Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
Ephesians 4:17-18
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Paul now moves into another area of Christian maturity. There are things that we must learn in order to live our new life. Some of these things are positive and some are negative. We see one of the negatives when Paul tells us that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk. What he is saying is that the way the unsaved Gentiles live is not the way the believer should live.
The thoughts of the unsaved are empty. That is the idea of the word “vanity.” They do not think God’s thoughts, and they spend their time dwelling on earthly things that do not matter for eternity. He continues to explain by saying, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Every person is born into this world with a God consciousness, or the understanding that there is a God. As a person goes through life, they are given all that is needed to show them that God does exist and that He is interested in having a relationship with them. This is seen in Romans 1:19-20, Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Here is the lesson for us as believers. We need to see the unbeliever’s life and thought patterns and understand that this is not what God has for us. If we find ourselves thinking or acting like the world, we should take immediate action and turn away from that kind of walk. Romans 12:2 says it clearly for us, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
God has a perfect plan for us as His children. According to Romans 12:2, that plan is good, acceptable, and perfect. This is the correct walk of the believer. We need to follow God’s walking lessons and become more like Him each day! Proverbs 3:5-6 shows us the way. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Bible Reading for the Year
August 8th, Psalms 88-89; Romans 10
August 9th, Psalms 90-98; Romans 11:1-21
Prayer Needs
Please pray for Faye Smith, Jack Gargis’ sister. She is in the hospital in Greenville undergoing tests. The doctors found that she has a UTI, and they are treating her with antibiotics.
Please pray for Jack Franks who has severe back spasms and is taking medicine for relief.
Continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Please keep praying for complete healing. She is still having side effects from the cancer. She had a Keytruda treatment on Thursday. Pray for the treatment to be effective against the cancer. Her white blood cells are elevated. Pray for the infection to stay at bay.
Thank you for praying for Dr. Joe Jordan. He was able to go home from the hospital on Friday. Please continue to pray for him to get stronger.
Please continue to pray for Shirley Deans. The doctors found that she has Afib which caused low blood pressure. As of last Friday, her Afib was getting better. They found she also has pneumonia and is taking antibiotics. She is at home and doing well. She has an appointment tomorrow at 2:30 P.M. with her cancer doctor for follow-up.
Please continue to pray for Vickie Dalton. Pray for God’s healing. She was in the hospital to have a drainage tube put into her lung. She was able to go home last Saturday.
Linda Franks’ surgery has been rescheduled for August 31st.
Continue to pray for Edward Lee. He is back home and is doing better. He is taking antibiotics for pneumonia.
Please continue to pray for Carolyn Tyson’s sister, Shirley Deal. She has been moved into the River Trace rehab center in Washington. She is not doing well.
Please continue to pray for Peggy Warren. She is facing some difficult challenges.
Please continue to pray for Robbie Harvey who has MAC lung disease. He seems some better, and the pain has decreased some.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia