28 SEP 26 Devotional - The Grace of God

 

Day 1 — Stop Keeping Score

Scripture:

“So the last will be first, and the first last.”

— Matthew 20:16

Reflection

We are naturally inclined to keep score. We notice who got the promotion, who received the recognition, who has the bigger house, who seems to have an easier life, or whose ministry appears more successful.

Sometimes we even keep score with God. “God, I’ve served You for years. I’ve sacrificed. I’ve been faithful. Shouldn’t I have more?” The workers who had labored all day in Jesus’ parable did exactly that. They compared their work with the workers who had only worked a few hours.

Their problem wasn’t that they had been cheated. They received exactly what they had agreed to receive. Their problem was comparison. Someone else’s blessing made them question their own. Comparison can steal our gratitude because it shifts our attention from what God has given us to what God has given someone else.

God doesn’t ask us to keep score. He asks us to trust Him. You may not have everything someone else has, but you have received something you could never earn: the grace of God.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for the times I compare my life with others. Help me stop keeping score and recognize the blessings You have already given me. Give me a grateful heart that trusts Your goodness. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

When you catch yourself comparing yourself with someone else today, stop and thank God for three things He has given you.

25 SEP 26 Devotional - Forgiveness

 

Day 5 — Manage His Mercy Well

Scripture:

“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”

— Matthew 18:33

Reflection

The servant in Jesus’ parable had received incredible mercy. But he didn’t manage that mercy well. He had been forgiven an enormous debt, yet he refused to forgive someone who owed him a much smaller debt. His problem wasn’t that he didn’t understand mercy.

His problem was that he had received mercy without allowing it to transform him. That is the challenge for us. God has been merciful to us. Now He calls us to be merciful toward others. The question isn’t simply:

“How many times do I have to forgive?”

The better question is:

“How can I, as someone who has been forgiven so much, refuse to extend forgiveness to someone else?”

We have received God’s mercy. Now Jesus calls us to manage His mercy well. When we forgive, we become more like Christ. When we refuse bitterness, we reflect His grace. When we pursue peace, we show the world what the gospel looks like in real life.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the mercy You have shown me. Help me manage Your mercy well. Make me quick to repent, quick to apologize, quick to forgive, and eager to pursue peace. Let my life point others toward Jesus and the forgiveness found in Him. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

Ask yourself: Who do I need to forgive? What bitterness do I need to release? What step toward peace can I take? Then place that person and that situation in God’s hands.

Closing Thought

We forgive not because the wound wasn’t real, but because God’s mercy is real. We have been forgiven much. Now let us learn to forgive.

24 SEP 26 Devotional - Forgiveness

 

Day 4 — Become Like Children

Scripture:

“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 18:3

Reflection

Children can teach us something about forgiveness. They get hurt. They cry. They argue. They may even say, “I don’t want to play with you anymore!” But often, a few minutes later, they’re playing together again.

They don’t always carry yesterday’s offense into tomorrow. As adults, we can become experts at remembering. We remember what was said. We remember what they did. We remember how they made us feel. And sometimes we rehearse the offense so many times that the wound becomes part of our identity.

Jesus calls us to humility. To become like children is not to become immature. It is to become humble, dependent, teachable, and willing to let go. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is stop rehearsing the offense and start trusting God with it.

Prayer

Jesus, give me a humble heart. Help me not to carry yesterday’s offenses into today. Teach me to forgive, to let go of bitterness, and to trust You with the things I cannot change. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

When an old offense comes to mind today, don’t rehearse it. Instead, pray, “Jesus, I give this to You.”

23 SEP 26 Devotional - Forgiveness

 

Day 3 — Forgiveness Is Not Always Reconciliation

Scripture:

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

— Romans 12:18

Reflection

Forgiveness and reconciliation are closely connected, but they are not the same thing.

Forgiveness releases bitterness and personal vengeance.

Reconciliation seeks to restore a relationship.

Sometimes reconciliation happens quickly. Other times it takes time. Trust may need to be rebuilt. Repentance may need to occur. Actions may need to change.

And sometimes, because of circumstances, full reconciliation may not be possible.

But forgiveness is still possible.

Paul says, “As far as it depends on you.”

That is important.

We are responsible for our response.

We cannot control another person’s heart, attitude, or actions. But we can control whether we hold onto bitterness.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean removing every healthy boundary. It means refusing to let hatred and resentment take control of your heart.

You can forgive someone even when you cannot restore the relationship to what it once was.

Prayer

Father, give me wisdom to know the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Help me pursue peace where I can, establish healthy boundaries where necessary, and release bitterness into Your hands. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

Ask God to show you one step you can take toward peace—whether that means an apology, a conversation, a prayer, or simply releasing the situation to Him.

22 SEP 26 Devotional - Forgiveness

 

Day 2 — Stop Keeping Score

Scripture:

“Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

— Matthew 18:22

Reflection

Peter wanted a number.

“How many times do I have to forgive?”

We understand Peter because we often want the same thing.

We keep score.

“That’s the first time.”

“That’s the second time.”

“I’ve already forgiven them enough.”

But Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a number. He was teaching Peter to stop keeping score.

Forgiveness isn’t about reaching a certain number and then earning permission to become bitter.

Jesus calls us to develop a heart that is continually willing to forgive.

That doesn’t mean pretending the offense didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean ignoring sin or allowing someone to continue hurting you. It means refusing to allow another person’s actions to control your heart.

Forgiveness releases the desire for revenge and places justice in God’s hands.

We don’t forgive because the offense wasn’t serious. We forgive because God’s mercy toward us is greater.

Prayer

Lord, You know the hurts I carry. You know the people who have wounded me. Help me stop keeping score. Give me the strength to forgive and the wisdom to know how to pursue peace. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

Identify one offense you have been keeping score over. Bring it honestly before God and ask Him to begin freeing your heart from bitterness.

21 SEP 26 Devotional - Forgiveness

 

Day 1 — How Much Have You Been Forgiven?

Scripture:

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”

— Matthew 18:26–27

Reflection

Jesus tells the story of a servant who owed his master an impossible debt. There was no way he could repay it. Yet the master did something the servant could never have earned—he showed mercy and canceled the debt.

That servant represents us.

Our sin created a debt we could never pay. We could never work hard enough, give enough, or be good enough to make ourselves right with God. But God, through Jesus Christ, made a way.

The cross reminds us that forgiveness is costly. Jesus paid what we could never pay.

Sometimes our struggle to forgive others begins because we have forgotten how much we have been forgiven.

Before you think about what someone else has done to you, stop and remember what Christ has done for you.

You have been forgiven an enormous debt.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the mercy You have shown me through Jesus. Help me never forget how much You have forgiven me. Give me a heart that is grateful for Your grace and willing to extend that grace to others. Amen.

Today’s Challenge

Spend a few minutes thanking God specifically for the sins He has forgiven you. Let gratitude for His mercy shape the way you view someone who has hurt you.

3 SEP 26 Devotional - The Transformed Life

 Day 4 — Patient in Tribulation

Scripture: Romans 12:12

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Paul doesn’t pretend that following Christ means life will be easy.

He says “in tribulation.”

Hard times will come.

People will disappoint us. Circumstances will frustrate us. We will experience loss, conflict, disappointment, and suffering. The question isn’t whether difficult circumstances will come. The question is how we will respond when they do.

Paul gives us three commands:

Rejoice in hope.

Our circumstances may change, but our hope in Christ doesn’t.

Be patient in tribulation.

We don’t have to understand everything God is doing to remain faithful to Him.

Be constant in prayer.

Prayer reminds us that we are not carrying our burdens alone. Patience and prayer are often developed in the very circumstances we wish God would remove. Hard seasons can become places where God strengthens our faith.

And sometimes the greatest ministry we can offer someone who is hurting isn’t an explanation. It’s simply our presence.

Reflect:

What difficult circumstance are you carrying right now? Have you brought it honestly to God in prayer?

Prayer:

Father, give me patience when life is difficult. Help me rejoice in the hope I have in Christ and remain faithful in prayer. When others are hurting, teach me to be present and compassionate. Amen.

Today’s Challenge:

Spend five uninterrupted minutes praying for someone who is going through a difficult season.

2 SEP 26 Devotional - The Transformed Life

 Day 3 — Outdo One Another in Honor

Scripture: Romans 12:10–13

“Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Imagine if Christians competed—not to be noticed, win arguments, or prove themselves right—but to see who could honor others the most.

That is Paul’s picture of Christian community.

The world often teaches us to look out for ourselves. Paul tells believers to look for opportunities to encourage, serve, honor, and care for one another.

The New Testament repeatedly gives us “one another” commands because Christianity was never intended to be lived alone.

We need each other.

We need people who will encourage us when we’re discouraged, challenge us when we’re drifting, pray for us when we’re hurting, and stand beside us when life becomes difficult.

And they need us to do the same.

Sometimes honoring someone is as simple as listening.

Sometimes it means encouraging them.

Sometimes it means serving when nobody notices.

Sometimes it means giving someone the benefit of the doubt.

A transformed life isn’t focused entirely on “What can I get?”

It asks, “How can I serve?”

Reflect:

Who is someone around you who could use encouragement or practical help?

Prayer:

Lord, give me eyes to see the needs of others. Remove my selfishness and teach me to honor, encourage, and serve the people You have placed in my life. Make me someone who builds others up. Amen.

Today’s Challenge:

Encourage one person today. Be specific about what you appreciate or admire about them.