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Bible Gleanings, devotions

Stewarding Your Spiritual Gifts | Bible Gleanings | February 7-8, 2026

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Being blind, uneducated, and seventy years-old, there was not much she could do—but she wanted to do something. The African woman had been led to Jesus by a gospel-preaching missionary, but her newfound zeal hit a brick wall because of her limitations. She wanted to serve the needy, but felt too old. She yearned to teach, but she couldn’t read. But after seeking God’s wisdom, she conceived an unconventional idea. 

She gave her Bible to the missionary and asked him to underline John 3:16 in red ink. She then passed around her Bible to younger villagers, asking, “Can you read the passage underlined in red?” Then came a follow-up question: “Do you know what this means?” When the youth would respond, “No,” she would then tell them “the old, old story of Jesus and His love.” Although she wasn’t a missionary or a Bible teacher, she understood that the Lord gave her a job to do—and she made it all about Jesus. 

Likewise, if you believe in the Man whose voice inspired the red letters, you also have a calling to fulfill, a ministry to steward, spiritual gifts to use, and divinely-tailored tasks assigned by God exclusively for you. As Paul explained, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Cor. 12:4-6).

And the not-so-secret secret for faithfully fulfilling your God-given calling is centering your service and spiritual gifts around the “words in red,” and the Man who spoke them. When Jesus is not the focus, service swiftly degenerates into self-serving. If the glory of Christ is not the goal of your Spirit-supplied abilities, then recognition, results, and reputation will take its place. Thus, whether you are pastoring a church, teaching Sunday school, changing diapers in the nursery, evangelizing a lost neighbor, singing in the choir, leading family worship, caring for the sick, or counseling the broken—the cross must be the axis. This is why Peter said, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11a).

Jesus illustrated this truth in His parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30). A master entrusted great fortunes to his servants while he was gone. Two servants invested what they were given, but the “wicked and slothful servant” buried his money in the ground for safekeeping. When the master returned, he blessed the servants who used what he gave them, but cursed the servant who did nothing with what he was given. And the lesson is clear: use what God has given you (Rom. 12:6). Don’t bury your abilities and spiritual gifts—steward them faithfully.

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs. Brandon and Dakota previously served as foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and his Bible Gleanings columns are featured in over sixteen publications throughout Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and an editor at Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Idol Worship Stinks | Bible Gleanings | October 25-26, 2025

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The woman was “down in the dumps,” having entangled herself in a messy situation which prompted her to reassess her priorities. The Brinnon Fire Department in Washington State reported that a lady in her 40s requested emergency assistance, after falling headfirst into a vault toilet at a frequented hiking area. On the list of “worst things to happen to hikers,” this ranks as number two. How did she end up neck-deep?

She reportedly dropped her smartphone in the outhouse latrine and attempted to retrieve it—unsuccessfully. Initially, she tried fishing it out with her dog’s leash, and let’s just say her furry friend went home leashless that day. Next, she removed the seat and leaned into the abhorrent abyss to get closer—and that’s when it happened. The entire latrine collapsed inward, causing her to plunge into the filth below, where she dialed 9-1-1 from her soiled cellphone. All of this for a $200 smartphone. 

The lengths we will go for what we love and the things we are willing to do for what we value are truly astonishing. And many times, the price we pay in doing so is not worth the gain. But this is precisely what we do when worshiping gods that are not God. We often invest precious time, money, and energy into idols we believe will make us happier and more fulfilled—although they leave us down in the dumps. As the psalmist counseled, “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply” (Psalm 16:4a).

Idol-worship always costs more than it pays, and the false gods of possessions, protection, power, pleasure, prestige, and position always take more than they give. As Jonah cautioned, “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love” (Jonah 2:8). You can’t get from gods what you can only get from God. So, why give to gods and get nothing when you can give to God and get everything He promises?

Nevertheless, emulating Josiah of old (2 Chron. 34:33) and demolishing our idols is challenging because, as John Calvin once stated, our hearts are “factories of idols,” equipped with a golden-calf assembly line, eager to fashion a god from anything and everything. Paul likewise stated in Romans that we are prone to worship and serve “the creature rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25). This is why we are exhorted, “Flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14, KJV), and admonished, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Therefore, we must continually “turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them” (Acts 14:15b).

Idols are all glitter and no gold—God is God and always good. Idol-worship stinks—worshiping God satisfies. As David declared: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs. Brandon and Dakota previously served as foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and his Bible Gleanings columns are featured in over sixteen publications throughout Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and an editor at Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Let God Sort ‘Em Out | Bible Gleanings | October 18-19, 2025

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He was contemptuously convicted of crimes he never committed. Witnesses stepped forward, alleging that he tried to spark a political insurrection and urged individuals to engage in tax evasion. Other witnesses accused him of terroristic threatening, stating that he vowed to demolish a local religious center and reconstruct it in three days. When the judge inquired whether the man had anything to say in his defense, he surprisingly kept quiet. Dissatisfied with the proceedings, the judge forwarded the case to another neighborhood judge, who repeatedly pressured the man to refute the accusations against him—but there was only silence.

No appeals for mercy. No assertion of innocence.  

This famous trial was for the most blameless Man who ever lived, the sinless son of God (Matt. 26:57-68; 27:11-14). The Gospels teach that Jesus remarkably refrained from defending Himself while being unjustly prosecuted (Mark 14:61). He spoke only a few words about His divine nature to the seething Sanhedrin and a probing Pilate, but never once shouted, “I have done nothing wrong!” He had no need to—the holy One had nothing to prove. But according to Peter, there was an additional reason for the Lamb’s silence before His shearers: Jesus believed that the Judge of all humanity would set the record straight and right every wrong:

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet. 2:22-23).

If you have been a Christian for long, you have likely been the target of false accusations and unjust criticisms just like Jesus. Rumors, gossip, and slander can incinerate precious relationships, put our jobs in jeopardy, and tarnish our otherwise godly reputation. And the easiest and most natural reflexes are revenge, rage, resentment, retaliation, and a refusal to forgive. But the righteous response is the one modeled by Christ: entrusting ourselves to the Defender of the oppressed and Avenger of the wronged (Psalm 9:9; 10:17-18; Nahum 1:2). The Lord knows every heart, His scales are perfectly balanced, and He will vindicate us if we are blameless (1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 16:11; Deut. 32:35). 

Therefore, when you are unfairly condemned, do not take matters into your own hands. It is already in the hands of the God whose verdicts are always right. “The LORD loves justice” (Psalm 37:28), and has never misjudged a case—and He won’t start with yours. His job is to judge, and yours is to rest in His righteous justice. Let God sort ‘em out.

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs. Brandon and Dakota previously served as foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and his Bible Gleanings columns are featured in over sixteen publications throughout Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and an editor at Reforming the Heart.