Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood . . . why was there still need for another priest to come? (Heb. 7:11)

Expanded Passage: Hebrews 7:11-12

Beatrice had loved everything about the home in which she’d raised her children. And over the years, its worn wood floors and Formica kitchen island echoed with the laughter of the grands. But as her mind grew foggy and memories more faint, only her prayer shawl could draw her back to comfort. Nothing had been as important to her in all her years as the intimacy she shared with God while seeking his face with that knitted hug on her shoulders. And still, one day, Beatrice would discover something even greater.

The sacrificial system couldn’t bring people close to God, so he introduced something infinitely better. Jesus, our perfect high priest, was the only way for people to be restored to a full relationship with the Father. Although for centuries the Levitical priests made regular sacrifices on behalf of the people of God, even they were fallible and needed atonement for their sins. It was a never-ending cycle that always pointed to the need for something better.

Sometimes, God allows our systems to fail so we’ll look for his greater way. Faith isn’t about clinging to what used to work, but about trusting him to lead us into what is new.

Beatrice clung to her prayer shawl in life for peace and hope. But when her eyes opened one morning in heaven, she truly met the Source of her faith.

Exchange an old pattern for something better.

Elizabeth Rhyno is wife to Scott and mother to three adult children and two sons-in-law. She is an ordained pastor and entrepreneur. She enjoys helping people deepen their intimacy with God and grow in joyful purpose.

© 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!

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. (Ps. 19:10)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 19:7-14

My wedding ring is made of gold. My wedding ring also has the tendency to slip off my finger when submerged in water. This has caused more than a few scares since my wedding day. Not only because of the value of the ring, but because of the meaning of the ring, I would be devastated to lose it. It is precious to me. David wrote that God’s law and commands are more precious than gold. And when I read those words, I can’t help but ask myself if I consider anything in my life more precious than the will of God.

In order to not lose my ring, I instead wear a cheap rubber ring when I know I’m going to be swimming or hiking. Because my wedding ring is special to me, I am careful with it. In Romans 6:1, Paul asks if we should go on sinning so grace can increase. “By no means!” is his reply. If we consider God’s decrees precious to us, we must protect them and keep them.

When we follow what God says, our lives are better for it. We are refreshed, made wise, joyful, full of light, given a great reward, and called blameless. His ways are so much better than our ways. Learn his laws and love his commands; there is nothing more precious.

Spend some time praising God for his precious commands in your life.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. (Heb. 6:15)

Expanded Passage: Hebrews 6:1-20

I don’t like airports all that much. I arrive at the airport, wait in line to check in, wait in line at security, and wait in line to get on the plane. And if I want a coffee, I have to wait in a whole other line. But I love to travel, and airports are necessary if I want to go somewhere far away. Every time I arrive in a new place, the pain of waiting in all of those lines seems to disappear, and I always end up thinking, “It was worth the wait.”

Waiting for a plane to take off seems trivial compared to the twenty-five years Abraham waited for Issac to be born. God is a promise keeper. When God makes promises, he swears by his own name and confirms his promises with an oath. And he does that so we may be encouraged in the waiting, and our hope may hold us like an anchor.

There are greater things coming. Maybe God has given you a personal promise; he will be faithful to fulfill it like he did for Abraham. He has promised us a new heaven and a new earth; he has promised to make everything new. The waiting can and will be hard, but our hope leads us forward. And I know when we see Jesus face-to-face, we will all know it was worth the wait.

Write down the promises God has given you in your life.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure. (Phil. 2:14–15)

Expanded Passage: Philippians 2:12-21

I can sometimes find myself being quite a stubborn person. Let’s take a simple task like doing the dishes as an example. Most times I will not have any issue doing this of my own free will, but if someone asks me to do it, then I might feel annoyed and not want to do it. Being obstinate about something like doing the dishes might not seem that harmful. But apply the same concept to your spiritual walk and the results would be detrimental.

Holiness requires surrender. That’s not an unbelievable truth, but it’s a very important one. Paul wrote that it is God who works within us so we can act in the right way to fulfill his purposes for our lives. This is why we are to work out our salvation in the fear of the Lord. But we cannot rely on our own free will to become blameless and pure. We need to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit working within us because he knows what we need better than we do.

Then, instead of grumbling, we can find joy in the spiritual disciplines God calls us to. Instead of arguing, we can find joy in the fact that God grants us perseverance that brings us toward fullness in Jesus. We can take our headstrong thoughts captive and find joy in the Lord.

Replace a willful thought with a joyful one.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. (Phil. 3:17)

Expanded Passage: Philippians 3:12-21

My spiritual journey is marked by the people who guided me. From youth pastors to teachers to counselors to mentors, I would not be who I am today without their influence on my life. When I think of these people and how they have served as godly examples for my life, I am filled with gratitude. And how wonderful is the thought that someone could consider my discipleship of them in a similar way.

Even Paul, as he wrote this letter, recognized and acknowledged that he had not reached his goal yet; he had more to do in his life. But he still called the church to follow his example. And that is true of us as well. There is always more to learn and always more to teach. We are called to follow the examples of others and be an example to others. While most importantly, we all must set our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example of holiness.

That is how we move toward maturity in Christ. The minute we stop learning or teaching, our faith becomes stagnant and stale. We are citizens of heaven who live in the hope that one day we will be transformed and glorified, completely and wholly. Until that day comes, we press on, doing all we can to be mature in Christ and bringing others along in that journey.

