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UCCP Butuan City Evangelical Church, Inc.

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UCCP Butuan City Evangelical Church, Inc.

Tracing our roots back to Butuan Evangelical Church in 1929, we're now in our 97th year! To God be the glory! Amen.

God bless us as we continue serving Him through His people with our Evangelical Heritage, focusing only on Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. WE BELIEVE

In one God: Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, who provides order, purpose, meaning and fulfillment to all creation. That in Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, God became human and is Sovereign Lord of Life and history. That in the Holy Spirit

God is present in the world, empowering and guiding believers to understand and live out their faith in Jesus Christ. WE BELIEVE

That persons are created in the image of God and destined to live in community with God, with other persons and with all creation. That, by disobedience, they have become sinful, but, by grace through faith, they are redeemed in Jesus Christ. That being entrusted with God's creation, they are called to participate in the establishment of a just and compassionate social order. WE BELIEVE

That the Church is the one body of Christ, the whole community of persons reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and entrusted with God's ministry. WE BELIEVE

That the Holy Bible is a faithful and inspired witness to God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ and in history to illumine, guide, correct and edify believers in their faith and witness. WE BELIEVE

God is at work, to make each person a new being in Christ, and the whole world, God's Kingdom -- in which love, justice and peace prevail. The Kingdom of God is present where faith in Jesus Christ is shared, where healing is given to the sick, where food is given to the hungry, where light is given to the blind, and where liberty is given to the captive and oppressed. WE BELIEVE

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has overcome the power of death and give assurance of life after death. And we look forward to His coming again in all fullness and glory to make all creation new and to gather all the faithful under God's Kingdom. Revised
FAITH AND ORDER COMMITTEE
September 3, 1992

26/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 27, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 27th of May 2026:

“Joy from Jesus"

Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 1-3; John 10:1-23

Memory Verse: I will continue to rejoice. Philippians 1:18

Today's Scripture & Insight: Philippians 1:18-21
As Paul endured imprisonment, he knew that not all who taught the good news of Jesus did so with good motives. He noted how some “preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains” (Philippians 1:17). Yet he found joy even amid these personal offenses by never losing sight of his mission—preaching the good news of Jesus. By doing so, he exemplified the spirit of Christ, who embraced suffering in order to glorify His Father in heaven. Later in this letter, the apostle writes, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (3:10). In this life, we’ll face attacks that will offend us personally. Like Paul, we can find joy in our trials. They make us more like Christ.

By: Tim Gustafson

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Nancy’s cancer treatment caused so many ulcers in her mouth and throat that she couldn’t even swallow a piece of bread. She had to rely on milk to fill her stomach for many painful days. The only thing that brought a smile to the sixty-year-old’s face was the joy of knowing Jesus—and her grandsons. Being with them each week helped her to not dwell on her situation. “If not for the boys, I would have given up,” she said.

The apostle Paul also found joy in Jesus and others despite his difficulties. His joy came from Jesus and living for Him. Despite being imprisoned (Philippians 1:13), he found strength to encourage others. He spoke of the joy that came from partnering in sharing the good news about Jesus, and from knowing what awaited him upon death (vv. 3-5, 18, 20). That confidence enabled him to say, “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21).

Paul could rejoice because Jesus was his life. His sense of contentment and security didn’t come from any possession or situation but from knowing he belonged to Christ. Thus, in a letter written in the worst of circumstances, he could say in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

May we find joy in Jesus, who loves us, cares for us, and gives us strength to rejoice in any circumstance.

By: Leslie Koh

Reflect & Pray
What challenging situation are you facing now? What difference does it make to know Jesus is always with you?

"Please grant me the strength to press on and keep my eyes on You, dear Jesus, for Your presence brings me joy."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

25/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 26, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 26th of May 2026:

“Acting with Integrity"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 28-29; John 9:24-41

Memory Verse: The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy. Proverbs 12:22

Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 12:13-23
In Proverbs 12, Solomon says that our words and actions demonstrate what’s in our heart. He gives a severe warning that God “detests lying lips” but “delights in people who are trustworthy” (v. 22). He “detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him” (11:1). He “hates” pride, falsehood, and duplicity (6:16-19).

