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| − | + | <div style="background:#fff8e5;border-left:5px solid #b38a3f;border-radius:5px;padding:.75em .9em;margin-bottom:.9em;"> | |
| + | '''The greatest good news''' is the [[Gospel]]: [[Jesus Christ]] came into the world, died on the cross and rose from the dead so that all who trust in him may receive [[forgiveness]] and new life. See [[Christianity]] and [[Salvation]]. | ||
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| − | + | <div style="font-size:79%;font-weight:bold;color:#64776f;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">Featured mission story · Colombia</div> | |
| − | < | + | <div style="font-size:121%;font-weight:bold;color:#17483b;margin:.15em 0;">Evangelical churches mobilize after major earthquake</div> |
| − | + | Churches and Christian ministries are coordinating relief, shelter and pastoral care for affected communities. [https://worldea.org/ World Evangelical Alliance] | |
| + | </div> | ||
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| − | '''[[ | + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#8a681e;">PERSECUTED CHURCH</div> |
| + | '''388 million Christians face serious persecution.''' | ||
| + | The 2026 World Watch List identifies Nigeria, Sudan and Mali as major centers of violence. [https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/persecution-trends/ Open Doors] | ||
| + | </div> | ||
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| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#8a681e;">LEBANON AND SYRIA</div> | ||
| + | '''Pastor Nihad Hassan returns to Lebanon.''' | ||
| + | The Kurdish evangelical pastor was released following his arrest in Syria. [https://worldea.org/ World Evangelical Alliance] | ||
| + | </div> | ||
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| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#8a681e;">BIBLE TRANSLATION</div> | ||
| + | '''Translation becomes increasingly local.''' | ||
| + | Church-led, culturally appropriate and multimedia approaches are expanding Scripture access. [https://wycliffe.net/2026/07/23/bible-translations-future-is-diverse-and-local/ Wycliffe] | ||
| + | </div> | ||
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| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#8a681e;">ASIA</div> | ||
| + | '''Church leaders prioritize discipleship.''' | ||
| + | Evangelical leaders meeting in Manila called for disciple-making to remain central to mission. [https://worldea.org/weas-manila-conference-calls-on-asias-churches-for-prioritizing-discipleship/ WEA] | ||
| + | </div> | ||
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| − | > | + | <div style="background:#f7f4ea;border-radius:6px;padding:.7em .85em;margin-top:.9em;text-align:center;">[[Christian news#Christian missions|Missions]] · [[Christian news#Persecuted Church|Persecuted Church]] · [[Christian news#Bible translation|Bible translation]] · [[Christian news#Religious freedom|Religious freedom]]</div> |
| + | <div style="text-align:center;margin-top:.8em;"><span style="display:inline-block;background:#8a681e;color:#fff;border-radius:5px;padding:.5em 1em;font-weight:bold;">[[Christian news|<span style="color:#fff;">Read more Christian news →</span>]]</span></div> | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:79%;color:#6b7773;text-align:center;margin-top:.55em;">News preview updated 18 August 2026</div> | ||
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| + | <div style="font-size:88%;color:#eaf4f9;">People, ideas and milestones from Protestant Christianity</div> | ||
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| + | <div style="background:#eef6fa;border-left:5px solid #4e7e99;border-radius:5px;padding:.65em .8em;margin-bottom:.85em;">Discover notable moments in the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] story and explore how the [[Bible]], the [[Gospel]] and Christian service have shaped communities around the world.</div> | ||
| − | [[ | + | <div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.75em;align-items:stretch;"> |
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| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">Reformation</div> | ||
| + | [[Martin Luther]]'s [[Ninety-five Theses]], traditionally dated to 31 October 1517, became an important catalyst of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
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| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">The Bible in everyday language</div> | ||
| + | Protestant reformers strongly promoted translating and reading the [[Bible]] in the languages spoken by ordinary people; Luther's German New Testament appeared in 1522. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | <div style="flex:1 1 225px;border:1px solid #d3e0e7;border-radius:7px;padding:.8em;box-sizing:border-box;background:#fbfdfe;"> | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">A royal priesthood</div> | ||
| + | The Protestant teaching commonly called the [[priesthood of all believers]] emphasizes that every Christian has direct access to God through [[Jesus Christ]] and is called to serve him (1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 4:14–16). | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | <div style="flex:1 1 225px;border:1px solid #d3e0e7;border-radius:7px;padding:.8em;box-sizing:border-box;background:#fbfdfe;"> | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">Congregational song</div> | ||
| + | The Reformation encouraged whole congregations—not only choirs or clergy—to sing. Luther wrote hymns, while [[Charles Wesley]] later composed thousands of hymn texts for the [[Methodism|Methodist]] movement. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | <div style="flex:1 1 225px;border:1px solid #d3e0e7;border-radius:7px;padding:.8em;box-sizing:border-box;background:#fbfdfe;"> | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">Global mission</div> | ||
| + | The 1792 publication of [[William Carey]]'s missionary appeal helped inspire the modern Protestant missionary movement; Carey later worked as a Bible translator and educator in India. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | <div style="flex:1 1 225px;border:1px solid #d3e0e7;border-radius:7px;padding:.8em;box-sizing:border-box;background:#fbfdfe;"> | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:78%;font-weight:bold;color:#315d78;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;">Many traditions, one historic center</div> | ||
| + | [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed Christians]], [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Baptists]], [[Methodism|Methodists]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] and many evangelical churches differ in practice, yet historically affirm the unique saving work of [[Jesus Christ]] and the authority of Scripture. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| − | + | <div style="background:#f2f7fa;border-radius:6px;padding:.7em .85em;margin-top:.9em;text-align:center;">[[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] · [[Five solae|Five solae]] · [[History of Protestantism|Protestant history]] · [[Protestant denominations|Denominations]] · [[Evangelicalism]]</div> | |
| − | + | <div style="text-align:right;margin-top:.75em;">'''[[Protestantism|Explore Protestant Christianity →]]'''</div> | |
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| + | <div style="background:#181818;border:1px solid #333;border-radius:7px;padding:.45em;text-align:center;overflow:hidden;">{{VOTW}}</div> | ||
| + | <div style="margin-top:.7em;text-align:center;">[[Christian worship|Worship]] · [[Sermon|Sermons]] · [[Christian testimony|Testimonies]] · [[Christian missions|Missions]]</div> | ||
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Latest revision as of 20:07, 18 August 2026
Quick links: Bible referencing · Writing guide · Statement of Faith · Our vision · Administrators · Become an editor · Recent changes · Random article
September, 8 - Daily Devotions
September scripture portion: Ezekiel 12 - Malachi (including the Books of Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi)
- Ezekiel 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
- Nahum 1 2 3 | Habakkuk 1 2 3 | Zephaniah 1 2 3 | Zechariah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 | Malachi 1 2 3 4
Chapter 35 records the doom of Edom. The inhabitants of Judah have now been carried away and Edom thought she had a chance to take possession of their land, but three years later the same fate befell Edom and her ruin is recorded in verses 11-15.
Chapters 36--48 are yet unfulfilled, and envision the future restoration of the land and people of Israel. The land is already beginning to flourish, but one day it will become like the Garden of Eden. It will be populated by a penitent Judah and Israel. These chapters look forward to a time when God will do a new and great work, and His glory will return to the land of Israel.
Chapter 37 pictures a new nation. You will recall that both Israel and Judah were ruined politically. Assyria had scattered Israel, and Judah had just been captured by Babylon. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted a return from captivity, but Ezekiel 's vision goes even further down the years. He sees the time when the dead nation would come alive again. In the vision he saw very many bones in the valley, literally a battlefield, and the bones were very dry. This was a picture of utter defeat, with the bones of the armies drying and unburied. This was a very vivid description of the Jewish people, but through the power of God's Word the bones came together and formed men, and through the power of the Spirit (wind), life was given to them. This does not teach a bodily resurrection, or even the salvation of the Jews. Rather, it pictures the future revival of the nation, when the Jews will be brought up out of Gentile nations where they have been scattered. Politically, this took place in May, 1948, when the modern nation of Israel once again entered the family of nations. The flag of David began to fly over the nation of Israel for the first time in 2,500 years. Of course, the nation is dead spiritually. But one day, when Christ returns, the nation will be born in a day to be saved.
In verses 15-28 we see the nation being reunited. The division of the nation into northern and southern tribes was the beginning of their downfall. One day God will reunite all the tribes under their true David, Jesus Christ. He will make a covenant of peace with them (verse 26), and bring glory to His people once again.
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