of giving your whole life to Jesus. Christianity is not Jesus added to an otherwise unchanged life. It is a life surrendered to Christ. “You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) We belong to Him because He purchased us with His blood. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

So count the cost. Count the cost of faith. Count the cost of following. Count the cost of fruitfulness. Count the cost of faithfulness. Count the cost of surrender. Then count the cost of refusing Him. Count the emptiness of a life lived for self. Count the regret of reaching the end and discovering that we spent our greatest years on things that could never last.

Jesus is worth the cost.

Whatever He asks us to surrender, He is worth surrendering it. Whatever He asks us to endure, He is worth enduring it. Whatever He asks us to leave behind, He is worth leaving it behind. For we are not merely giving something up to follow Christ. We are gaining Christ Himself. And when Christ is our treasure, the cost of discipleship becomes small compared with the glory of knowing Him.

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Lord Jesus, teach us to count the cost and then gladly pay it. Give us faith when we cannot see, courage when following You is difficult, strength to bear fruit, and grace to remain faithful until the end. Help us never to measure obedience by what it costs us, but by the One who is calling us. May our lives belong completely to You. Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Monday, September 7, 2026

5:30 AM

“When God Seems Silent, Keep Praying”
(Psalm 13:1-2)

10:00 AM

“When God Seems Distant, Keep Trusting”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

2:00 PM

“When God Seems Delayed, Keep Waiting”
(Psalm 27:14)

4:00 pm

When God Seems Hidden, Keep Believing”
(Job 13:15)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

#96 DON’T LET A GOOD THING BECOME A SIDETRACK 9-6-26

There are dangers in the Christian life that do not look dangerous at first. Sometimes the greatest spiritual distractions are not sinful things, but good things that have been given too much attention. A Christian can become so fascinated with a doctrine, a ministry, an experience, an interpretation, or a particular emphasis that the thing that was supposed to help him grow begins to keep him from growing. We must always remember that Christ is the goal, not merely the things we learn about Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

The Bible warns us about being carried away from what matters most. Paul told the Colossians to remain “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” (Colossians 2:6-7). Notice the words “in Him.” Christianity is not simply about collecting truths. It is about knowing Jesus, walking with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and remaining faithful to Jesus. We can become experts in subjects and still be strangers to the spirit of Christ. We can win arguments and lose our love. We can become very knowledgeable and yet fail to become more Christlike.

This is why we should be careful when something new captures our attention. We should ask more than, “Is there some truth in this?” We should ask, “Where does this lead?” Does it lead me closer to Christ? Does it make me more humble? Does it produce love, holiness, patience, forgiveness, and obedience? Does it help me walk more faithfully with God? Or does it produce pride, division, controversy, fear, self-importance, or spiritual stagnation? “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16)

One of the greatest dangers is mixture. Error rarely announces itself as error. It often comes wrapped in enough truth to make it attractive. That is why we must test everything by the Word of God. “Test all things. Hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must never take one verse and build an entire system upon it while ignoring everything else the Bible teaches. We need the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

This applies to doctrine. A biblical truth can become unhealthy when we make it the center of everything. Election is important. Grace is important. Faith is important. Baptism is important. The church is important. Prophecy is important. Christian service is important. But none of these things is Jesus. Every doctrine must find its proper place beneath the lordship of Christ. If a doctrine makes us love Jesus less, love His people less, or obey His Word less, something has gone wrong.

Paul understood that knowing Christ was greater than anything else. He counted his former accomplishments as loss “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). He did not want merely to know more information. He wanted to “know Him” and to be “conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10) His eyes were fixed on the prize, and he pressed forward rather than becoming satisfied with where he had already been (Philippians 3:12-14).

There is another danger we must recognize. We can become so occupied with being right that we forget to be righteous. We can become so concerned with winning a theological argument that we forget the command to love one another. We can know what we believe about grace and fail to show grace. We can defend truth while speaking without love. We can talk about holiness while neglecting kindness. But the Lord wants truth to transform the person who believes it. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

The question is not simply, “What do I believe?” The deeper question is, “What is what I believe doing to me?” Is it making me more like Jesus? Is it making me more compassionate? Is it making me more faithful? Is it causing me to forgive more quickly, serve more willingly, pray more sincerely, and love God more deeply? Truth is never meant to remain merely in our heads. It is meant to reach our hearts and change our lives.

So be careful of spiritual sidetracks. You can become distracted without realizing that you are distracted. You can spend years studying something that was supposed to help you and eventually discover that it has become the thing occupying the place that belongs to Christ. Keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus is not a subject we study and then move beyond. Jesus is the One we follow all the way home.

Let every doctrine point you to Him. Let every sermon lead you to Him. Let every Bible study deepen your love for Him. Let every ministry make you more like Him. Let every trial drive you closer to Him. Let every blessing make you more thankful to Him. And when you reach the end of your journey, may it be said that you did not merely discover many truths along the way, but that you found Christ, followed Christ, loved Christ, and remained faithful to Christ.

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Father, keep us from spiritual distractions and from allowing good things to become substitutes for the best thing. Give us wisdom to recognize error, humility to receive truth, and discernment to know where every teaching and pursuit will lead us. Above everything else, help us to know Jesus, love Jesus, follow Jesus, and become more like Jesus. Keep our eyes fixed upon Him until our journey is finished. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BDD

#95 GOD SEES YOU 9-6-26

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3)

Life can sometimes make us wonder if anyone really sees us. We can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone. We can smile on the outside while carrying a heart that feels forgotten on the inside. But there is something we must never forget: God sees you. He sees the tears nobody else sees. He knows the thoughts you cannot explain. He understands the loneliness you cannot put into words. You may feel forgotten, but you are never forgotten by God.

God sees you when you feel abandoned. Perhaps someone you trusted walked away. Perhaps a relationship ended. Perhaps people who once stood beside you are no longer there. Abandonment can leave a person wondering, “Does anybody care?” But God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). When everyone else walks away, God remains. When human arms cannot hold you, everlasting arms are underneath you (Deuteronomy 33:27).

God sees you when you feel afraid. Fear can make tomorrow look bigger than God. It can cause us to imagine everything that could go wrong. David understood fear, yet he wrote, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3) Notice that David did not say he would never be afraid. He said that when he was afraid, he would trust God. Faith does not mean we never feel fear. Faith means we know where to turn when fear comes.

God sees you when you feel awkward. Sometimes we feel like we do not fit in. We may feel different, uncomfortable, or unsure of ourselves. We may wonder whether people understand us or whether we will ever find our place. But God does not look at us the way people do. “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). You do not have to impress God to be loved by Him. He already knows you completely, and He still loves you.

God does not merely see you from a distance. He sustains you. The Bible says, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22) What a beautiful promise. God knows what you are carrying, and He does not ask you to carry it alone. Give Him the burden. Give Him the fear. Give Him the loneliness. Give Him the uncertainty. He is strong enough to hold what is too heavy for you.

And God makes sure that you know you are loved. He demonstrated His love by giving His Son for us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The cross is God’s declaration that you matter to Him. Jesus did not die because we were perfect. He died because He loves us.

So today, remember this simple truth: God sees you. He sees you when you feel abandoned. He sees you when you are afraid. He sees you when you feel awkward and out of place. He sees the person behind the smile and the heart behind the words. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can know who holds you. God will sustain you, Christ will walk with you, and His love will never let you go.

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Father, thank You for seeing us when we feel invisible, loving us when we feel unworthy, and sustaining us when we feel weak. Help us to trust You when we are afraid and to remember that we are never truly alone because You are with us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BDD

#94 THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA 9-6-26

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who is, who was, and who is to come (Revelation 1:8). He is not merely present at the beginning and waiting for us at the end. He is with us through every moment between the two. The hands that formed us are the hands that sustain us. The voice that called us into existence is the voice that will one day call us home.

HE CREATED US.

Before we ever knew His name, He knew ours. Before we ever took our first breath, He had already given us life. We are not accidents wandering through an empty universe. We were created by God and for God (Colossians 1:16). Every heartbeat is a reminder that His hand has sustained us. The One who created the heavens and the earth is the One who created you. Your beginning was not outside His knowledge, and your life is not outside His care.

HE CONTINUES WITH US.

The God who begins a work does not abandon it halfway through. Jesus promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). There are days when we feel strong and days when we feel weak. There are seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow. There are doors that open and doors that close. But through every chapter, He remains. We may lose our way, but He does not lose sight of us. We may become weary, but He does not become weary of us. He continues with us.

