Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

“Honor your father and your mother . . . so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land.” (Deut. 5:16)

Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 5:16

When I was a youth pastor, I noticed that not all my students had good parents. On a camping retreat one young man struggled to understand how he could honor his father when his father ridiculed and physically abused him. I remember trying to help him understand that he was required to give his father his honored role, without accepting the abuse he was receiving.

The Hebrew word for “honor” describes the “heaviness” or “burden” a child must offer to their parent. Good or bad, our parents are to be treated with all seriousness. Because of their age and their position in life, we are obligated to listen but not blindly obey or even love them. Hopefully by the time the child becomes an aged parent they will know the need for forgiveness for the mistakes made. For now, it does all youth good to listen seriously to their parents, and to consider the advice of their elders.

The commandments to observe the Sabbath and to honor our parents, are the only ones that are written as positive commands. It may be that these two are connected in other ways, being at the heart of the list. Both by observing Sabbath and honoring aging parents we learn how to relate to those unproductive parts of our lives, when we end the days of labor and the days of raising families.

Acknowledge your parents’ impact on your life, for good and bad.

Rich Eckley is professor emeritus of theology at Houghton University (NY). He is an ordained Wesleyan minister, and enjoys—with his wife Lynn—entertaining their active grandchildren.

© 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!

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work (Deut. 5:12–13)

Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

One hot summer Saturday evening, my father told me I could get anything I wanted at the ice cream stand. From the backseat of our Buick, I opted for a hot fudge sundae. “No,” he said, “You can only have that on a Sunday.” This was his sense of humor. Because we never were allowed to buy anything on the Sabbath, I quickly put together that I would never be able to enjoy one of those delicious treats. I’m sure he thought his theological reasoning was funny. I think he missed the whole point of a Sabbath.

To some rabbis the Jewish Sabbath was thought to be a seventh day of creation. Not when God ceased his creative work, but when God created the opportunity to enjoy it. On the seventh day God created “rest” and the ability to be satisfied. If we keep working 24/7, we will never have a time when we can appreciate what God helped us accomplish. If we keep taking from the earth, we will never allow it to recreate and flourish. The Sabbath principle should make all of life and the creation a rhythm of reclamation, joy and shalom.

My Dad hammered into my youthful head the need to keep the Sabbath holy in my life. But I have since then enjoyed many hot fudge sundaes that have made my life more joyful.

Consider the ratio of work to rest in your life.

Rich Eckley is professor emeritus of theology at Houghton University (NY). He is an ordained Wesleyan minister, and enjoys—with his wife Lynn—entertaining their active grandchildren.

© 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!

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything . . . you shall not bow down to them or worship them” (Deut. 5:8–9)

Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 5:8-11

Because of the family I was formed in, I have been the butt of many an April Fools’ joke. I’ve gone to bed with shorted sheets and woke to alarm clocks set to mess up my morning routine. I have to admit that I’ve done a few of these pranks on my students and friends myself. Still, one day of pranks is not as harmful to people as the way we fool ourselves into worshiping earthly forms in place of God.

This commandment against making idols seems antiquated and irrelevant to our contemporary lives. We may not feel tempted to worship golden calves or to build shrines to pantheistic gods. Western Christians often feel superior to those in developing counties who practice animistic religions as they form their gods from wood and clay. Sometimes, the idols we create are far more seductive as we turn ideas and concepts into concrete images. Idols like capitalism (wealth), politics (power), or celebrity (sensuality) are far harder to notice and destroy. Some make their families into idols, their careers, even their political ideologies. We worship them by giving them our allegiance and offering our lives to them.

When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, everything else is idolatry. We must not be fooled into believing that the created is the Creator—and turn anything in this world into an idol.

Tear down one idol that you have erected in your life.

Rich Eckley is professor emeritus of theology at Houghton University (NY). He is an ordained Wesleyan minister, and enjoys—with his wife Lynn—entertaining their active grandchildren.

© 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!

