Salvation by Grace Alone

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8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NRSV)

Dear Friend, as we pray today, please pray for the family of Mrs. Bekie Blanco Abrio, a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, daughter of a Methodist pastor and mother and sister to many other Methodist pastors. She died unexpectedly on Tuesday. The Rev. Bequi Flores is her daughter and Bequi is the pastor of Karnes City and a Presiding Elder as well. Prayers of comfort for the Abrio and Blanco famililes. Bekie's husband died not too many years ago. Also, prayers for this old man as I preach on February 8, 2026 at the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Pray the Lord give me a word or two to share with this faithful community.

I knew of a young lady at a Methodist university working towards her undergraduate degree in hopes of becoming a nun in the Catholic Church. She was an active high school student in her local Catholic church and sent often after school to help clean the church and prepare the church for worship. One afternoon while at the church her priest grabbed her and kissed her. She immediately placed the blame on herself and all the weight of that "sin." She believed deeply that the only way God could forgive her was for her to become a nun and serve God the rest of her life in that way. Works is that belief that says one must prove oneself worthy by outward deeds and actions that show God and others of their genuine desire to serve God in that way. Upon death it is believed they will be found worthy and allowed into Heaven.

My heart breaks for that young woman. She carried a burden that was never hers to carry. She believed a lie that has imprisoned countless souls throughout history: that we must earn God's forgiveness, that we must prove ourselves worthy, that our salvation depends on our performance.

But here's the liberating truth that sits at the very foundation of Methodist theology and all of Christian faith: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

You cannot earn it. You cannot buy it. You cannot work for it. You cannot deserve it.

It is a gift.

Grace is God's unmerited favor—love and forgiveness freely given to those who don't deserve it and could never earn it. It's God reaching down to us when we could never reach up to Him. It's God saying, "I love you, not because of what you've done, but because of who I am."

That young woman believed she had to become a nun to pay for a sin that wasn't even hers. She thought years of service, sacrifice, and dedication would somehow balance the scales and make her acceptable to God. But grace doesn't work that way.

Grace says: You are already accepted. You are already loved. You are already forgiven—if you will simply receive it.

When we try to earn our salvation through works, several destructive things happen:

We never know if we've done enough. How many good deeds balance out one sin? How many years of service erase one mistake? The answer is: it's impossible. We can never do enough, be enough, or give enough to earn Heaven. We carry unbearable burdens. Like that young woman carrying guilt and shame for something done to her, we pile weights on our shoulders that were never meant to be carried. We exhaust ourselves trying to prove our worth. We miss the point entirely. Salvation isn't about our strength—it's about God's grace. It's not about our goodness—it's about Christ's righteousness. It's not about our performance—it's about God's love. We rob God of glory. If we could earn our salvation, we could boast about it. We could take credit. But Paul says clearly: salvation is "not the result of works, so that no one may boast." God alone gets the glory for our salvation because God alone accomplished it. Here's what we must understand: Jesus already did the work. On the cross, He paid the price for every sin—past, present, and future. He took the punishment we deserved. He bridged the gap between holy God and sinful humanity. He opened the way to Heaven.

And then He rose from the dead, proving that His sacrifice was sufficient, that sin and death were defeated, that salvation was complete.

When Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross, He meant it. The work of salvation was done. Completely. Fully. Forever.

We don't add to it. We can't add to it. We simply receive it by faith.

Now, let me be clear about something important: the Methodist understanding of salvation by grace does not eliminate the importance of good works. John Wesley was emphatic about this. But here's the critical distinction:

We are saved by grace through faith, not by works But we are saved for good works, as expressions of our gratitude and love Works don't earn our salvation; they are the fruit of our salvation We don't serve God to become His children; we serve God because we are His children It's like this: a tree doesn't produce fruit to become a tree—it produces fruit because it is a tree. In the same way, we don't do good works to become saved—we do good works because we are saved, because grace has transformed us, because love compels us to serve.

When that young woman finally understood grace—that she didn't have to earn God's forgiveness, that she was already loved, already accepted, already forgiven through Christ—it set her free. Not free to sin, but free to serve God out of love rather than fear, out of gratitude rather than guilt, out of joy rather than obligation.

That's what grace does. It liberates us from the impossible burden of trying to be good enough for God. It frees us to rest in what Christ has already done. And from that place of rest and security, we joyfully serve, not to earn salvation, but because we've already received it.

Your Invitation Today

Maybe you've been trying to earn God's love. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be good enough. Maybe you're carrying guilt and shame, believing you have to somehow pay for your sins through years of service or sacrifice.

Hear this good news today: You can't earn it, and you don't have to.

Jesus already paid it all. The gift of salvation is yours—not because you deserve it, but because God loves you. Not because you've worked for it, but because Christ died for you. Not because you're perfect, but because His grace is sufficient.

All you have to do is receive it. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Trust in Him, not in yourself. Accept the gift that's freely offered.

And then—from that place of grace, from that foundation of unconditional love—live a life of grateful service. Not to earn God's favor (you already have it), but to express your love for the One who first loved you.

PRAYER: Gracious Father, thank You for the gift of salvation that we could never earn and don't deserve. Forgive us for the times we've tried to prove our worth through works, for the burdens we've carried that were never ours to bear. Help us to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Let us receive Your grace with humble gratitude, and let that grace transform us from the inside out. May ous service flow from love, not from fear; from gratitude, not from guilt; from the security of being Your beloved children, not from trying to earn Your approval. Thank You that salvation is Your gift, freely given, completely sufficient, eternally secure. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: If you've been trying to earn God's love through your efforts, stop striving and start resting. This week, write down this simple truth where you'll see it daily: "I am saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone." Let it sink deep into your heart and set you free.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Be a blessing to everyone!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Scriptural Holiness (Heart and Life)

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Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48 NIV)

My freedom to roam almost all of Kingsville on my bike or walking with friends, especially after school, allowed for some wonderful experiences and treats. One of our favorite hot Kingsville summer treats was to visit the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company plant building around three p.m. The DP bottling company was a concrete building with a huge picture window where one could see the finished product of cold Dr. Peppers and cold red soda. Our hope was to be there for red day when after peering into the window longinly, one of the employees would grab enough bottles to take them to us, and already opened! Nothing beat our drinking quite quickly the cold drink and setting it down near the door and then running or riding our way on to our next adventure. This outing taught me several things. Pursue your desire. Get to the place where that desire can be best fulfilled. Be patient. Be attentive. Wait. Enjoy. Give thanks!

My biggest treat came on that Sunday when I invited Jesus into my heart. That was only the starting point of all my life's adventures. I presented myself to the Lord for His forgiveness, I received it and I started my journey of being made perfect in love in this life, also known as sanctification. Sanctification is a fancy word for the daily journey we take with Jesus in hopes of being made more perfect in love because Jesus walks with us. It does not mean I am flawless; it means I have been accepted and I am in the process of being transformed in my character and conduct. It means that every moment I spend in reading God's word, I am being blessed in wonderful and amazing ways!

One of Methodism's values is scriptural holiness. That means our time spent in study of God's word blesses us with the direction we should take towards getting to where God wants us to be. Just as those childhood trips to the Dr. Pepper plant required pursuit, patience, and attentiveness, so does our journey toward holiness. We had to show up at the right place, at the right time, with expectant hearts. We had to peer through the window, longing for what was on the other side. And when that gift was given—cold, refreshing, freely offered—we received it with joy and gratitude.

Scriptural holiness works the same way. We must pursue it intentionally. We must position ourselves where God can meet us—in His Word, in prayer, in worship, in community. We must peer into Scripture with longing hearts, waiting for God to open the treasures within. And when He does—when His truth refreshes our souls like that cold drink on a hot Texas day—we receive it, we give thanks, and we move forward transformed.

When Jesus says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect," He's not setting an impossible standard that crushes us under the weight of our failures. He's inviting us into a process—sanctification—where we are continually being made more like Him in love.

This is the beauty of Methodism's emphasis on scriptural holiness. It's not about being flawless; it's about being faithful. It's not about never making mistakes; it's about allowing God's Word to transform our hearts and lives day by day. It's about:

Heart transformation: Letting God's love drive out fear, bitterness, and selfishness Life transformation: Allowing Scripture to guide our choices, our words, our relationships Continual growth: Understanding that sanctification is a journey, not a destination we reach in this life Every time we open the Bible, we peer through that window into God's perfect love. Every time we apply its truth, we drink deeply of the refreshment it offers. Every time we allow it to convict, correct, and guide us, we are being made more perfect in love.

Scriptural holiness means we don't just read the Bible when we're in trouble or when we need an inspirational quote. We pursue it like those kids pursued their favorite treat—with intentionality, with expectation, with joy. We show up daily at the place where God can meet us. We position ourselves before His Word with humble, hungry hearts.

And here's the beautiful truth: God always shows up. He always opens the door. He always offers the gift. His Word never returns void. Every time we engage with Scripture, the Holy Spirit is at work, transforming us from the inside out, making us more like Jesus in our character and conduct.

This is what it means to spread scriptural holiness across the land—John Wesley's mission for Methodism. Not just head knowledge of the Bible, but heart and life transformation through the Bible. Not just studying Scripture, but being shaped by Scripture. Not just knowing what God's Word says, but becoming what God's Word calls us to be.

The journey toward perfect love started the moment you invited Jesus into your heart. But it doesn't end there—it's only beginning. Every day is a new opportunity to be made more holy, more loving, more like Christ. Every encounter with Scripture is another refreshing drink on a hot day, another step forward in your transformation.

So pursue holiness with the same eagerness you once pursued childhood treats. Position yourself daily in God's Word. Be patient with the process. Be attentive to what God is teaching you. Wait expectantly for His Spirit to work. Enjoy the journey. And always, always give thanks.