HE COMFORTS US.

And then comes the hour when this earthly journey ends. Even there, Jesus does not leave us. The One who walked with us through life will walk with us through death. We do not enter the valley alone, for the Lord is with us there (Psalm 23:4). Death is not the place where the presence of Christ disappears. For the Christian, it is the place where faith becomes sight. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). The Alpha is there when our journey begins, and the Omega is there when our journey on earth is finished.

HE CROWNS US.

The story does not end at the grave. The One who created us, continued with us, and comforted us will finally crown us. Paul looked toward the end of his journey and spoke of the crown of righteousness awaiting him (2 Timothy 4:8). Peter spoke of an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). Revelation gives us the beautiful picture of those who belong to Christ reigning with Him forever (Revelation 22:5).

What a Savior! He is there at our beginning. He is there in our middle. He is there at our ending. He is there in our birth, in our battles, in our burdens, in our brokenness, and even in our dying. And when this temporary life is over, He will not simply say goodbye. He will bring us home.

The Alpha and the Omega is the answer to every season of life. He created us. He continues with us. He comforts us. And He crowns us. We began with His hands, we walk today by His grace, we will pass through death with His presence, and we will spend eternity in His glory.

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Lord Jesus, You are our Alpha and our Omega. Thank You for creating us, sustaining us, walking with us, comforting us, and promising us an eternal home. When we are strong, keep us humble. When we are weak, keep us faithful. When we walk through the valley of death, remind us that You are there. And when this life is finished, receive us into Your everlasting kingdom, where we will reign with You forever. Amen.

BDD

#93 LOVE NEVER FAILS 9-6-26

There are many things in this world that look permanent, but nothing earthly lasts forever. The things that excite people today will eventually be forgotten. Popularity fades. Possessions disappear. Achievements become memories. Human applause grows quiet. Even spiritual gifts were given for a season and would one day cease. Paul reminds us that there are things which remain, but there is one virtue that outlives them all. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

We spend so much of our lives trying to leave a mark on this world. We want to accomplish something. We want to be remembered. We want our lives to matter. God tells us that what is done in love has a significance far greater than anything accomplished for human recognition. A sermon may be forgotten. A song may no longer be heard. A possession may eventually belong to someone else. But a word spoken in love, a kindness shown in Jesus’ name, a burden carried for another, or a soul encouraged when it was ready to give up may reach farther than we will ever know.

The love of God is not merely something for us to admire. It is something God wants to pour through us. Romans 5:5 tells us that the love of God is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. God does not simply say, “Go love everybody.” He gives us His love so that we can love with a love greater than our natural ability. We cannot manufacture divine love by human determination. We must receive it from God and allow it to overflow through our lives.

That changes the way we treat people. We do not love only those who love us. We do not love only those who deserve it. We do not love only when it is convenient. The love of Christ teaches us to love the difficult person, forgive the person who wounded us, encourage the person who is discouraged, and show kindness to the person who cannot give anything back. Sometimes the greatest evidence that Christ lives in us is not what we say in church, but how we treat someone who has been difficult to us.

And this brings us to the heart of the Christian life. Paul said, “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Christianity is more than my attempt to imitate Jesus from the outside. It is Christ working within me from the inside. The branch does not struggle to manufacture fruit. It abides in the vine, and the life of the vine produces the fruit (John 15:4–5). In the same way, I cannot produce the love of Christ by myself. I surrender myself to Christ, abide in Him, and allow His life to be expressed through me.

Perhaps that is one of the greatest discoveries a Christian can make. I do not have to be enough. Christ is enough. I do not have to manufacture His character. I must make room for His character. I do not have to force myself to become loving by sheer human strength. I must let the love of God fill my heart until it begins to overflow into my words, my attitudes, my relationships, and my actions.

One day, much of what seems important today will be gone. The applause will be gone. The buildings will be gone. The possessions will be gone. The accomplishments will be forgotten. But what was done in the love of Christ will never be wasted. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). So let God love through you. Let Christ live through you. Let His kindness become your kindness and His compassion become your compassion.

We are living in a temporary world, but we have been given an eternal opportunity. Every day we have another opportunity to let Jesus touch somebody through our lives. We may not know how far one act of love will travel. We may never see the harvest from one encouraging word. But if Christ did it through us, it was not wasted.

