Author Archives: davidkitz

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

15 Sunday Nov 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 16: Pure and Spotless

 Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless.
You must help needy orphans and widows
and not let this world make you evil.
(James 1:27, CEV)

Reflection

Today’s feature verse from James stands in contrast to the previous verse:

If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is useless. (James 1:26)

James is pointing out the difference between useless religion and the kind of active faith that God wants. Useless religion has an unbridled tongue. Instead of acts of kindness useless religion pours out words of contempt on those who are poor or suffering. Useless religion promotes hate rather than love.

Our entire belief system must be rooted in love. Why? Because Yahweh—the LORD—the great I AM is love. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

James provides us with two indicators of God-pleasing religion. The first indicator is really a restraint. A right faith is a love centered belief system. It will keep us from soiling ourselves in the filth of this world. God-pleasing religion will aim to keep us pure and spotless.

Peter concurs with this perspective:

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

But God-pleasing religion isn’t just a list of don’ts, or Thou shalt nots. A love centered belief system also calls us to action. It helps the needy, the orphans and widows, rather than condemning them. Holiness that offers no help is flagrant hypocrisy, since none are holy. (See Romans 3:10-20.)

In his earthly ministry, Jesus the sinless Son of God exemplified God-pleasing religion. He called all to repentance and holiness (Mark 1:14-15). But he also showed mercy and compassion to the outcast, the poor, and the suffering (Luke 17:11-19, Mark 10:46-52 & Matthew 9:20-22). True religion calls for both holiness and compassion, and it holds both in perfect tension.

James urges us to do the same.

Response

Father God, help me to embrace both holiness and compassion. The world wants to push me into its mold. Help me to resist temptations. Show me where and how I can best help others. Grant me a heart of compassion that puts others first. I thank you for the limitless compassion that Jesus has shown to me.  Amen.

New from David Kitz.

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I Will Fulfill My Vows

14 Saturday Nov 2026

Posted by in Psalm 110, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to  Psalm 116:15-19 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 116:15-19 (NIV)*

Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, LORD;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD. (NIV)*


Response

LORD, I want to serve you. Today please show me how I can be the best possible servant to you and those around me. Open my eyes to the needs of others. I want to serve with a heart filled with gratitude and joy. In all things you are my help. Amen.

Sacred Word Worship’s Rendition of Psalm 116

 

 

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

08 Sunday Nov 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 15: Useless Religion

 If you think you are being religious,
but can’t control your tongue,
you are fooling yourself, and your religion is useless.
(James 1:26, CEV)

Reflection

What ability or skill sets you and I apart from all the other creatures in God’s magnificent creation? Is it our speed, our strength, our dexterity, or problem-solving skills? No, there are other creatures that have these skills in abundance. The skill that is uniquely human is our ability to use language. We rule creation with our tongue, and because of our tongue.

We are created in the image of God. (See Genesis 1:27. But what makes us like God? It’s our creative ability to speak—to use language just as God does. God spoke and the world as we know it came into being. 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Furthermore, we know that Jesus is the Word incarnate. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:3-4).

All this has profound implications for how we should live our lives as children of God. If there is creative power in the spoken Word of God, then as God’s children—His image bearers—there is power in our words as well. Our words have both creative power and destructive power. This is why James penned this statement:  

If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is useless. (James 1:26, CEV)

What is James telling us with these words? He is making it crystal clear that words are at the heart of our religion, and by the term religion, he means our entire belief system.

And where did James get this understand about the importance of our words? He got it directly from Jesus, his half-brother, the Word incarnate, who said, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

Your eternal destiny will be determined by your words as you use your tongue to confess your faith in the risen Christ. (See Romans 10:9-10.)

Response

Father God, help me to grasp the importance of the words that I speak. Guide my thoughts because “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21). Give me the wisdom to control my words according to your will. Amen.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Praise Now and Forevermore

07 Saturday Nov 2026

Posted by in Psalm 110, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 113 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading:Psalm 113  (NIV)*

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD. (NIV)*


Response

Father God, your love is beyond comprehension. Thank you for stooping down and involving yourself in my life. When I reach out to you, Father God, you lift me up. I have been redeemed by Jesus, your precious Son. I praise you, LORD. Amen.

Sacred Word Worship’s Rendition of Psalm 113

 

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

01 Sunday Nov 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 13: Freedom under the Perfect Law

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free.
God will bless you in everything you do,
if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.
(James 1:25, CEV)

Reflection

We live in a consumer culture and that culture permeates our daily life. We are consumers of food and drink, products and services. We are consumers of sports, music, and entertainment. Furthermore, when we step inside a church we become consumers of religious services.

God help the poor pastor who doesn’t realize that the people gathered before him have arrived with a consumer mentality. Will the pastor rise to the occasion and meet their expectations, or will they leave disappointed with the message they hear? Will the message that is preached make it to the parking lot, or will it be forgotten and neglected?

James addresses our consumer mentality head-on. First, he urges us to continually look to God’s word:

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. (James 1:25a, CEV)

James is not writing his epistle to full-time pastors. He is addressing all believers in Jesus Christ. All believers must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets [them] free. This means our Bibles should not be gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. A good Bible is a Bible that is worn, marked, and tattered through daily use.

Why is immersing ourselves in the Word—the perfect law—so important? James tells us this perfect law sets us free. Free from what?

In his epistle to the Colossians, Paul answers that question.  For he [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14, NIV)

We are set free from the dominion of Satan and our fetters of sin. Now through the redemptive work of Christ, we are living under new management—the management of a loving heavenly Father. All this happens through the cleansing power of the Word that in the person of Jesus comes to dwell among us. (See John 15:3.)

For the Word to become effective in our lives we must become more than consumers of Sunday sermons. We must become doers of the Word. Doing triggers God’s blessing.

God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget. (James 1:25, CEV)

Response

Lord God, help me to genuinely value your Word. I want to be a doer of your Word by applying what I hear and read. Lord Jesus, I want to know your Word experientially in my day-to-day life. Her my prayer. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18).  Amen.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

He Took My Place on Deathrow

31 Saturday Oct 2026

Posted by in Psalm 110, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 110 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 110  (NIV)*

Of David. A psalm.
The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook along the way,
and so he will lift his head high. (NIV)*


Response

Father God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to be my personal Messiah. Jesus, you suffered and died for me. You took my place on deathrow. But now your reign as King forever. Extend your reign as conquering king over me and through me. Amen.

Sacred Word Worship’s Rendition of Psalm 110

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

25 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 13: Freedom under the Law

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free.
God will bless you in everything you do,
if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.
(James 1:25, CEV)

Reflection

In my discussion of James 1:18, I stated that, “Jesus didn’t just proclaim the message of salvation. He is the message of salvation.” (See Day 10.)

In his Gospel, John verifies this perspective when he writes:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NIV)

The message—the gospel message—is personified in Jesus. It logically follows that when James commands us to “Obey God’s message!” he is also commanding us to “Obey Jesus!” Paul also reminds us of this truth when he writes, “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9, NIV). So, it logically follows that obedience to the message is obedience to Christ.

 

As followers of Christ, how does Jesus view our relationship with him? In his own words Jesus answers this question in one of the last conversations he had with his disciples. (See John 14:15-21.)

Jesus begins this intimate discussion with these words, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15, NIV).

There are two central truths about the Christian faith that are evident from this brief verse. First, Jesus expects—no requires that we love him. Love is both an emotion and a motivator. Love is not simply a feeling. Love is an emotion that puts us into motion. True love is not passive. It’s active.

This brings us to the second point. Love is demonstrative. Jesus demonstrated his love for us by suffering and dying for us on the cross. In turn, how do we demonstrate our love for Jesus? We show our love by keeping his commands. This means we need to know his commands.

And where do we find his commands? We find his commands in the message—the Scriptures—the living Word of God. When we love the Word, we are loving Jesus, and when we obey the Word we are obeying Jesus.

Let’s become genuine lovers of Jesus. (See Peter’s restoration, John 21:15-19, CEV.)

Response

Lord God, I want to obey your message. Lord Jesus, I love you. Thank you for first loving me. Help me to practically demonstrate my love for you through the way I live, through my words and deeds. I want to apply your Word to my life and so become a doer of the Word. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Give Us Aid

24 Saturday Oct 2026

Posted by in Psalm 108, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 108:6-13 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 108:6-13  (NIV)*

Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?
Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.


Response

Father God, I want to play my part in turning things around in your church. Raise up leaders who are eager to love and serve you in humility. Today let your Kingdom come and your will be done among us through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

18 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 12: Humility and the Message Planted in You

You must stop doing anything immoral or evil.
Instead be humble
and accept the message planted in you to save you.
(James 1:21, CEV)

Reflection

Humility. Who needs it?

Humility is a much-overlooked character quality. But then, that’s rather unsurprising. Afterall, humility doesn’t announce its presence with loud shouts, a red carpet, or a trumpet fanfare. But here in today’s reading from the Epistle of James, we have humility playing the central role—a pivotal role.

Humility changes everything.

Change in the human condition cannot happen—will not happen without humility. Humility is the precondition for personal change. Furthermore, today’s verse is all about change:  

You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message planted in you to save you (James 1:21, CEV).

We have no trouble in agreeing with the first part of this verse. You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. We can all see that evil and immorality are rampant in the world. It’s all around us, in our newsfeeds, in the breakdown of societal norms, in harmful addictions, in crime and corruption. We have no problem identifying the problem. We are steeped in it.

We see the immorality and evil in others. But do we see it in ourselves? Far too often the words of Jesus apply to us. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, NIV)

That’s where self-reflection and humility enter the picture. We only see our faults, imperfections, and misdeeds when we humble ourselves. Pride blinds us to our sins and shortcomings.

What can save us from our blind and wretched condition?

James 1:21 clearly tells us that the message is planted in you to save you. Jesus is the message of salvation. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Jesus lived a sinless life and suffered in our stead to purchase our redemption.

Today will you receive the message—the gospel message? Will you let it grow within you? That will take humility. It means admitting your failures and your needy condition.

Who needs humility? I do.

Response

Lord God, forgive my pride. I humble myself before you. Thank you for sending Jesus. I need his help. Lord Jesus, I receive you as my Savior. Plant your word—your message within me. Help me to grow daily in my knowledge and love for you. I thank you for your amazing grace and love for me. Amen.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

He Led Them by a Straight Way

17 Saturday Oct 2026

Posted by in Psalm 107, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 107:1-9 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 107:1-9  (NIV)*

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.


Response

Father God, I am thankful that I have a story of redemption. You intervened in my life. You sent Jesus to pay the price for my sin. Your Holy Spirit led me to the cross. Today, I thank you for satisfying my thirst and filling my life with good things. Amen.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica