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Are You Expecting a Different Jesus?

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Monday, 8/17/26

The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians, saying, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NIV

Do we do the same thing today as the Jews did 2000 years ago? Do we think that Jesus is a means to earthly treasures? Do we think it’s all about this present life instead of what awaits us in eternity?

When Jesus came to Earth, the Jews rejected Him because they expected a Messiah who would overthrow the Roman Empire and fix all their problems. They didn’t expect a gentle and meek Savior who would eat with sinners, teach love and forgiveness, and die on a cross.

The Messiah didn’t solve all their earthly problems. In fact, His followers were persecuted like He was. So why did He come?

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt.20:28

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” Hebrews 13:14 NIV

Do we think Jesus came to give us financial prosperity? The Bible says that those who think that godliness is a means to financial gain have a corrupt mind and have been robbed of the truth.

“These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:2-7 NIV (emphasis mine) Read full chapter

We must not become so consumed with what we think we need, following Him because of what He might do for us in this life, that we forget to follow Him just because of who He is.

 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

Jesus came to free all people from the chains of spiritual darkness. Those who walk and live in darkness are most vulnerable to the enemy’s lies and deception. That is a dangerous place to live! (Think about the most ridiculous lies people believe in the world today.) Why do they believe such outrageous lies? Because they live in darkness.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 6:12

Hallelujah!

In His Love, Cindy

“To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

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Why Couldn’t They Believe?

Cindy Dawson

For Sunday, 8/16/26

Today’s post is a follow-up to yesterday’s post, Why Didn’t the Pharisees Believe Jesus was the Messiah?

I didn’t plan to write a follow-up, but as I continued reading through the New Testament, there it was again: pride, ambition, and the love of money blinding people from the truth.

In Acts 19, we learn that after teaching in the synagogue at Ephesus for three months,

“Some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:9-10 NIV Read full chapter

Many people became believers, and eventually a huge riot broke out in Ephesus because of the revival.

“A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.  He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.  There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited…” Acts 19:24-27 NIV

It is not difficult to see that pride, ambition, and the love of money stand in their way of finding salvation. Even as they observe extraordinary miracles, they refuse the truth.

“Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him (Paul) were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Acts 19:12 NIV

When the Seven Sons of Sceva tried to invoke the name of Jesus over those who were demon-possessed, the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.

“He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.  

A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.  In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” Acts 19:17-20 NIV

50,000 drachmas would be $4.3 million to $7.5 million in modern purchasing power! In other words, the burned occult library was an immense fortune! Now that’s what I call a REVIVAL!

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Georgiana Pop (Avram) on Unsplash

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Why Didn’t the Pharisees Believe Jesus was the Messiah?

Cindy Dawson

One Sabbath day, Jesus healed a man born blind. Some people brought the man born blind to the Pharisees, who said,

“This man (Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath”. (John 9:16) NIV

The Pharisees questioned the man and his parents about this. When the man born blind insisted that Jesus had healed him, they responded like this:

“Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!  We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.  If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. John 9:28-34 NIV Read full chapter

(Side note: When someone cannot refute what you’ve said, they insult you instead.)

The man’s response to the Pharisees reveals that this miracle (giving sight to a blind man) had never been performed before. In fact, this is a prophecy of the Messiah spoken by the prophet Isaiah.

“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened...” Isaiah 35:5-6 NIV

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
 to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV

When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,

‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

He replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Luke 7:20-23 NIV

John would know that the Messiah would heal the blind in fulfillment of prophecy.

My question for you is this: How could the Pharisees, who were experts in the law, not recognize that Jesus was the Messiah? Did pride, ambition, and the love of money blind them from the truth?

Maybe that’s why the Bible adamantly warns us about the danger of these sins:

Pride and Arrogance: “Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 NIV

Ambition: “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:16 NIV

Love of Money: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV

Father, teach us to love the truth and to obey your Word. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 🙏

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Should We Expose Biblical Error?

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Friday, 8/14/26


“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:17-18 NIV 

It is not those who point out doctrinal error that cause division. It is those who depart from sound doctrine that cause division. They deceive unsuspecting people. This is why they must be exposed – to protect believers.

Speaking the truth in love is an act of obedience, not hostility.