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Lord, teach me to get out of Your way. Fill my heart with Your love and let the life of Christ be seen in me. Help me to love when it is difficult, forgive when it is painful, serve when no one notices, and give when I receive nothing in return. Let my life become a channel through which Your love flows into this temporary world. When everything else passes away, may the love of Christ remain in everything I have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

#92 THE WEIGHT OF GLORY 9-6-26

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Some burdens feel too heavy to carry. Times when the heart grows tired, the mind becomes weary, and the road ahead seems longer than we ever imagined. Paul understood suffering. He knew rejection, imprisonment, beatings, danger, disappointment, and loss. But when he looked at everything he had endured, he called it a light affliction that was but for a moment. Paul was not pretending that suffering was painless. He was simply looking at suffering through the eyes of eternity.

We often measure our troubles by how they feel today. God teaches us to measure them by what is coming tomorrow. A trial may feel enormous when we are standing inside it, but it becomes strangely small when placed beside the glory that awaits us. The suffering is temporary. The glory is eternal. The pain has a limit. Glory has no ending.

Paul gives us the secret in the next verse. He says that we are to look “not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) The Christian life is lived by looking beyond what is in front of our eyes. We see the doctor’s report, but we also see the promises of God. We see the empty chair, but we remember the resurrection. We see today’s tears, but we anticipate tomorrow’s joy. We see the cross, but we also know there is an empty tomb.

There is a weight to our troubles, but there is a greater weight to glory. The word Paul uses is powerful. He speaks of an eternal weight of glory. Heaven is not a light thing. The presence of God is not a small reward. Everything we have sacrificed, everything we have endured, every tear we have shed while remaining faithful to Christ will one day be swallowed up in something infinitely greater.

Sometimes God does not immediately remove the burden. Instead, He strengthens the shoulders carrying it. Sometimes He does not change the circumstances around us, but He changes what is happening within us. “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) The body may grow weaker while the spirit grows stronger. The circumstances may become darker while faith becomes brighter.

So do not let today’s trouble convince you that God has forgotten you. Do not let a difficult chapter make you believe the whole story is tragic. Your present suffering is not your permanent destination. Your grief is not eternal. Your weakness is not eternal. Your tears are not eternal. If you belong to Christ, there is glory ahead that cannot be measured by the troubles behind you.

Keep looking up. Keep believing. Keep walking. There is coming a day when you will understand why you had to endure what you could not understand while you were enduring it. And when you finally see the glory of God, you will discover that what seemed unbearably heavy was only preparing you for something infinitely heavier, infinitely better, and eternally beautiful.

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Father, teach us to see our troubles through the eyes of eternity. When our burdens become heavy, remind us that Your glory is heavier. When our hearts become weary, renew us day by day. Help us to stop living only by what we can see and to trust the promises we cannot yet see. Keep our eyes upon Jesus, our hearts faithful, and our hope fixed upon the glory that is coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Sunday, September 6, 2026

8:00 AM

“What Does God Want From You? Do Justly”

(Micah 6:8)

2:00 PM

“What Does God Want From You? Love Mercy”

(Micah 6:8)

5:00 pm

“What Does God Want From You? Walk Humbly”

(Micah 6:8)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

#91 COMING TO JESUS 9-5-26

Coming to Jesus. We do not come to a system, a philosophy, or merely a set of religious teachings. We come to a Person. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The Christian life begins by coming to Christ, continues by coming to Christ, and is sustained by continually drawing near to Christ.

COME IN APPRECIATION

We come to Jesus with appreciation because of what He has done for us. He loved us when we were unlovable. He sought us when we were lost. He bore our sins when we could never bear them ourselves. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Every blessing we have in Christ ought to produce gratitude in our hearts. We appreciate the cross. We appreciate His mercy. We appreciate His patience. We appreciate His forgiveness. We appreciate the privilege of prayer and the promise of eternal life. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The more we understand what Jesus has done, the more grateful we become.

COME IN EXPECTATION

We also come to Jesus with expectation. Faith expects God to work. We do not come believing that Jesus is distant or indifferent. We come believing that He hears, that He cares, and that He is able. “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

When we pray, we come expecting God to hear. When we open His Word, we come expecting God to teach us. When we gather with His people, we come expecting encouragement. When we face tomorrow, we come expecting His presence to go with us. We may not know what God will do, but we know who God is. Our expectation is not confidence in circumstances. It is confidence in Christ.