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deut. 5:6–7)

Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 5:4-7

“OMG!” We all know that is a shortened form of saying, “Oh, My God!” And some people type, text, and write those letters in response to just about everything. A singer announcing a new concert coming to town; a baseball team sweeping their recent series; or even coming home to a surprise birthday party. OMG!

If the Lord is your God, then you will know God as “your God who . . .” That God who has brought you out of slavery and gave you new life. The God who claimed your life from sin and offered you a clean heart. God will not be just one out of many gods who can be domesticated like a house cat.

If there were a lot of gods to choose from then we would be in control of our lives. We could prioritize which god we wanted to call on for each need we faced. We could even rank them by which ones we liked the best. The god of rain would be handy when we found ourselves in drought. The god of our brain would be nice when we were about to be given a test. But the God of Israel calls the shots. He is the One who freed Israel out of a land of slavery. He is the God of Everything. And there are no other gods before him.

Give prayer and worship to the one God of everything.

Rich Eckley is professor emeritus of theology at Houghton University (NY). He is an ordained Wesleyan minister, and enjoys—with his wife Lynn—entertaining their active grandchildren.

© 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!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (Ps. 89:14)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 89:9-18

Foundations represent beginnings. Before anything can be built to withstand storms, chaos, and time, a proper foundation must be put in place. This reality most obviously applies to houses; without a firm foundation, the walls are certain to crumble, shift, and rapidly deteriorate. The integrity of an entire structure is dependent upon this solid beginning. But other beginnings—foundations—are equally important: study after study points to the importance of a secure family and early childhood; we know that the first year or two of marriage greatly influences the future happiness of a relationship; a solid grammar school education greatly increases the chances of later success. Foundations matter. The psalmist tells us that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. They lay the groundwork for God’s authority. To be righteous is to do right, and to be just is to set right. God’s perfect nature is revealed in this simple passage. He also deems it right that love and faithfulness should herald his righteousness and justice. It is an announcement: he is a loving King.

This passage demonstrates the tension between love and judgment. It is a paradoxical tension that confuses the world, but one that perfectly demonstrates the nature of a holy and righteous God. We can give our complete, absolute trust to the One who executes loving justice.

Today, remind someone that God is both holy and just.

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 (OK).

© 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!

“Because you did not trust in me . . . you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Num. 20:12)

Expanded Passage: Numbers 20:1-12; Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Trust is the foundation of any good relationship. Trust is more than riding across Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow while being pushed by a competent acrobat. That would seem foolish, though any participants would certainly display unusual fortitude. Watching such a feat would bring anxiety to some of us and adrenaline to others. Acts of physical bravery such as this are entertaining and represent extreme physical skillfulness, but they do not demonstrate relational trust. To be trustworthy means to make promises that are kept; it means to follow through; it means to be consistent. Trust is developed over time, not in a single heroic action.

In this passage, God chastises Moses and Aaron for their lack of trust in his holiness. Even though he had proven himself trustworthy time and time again, they questioned his perfect judgment and faithfulness. At first, it appears that God’s judgment is harsh, but he chastises Moses and Aaron for lacking faith that he would provide, and then for their behaving as if they had provided the water that would quench the Israelites’ thirst.

Difficult journeys—and we all face them—require a great deal of faith in God’s trustworthy character. He never falters. Leaders must continually remind God’s people of this reality. It brings peace and hope because it places outcomes squarely in the hands of a holy God.

Today, resolve to trust in the One who is always reliable.

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 (OK).

© 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!

“Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.” (Deut. 3:28)

Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Perhaps North Americans especially suffer from the disease of entitlement. We believe we deserve a bigger house, a nicer car, better vacations, and, of course, endless youth and beauty. These expectations are largely ridiculous. The truth is, we deserve very little. Sometimes hard work and commitment yields favorable results. At times, however, results are evasive. Instead of seeing the fruit of our labor, we are left planting seeds. Parents plant seeds. Teachers plant seeds. Leaders of all sorts plant seeds. Many times, that is enough.

Many hard workers are entitlement-averse. They long to see the fruit of their labor but resist asking God for that blessing. But even though God had already told Moses that he would not enter the Promised Land, Moses asked anyway. Graciously, God answered: No, but yes. Moses would not enter, but he would see the Promised Land. He would see but not taste the fruit. Significantly, Moses was tasked with preparing Joshua to be the caretaker of Israel.

