Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:12)

Expanded Passage: John 3:9-12

While touring Biltmore House, the Vanderbilt home in Asheville, North Carolina, I noticed several closed doors. I had this curious desire to open them and see what was there. It was mysterious. What could I learn if I opened the door? It seems that mankind is forever searching for what we do not know.

I empathize in part with Nicodemus. I go deeper into God’s Word and find I do not understand until the Holy Spirit enlightens my eyes to the mysteries of God’s truth. Through the glorious light of comprehension, I see the pure beauty of God’s love. Like Nicodemus, I have an insatiable desire to know more.

Nicodemus has made himself vulnerable. His career has blossomed. He is a ruler of Israel, a member of the Sanhedrin, steeped in God’s Word. But something is missing. He has sought out this man called Jesus in the cover of night. Jesus knows this. He is going to lead Nicodemus to the place he wants to be. But first he will open the eyes to the light. He will tell Nicodemus God’s truth—that he, Jesus, is a witness from God. He has seen and knows what he is talking about.

We’ve all been there; we don’t see clearly or understand fully. Maybe we should stand on and believe what we already know of God’s Word and then search deeper into the mysteries of God’s truth.

Ask God to open your eyes to his truth.

Lora Goff-Pitts has taught Bible classes for forty years at her local Wesleyan church. She is a mother, grandmother, author, and retired teacher. She and her husband, Rex, reside in Noblesville, IN.

© 2025 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!

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4)

Expanded Passage: John 3:3-8

My grandson had just completed his master’s degree in engineering. He was ready to make his mark in the world when tragedy struck. Not feeling well, he was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancerous brain tumor. The months ahead were grueling. Family and friends gathered around, encouraging and lifting him to the throne. Today, through the extraordinary skills of doctors, nurses, and a multitude of heartfelt prayers, he is able to begin rebuilding his life. By the grace of a loving God, he feels born again with new life!

Is this what Nicodemus was seeking? New life? He came in the night, curious to know. Nicodemus desired to understand this Teacher, but he only saw the impossible. I sense Jesus saying, “Nicodemus, you’ve been educated and schooled in all the beliefs of the Jewish faith, but you are lacking. Entering the kingdom of God requires something more.” Jesus answers Nicodemus’ questions with truth. He declares, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (v. 3).

Does Nicodemus think Jesus is asking too much? Many in the Christian world back away because what Jesus asks seems too difficult or impossible. Lest we forget, the Holy Spirit indwells each of us, if we believe, and is always there to guide and teach. Even rebirth is not impossible when God is behind it.

Ask God to do the impossible in faith.

Lora Goff-Pitts has taught Bible classes for forty years at her local Wesleyan church. She is a mother, grandmother, author, and retired teacher. She and her husband, Rex, reside in Noblesville, IN.

© 2025 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!

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night. (John 3:1–2)

Expanded Passage: John 3:1-2

If one wants to learn the value of coins, the amount of silver or gold in them, the best place to take them is to a coin expert. A person schooled in that trade. He has a sincere interest in his work. His clients soon learn they can trust his expertise concerning the value of coins.

Nicodemus was a man such as this, an expert with impeccable credentials. He wore a robe and mantle of respect. The people looked upon Nicodemus as an important man. Because of his status, they believed he could be trusted. After all, he taught them the Scriptures. He was a member of the well-known religious group called Pharisees. His membership in the Sanhedrin, the high court of justice in Jerusalem, brought him honor and prestige. In order to protect his position, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night under the cloak of darkness. Nicodemus may have thought, “Who is this man? What can I learn from him?” Jesus immediately saw a genuineness in Nicodemus. In truth, he was seeking something lacking in his life.

Many today are seeking something more. Emptiness and discouragement seem to be a way of life. Nicodemus has shown us that the One who knows our heart can help. He can take the sadness and emptiness and fill those places with his love.

Seek the knowledge of the expert of your heart.

Lora Goff-Pitts has taught Bible classes for forty years at her local Wesleyan church. She is a mother, grandmother, author, and retired teacher. She and her husband, Rex, reside in Noblesville, IN.

© 2025 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!

Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. (Ps. 105:1)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 105:1-7

People often cringe when they hear a baby cry. Whether it is on an airplane, in a restaurant, or just walking down the street, a crying baby is something most people try to avoid. I was one of those people until I worked as a hospital chaplain in an infant intensive care unit. It was always agonizing to watch a baby struggle for breath and sometimes be placed on a breathing ventilator. In those places, I learned to give thanks to God when I heard a crying baby, because cries were generally a sign of strong lungs.

Perspective and experience changed the way I think about crying babies, and both perspective and experience are important features of an attitude of thankfulness. Giving thanks is not always easy. Many times it is downright hard. The way we handle experiences and our perception of events greatly impacts the way that we respond to life. Sure, an earsplitting cry presents an annoyance, especially as they often occur in confined spaces, but a cry also symbolizes new life, a gift from God worthy of thankfulness and celebration. We can choose to focus on inconveniences, or, as the psalmist suggests, we can give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us.

Find a new perspective that will bring you a spirit of thankfulness.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 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!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Expanded Passage: John 1:1-18

As the youngest of five children, I watched my older siblings do things that I could only dream of doing. I almost always wanted to join them, whether it was watching a movie, hanging out with their friends, or riding a roller coaster. When the year finally came that I was tall enough to ride the big roller coasters at Hershey Park, I became scared. It took five or six times of watching them ride before I got on. But since that first loop, I continue to love thrill rides to this day.

Beginnings are usually risky, which makes them hard. They are often filled with fear of the unknown or the risk of failure.