PRAYER: Gracious and Holy God, thank You for accepting me just as I am, yet loving me too much to leave me this way. As I open Your Word today and every day, transform my heart and my life. Make me more perfect in love—not flawless, but faithful; not without struggle, but always growing. Give me a hunger for Scripture that drives me to pursue You daily. Shape my character, guide my conduct, and let my life reflect Your holiness. Help me to be patient with myself on this journey, knowing that You who began this good work in me will be faithful to complete it. May scriptural holiness be more than a Methodist value—may it be my daily reality. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, commit to reading one chapter of Scripture every morning before you check your phone. Let God's Word be the first voice you hear each day, shaping your heart and guiding your steps toward perfect love.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Present yourself as holy in a way that invites others.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Your Name Shall Be...

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1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty ; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.(Genesis 17:1-5 NIV)

Dear Friend, what does your name mean? Is it a family name? Were you named for a relative? Are you one of the famous juniors running around? More importantly, what have you made your name to mean? My name is Eradio Valverde, Jr. I was named for my father, Eradio Valverde. Neither he nor I have a middle name. He was named by my grandma and when I asked her where the name come from, she could not remember. My grandfather said it was a Native American/Indian name, but he did not know what the name meant. I became aware that in the Valley of Texas there were a couple of Eradios. Imagine my joy when I did insurance enrolling several years ago in San Benito schools, that the SB High School choir director was named Eradio Martinez. Interesting because my grandmother's maiden name was Martinez. As a child my Dad was called Lalo by my mother's family and when I came along I became Lalito. At home by my parents and siblings I was Junior. I have even heard of some women named Eradia. And Eradio in some different forms of spelling is a popular surname in some countries. I have tried to make my name mean trustworthy, sincere, dedicated to God and God's service. Today we want to explore where the name Methodist comes from. But let's begin with name changes in the Bible, where for God's purposes, God took it upon Himself to re-name those for whom He had special jobs and interest.

In the Bible there are numerous name changes. Their given names became God-given names with important meanings behind the change. The first is the one I read. Abram who is known as the Father of the Faith, at age 99 is visited by God and God gives him a covenant promising Abram that he would have many descendants, and he would be the father of many nations and gives him a new name Abraham which means, as God says, "For I have made you a father of many nations." And as we know the rest of the story, Abraham and Sarah, whose name was also changed, were the parents of many nations with children as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Other OT name changes are Jacob to Israel because he fought against God and prevailed as found in Genesis 32:24–28. There are others in the OT; then we came to the gospels where the most famous is Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul.

We come to John and Charles Wesley. The two were Oxford University grads and when John returned for further post-graduate studies, he finds that Charles and other like-minded students had formed a club to express their faith as Christians. The first name they gave themselves was The Holy Club. They had also established a daily routine of study and service. As this routine became known among fellow students, they came up with their own names. The Holy Club always got an early start on the day, usually 4 or 5 am. Upon awakening the first hour was dedicated to prayer. A solid hour on their knees in earnest prayer. The second hour up was spent in reading the Bible, and the New Testament in Greek. Another solid hour of soul-searching and God-seeking Bible study. The third hour the club would meet together for more prayer, Bible study and singing. Then the group would make their way to breakfast, they would attend classes for their academic pursuits, then lunch together though on Wednesdays and Fridays they would fast. After lunch or after afternoon classes they would devote themselves to holy service or Acts of Mercy; they would visit prisoners in Oxford jails; they would visit the sick, both in hospitals and at homes; they would teach poor children, they would feed and cloth the poor; and other acts of mercy that were based on Jesus' teachings in Matthew 25. They would celebrate Communion often and seek to perfect their lives in God's service.

And here came the names from the other students: "Bible Moths"; for the Holy Club members carried their Bibles everywhere and were known to spend much time in Bible study. They were also called "Holy Rollers", for the "enthusiasm" was also well known. "The Godly Club" meant to ridicule their devotion to God in a mean way. "Enthusiasts" meant to mock their excitement and joy in all things God. “Supererogation Men” to mock their acts of service as a means of earning their salvation. “Sacramentarians” because they took Communion often, while the Anglican Church only a few times a year. Finally, one guy yelled to John Wesley that they were a bunch of "Methodists!" And guess what? Wesley said that he liked that name and adopted it as their official name. Are you, if you call yourself a "Methodist" guilty of halfway or full-way imitating the originals?

The name "Methodist" wasn't chosen by Wesley—it was given by God through the mockery of others. And it stuck because it was true. They WERE methodical. They WERE disciplined. They WERE serious about their faith.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to live worthy of the name I bear—both my given name and the name "Christian" or "Methodist." Give me the discipline of the early Holy Club, the devotion of Abraham, and the faithfulness of Peter. May my life make my name mean something beautiful for Your kingdom. And this I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: (And this is a long one!). Don't just read this and move on. Take these concrete steps starting TODAY:

1)Tomorrow morning, set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. Spend that first half-hour in prayer before you check your phone, before coffee, before anything else. Give God your first and best, not your leftovers. Open your Bible every day this week. Not just a verse on social media—actually open it. Read one chapter from the Gospels daily. Let God speak to you through His Word.

2)Find your "Holy Club." Text or call two fellow believers this week and ask them to meet regularly for prayer, study, and accountability. Don't go it alone.

3)Perform one act of mercy this week. Visit someone who's sick or lonely. Volunteer at a food bank. Tutor a struggling student. Give generously to someone in need. Do something tangible for "the least of these."