Likewise, Jesus said that a person’s speech will show what’s in one’s heart (Luke 6:45). God desires for us to honor Him with our lives. Believers in Christ want to be able to say, “We have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with [fellow believers], with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace” (2 Corinthians 1:12). The Spirit can help us live with integrity. Even if the world doesn’t notice, God will.

By: K.T. Sim

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
In a moment of distraction, Sarah unknowingly dropped her diamond engagement ring into a homeless man’s cup. Billy Ray, the panhandler who was given the ring, had it appraised and considered selling it. But he chose honesty and returned it to Sarah when she came back a few days later. Sarah and her husband set up a fund so donations could be made to help Billy Ray, which led to an outpouring of generosity from others. Billy Ray received financial and legal counsel and was eventually able to buy a home. He was also reunited with his long-lost family.

When we practice integrity, we please God and inspire others. Solomon says God delighted in his integrity: “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22). He uses strong language to describe God’s view of dishonesty—He detests it. When God’s people lie or “deceit is in [their] hearts” (v. 20), it defies Him and goes against His character. In contrast, when His people have “truthful lips” (v. 19) and deal faithfully, it brings Him joy. So treating others well is more than just telling the truth—it reflects God’s own character. And in a world where deception can seem profitable, our integrity is something He “delights in” (v. 22).

Let’s commit to act with integrity as God helps us. Even if the world doesn’t notice, He’s delighted when we walk in His ways.

By: Marvin Williams

Reflect & Pray
How does being trustworthy reflect God’s character? How will you live out integrity today?

"Dear God, please teach me to live out integrity before You and others."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

24/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 25, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 25th of May 2026:

“Finding Rest"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 25-2; John 9:1-23

Memory Verse: I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5
Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Samuel 15:23-27, 29-31
As David fled Jerusalem, his enemy Shimei hurled stones and cursed at him (2 Samuel 16:5-8). David’s warrior Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, but the king wouldn’t permit it (vv. 9-11). Instead, he trusted God to “restore to [him] his covenant blessing” (v. 12). Despite Shimei’s abuse, “The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself” (v. 14). This is the setting for David’s psalm: “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (Psalm 3:5). No matter our circumstances, we can find rest in God.

By: Tim Gustafson

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
“Tactical napping” is a series of guidelines for soldiers for effective, ten to thirty minutes of sleep. While experiencing a rush of adrenaline, loneliness, or anxiety, sleep-deprived soldiers may not be able to relax. Tips include using earplugs and reading before bed. They’re even offered military-grade, caffeinated chewing gum to reduce grogginess after a nap.

It’s when we most need rest that it’s often difficult to find. King David experienced this after fleeing into the wilderness to escape his son Absalom’s treason. David and his followers wept aloud at his betrayal with their heads covered in mourning (2 Samuel 15:30-31). In fact, “the whole countryside wept aloud” (v. 23). It was around this time that David cried out, “Lord, how many are my foes!” (Psalm 3:1). Perhaps thinking about past troubled nights, however, David continued, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear” (vv. 5-6). David realized that God, not Absalom, was in charge of his situation. David even sent the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, acknowledging that the future was fully in God’s hands (2 Samuel 15:25-26).

Sleep feels especially fleeting when we’re facing adversity in our waking hours, but it’s a good reminder of how many things are outside our control. Yet God sustains us and, as we trust Him, He can help us lie down in peace.

By: Karen Pimpo

Reflect & Pray
What keeps you from true rest? How can your surrender to God produce peace?

"Dear God, thank You for keeping watch while I sleep and when I wake."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

23/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 24, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 24th of May 2026:

“The Answers God Provides"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22-24; John 8:28-59

Memory Verse: The Holy Spirit . . . will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Today's Scripture & Insight: John 14:17-26
With His work on the cross soon to be accomplished, Jesus assured His disciples that He wouldn’t abandon them as “orphans” but would return to them soon (John 14:18, 28). Christ was referring to His own resurrection and to the Holy Spirit, who’d live with them and be with them (v. 17). God gave us His Spirit to assure us that we’re His children, enabling us to call Him “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). As “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17), He’ll teach, counsel, and empower us to live as obedient children of God (vv. 23-26). Today, when we’re looking for answers, we can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.