COME IN DEDICATION

Finally, we come to Jesus in dedication. We do not come simply to receive from Him. We come to give ourselves to Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).

Jesus does not ask for one hour on Sunday while the rest of our lives belong to us. He calls us to follow Him. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Dedication means saying, “Lord, my life belongs to You.” My plans belong to You. My time belongs to You. My gifts belong to You. My future belongs to You.

Come to Jesus with appreciation for what He has done. Come with expectation for what He will do. Come with dedication, ready to do whatever He calls you to do. And keep coming. When you are weary, come. When you are discouraged, come. When you have failed, come. When you rejoice, come. There is always room at the feet of Jesus.

The invitation has never changed: “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). Come with a thankful heart. Come with a believing heart. Come with a surrendered heart. Come to Jesus, and keep coming to Jesus.

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Lord Jesus, thank You for all You have done for us. Give us hearts filled with appreciation, faith filled with expectation, and lives marked by dedication. Help us to come to You every day, trusting Your promises, receiving Your grace, and surrendering ourselves completely to Your will. May our whole life be a continual coming to You. Amen.

BDD

#90 THE REST OF THE REDEEMED 9-5-26

The book of Hebrews speaks often about inheritance, promise, and rest. The inheritance belongs to those who trust God, and the promise of rest runs throughout the story of redemption (Hebrews 1:14; 6:12; 9:15). The land of promise in the Old Testament was more than a piece of earthly territory. It pointed forward to something greater. It was a shadow of the spiritual rest we find in Christ. It was not primarily a picture of heaven someday, but a picture of fellowship with Jesus today.

Heaven will certainly be a place of eternal rest, but Hebrews calls us to something we can experience right now. There is a rest for the soul that comes from knowing that Jesus has finished the work of redemption. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is not merely a promise about the world to come. It is an invitation for today. Christ does not simply promise to give us rest when we die. He gives rest to those who come to Him while they live.

REST FOLLOWS WORK

Rest follows work. God completed His work of creation and then rested from His work (Genesis 2:1-3). Hebrews connects that divine rest with the greater rest available through faith (Hebrews 4:3-4). Under the Law of Moses, the Sabbath taught Israel to stop working and rest. It was a shadow pointing toward something deeper and greater.

The Sabbath reminded God’s people that they did not have to keep working endlessly. There was a time to cease from labor. There was a time to rest in what God had accomplished. In Christ, that picture becomes reality. We are not saved by working hard enough to make ourselves acceptable to God. We are saved because Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

THE WORK IS FINISHED

The greatest words of rest in all of Scripture were spoken from a cross. Jesus looked at the work He had come into the world to accomplish and said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He did not say, “I have started it.” He did not say, “I have made it possible if you can finish the rest.” He said, “It is finished.”

Then Hebrews tells us that Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins forever” and “sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The sitting down matters. Priests under the old covenant continually stood and offered sacrifices because their work was never finally finished. But Jesus offered Himself once, completely and perfectly, and then sat down.

His sitting down tells us that the work was completed. The sacrifice was sufficient. Redemption had been accomplished. The victory had been secured.

REST IN THE REDEEMER

This does not mean that Christians stop serving, obeying, praying, working, or growing. Faith produces action. Grace teaches us to live differently (Titus 2:11-12). But there is a difference between working for salvation and working because we have been saved.

We serve from rest, not for rest. We obey because we love Him, not because we are trying to purchase His love. We walk with Christ because He has already opened the way to God. Our good works are not an attempt to finish what Jesus left unfinished. They are the fruit of trusting the One who finished everything necessary for our redemption (Ephesians 2:8-10).

There is a great freedom in knowing that Christ is enough. When the conscience is troubled, look to Christ. When guilt overwhelms you, look to Christ. When you feel that you must somehow earn God’s acceptance, look to Christ. The answer is not found in working harder to become worthy. The answer is found in trusting more deeply in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20).

The rest of the redeemed is not laziness. It is confidence. It is the quiet assurance that our salvation rests upon Christ and not upon our ability to save ourselves. It is the peace of knowing that the Savior who began His work in us is faithful to continue His work in us (Philippians 1:6).