“I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Jude 3 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Worry Is Futile

Cindy Dawson

For your Reflection, Thursday, 8/13/26

” … casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

“Worry is unnecessary; there is no need for us to bear the burdens when He is willing and able to bear them for us. Worry is futile; it hasn’t solved a problem yet. Worry is sin. A preacher once said: “Worry is sin because it denies the wisdom of God; it says that He doesn’t know what He’s doing. It denies the love of God; it says He does not care. And it denies the power of God; it says that He isn’t able to deliver me from whatever is causing me to worry.” Something to think about! Believer’s Bible Commentary

That might be hard to hear, I know. Nevertheless, it is true. Refuse to worry; instead, trust the Lord who loves you. He will see you through.

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

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God Has Plans for You

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 8/12/26

“This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” Corrie Ten Boom

In her famous book, The Hiding Place, Corrie reveals the horrors of the Holocaust along with the miracle of God’s love.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

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Count Your Blessings! Updated

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Tuesday, 8/11/26

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12 NIV 

The photo is of my daughter singing at her church in Houston, Texas. She didn’t know it at the time, but she would eventually meet and marry the man in the background. He is the keyboardist. Now they are the proud parents of my sweet grandson. Oh, the things God will do when we put our trust in Him! I’m counting my blessings!

I am adding this insightful and profound comment I received from Steve Rebus. I hope you will think about it.

“God’s blessings are often unfolding right in front of us before we even realise it… Sometimes God is quietly writing the next chapter while we’re simply living the moment.” Steve Rebus, iChristian blog

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Don’t Kick Against the Goads

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Bible Study for Monday, 8/10/26

Jesus said that. Do you know what it means?

The Apostle Paul testified,

“About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.  We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 

‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” Acts 26:13-14 NIV Read full chapter

The NLT says it like this:

‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’

That helps, but I needed more to understand. Then I found this:

“An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered.” (Gotquestions.org)

Ah! Now I understand! If Saul continued to resist and fight against the Gospel, he was only hurting himself. Paul’s rebellion against God was a losing battle. His actions were as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.”

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by jone lam on Unsplash

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God’s Word: My Personal Testimony

Cindy Dawson

For Sunday, 8/9/26

More and more each day, I sense that God is speaking to me as I read His Word. I have known this to be true in my intellect for many years (decades). The Bible is God’s Word. But something has changed, and I’m not sure how to describe it. Imagine the difference between getting a letter from someone you love and actually being with that person and hearing their words in person. That’s what it is like. That is my testimony.

You may be wondering why I would share this with you. I share it because I want to encourage you to read your Bible every day. Even if it is not something you really want to do, do it as an act of discipline. The more you read God’s Word, the more precious it will become to you. Read Psalm 119 HERE.

These are some of my favorite verses from Psalm 119, written by King David, whom God called “a man after my own heart”

“I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:16

“Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.” v. 18

“Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.” v.24

“The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” v.72

“Your word, Lord, is eternal;
    it stands firm in the heavens.” v.89

And I have many more!

I know what you’re thinking. But you DO have time, and I can prove it. If you get up 20 minutes earlier each morning to read your Bible, you can read it cover to cover (OT and NT) in one year. I tried it nine years ago, and I have done it every year since. It has become my favorite time of the day!

Ask the Lord to give you a love and hunger for His Word. The reward will be amazing!

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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GPS to the Narrow Road

Cindy Dawson

Imagine you are sitting in church, listening to your pastor’s message, and he says,

“By the way, a lot of people around here aren’t going to Heaven!” (Everybody perks up and starts to pay attention.)

He continues, “The door to heaven is pretty small. So, many people are going to go through the wrong door. In fact, only a few people will find the right door, only a few.”

The people are thinking, “What? Is that really true?”

He continues, “You better make sure you are studying your Bible, or you won’t find the small door. Instead, you’ll follow the crowd through the big door. Some of you tend to do what sounds good, instead of carefully studying your Bible.” (People start to fidget because they don’t have time to read their Bibles. They’re really busy!)

The pastor exclaims, “Now that big door is not only the wrong door, it is the door that, once opened, will take you down a big, wide road that looks like a good road, but it isn’t! It leads to devastation and disaster!” (This isn’t what the people want to hear. They think he is too negative.)

He ends by saying, “Make sure you find the small door. Like I said, study your Bible. It is the GPS to the small door.”

Will the people start studying their Bibles, or will they dismiss the pastor’s warning?

Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14  

In His Love, Cindy

“God treated Jesus as if He had lived my life, that I may be treated as if I had lived His life.” Harvey Stalker

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Michael Scott on Unsplash

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