By: K.T. Sim

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
“What’s my birth mother’s name?” My seven-year-old daughter’s sincere question pierced my heart. Ours had been a private adoption where we were provided only the most basic of information about her parents: height, weight, age, color of hair and eyes. How was I to respond? The question felt impossible! I drew in a breath and prayed, “God, what do I say?” A sentence tumbled out of my mouth: “What would you like her name to be?” She beamed at me and proclaimed, “Madeline!” “Then, Madeline it is!” I declared. I believe God had provided an answer when I didn’t have one.

In the years after His death, Jesus’ followers would encounter great challenges where they needed God’s answers in seemingly impossible situations. In John 14, Jesus promised He would not leave them alone but would come to them with help (v. 18). Further, God would provide an ongoing flow of help: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (v. 26).

Sometimes the questions we face seem impossible to answer. We need God’s help and answers with our children, our work, our neighbors, and our world. When we don’t have the answers, He can provide them.

By: Elisa Morgan

Reflect & Pray
In what area of your life do you need God’s help today? What questions do you have that you can bring to Him for the answers only He can provide?

"Thank You, dear Father, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to guide me in each moment."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

22/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 23, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 23rd of May 2026:

“Freedom in Christ"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 19-21; John 8:1-27

Memory Verse: The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
In 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, Paul contrasts the old covenant (a binding agreement defining how God would relate to His people) given through the law of Moses with the new covenant of the Spirit available through Jesus. The old covenant, though “glorious,” “brought condemnation” (v. 9) and was temporary (v. 11). Its glory was veiled, and the people could never fully see its glory because of their sin (vv. 12-15). In the new covenant, Christ’s Spirit removes the veil so that God’s people can truly see and be transformed by Jesus’ glory—bringing true freedom (vv. 16-18).

By: Monica La Rose

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
In 1849, Henry “Box” Brown (a US enslaved man from Virginia) folded himself into a wooden crate marked “dry goods,” and two friends shipped him from Richmond to Philadelphia. Brown was inside the box (3 x 2.5 x 2 feet) for the 26-hour trip, with three small holes cut for air. As abolitionists pulled Brown from the box, he sang a paraphrase of Psalm 40, expressing his hope in the God who promises freedom. “If you have never been deprived of your liberty, as I was,” Brown later wrote, “you cannot realize the power of that hope of freedom, which was to me indeed, an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast.”

Freedom is central to how God operates in our hearts and in our world. His wisdom leads to spiritual freedom, but false wisdom leads to oppression. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is,” Paul says, “there is freedom” from sin, death, and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:17). When we listen to God and follow His ways, freedom results. Unfortunately the opposite is also true: When we ignore Him and resist His invitations, we become ensnared and confined. God liberates and transforms us by His Spirit (v. 18), but sin and rebellion traps us.

We sometimes believe that God limits and obstructs our possibilities and pleasure. But in truth, He’s the only one who can lead us into an expansive future, the only one who can guide us into genuine freedom.

By: Winn Collier

Reflect & Pray
Where have you felt trapped in life? How do you sense God’s desire to guide you into freedom?

"Dear God, please help me to be transformed and free in You."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

21/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 22, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 22nd of May 2026:

“Seeking God’s Face"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16-18; John 7:28-53

Memory Verse: I will set . . . the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know . . . the Lord has done this. Isaiah 41:19-20

Today's Scripture & Insight: Isaiah 41:17-20
In chapters 1-39, Isaiah warns an unrepentant people that God will use the Assyrians and the Babylonians to discipline them for their idolatrous unfaithfulness. But beginning in chapter 40, the prophet extols God’s grace and covenantal kindness and prophesies a future restoration and glorious blessing. As the sovereign God, He has the power to save, protect, and restore (40:10-17). The prophet also reminds them of God’s loving, providential care. The Israelites have a very special relationship with Him, having been graciously chosen to be His servant (41:8). God won’t abandon them but will keep them close and care for them (vv. 8-10, 17). He’ll bountifully provide for them and turn the arid desert into a land of flowing water and great productivity (vv. 18-19). Like the people in Isaiah’s days, creation reminds us that He is “the Lord” (v. 13), our “Redeemer” (v. 14), “the Holy One of Israel,” and Creator (v. 20). We can trust Him with the circumstances in our lives.

