Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

Take hold of the eternal life. (1 Tim. 6:12)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:3-21

Think about two newborn babies. One comes from a rich family, the other one from a poor family. The babies themselves do not know the difference. What they require can be provided by both families. Now think about two tombs in a cemetery. One belongs to a rich person, the other one to a poor person. It makes no difference. Deceased people own nothing.

Throughout his exhortation to Timothy, Paul wanted to make sure his spiritual son focused on what truly mattered. Paul had seen many people lose their way and lose their faith. There were different ways of living life, but for Paul, the right way was to live a holy life. The holy life is characterized by love and contentment. Because of love, Timothy had to treat others, strangers as they were, as family members (1 Tim. 5). Because of contentment, Timothy had to be careful not to set his affections on riches (1 Tim. 6).

Just like Timothy, we must live life as a calling. We too are invited to live a holy life, acting as if Jesus is in charge of all, because, in reality, he is. We can lay hold of an everlasting life as we love and live in contentment, knowing that neither our circumstances of birth nor our possessions at the end of life are determinants of what is to come.

Evaluate how well you love others and how content you are.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Guard what has been entrusted to your care. (1 Tim. 6:20)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:17-21

I was in charge of everything, yet nothing was mine. I had been asked to care for the valuables of a family while they went away. Under my care was a nice house, a vehicle I could not afford, and a dog I did not like very much. I felt powerful, almost boastful. I was a young man in charge of all these expensive things. The irony was that I could not treat the family’s belongings as mine. I was only meant to guard their things; I did not own them.

Paul warned Timothy about those who desire riches. Next, he addressed those who were indeed rich. His message: All things come from God. Thus, “richness” cannot be measured by what one can accumulate but by the way one acts, doing good to others and being generous. There is no place for arrogance. Everything belongs to God; people are simply meant to take care of that which is his.

Life in the kingdom tends to be counterintuitive. Some would say living that way is to be ignorant. But, like Timothy, we must be careful with opposing ideas that claim access to better knowledge. In a sense, we are taking care of Jesus’ belongings. They must be guarded, treasured, and preserved intact. While we may get to enjoy them, they are not ours.

Praise God for five things he has entrusted to your care.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Tim. 6:15)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:12-16

“This ball is my ball, and I make up the rules.” Those were the words expressed to me when, in my childhood, I tried to join a game of soccer. I was not allowed to play. I got upset. I argued with the boy who denied me the opportunity to play: “I don’t see your name on the ball.” It was a failed attempt; the soccer ball was his and, in a sense, he was in charge of this game.

Sometimes we struggle to accept who is in charge. In his exhortation to Timothy, Paul reminded him to “fight the good fight of faith” (v. 12). This struggle to grasp and reflect the new life achieved in Jesus was good. Despite opposition, Timothy had to live as if Jesus was already in charge, because he was! Pilate once thought he was in charge but was confronted by Jesus’ confession that he was the true Lord and Messiah. Timothy needed to live in that reality. Jesus, though currently unseen, would reappear showing himself as the legitimate ruler of all.

We too are encouraged to fight. We too have made a confession of loyalty to the King. At times it may not look like God is in charge; he remains unseen. However, this world is his world. He makes up the rules, and we get to play on his team.

Surrender, and strive to live under the lordship of Jesus.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Tim. 6:11)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:10-11

I was shocked when I read an article about athletes who once were sports stars but ended up losing it all. Some filed for bankruptcy, others ended up in jail, many were involved in scandals, a great number were divorced, and some owed exorbitant amounts of money in child support. Once they were millionaires, but today they are broke. Something went wrong; things got out of control. The article claimed it was mismanagement of funds that caused this phenomenon. But could it be that underneath there was a mismanagement of affections?

Paul highlighted the problem of misplaced affections. We were created to love God and others. Making anything else the object of our affection is detrimental. The love of money is a root that destroys the foundation of any structure and infrastructure that stands in its path. The problem does not lie in the money itself, but in our affections. Love of money produces a fixation on things; our primary affection diverts to objects. We harm ourselves and sabotage our own lives when we place our love on objects and not subjects (God and others).

Paul highlighted six things in the text that need to be pursued and loved: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Undoubtedly, we—who are encouraged to be men and women of God—need to set our affections on such virtues.

Consider the order of your affections, choosing subjects over objects.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Tim. 6:8)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:7-9

I had a close encounter with the Kogi people, descendants of the indigenous Tairona, in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. They have their own language and live in a coastal mountain range in the northern part of the country. When I first saw them, I was impressed by their simplicity. They make their own clothes, collect their own food, and live as a self-sufficient community. Some would call them primitive, unsophisticated, or uncivilized. They, however, are content with how they live.

There is something to be said about living a life of simplicity and contentment. As Paul eloquently put it, we do not bring anything into the world, and we can take nothing out of it either. He called Timothy to be content and to resist the desire to be rich. What is the point of giving our lives away to have things that are not life-giving?

Living life to accumulate wealth and objects of consumption is a trap. Contentment is an act of subversion against the spirit of this age. It is a demonstration of resistance against the powers of consumption. The Kogi people are content with who they are, and the only thing they resist is dispossession of their land by those who want to profit from it. We are not the exception; we too are called to be content.

Seek contentment by giving away something you don’t need.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 6:3-6

I remember the first time I unboxed a new smartphone. I was excited to have a phone with cutting-edge features and technology. The packaging was very nice. The phone was elegant. However, within a couple of years I was told I needed an upgrade. My phone still worked well, but some of its features were now incompatible with the most advanced technologies. I struggled inside of myself. I wanted to upgrade, which meant buying another expensive phone, but I knew this was a sales strategy. I was being lured by an appeal to my own greed.