One day we will enter eternal rest with God. But do not wait until heaven to enjoy the rest Christ offers. There is rest for the weary heart today. There is peace for the troubled conscience today. There is fellowship with the Redeemer today. Christ has finished the work. Come to Him. Trust Him. Abide in Him. And rest in the finished work of the Savior.

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Father, thank You for Jesus and for the finished work of redemption. Teach us to stop trying to earn what You have freely given through Christ. Help us to work faithfully, serve gladly, and obey lovingly, but always from the rest of knowing that our Redeemer has finished the work. Give peace to our hearts and help us rest completely in Jesus. Amen.

BDD

#89 LIVE, LOVE, AND LAUGH 9-5-26

Life is a gift from God, and we should not waste the gift we have been given. We cannot go back and live yesterday again, and we do not know how many tomorrows we will have. So let us live today. Let us love today. Let us laugh today. “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

LIVE

Live while you are living. Do not spend your entire life waiting for life to begin. There will always be another problem, another responsibility, another bill, another disappointment, and another mountain to climb. But there will also be another sunrise, another opportunity, another person to encourage, another prayer to pray, and another good deed to do.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Christian living is not merely existing until heaven. It is living with purpose today. Make your days count. Use your time wisely. Thank God for what you have instead of constantly mourning what you do not have. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

LOVE

Love while you have the opportunity. People need love more than we realize. Some are carrying burdens they never talk about. Some are smiling while their hearts are breaking. A kind word may mean more to someone than you will ever know.

Jesus made love central to the Christian life. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Then He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Love your family. Love your friends. Love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Love the difficult people too. “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

LAUGH

And do not forget to laugh. A joyful heart is beautiful. We can take God seriously without taking ourselves so seriously. We can believe in the seriousness of eternity and still enjoy the simple pleasures God places in our path.

“The merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Sometimes a smile, a good laugh, or a joyful moment is exactly what a weary soul needs. Laughter does not mean that we have forgotten our troubles. Sometimes it means that we have remembered that our troubles are not the whole story.

So live. Love. Laugh. Live because God has given you another day. Love because Christ first loved you. Laugh because even in difficult seasons, God is still good. Do not wait until everything is perfect before you enjoy the life God has placed before you. There may never be a perfect day, but there can be a meaningful day, a loving day, and a joyful day.

One day our earthly journey will be finished. Until then, let us make every day count. Let us live faithfully, love deeply, and laugh freely. And when people remember us, may they remember that we were people who loved Jesus, loved people, and enjoyed the wonderful gift of life God gave us.

BDD

#88 CHRIST OUR ROCK 9-5-26

There are times in life when everything around us seems to be moving. Circumstances change. People change. Our health can change. Our finances can change. Even our emotions can change from one day to the next. But there is something that never changes. Christ is our Rock. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). When everything else is uncertain, we can build our lives upon the One who cannot be moved.

A PERSON TO TRUST

Christ is not merely a doctrine to believe. He is a Person to trust. We can place our confidence in Him because He has proven His love for us at the cross. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). If God loved us enough to give us Jesus, we can trust Him with everything else.

There will be questions we cannot answer and circumstances we cannot control. But we do not have to understand everything to trust Somebody. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). When you cannot see the road ahead, trust the One who can. When you cannot understand what God is doing, trust who God is.

A PLACE TO STAND

Christ is also our place to stand. The world offers shifting foundations, but Jesus gives us solid ground. Jesus said that the wise man built his house upon the rock, and when the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, the house did not fall because it was founded upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

The storm does not determine whether the foundation is strong. The storm reveals whether the foundation is strong. We may be shaken, but we do not have to be destroyed. We may bend beneath the pressure, but Christ gives us somewhere to stand. “He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not be greatly moved” (Psalm 62:2).

A PURPOSE IN LIFE

Christ is not only the One we trust and the Rock upon which we stand. He is the reason we live. Without Christ, life can become a search for something that will never satisfy. But when Christ becomes the center, life finds its purpose. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

Our purpose is greater than making money, gaining recognition, accumulating possessions, or simply getting through another day. We were created for God. We belong to Christ. We are called to love, serve, encourage, forgive, and point others toward Him. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

Christ is our Rock. He is a Person to trust, a place to stand, and a purpose in life. When life is uncertain, trust Him. When the storm comes, stand upon Him. When you wonder why you are here, live for Him. The Rock will hold when everything else gives way.