By: K.T. Sim

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Those who drive along Highway 18 in western Oregon each fall are greeted with a delightful surprise from the tree-covered hillside flanking the road: a giant smiley face. The cheerful face is only visible in the autumn when the Larch tree needles turn yellow, contrasting with the surrounding, dark green Douglas fir trees (which create the eyes and mouth). A lumber company planted the three-hundred-foot-diameter face in 2011 as part of an effort to replenish the timber they’d harvested.

Isaiah invites us to know God as the one who brings life to desolate places. He reminded the Israelites during the barrenness of their captivity that God “[makes] rivers flow,” can “turn the desert into pools of water,” and grow “the cedar and the acacia” in the desert (Isaiah 41:18-19). God does these things not solely for His (and our) delight; He plants junipers, fir, and cypress “so that people may see and know” (v. 20) that He authors all and will ultimately redeem all—even those places thought to be a “wasteland” (v. 19).

Though we may not glimpse a face smiling back at us from a hillside, all of creation can remind us of God’s redemptive power over our world and our individual circumstances—even in the wake (or fear) of devastation. Let’s seek His face as our source of hope and joy amid our struggles.

By: Kirsten Holmberg

Reflect & Pray
When has God brought joy or hope to a place of sadness in your life? How does creation direct your focus to Him in times of hardship?

"Thank You, dear Father, for Your creative and redemptive work in the world."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

20/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 21, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 21st of May 2026:

“Longing for Home"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13-15; John 7:1-27

Memory Verse: If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth. Psalm 137:5-6

Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 137:1-6
“There on the poplars we hung our harps,” says the psalmist of the Jewish exiles, whose desolate situation quenched their musical passions (Psalm 137:2). This national despondency metastasized into bitterness, and the songwriter concludes on a disturbing note: “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks” (v. 9). Many have attempted to explain away this horrifying imagery. One plausible interpretation, however, is that these exiles had witnessed such atrocities committed against their own children. In turn, they anticipated divine judgment of their tormentors. Their desire isn’t to carry this out personally but rather to let God exact His vengeance (vv. 7-8). But the song clings to hope with its focus on Jerusalem (vv. 5-6)—the city of God. Our own griefs and regrets in life may make us feel like we’re in exile, but we too can find hope by trusting our loving God and resting in the promise of our future home with Him.

By: Tim Gustafson

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Ethel and Ed live in the high desert area of the Rocky Mountains. As our family visited them on their ranch filled with memorabilia, the conversation turned to childhood stories of riding horses on the grasslands of North Dakota and herding cattle in Montana. They’re on in years now, and I could hear in their voices a longing for home.

Psalm 137 captures a similar emotion. The Israelites had been forced into captivity and longed for home. “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept,” they said. “There our captors asked us for songs” (vv. 1, 3), prompting the Israelites to ask, “How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (v. 4).

The longing to return from exile is a common theme throughout the Old Testament prophets. Eventually the Israelites did return. They rebuilt Jerusalem and resettled in the land, but it was never the same. When the temple was rebuilt, those who remembered its former glory wept because it was a shadow of the first (Ezra 3:12).

Old age may feel as if we’re in exile from our former selves as time takes a toll on mind and body. For those who know Jesus, this longing points not to the past but the future. That’s where my conversation turned with Ethel and Ed—a longing for our future home, where everything is made right and is far better than anything we can imagine.

By: Matt Lucas

Reflect & Pray
What do you miss from the past? How might this longing help you anticipate the future?