Pray for relationships where you can be discipled and you can disciple.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. (1 Thess. 3:8)

Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Transitioning from one biblical community to another can be hard. My wife and I experienced that when we moved from South Carolina to Zambia. We left behind a community full of trusted friends who we had ministered alongside, laughed with, and cried with, and entered into a new, welcoming community where we knew the same would be true. I had to trust God to take care of my friends and my church. Before we left, my lead pastor and friend reminded me that we all work for the same global church, but sometimes we are called to minister in another branch.

In times of hardship from being overseas and missing home, it was truly encouraging to hear the reports of what was happening with our friends. In this passage, Paul found himself encouraged by Timothy’s report because he could see that the people he spent time discipling were thriving in the Lord. Their friendship and partnership continued even from a distance. Paul was encouraged in his time of trouble and he wrote to teach, encourage, and pray for the church in Thessalonica. This is the church in action, the global church that doesn’t care about borders or distance.

We need one another. Maybe you need encouragement from a friend’s report, and maybe you can give encouragement to a friend in need. All you need to do is reach out.

Reach out to an old friend and listen to their report.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity. (Heb. 6:1)

Expanded Passage: Hebrews 6:1-20

When I was in school, the concept of being a lifelong learner was presented time and time again. The idea is that your time in a formal education setting should not be the only time you seek to be educated. Being a lifelong learner goes against the idea of getting a good degree in order to get a good job and have a nice, comfortable life. Instead, we must recognize that there is more: more to be learned about our world, our professions, ourselves, and our Lord.

Recently, I came up against some unhealthy thought patterns in myself that I was sure I had dealt with. I had done the hard work of healing and therapy, but those thought patterns popped up once again. God reminded me that there is always more learning to be done. And I realized that I wouldn’t be able to process this deeper healing today if I hadn’t done the work in the past.

As the writer of Hebrews says, God will not forget the work we have done, but we must move forward with diligence so our hope can be fully realized. How do we do it? We must keep learning and we must seek the counsel of those who have gone before us. We are not alone in the process and God is always faithful to teach and guide us through.

Journal about something you want to learn, and share it with a friend.

Ethan Zent is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church, serving as a full-time missionary alongside his wife with the organization Poetice in Zambia.

© 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!

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. (Ps. 18:28)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 18:28-36

My carry-on smells like a campfire. I’m not sure how long the scent will linger, but for now I won’t complain, even though my clothes smell like smoke and my skin cries out for lotion. Strong as the scent may be, stronger is the reminder of closeness that comes to my mind as I recall those moments standing beside warm coals as their glow burned bright. A reminder of closeness that is not merely measured in distance, but signaled in the smells we later carry.

Few things are as strange as fire, which brings with it warmth and comfort but also the risk of wildfire, should sparks catch in just the wrong places.

Scripture tells us that God is an all-consuming fire, jealous for our affection and worthy of our reverence and awe (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:28–29). We cannot outrun or hide from his love, for even darkness is as light to him (Ps. 139:12). The Lord is near and he draws especially close to those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18).

For those who walk by faith and live in the way of Jesus, God has given the gift of his Holy Spirit who is our strength, a fire to live on within us, enabling us to acknowledge and submit to the Father in all our ways (Prov. 3:6).

Let the Lord illuminate the shadows of your soul.

Amy Boyle lives in Indianapolis, where she’s a disciple, friend, and neighbor, an Indiana Wesleyan alum and twenty-something, passionate about knowing Jesus and making him known.

© 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!

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God. (Heb. 5:1)

Expanded Passage: Hebrews 5:1-14

In the field of social work there are two approaches to understanding a community: “needs-based” and “assets-based.” These assessments are precisely as they sound. However, for the felt realities of a community’s needs and assets to be properly understood, the best person to represent them isn’t an outsider, but someone deeply acquainted with the lived experience of that community.

This is why the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53 is anointed to represent the people, a population of those who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). To reconcile fallen humanity and a holy God would require a representative who was fully God and man, a Son who would be the peace between the two, tearing down the divisions and making the Father available through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:14–18).

But the work of a priest doesn’t stop there; it’s shared. As people who are reconciled and have received the mercy and grace of God, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, . . . called . . . out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). According to Paul, we are also commissioned to represent Christ in how we carry out his message and ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19–20). So, who has God called us to bring into the fold?

Stand in the gap for those who surround you.

Amy Boyle lives in Indianapolis, where she’s a disciple, friend, and neighbor, an Indiana Wesleyan alum and twenty-something, passionate about knowing Jesus and making him known.

© 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!

Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:14)

Expanded Passage: Hebrews 5:13-14

The acidy bitterness of coffee used to bother my stomach, but bit by bit I built up a tolerance until gradually an affection for this flavor that used to bother me was born. The same could be said for my relationship with running. I can’t say the feeling of my lungs being on fire was my heart’s burning desire . . . at least, not initially. But over time, as I kept consistent about lacing up my shoes and getting out the door, the experience grew on me, and what used to be a chore became an affinity for breathing air in a new way.

Unless you’re a savant, your starting point when trying something new will probably be pretty shabby. And no one would fault you for poor performance with a skill you’ve hardly practiced. But to settle eternally for alternating between the same three chords on a piano instead of learning to play the whole piece . . . ? Most would agree that would be a tragedy.

Spiritual formation is no exception. To stay and settle for the same place where God found and saved us, rather than moving toward righteousness, would be a tragedy. God’s design and intention was not that we would live off yesterday’s provision, but that we would daily yield to his presence, maturing from spiritual milk to solid food. Every day God is inviting his people to develop a taste for his goodness.

Train your palette to taste ever more of the goodness of God.

Amy Boyle lives in Indianapolis, where she’s a disciple, friend, and neighbor, an Indiana Wesleyan alum and twenty-something, passionate about knowing Jesus and making him known.

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