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Father, thank You for giving us Jesus, our Rock and our salvation. Teach us to trust Him when we cannot understand, to stand firmly upon Him when the storms come, and to make Him the purpose and center of our lives. May our lives rest upon Christ so securely that others can see His strength through us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BDD

#87 THE WAY OF TRUTH 9-5-26

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Christianity is not merely a collection of beliefs. It is a way of life. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). But there is another way, a better way, a living way. It is the way of truth. It is the way that leads us to Christ, keeps us walking with Christ, and finally brings us home to Christ.

THE WAY OF REDEMPTION

The way of truth begins with redemption. We cannot save ourselves. Sin has left us guilty, broken, and separated from God, but God did not leave us without hope. Christ came into this world to redeem us from our sins. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

The cross is the doorway into the way of truth. Jesus took our place, bore our sins, and died the death that sin deserved. “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Redemption is not something we achieve by human goodness. It is something God provides through Jesus Christ. We come believing, repenting, and trusting the One who loved us enough to give Himself for us.

THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Once we have entered the way of redemption, we are called to walk in the way of righteousness. Salvation is not merely being forgiven for yesterday. It is learning to live differently today. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).

Righteousness is not perfection. It is a heart that has turned toward God. We stumble, but we keep walking. We fall, but we get back up. We make mistakes, but we do not make peace with sin. “The righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). The way of righteousness is a daily walk with Christ, allowing His character to be formed within us. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

THE WAY OF RELIANCE

The longer we walk this road, the more we discover that we cannot walk it in our own strength. We must learn reliance upon God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). The Christian life is not independent living. It is dependent living.

Paul learned this secret when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Our strength is not found in ourselves. Our wisdom is not enough. Our plans are not sufficient. We need God every hour, every moment, and every step. Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The way of truth is the way of reliance. We trust Him when we understand, and we trust Him when we do not. We trust Him when the road is easy, and we trust Him when the road becomes difficult.

THE WAY OF REWARDS

Finally, the way of truth is a way that leads to reward. God sees every faithful step. He sees the prayers nobody hears, the tears nobody sees, the sacrifices nobody recognizes, and the good deeds nobody remembers. “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love” (Hebrews 6:10).

Our reward is not the applause of men. Our reward is Christ Himself, and beyond this life there is an eternal inheritance that cannot fade away. Jesus promised, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Paul could look toward the end of his life and say, “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). The road may sometimes be hard, but it is worth every step.

The way of truth is the way of redemption, righteousness, reliance, and reward. We are redeemed by Christ, called to walk righteously, strengthened by relying upon Him, and encouraged by the promise of what awaits us. There are many roads in this world, but only one leads to the Father. Jesus is that way. Stay on the road. Keep your eyes on Christ. Keep walking in truth. One day the road will end, and faith will become sight.

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Father, keep us in the way of truth. Thank You for redeeming us through Jesus Christ. Teach us to walk in righteousness, to rely upon Your strength instead of our own, and to remain faithful until the end. When the road becomes difficult, remind us that You are with us. Help us never to turn aside, but to keep our eyes upon Jesus until we reach our eternal reward. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Saturday, September 5, 2026

10:00 AM

“The Sin of Racism”

(Galatians 3:28)

2:00 PM

“Believe and Receive”

(Matthew 21:28)

4:00 pm

“The Weight of Glory”

(2 Corinthians 4:17)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

#86 THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL 9-4-26

There is a sentence in the Bible that seems almost too great for the human mind to take in: “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped” (Joshua 10:13). Joshua was fighting a battle, and daylight was running out. The enemy was fleeing, but the work was not finished. So Joshua spoke to the Lord, and then he spoke to the sun. He asked for more daylight, and God gave it. The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until Israel had taken vengeance on its enemies.

We are sometimes tempted to read a passage like this and immediately begin explaining how it could have happened. But before we explain the miracle, perhaps we ought simply to believe the God who performed it. The Bible does not present Joshua as a man who discovered a natural phenomenon. It presents him as a man who trusted God. The God who made the sun is not helpless before the sun. The God who made time is not imprisoned by time. The Creator is Lord over His creation.

What a wonderful lesson this is for us. Joshua did not ask God for more daylight because he wanted an easier life. He wanted more time to finish what God had commanded him to do. There are moments when we wish God would give us more time, not because we want more time to spend on ourselves, but because there is still work to do. There are people to love. There are souls to reach. There are prayers to pray. There are wounds to bind. There are good works to accomplish. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all” (Galatians 6:10).

Joshua’s faith was not passive. He believed God, and then he acted. Faith does not merely sit and admire the promises of God. Faith gets up and walks. Faith takes another step when the road is difficult. Faith keeps fighting when the battle has lasted longer than expected. Faith believes that God is able to provide whatever is necessary for the work He has given us to do.

And perhaps there is another lesson hidden here. Joshua knew that his victory depended upon God. Israel had soldiers, swords, courage, and strategy, but ultimately the battle belonged to the Lord. We can work with all our strength, but our strength is never enough without God’s blessing. “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).

The sun stood still that day because God was accomplishing His purpose through His servant Joshua. But there is an even greater victory in which we rejoice. Joshua’s name means “the LORD saves.” The name Joshua is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus. Joshua led Israel into earthly victory, but Jesus leads His people into eternal victory. Joshua fought against earthly enemies, but Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave. Joshua needed the sun to remain in the sky, but Jesus Himself is the true Light of the world (John 8:12).

One day, the sun that Joshua saw standing still will no longer be needed. There will be a city where “the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23). The great story of Scripture moves from creation’s light to Christ’s light, and finally to the everlasting light of God’s presence.

So when your day seems too short, remember Joshua. When the battle seems too great, remember Joshua. When you wonder whether there is enough strength, enough time, or enough opportunity to finish what God has placed before you, remember Joshua. The God who made the sun can make a way where there seems to be no way.

We do not need the sun to stand still today. We need our hearts to stand still before God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The God who stopped the sun for Joshua is still God today. Trust Him. Serve Him. Keep walking. Keep fighting the good fight. Keep your eyes upon Jesus. And when your work is finished, may you be able to say with the apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

BDD

#85 THE BELIEVER’S BEST FRIEND 9-4-26

There is no friend like Jesus. Human friends may love us deeply, but Jesus loves us with an everlasting love. Friends may sometimes misunderstand us, disappoint us, or be unable to stay beside us, but Jesus is the friend who never leaves, never forsakes, and never turns His back upon those who belong to Him. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH

The Son of God did not remain distant from our humanity. He came into this world and became flesh. He walked our roads, felt our sorrows, experienced hunger and weariness, and was touched with the feelings of our weaknesses. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Jesus came near so that we could know the heart of God. He did not merely send a message of love. He came Himself.

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS

Our greatest problem was not our circumstances. It was our sin. Jesus went to the cross and bore what we could never bear for ourselves. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3). The cross proves that His love is not sentimental. It is sacrificial. He did not love us because we were worthy. He loved us when we were lost, and He gave Himself to bring us home.

JESUS ASCENDED ON HIGH.

The story did not end at the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is exalted at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9, Hebrews 1:3) Our Savior is not a dead hero whose memory we preserve. He is the living Christ who reigns. The One who came down to us has been exalted above all, and our faith rests in a living Lord.

JESUS LIVES WITHIN US.

Perhaps one of the most wonderful truths of Christianity is that Christ does not merely save us and then leave us to walk alone. He comes to live within His people. Paul said, “Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Christ in us is “the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) His presence gives us strength when we are weak, peace when we are troubled, wisdom when we are uncertain, and love when our own hearts are running empty.

That is why Jesus is the believer’s best friend. He came to us in the flesh. He died for us at the cross. He ascended for us to the Father. And He lives within us by faith. He is not merely a Savior we read about in the pages of Scripture. He is the Savior we know, trust, follow, love, and walk with every day.

What a friend we have in Jesus. He knows us completely and loves us completely. He knows our failures, our fears, our weaknesses, and our wounds, yet He does not abandon us. The greatest friendship you will ever know is friendship with Christ. Walk with Him today. Talk with Him in prayer. Trust Him in difficulty. Follow Him in obedience. And remember that the One who gave Himself for you will never stop loving you.

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Lord Jesus, thank You for coming in the flesh, dying for our sins, rising from the grave, and ascending on high. Thank You that You have not left us alone, but that You live within Your people and are our hope of glory. Help us to know You more deeply, trust You more completely, and walk with You more faithfully. May our lives reflect the love of our best Friend. Amen.

BDD