In his exhortation to Timothy, Paul warned his spiritual son against people who use the gospel of Jesus for financial gain. They were greedy. It looked like they were pursuing godliness, while actually they sought financial benefits. It is unclear exactly what these people were doing, but whatever it was, it surely was a trap. Holy living is not a pathway to riches. Holy living is meant to produce contentment with what one has.

We live in a culture plagued by consumerism. It is not that we need more, but that we crave more. At times, even churches fall into the rhythms of consumerism by generating markets to profit from Christianity. However, instead of feeding those markets with our cravings, let us commit to contentment as a practice of holy living.

Pray for contentment, asking for nothing else.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word. (Ps. 119:107)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:105-112

Suffering is all around us. The loss of employment. Terminal illnesses. Natural disasters. The death of loved ones. If we aren’t experiencing hardship ourselves, we know someone who is.

The psalmist expresses that he has “suffered much” in Psalm 119:107. Yet, in the depths of his anguish, how did the psalmist overcome? The second half of the verse declares how his life would be preserved, “according to [God’s] word.”

God’s Word is consistent in the following themes found in Psalm 119:105–112:

PURE: The word is a light and a lamp (v. 105). Similarly, Jesus is the light of the world, the light that overcomes all darkness (John 1:1–5). This light is pure.

PRAY: Through supplication and intercession, and promises that are perpetually fulfilled, God’s strength gives us the way to follow in his righteousness (v. 106).

PROVISION: What do we humbly ask for and receive? In verses 108–109, as we praise the Lord with our mouth, we ask that he teach us, so we continue to remember his providential grace and mercies anew each day.

PURPOSE: Verse 110—Though the wicked have alternative purposes, our purpose can be to stay steadfast to the call of Christ.

PURSUIT: What is the joy of your heart (vv. 111–112)? Will you choose to set your heart on that which lasts to the very end?

Trust God in the middle of suffering.

Sarah Grace was discipled in The Wesleyan Church in the Western New York region. She enjoys camping, music, and being outdoors in all seasons.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. (1 Tim. 6:2)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 5:1-8, 16-21; 5:24—6:2

My youngest son recently started his first “real” job at a local restaurant. Insatiably curious and a lover of adventure, he could not resist when he spotted a bright red button somewhat hidden beneath the countertop. Naturally, he “had to push it to see what it did.” He found out quickly when the police descended upon the restaurant, sirens blaring. My son had hit the panic button. Thankfully, his boss, a very gracious Christian man, quickly forgave him, noting that his training probably did not address the dangers of the red button clearly enough. I pray that his boss’s graciousness will lead my son to work harder and increase his loyalty and determination to do a good job. The last thing I would want him to do is to take advantage of the grace he has been given.

Today’s passage reminds us of the responsibility we have to respect and honor the authority of those God has placed in our lives, and this is especially true when submitting to fellow Christ followers. After all, we know they are compelled by love to forgive our missteps. This truth should not prompt laziness; it should promote loyalty.

In his letter, Paul instructed Timothy to insist that church members respect gracious Christian overseers. This is mutual devotion within God’s family. Instead of taking advantage of one another, we need to work together faithfully.

Work wholeheartedly for your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Dalene Fisher is a full-time wife, mother, and grandma. She is a former associate professor of English, dean, and assistant provost at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. (1 Tim. 5:24)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 5:24-25

Over a decade ago, I was teetering on the edge of a dangerous depression. As tends to be the case, I was together on the outside—full of grace and grit—but my daily reality was a complete failure. One of my dear friends at the time would occasionally come by my house while I was away. She vacuumed the floors, laundered the clothes, washed the dishes, and tidied the house. Only a few people knew of my desperate state and so, out of respect for me and to preserve my dignity, she did this work quietly and selflessly, with the love of a sister. She did not proclaim her good works to the world. There were no self-congratulatory Facebook posts. I am still humbled by her sacrifice.

It is tempting to broadcast our good works but conceal our sin. Similarly, it is easy to notice others’ sin and miss their goodness. But in his letter, Paul reminded Timothy that the truth is not always on the surface. Not only do our brothers and sisters in Christ struggle more than we may realize, sometimes they also sacrifice more than we know.

Whether it is secret sin or quiet self-sacrifice, this Scripture passage reminds us that, ultimately, nothing remains hidden. Our posture should be that of patient goodwill as ultimately, both sin and good works will be revealed.

Never assume that you have complete understanding about another’s life or motives.

Dalene Fisher is a full-time wife, mother, and grandma. She is a former associate professor of English, dean, and assistant provost at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (IN).

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Tim. 5:21)

Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 5:16-21

Step 1: Procure an instrument. Step 2: Open the case of your instrument. Step 3: Take your instrument out of the case. Step 4: Position the instrument properly.

Is there a purpose to the steps listed above? After all, the music hasn’t even been made yet. These instructions read as a step-by-step guide for a novice, who may not be in line for first chair in the orchestra. However, this is the start. These instructions need to be followed in order to be a successful musician in the long run. Musicians who follow the first simple steps faithfully find they can learn to live by memory of their manual, not needing to refer to instructions to prepare for a concerto.

Throughout Scripture there are many guidelines shared for our benefit and good. This section of chapter 5 highlights how the family of God acts purposefully to allow each member to freely engage with the body of Christ, sharing their divine gifts.

We may feel that as we follow these simple steps we are acting as a novice. However, following God’s instructions step-by-step will lead us into fruitfulness as we each use our spiritual gifts.

Keeping the instructions given in the Word enables us to shine “like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Phil. 2:15–16).

Follow God’s instructions step-by-step, without partiality.

Sarah Grace was discipled in The Wesleyan Church in the Western New York region. She enjoys camping, music, and being outdoors in all seasons.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.