4)Fast one meal this week. Use that time to pray instead of eat. Let your hunger remind you of your deeper hunger for God.

5)Write down what you want your name to mean. Put it where you'll see it every day. Let it convict you, challenge you, inspire you.

This isn't about legalism or earning God's love—that's already yours through Christ. This is about responding to that love with wholehearted devotion. This is about making your faith intentional, methodical, transformative.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! The early Methodists changed the world because they let God change them first.Now go. Live it. Be the Methodist—the Christian—the disciple—you were called to be.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The World is My Parish

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18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

In June 1742, The Reverend John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, returned to his hometown of Epworth, and offered to assist the curate of the church there, the same church where his ather, The Rev. Samuel Wesley, had been the rector for many years. The then curate refused to allow Wesley to preach or offer prayers and then preached a sermon agains the "enthusiasm" found in some corners of the Anglican Church, which Welsey knew was directed to him and his followers who showed more enthusiasm than the regular Anglicans. A number of out-of-town guests really wanted to hear Wesley preach, so he went outside and on his father's tomb, which was private property owned by the Wesleys and thus could not prevent him from preaching there, he proceeded to preach there. John Wesley preached more than once on that tombstone and it is believed he preached there at least three additional nights there.

John Wesley underwent a transformation called his Aldersgate Experience. He had struggled with doubt and felt he was without faith. One of his friends, Moravian leader Peter Bohler told him, "Preach fiath till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith." That event, that many have called a maturity into faith, occurred in London at a place called Aldersgate on May 24, 1738, as he wrote, ""In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." It was from this point on that many considered his preaching and leadership too enthusiatic. For those of us who consider the Wesleyan heriage our own and the Methodist way our way; ours is a global view of winning the world for Jesus.

When church doors closed to Wesley, he found his pulpit in the open air. When proper religion rejected his passion, he took the gospel to coal miners, factory workers, and common people who had never darkened a church door. Critics called it unseemly. Wesley called it obedience.

In 1739, when accused of irregularity for preaching outside his assigned parish boundaries, Wesley wrote in his journal words that would define his ministry: "I look upon all the world as my parish." He explained that wherever he was, he considered it both his right and duty to declare the glad tidings of salvation to all who would hear.

This wasn't arrogance. It was the heartbeat of the Great Commission lived out. Jesus had commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, not just the respectable ones, not just those who fit comfortably within established church walls. Wesley understood that a heart strangely warmed by grace cannot be contained by convention or geography.

Wesley traveled an estimated 250,000 miles on horseback, preaching over 40,000 sermons in his lifetime. He rose at 4 a.m. for prayer and study, organized his followers into small accountability groups called "classes" and "bands," established schools, orphanages, and medical dispensaries. He trained lay preachers when ordained clergy wouldn't go where the people were. He published books and pamphlets to spread scriptural holiness across the land.

The world became his parish because God's love knows no boundaries. The Great Commission doesn't respect our comfort zones, our preferences for propriety, or our carefully drawn parish lines. It sends us out—to the margins, to the overlooked, to those the religious establishment has written off as too poor, too sinful, too common to matter.

Today, the United Methodist Church and other Wesleyan traditions span the globe, with millions of members across every continent. What began with one man's strangely warmed heart and his willingness to preach on his father's tombstone has become a worldwide movement. But the work isn't finished.

The world is still our parish. There are still people outside the walls who need to hear that they matter to God, that grace is available to them, that transformation is possible. There are still coal miners and factory workers, still marginalized and overlooked souls, still hearts waiting to be strangely warmed.

The question isn't whether we have permission from every religious authority. The question is whether we have received our commission from the ultimate Authority—the One who said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me... therefore go."

Wesley didn't wait for ideal circumstances. He preached faith until he had it, and then because he had it, he preached faith everywhere. He was called enthusiastic as an insult but wore it as a badge of honor. The word "enthusiast" comes from Greek roots meaning "God within"—and what could be more appropriate for those whose hearts have been strangely warmed?

The world is still our parish. The fields are still white unto harvest. And Jesus is still with us, to the very end of the age.

PRAYER: Lord, warm our hearts as You warmed Wesley's. Give us his passion, his boldness, his willingness to go where You send us regardless of opposition or inconvenience. Help us see the world as our parish and every person as someone precious to You. Send us out with the authority of Christ and the assurance of Your presence, now and to the end of the age. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, step outside your comfortable parish boundaries. Identify one person or place where God is calling you to share His love—perhaps a coworker who seems isolated, a neighbor you've never spoken to, a part of town you typically avoid, or an online community that needs grace and truth. Then take one concrete step: have that conversation, offer that help, show up in that place. Don't wait for permission or perfect conditions.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. The world is your parish—go and make it count.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

A Better Way to Live!

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3NAoqlj

View devo: https://bit.ly/3LNsqOO

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. 2 He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12 NIV)

Dear Friend, I trust that this finds you well and warm! It's 32 here in Seguin and icy, so we're staying home! Please pray for those whose lives are on the streets and without the protection of a home.

In the 1980s, a book was written by Tony Campolo, a writer, preacher and professor of sociology. The book's name is Who Changed the Price Tags? It challenges readers to "change" a "messed up" value system where, metaphorically, the price tags on life's priorities have been switched. He shares a story where thieve break into a department store, not to steal items, but to switch the price tags, which creates havoc on shoppers. The emphasis is for believers to livs a life based on God's criteria rather than pursuing mundane, material goals. Another book The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill. emphasizing how Jesus’ vision of God’s kingdom reverses worldly values—power, success, wealth, and status.

In our family, Nellie and I have four daughters that love to read and they exchange and give each other books that they like. What I found interesting is that some of my girls like to go to the last chapter, read it, and then start the book. They want to know how the story ends. I applied it to this passage and went to the last verse to read how the story Jesus is sharing, ends. Here is that very: "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." This is where Jesus is leading us; to a place where we can be joyful and grateful because we know now that our reward will soon be great and in the special place, Heaven. The troubles and woes of today cannot measure to the greatest joy coming.

The Beatitudes reveal a kingdom that turns earthly values upside down. During Epiphany, when we celebrate Christ revealed to the world, these words show us just how radical that revelation truly is.

The world says: Be strong, self-sufficient, victorious. Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek. The world chases power and comfort. Jesus pronounces blessing on the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted.

This isn't positive thinking or self-help spirituality. Jesus is describing the character of those who truly belong to His kingdom—people who recognize their desperate need for God, who grieve over sin, who approach life with humility rather than aggression. These aren't just nice virtues to admire; they're the DNA of kingdom citizenship.

Notice that most of these blessings are present tense: "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We don't wait until heaven to experience God's favor. Even in our mourning, meekness, and hunger for righteousness, we possess something the world cannot touch—the very presence and approval of God.

The Beatitudes end with persecution, a sobering reminder that living as salt and light often comes at a cost. Yet even here, Jesus calls us to rejoice. Why? Because we're in good company with the prophets, and because our reward is secure in heaven.

This Epiphany season, let Christ's revelation reshape your understanding of what it means to be blessed.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, turn our hearts toward Your kingdom values. Help us find our blessing not in earthly success but in knowing and following You. Shape us into people who embody Your upside-down kingdom. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Choose one beatitude that challenges you most and ask God to cultivate that quality in your life this week.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! Go win the world for Jesus by showing the world the better way to live!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Seek the One Thing that Matters

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4qJokGM

View devo: https://bit.ly/4sWqhRm

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. 7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27 NIV)

Can I blame the eyes? Or the mind? Anyway, here we are at Friday and we should be reading Friday Faith Feeding, but you got a bonus! Two Old Testament passages because this old man saw the Micah passage and loved it, not noticing that it is for the Sunday of February 1st! So, I got a day off next week! Yay! We all win!

Fear is a good word especially for today and what we witness happening all across our nation. At the risk of sounding political, this is not God's doing what we are seeing happening to sectors of our country. Jesus would have no part in this other than to call us to repentance. His cousin John would be losing his head again because he spoke out for the moral wrongs he saw happening in the palace. He spoke out against it fearing only God and what God thought about the arrangement. Jesus continues his message about the need to repent and to draw closer to God.

If one is afraid of the dark, one avoids dark places. I for one, would hate to be the last one in a funeral home, having to turn off lights and make sure doors are locked. During my year in Denver as I had re-entered seminary at Iliff School of Theology, I yearned to worship in a Spanish-speaking church and I asked a longtime friend who officed in the seminary if there were any such churches in Denver. He said there was a Presbyterian church that sang one hymn in Spanish, and off I went that Sunday. I arrived early enough to meet the pastor who was thrilled to have a seminary student there and once worship started made a big deal of my presence and that I was from Texas. Immediately after worship a young couple came excitedly to meet me and to tell me they were Texans too, from Kerrville, and that they would love for me to join them for lunch. Free meals for seminary students is a require course and of course I said yes. They said to follow them home and so I did and soon I was parked in an abandoned gas station and immediately across the street from an old home serving as a funeral home. Gulp. I asked what we were doing here and the wife said her husband was a funeral director and they lived upstairs. The chapel had the stairs that led upstairs and there was a body in a coffin and some people there. She whispered that the dead body was "The young man who was shot 19 times downtown!" Gulp again! As we got closer to their apartment she again whispered, "My husband did a great job! Once the family leaves we'll take you downstairs so you can see the wounds!" Gulp a third time. We had a nice lunch and the husband said, "There's an apartment down the hall that's empty and you can live in it for free!" (I'm tired of gulping!). Oh really, I asked? "Yes, all you would have to do is be on call nights." Call, meaning? "You'd go to people's homes and bring back the body." Eh. I love my apartment there on campus.

In the season of Epiphany, we celebrate light breaking into darkness—the manifestation of Christ to the world. David's confident declaration in Psalm 27 resonates deeply with this theme. He doesn't merely say God gives light; he proclaims that the Lord is light itself.

When the Magi followed the star to find the infant King, they were seeking this very light—the one who would illuminate all nations. Like those wise travelers, we too can approach God's presence with confidence, not because we are worthy, but because His light has already pierced our darkness.