This is leadership. It is planting seeds. It is asking God to bring forth a harvest, then being content to let others see it. And this is God’s mercy: though he would not allow Moses to cross to the Promised Land, he would allow him the peace of knowing his faithful toiling was not fruitless.

Ask for God’s blessing, and then be content with his answer.

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 (OK).

© 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!

Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Num. 20:10)

Expanded Passage: Numbers 20:9-12

Exasperated leaders are rarely effective. This is obvious to anyone who has been a parent, watched a parent, or tried desperately not to watch a parent. Children mimic adults. People follow leaders. It seems that half of the entertainment industry is driven by this principle, manifesting in dysfunctional TV families: a sarcastic parent raises a sarcastic child, and the parent seems shocked and confused. Of course, we oftentimes reject good leadership, shun accountability, and dismiss discipleship. At other times, we simply follow the example we have been given.

Anyone in leadership can identify with Moses here. Moses was exasperated that he had to intervene on behalf of his people. The Israelites were plagued with a rebellious attitude, but if we read closely, so was Moses. His exasperation is understandable because time and time again the Israelites had failed to trust God, relying upon Moses’ and Aaron’s faith to bring forth God’s blessing. But disgruntled leaders can be as dangerous as disgruntled followers.

Those of us in leadership (and that is all of us: friends, parents, coworkers) must remember that it is God, not us, who brings forth the living water. It is not our skill, our power, or our giftedness that gives life. We must humbly speak to the Rock.

Take your greatest need to God, and believe that he will provide.

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 (OK).

© 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!

“You and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. . . . You will bring water out of the rock for the community.” (Num. 20:8)

Expanded Passage: Numbers 20:8

Minimalism is on the rise. Many people, in North American culture especially, are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with “stuff.” It seems that the more we have, the more we are burdened by it. A backpacking trek across Europe sounds romantic and adventurous—unless a heavily-weighted burden restricts movement and speed, thus eliminating freedom. Similarly, we are weighted by mortgage payments, car payments, unnecessary obligations, and our need to keep up with others. The line between want and need separates slavery from freedom.

God is in the business of doing much with little. In this passage, he did just that. His people were desperate, so he provided. This should not be surprising. Even though the Israelites went to their leaders full of rage, God provided. This passage foreshadows Christ, the Rock who would pour forth the living water. This water is always at our disposal, but it is not always visible.

Moses and Aaron had to balance the demands of the people against God’s character. The demands of leadership are often tempered by the demands of the people, but this should not be so. The demands of leadership should first be informed by the demands of God. We do not need more stuff. We do not need our appetites sated or our desires quenched. We need more of him. How desperately our generation needs to accept this truth.

God knows what you need before you ask, so trust him today.

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 (OK).

© 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!

“Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?” (Num. 20:4)

Expanded Passage: Numbers 20:3-5

Perspective is everything. Edmund Spenser was one of C. S. Lewis’ favorite authors. One passage in Spenser’s Faerie Queen tells the story of a young knight on his quest for holiness. His journey had been marked by poignant success, but it had also been wracked with piercing failure. And his failures and shortcomings led him to desperation, depression, and the sin of despair. This fictitious knight had put faith in his circumstances instead of in God. Many of us despair, just like Spenser’s knight. When circumstances go awry, we are tempted to focus on everything that is wrong instead of the One who is righteous.

In this passage, the Israelites do just that. They focus upon their need, and they lash out toward Aaron and Moses. They are despairing, complaining about death, instead of putting their complete trust in God. Aaron and Moses face the ire of the people who, over and over again, look to their leaders instead of to God for physical and spiritual nourishment. After all, it was God, not man, who led the people out of Egypt.

When we face unbearable circumstances, it is tempting to look toward those in authority to fix our problems. We can and should seek accountability and support in our time of need. However, it is God who provides, and to despair without turning to him and trusting is simply wrong.

When you are tempted to complain today, pray instead.

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 (OK).

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