"Father in heaven, thank You that You’re with me in every stage of life and that You’re preparing a bright future for me."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.

Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

19/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 20, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 20th of May 2026:

“Joy in Jesus"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71

Memory Verse: Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
As 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, one day we’ll see clearly when we see Jesus “face to face.” Grand and glorious realities await us at death and with the return of Christ, but even now some of those good things are ours to experience. Through the encouragement of Scripture, the life we share with believers in Jesus, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we get “sneak previews” and a “foretaste” of things to come. Such things are particularly meaningful to those undergoing trials. The apostle Peter’s words included the following encouragement: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). Today, we can look for glimpses of joy around us as a reminder of the fullness of joy that’s yet to come.

By: Arthur Jackson

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Do you ever long for something you see glimpses of but can’t quite grasp? C. S. Lewis longed for joy. He wrote, “Our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is . . . the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be . . . the healing of that old ache. . . . The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy.”

Lewis writes of the joy we’ll experience in full when we see Jesus face-to-face. As believers in Jesus, we have the joy of Christ through our relationship with Him and the work of His Spirit inside us. But sadly our joy is hampered by sin and death, the forces of evil, and the world’s brokenness. Paul writes, “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In verse 10, Paul talks of the coming “completeness.” This is when we’ll know and experience joy fully because we’re with Jesus.

Although we wait expectantly for that day, He gives us a small foretaste now of the overflowing, unhindered joy of heaven!

By: Alyson Kieda

Reflect & Pray
What do you think it will be like to see Jesus? What do you most look forward to in heaven?

"Heavenly Father, thank You for the moments of joy I experience here on earth. I’m anticipating the day when I can know it in full."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today

18/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 19, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 19th of May 2026:

“Anatomy of a Hardening Heart"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4-6; John 6:1-21

Memory Verse: Today, if you hear [God’s] voice, do not harden your hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8

Today's Scripture & Insight: Hebrews 3:7-15
Hebrews 3:7-15 is a reflection on the ongoing relevance of the terms today (vv. 7, 13) and rest (v. 11) from key Old Testament passages. Today in Psalm 95:7, for example, captures a moment in Israel’s wilderness sojourn when they hardened their hearts and didn’t respond with belief—a related theme developed further in Hebrews 4. A whole generation missed the rest that the promised land graciously offered to those who’d take God at His word. The writer of Hebrews compares this rest with the seventh day of creation, which is itself an invitation into God’s rest (vv. 4-6). To completely trust in His work, rather than our own, is literally our ultimate “Sabbath-rest” (v. 9). Today, we can ask God to soften our hardened hearts and rest in His love.

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
It’s fascinating to see your own heart. Recently, I did. Chest pain led me to see a doctor, who ordered tests that allowed me to see that my heart has calcium buildup. More than I should have. Atherosclerosis, the doctors call it: hardening of the arteries.

I’ve made big diet and exercise changes. But I’ve also realized that my cardiac concerns didn’t emerge overnight. In my case, they were the fruit of unhealthy choices. In time, those habits couldn’t help but impact my heart’s health.

Scripture uses similar language to describe being spiritually unhealthy. Our hearts can gradually grow hardened toward God—one day and one choice at a time. Hebrews 3:7-8 (referencing Psalm 95:7-8) says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” After God delivered His people from Egypt, they “tested and tried [Him]” (v. 9) during their time in the wilderness.

God had faithfully provided for His people, but they refused to see it (vv. 9-10). What about us? What habits nudge us away from God—day by day hardening our hearts against Him? We all make some of those choices. So I’m thankful that today, right now, God offers to exchange our hearts of stone for those softened by His love (see Ezekiel 36:26).

By: Adam R. Holz

Reflect & Pray
How is God drawing you closer to Him? How can you learn to hear His voice?

"Dear Father, sometimes my heart gets tired. Please forgive me for choosing the wrong things. Help me embrace Your offer to cleanse and soften my hard heart."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.

17/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 18, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 18th of May 2026:

“Anatomy of a Hardening Heart"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4-6; John 6:1-21

Memory Verse: Today, if you hear [God’s] voice, do not harden your hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8

Today's Scripture & Insight: Hebrews 3:7-15
Hebrews 3:7-15 is a reflection on the ongoing relevance of the terms today (vv. 7, 13) and rest (v. 11) from key Old Testament passages. Today in Psalm 95:7, for example, captures a moment in Israel’s wilderness sojourn when they hardened their hearts and didn’t respond with belief—a related theme developed further in Hebrews 4. A whole generation missed the rest that the promised land graciously offered to those who’d take God at His word. The writer of Hebrews compares this rest with the seventh day of creation, which is itself an invitation into God’s rest (vv. 4-6). To completely trust in His work, rather than our own, is literally our ultimate “Sabbath-rest” (v. 9). Today, we can ask God to soften our hardened hearts and rest in His love.

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Hebrews 3:7-15 is a reflection on the ongoing relevance of the terms today (vv. 7, 13) and rest (v. 11) from key Old Testament passages. Today in Psalm 95:7, for example, captures a moment in Israel’s wilderness sojourn when they hardened their hearts and didn’t respond with belief—a related theme developed further in Hebrews 4. A whole generation missed the rest that the promised land graciously offered to those who’d take God at His word. The writer of Hebrews compares this rest with the seventh day of creation, which is itself an invitation into God’s rest (vv. 4-6). To completely trust in His work, rather than our own, is literally our ultimate “Sabbath-rest” (v. 9). Today, we can ask God to soften our hardened hearts and rest in His love.

Reflect & Pray
How is God drawing you closer to Him? How can you learn to hear His voice?

"Dear Father, sometimes my heart gets tired. Please forgive me for choosing the wrong things. Help me embrace Your offer to cleanse and soften my hard heart."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.”

16/05/2026

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY (May 17, 2026)
Our Daily Bread Devotional
The Topic of Our Daily Bread For 17th of May 2026:

“Deep Roots"

Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1-3; John 5:25-47

Memory Verse: Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7

Today's Scripture & Insight: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Jeremiah warned the unrepentant, idolatrous people of Judah that God would exile them to Babylon for their unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 25:8-11). God persistently and patiently urged them to repent before it was too late (35:15) and promised restoration and blessing once discipline was complete (31:23-28). In chapter 17, Jeremiah contrasts the curses on the ungodly with the blessings on the godly (vv. 5-8). In language reminiscent of Psalm 1:1-3, the prophet proclaims: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. . . . They will be like a tree planted by the water” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). In contrast, cursed are those who “turn their hearts away from the Lord . . . with no hope for the future” (vv. 5-6 nlt). The curse and blessing motifs are also in line with the covenantal consequences laid out in Deuteronomy 28. In times of adversity, Jeremiah reminds us that our security, stability, faithfulness, and fruitfulness are rooted in our trust in God, not in men.

By: K.T. Sim

ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
As Douglas Kent, a landscape architect, toured a charred Los Angeles neighborhood after the city’s raging 2025 wildfires, he encountered a shocking surprise—trees, alive and green, right next to melted cars and burned buildings. Many of them bore lush palms and leaves, abundant fruit, and strong trunks and branches. How?

After two consecutive rainy winters, the trees’ roots had reached deep into the soil to draw moisture, carrying it to branches and leaves. In a fire, they proved resistant. “What I saw,” said Kent, “was that if you were deep-rooted, you survived.”

Our faith during the fiery trials of life can be like that. As we set our spiritual roots deep in Christ and His love, we become “like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8).

Jeremiah, who never minced words, warned that those who trust in “mere flesh” are “cursed” (v. 5). “That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.” Instead, “they will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives” (vv. 5-6). How much better to trust in God! Well-watered by His sustaining love, we thrive even in raging times, bearing spiritual fruit in Him.

By: Patricia Raybon

Reflect & Pray
How deep are your roots in Christ? How can you trust Him during fiery trials?

"Dear God, as the world seems to burn around me, please remind me to trust in You."

Reference: Our Daily Bread 2026 Devotional and published by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Share your experience with us! Comment down below your insights and your reflections today.”

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