John’s prologue is a profound section of Scripture that includes the creation of the world, Christ’s incarnation and salvation, and us. The balance of human and divine activity is important to the prologue, the gospel as a whole, and our lives. In Christ, we have the perfect example to follow. Even when God calls us to some new beginning or to bear witness to him in a new way, we have the assurance that he who has been around since the beginning is also with us. Just as I needed my siblings to lead me out of my fear of roller coasters, let Christ quell any fears on the journey he is leading you.

Go with God into the unknown and start a new beginning.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 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!

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (John 1:16)

Expanded Passage: John 1:15-18

I don’t know about you, but I love to share good news with those I am close to. When I have something good to share, it wells up within me until I get it out. I usually can’t think of anything else until I share the news. With the advent of texting, I started texting people good news, because I felt like I could not wait until I saw them; I found this to be anticlimactic. The impersonal nature and never being able to see expressions or hear tones ruined the moments that otherwise would have been celebratory. An emoji smile just isn’t the same as a real one.

John is teeming with excitement as he proclaims the good news of Christ. He both testifies and cries out to who Christ is and the many blessings that he has given to us. This reaction is understandable, as he was physically in the presence of Jesus. While we are not in his physical presence, Christ’s spirit is among us and we are recipients of the many blessings that he gives to us. This gives us reason to celebrate with each other. While everyone celebrates in different ways, I have found it important to celebrate in person with the family of God. Every Sunday is a chance to celebrate and worship together.

Share some good news in person with someone you love.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 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 Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Expanded Passage: John 1:14

Have you ever heard a great story that was eventually ruined because the storyteller added an outlandish or unbelievable detail? What at first was captivating and intriguing melted away as the thought “Did that really happen?” creeps into the mind. Humans love stories. They inspire, shape, and entertain us. Stories are a part of our everyday lives as we watch television, read books, converse with coworkers and family, and surf the internet. The most inspiring stories are the ones that come from real life.

The beginning of John contains what may be the most unbelievable, yet true, claim in any story throughout history: “The Word became flesh.” Jesus Christ, fully God, entered our world as a human. While this may be the most incredible claim you have ever heard, it is 100 percent the gospel truth. Christ came offering grace, love, and salvation.

In a world where fake news and extreme polarization run rampant, it can be hard to know who to trust and what to believe. As Christians, we have confidence in the Word and in his words. Never before had the Word become flesh and never again would the world be the same. The Word is not only a bridge between humans and God; the words of the Word are the foundation of our relationship with each other.

Trust in the Word and his words for your life.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

Expanded Passage: John 1:10-13

Within one of the first few weeks of kindergarten, my teacher informed the class that we would be adopting a penguin. She put a jar for money on her desk and asked each of us to contribute throughout the year. On Fridays my parents gave me 25 cents for ice cream and, because I thought that adopting a penguin would be the coolest thing in the world, I donated my ice cream money every week. Halfway through the year, we visited the penguins at the zoo and I remember the sheer excitement that I felt as we walked up to the penguin exhibit. I looked in and asked my teacher, “So which one are we adopting as our new class pet?” I do not remember her words, but I remember the disappointment I felt the moment I learned that adoption did not mean we were bringing a penguin to school with us.

Those who accept Christ become a part of the family of God, but not by adoption. John says that we are actually born of God. We call it being “born again.” We become brother or sister to other believers and children of the Creator. The change in status is a fundamental change in identity and is brought about through belief and acceptance.

Fulfill your role as a child of God today.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 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!

[John] came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. (John 1:7)

Expanded Passage: John 1:4-9

Have you ever gone to God or a mentor with the thought “Just tell me what is best, and I will do it,” only to leave frustrated with uncertainty? When you want a direct answer, unclear guidance and a taciturn response often leads to irritation. It can be easy to run to God or a person we consider wise to solve our problems, but easy is not always best. A good mentor does not solve problems, they equip people to solve their own. A mark of a good leader is to empower others to do more than they would otherwise be capable of on their own.

Sandwiched between passages about Christ, who created all things, holds all things in his hands, and is the light to all, is a regular human being, just like you and me. Sure, John was Jesus’ cousin and a great prophet, but fundamentally, he was a man called by God. Despite having created all things, God uses regular people to reveal God’s salvific purposes. John the Baptist knew that he was no savior, but he could be a witness of the one who was and is Savior to all. You are no savior, but God wants to use you to be a witness. Even when he does not directly tell you what that means, he is empowering you every step of the way.

Respond to God’s call to be a witness to the light.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 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!

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)

Expanded Passage: John 1:1-3

For our wedding anniversary my wife and I decided to splurge. We spent the night at a beautiful hotel on a finger lake in New York. At check-in, they asked if we would be interested in going on the hotel’s boat tour. Loving the water, we readily agreed. We found ourselves with one other couple and the boat driver. The boat driver was a wonderful host, going out of his way to make us feel welcome and at home.

Later that night some pictures on the wall in the lobby caught our eyes. The photographs were filled with famous people, actors, and former presidents, who had all stayed at the hotel. We marveled at the fact that the boat driver was in every photograph. After further investigation, my wife and I discovered that the gracious guide was actually the hotel owner. Through driving the boat, the owner met us in a position of humility instead of power. Christ meets us likewise.

Jesus humbled himself, by becoming a part of the world that he created, in order that we might come to know him. Christ, through whom all things were made, came to meet us where we are. As fully God and fully human, he entered the world to offer salvation and peace. Divine grace is revealed when those in power use humility to reach others.

Spend time in wonder that creator Jesus is with you today.

Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.