David understood something profound: when God is your light, fear loses its power. The threats that once loomed large—enemies, troubles, spiritual darkness—shrink in the radiance of His presence. Notice how David moves from asking "whom shall I fear?" to the even bolder "of whom shall I be afraid?" Fear doesn't just diminish; it becomes absurd.

The psalm continues with David's singular desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord, to gaze upon His beauty. This Epiphany season, we're reminded that Christ didn't just appear for a moment in history. He remains Emmanuel—God with us—inviting us to abide in His light continually.

PRAYER: Lord, You are my light and my salvation. In this Epiphany season, help me walk confidently in Your radiance, releasing every fear to You. Let my one desire be to dwell in Your presence all my days. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: identify one fear you're carrying and speak Psalm 27:1 over it. Ask God to replace that fear with confidence in His light.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Be light as you bless others.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The Ideal, The Real, and The Unreal

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/45kFD8g

View devo: https://bit.ly/49RE7vR

1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. (Isaiah 9:1-4 NIV)

Dear Friend, as we pray today let us pray for the family of Mrs. Dora Elda Peña, of Mission, Texas, who passed away a few days ago. Dora Elda was a dear, sweet lady and member of our church, El Mesias UMC during our eleven years there. She was a Sunday school teacher for all that time and she was a Communion steward who made our Communion bread every month. It was the most delicious potato bread that I had even tasted, and every month she would bring me two loaves; one for worship and the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the other was either for me or for someone I could choose to be blessed with this special bread. May God's comfort be with Tony, her husband, their daughter Elda Iris, and their son, Tony Jr., and with all who knew and loved her.

Nellie and I enjoy stories that we find online, most of them I believe are generated by AI but could be based on real life people and families, the kind one would hope would stay as a story and not a reality. Most of the stories have the dynamics of reality; self-centeredness, greed, ambition, violence, abuse, a "star" son or daughter, and an unwanted, barely-tolerated child. Those in these stories that exhibit one of more of the above, it should be said, are walking in darkness. The Light of Christ is absent from their heart and lives. And I firmly believe the Bible is filled with those same characters and helps us better understand life while calling us to change and to leave the darkness and come into the light of God.

Each teaching in the Bible will present the Ideal, what which best reflects God's virtues and attributes. It is what we aim for. The Bible will also have stories of the Real, which shows that which can and usually does take place in life. Some would call it the reality of life or that's life. I saw a short video just this morning of a woman who is now in her golden years but she was remembering the joyous day when she graduated from college as a chemical engineer. She said she never wanted to be a chemical engineer, but her father said that was the only degree he would pay for. When she finished her final exams and learned she had Aced them, she called her father and he solemnly said, "Good, I can finally write that article on how I taught a monkey how to read and write and do math." Needless to say it hit her hard and as I read the comments from those who had also seen her video and the very first one said something coldblooded about it not being a big deal and she should be glad she got her education free and that was life. The Unreal reflects those kind of remarks and situations where there is suffering and violence; indifference and apathy.

Where, my friend, are you? Are you living the ideal life? Or, suffering through the unreal wishing you were at least in the Real parrt of life? "Nevertheless." What a powerful word to begin a prophecy of hope. It acknowledges the reality of gloom, distress, and humiliation without being defined by them. It's the hinge between what has been and what will be, the breath before God speaks light into darkness.

Isaiah's prophecy was given to a people who knew darkness intimately. Zebulun and Naphtali had been humbled, trampled by invading armies, living under the shadow of oppression. Their darkness wasn't metaphorical—it was the real weight of foreign yoke on their shoulders, the rod of cruel taskmasters, the daily grind of life without freedom or hope. And yet, Isaiah dares to speak of light.

Seven centuries later, Matthew would quote this very passage when describing Jesus beginning his ministry in Galilee. The prophecy found its fulfillment not in military victory or political liberation, but in a carpenter from Nazareth who walked those same roads, teaching about the kingdom of God. The light that dawned wasn't what anyone expected—it came in weakness, in servanthood, in a cross.

Notice the transformation this light brings. It doesn't just illuminate the darkness so people can see how bad things are. It shatters yokes, breaks bars, destroys the instruments of oppression. It brings joy like a harvest celebration, like warriors dividing plunder after an impossible victory. This is Epiphany light—revealing and liberating, exposing and healing.

The deep darkness Isaiah describes is still with us. It's in the addiction that won't release its grip, the depression that colors everything gray, the injustice that grinds people down, the loneliness that echoes in crowded rooms. But the promise remains: there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. The light has dawned, and it has a name—Jesus.

PRAYER: O God of light and liberation, we come before you as people who know both darkness and the promise of dawn. Some of us are walking in shadows today—burdened by yokes we cannot shake, oppressed by circumstances we cannot control, living in the land of deep darkness. We cling to your "nevertheless," trusting that gloom does not have the final word. Thank you for sending your Son as the great light, for breaking the power of sin and death, for shattering every yoke that binds us. Increase our joy as those who have seen your salvation. Help us to live as people of the light, reflecting your radiance into the dark places of our world. Where we encounter others walking in darkness, make us bearers of hope, agents of liberation, witnesses to the light that has dawned in Christ Jesus. In his luminous name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, bring a "dakrness" you are facing into the light of Christ through prayer, conversation with a trusted friend or pastor, or by taking one concrete step toward freedom or healing. Then, look for someone else who is "walking in darkness" and find a practical way to be a bearer of light to them.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Be the light of Jesus in all your life!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Is Christ Divided?

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3YNJtTO

View the devo: https://bit.ly/3LIUh2y

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:10-18 NRSV)

I got my sense of humor from my Dad. Dad was always telling jokes or pulling pranks. His favorite was after getting a haircut was to go up to the secretary at his plant and ask if she liked his haircut. She would always say yes, and he would say, "Five dollars at Petco!" His favorite time of year when working was the summer when he would get interns to work with him. These interns were Aggies and Longhorns home from college; Daddy was usually an upper management type, and junior would work with blue collar folks like my Dad, who was a spray painter of the oil exploration trucks his company made. He would usually ask the intern to go and get things for him from the dispatcher, who was used to my Dad's humor. "Go and get me three sky hooks and sixty gallons of steam!" Yes, sir! Off they'd go only to get laughed at and come back a bit peeved that they fell for his humor. "There are no sky hooks, nor do we hand out gallons of steam."

We Mexicans have a great joke that helps set the stage for today's passage. A driver along a lonely road sees a hitchhiker and debates in her mind whether to pick up or ignore. Judging the coming weather and the loneliness of the road decides the Christian thing to do is to pick up the guy. The rider explains where he's headed and she says that's the place where she's going. She's busy driving and so the hitchhiker wonders what they should talk about, and then begins a litany of question that could come up. "Should I ask her if she's a Cowboys fan or not? If she says she is, out he will go! So, no, I can't ask that question. Should I ask if she likes soccer or not? If she says she does not, then out he goes! and feels bad because he can't think of a thing to start a conversation or not, and as he sighs, he says, ¡Pues sí". And the driver yells, "¡Pues nó! Get out of my car!" (Pues is well and si is yes; and no is no. Okay you had to have been there.)

The number one cause of division in a church; any church, is people. Jesus said, "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I will be also." The key is that many times the two or three forget to invite or speak the name of Jesus and so the pues sí and pues nó moments come. The church in Corinth was no exception. Many churches even today will automatically divide into this group and that group. I've shared how when I went to a Leadership conference at a mega church in the United Methodist denomination and the first thought I had as I walked into this incredible sanctuary, "It must be nice to have such a nice sized church and I bet all the people here love him!" It seemed to reason that a church of that size was because of overwhelming harmony and joy. And the first thing he said as he began the conference was to say, "Many of you think that being pastor of this church is a breeze because you think everyone who comes loves me. Well, let me tell you that these front seats are filled with my detractors every time we gather, and they take notes to have something to criticize me and my sermons. And my prayer as I walk from my seat to the pulpit is to pray, 'Lord, give me a heart to love them.'" Gulp. And what does Paul say? "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sister." What? Chloe has "people." Who report to him? So, the only letters being written on those days; letters complaining to the district superintendent!? And what were they arguing about? Who baptized who? And even Paul gets pulled in to this debate! And he says, "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius," and he remembers another family and wonders if he baptized anyone beyond that. And he seeks to quell the argument by saying his calling was not to baptize but to preach the gospel, and even that, "not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Paul cuts through their tribalism with a piercing question: "Has Christ been divided?" The answer, of course, is no. Christ cannot be carved up into competing franchises. Yet we keep trying, don't we? We divide over worship styles and theological emphases, over personalities and programs. We forget that our unity isn't found in agreeing on every detail, but in centering ourselves on the one who was crucified for us all.

Notice what Paul says he was sent to do: proclaim the gospel, "not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power." There's a subtle warning here about our tendency to make Christianity about something other than Christ himself. We're tempted to make it about eloquent preaching, sophisticated arguments, charismatic leaders, or tribal identity. But the moment we do, we empty the cross of its power.

The Epiphany reveals Christ as light to all nations—not light to our particular group, our denomination, our theological tribe. When we rally around human leaders instead of the crucified Lord, when we emphasize our differences more than our shared center, we dim the light that's meant to draw the whole world to God.

The foolishness of the cross is this: the God of the universe chose weakness over power, humility over prestige, sacrificial love over self-promotion. And he calls us to embody that same foolishness in how we relate to one another.

PRAYER: Gracious and loving God, forgive us for the ways we have divided what you intended to unite. We confess that we have too often elevated human leaders, preferred styles, and comfortable tribes above the scandal of the cross. We have emptied your gospel of its power by dressing it up in eloquent wisdom and partisan loyalties. Remake us into one body, united not by uniformity but by our shared devotion to Christ crucified and risen. Teach us to see past our differences to the deeper unity we share in you. May our love for one another be so compelling that the world sees in us a reflection of your reconciling grace. Strip away our pride, soften our hardened positions, and draw us back to the foolish, powerful, world-changing message of the cross. In the name of Jesus, our one Lord and Savior. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, intentionally reach across a dividing line within the body of Christ. If you tend toward one style of worship or theological emphasis, seek out a conversation with someone whose approach differs from yours. Listen with genuine curiosity rather than defensiveness. Ask yourself: Am I more passionate about defending my position or about revealing Christ?

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! Bless the world with you in a positive way!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Come, Follow Me

Image from wanderlustandwonderment.com

Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4qyMZ0s

View the devo: https://bit.ly/4b6q7AE

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:4:12-23 NIV)

The cartoons of yore got it right. Whenever they wanted to show the power of attraction of an aroma, the inviting odor would take a snake-like shape and waft its way through the air in visible form usually from the cooking pot to the very nostrils of the intended recipient. In the cartoons the aroma was hard to resist, sometimes lifting up the man, usually heavy-set and male, and carry him to the kitchen where the food was being prepared. The Apostle Paul used that in his message such as 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." Paul knew that we, if we are connected and obedient to Jesus, we are to those who need Him, that enticing aroma of life and freedom that can lead them there. And as a part of that aroma, the words from John the Baptist and Jesus Himself, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near," attracted them to life as found in Jesus.

I was eight years old when a pastor of mine gave the invitation, like many pastors still do Sunday after Sunday, to come to the Lord if you hadn't already. Our pastor does and I always pray that if they don't come forward they will, in the silence and privacy of their hearts, invite Jesus into His heart. One of the first times I visited and our pastor made the invitation and three children came up! I also said out loud, "Hallelujah," but then realized the three were the acolytes. Sigh. I've shared the story of Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes, a preaching professor at SMU and also senior pastor of a large church in Dallas, shared how he wanted to grow his church and knew that having an effective altar call would be one of the keys and so he went to the Cokesbury store in downtown Dallas to see if United Methodists had books in their bookstore about altar calls. Nope. Zero. None. Hmm, he thought, maybe the Baptists do in their bookstore. So, he wore dark glasses, a hat, and an overcoat in hopes of not being spotted in a Baptist bookstore by other Methodists. He discovered there were shelves and shelves on altar calls, and bought an armload of them, and that became the remedy he sought. And his church grew!

People are still walking in darkness. The need to repent is still there in a lot of hearts. People still hunger for forgiveness; and God is still the answer and source of the fullness of life; why do we need gimmicks or tricks to get people to come to Jesus? The truth is that like Andrew, it starts with our being willing to tell someone we know and love, about Jesus. Andrew met Jesus and believed in Him right away and Andrew knew he needed to tell his brother, Simon Peter, about Jesus. Peter believed Andrew and became not only a disciple, but the lead disciple and the one known as the first Pope of the Catholic Church. People telling people is what will bring light to darkness. The "Come, follow me," first spoken by Jesus can be spoken by us as we tell them about life and its fullness as we have found it in Jesus. Jesus told fishermen, "And I will send you out to fish for people." Hunters? You can "hunt" people for the Kingdom; and fill in the blank; whatever you relate to may relate to others as they seek to share the good news with the world.

The Epiphany reminds us that Christ is still being revealed, still walking the shorelines of our ordinary lives, still calling. The question is whether we'll recognize him when he comes—and whether we're willing to leave our nets behind. The goal remains the same: Let's win the world for Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Light of the World, you came to those dwelling in darkness and called them by name. Open our eyes to recognize you in the ordinary moments of our lives. Give us the courage of those first disciples to leave behind whatever keeps us from following you fully. We confess that our nets—our securities, our plans, our comfortable routines—often feel safer than the unknown path of discipleship. Yet you promise to make us fishers of people, to give us purpose beyond anything we could manufacture for ourselves. Help us to hear your voice above the noise of our busy lives, and grant us grace to respond with the same immediate, wholehearted yes. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, ask yourself: What are my nets? What securities, comforts, or plans might Jesus be inviting you to set aside in order to follow him more fully? Choose one concrete step of obedience—it might be beginning a conversation you've been avoiding, offering forgiveness you've been withholding, or serving in a way that stretches you beyond your comfort zone. Don't wait for perfect clarity or ideal circumstances. Follow the example of Peter, Andrew, James, and John: respond immediately to the call you've already heard.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! We have lots of work to do!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Waiting Patiently for the Lord

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4qmLQc7

View devo: https://bit.ly/45VWwGv

1 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. 2 He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. 3 He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God. 4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; 5 The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you. 6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you - that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious - that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen. 7 So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me, 8 And I'm coming to the party you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being. 9 I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that. 10 I didn't keep the news of your ways a secret, didn't keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth For myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story. 11 Now God, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together. (Psalm 40:1-11 The Message Bible)

As we start this Thursday morning, dear Friend, please be in prayer for Cicely (Ann) Jackson of Smiley, Texas, who is getting knee replacement surgery in the city of New Bruanfels at 7 am; may God bless her with a successful surgery, a speedy and painless recovery and a great therapy allowing her full mobility and strength. God is with you, Ann!

Paul David Hewson is in a band. And he's been for most of his life. He's also Irish. And he also loves Jesus and identifies as a Christian. He has traveled the world with this band. This band has allowed him conversations with world leaders and famous personalities. Paul has lived a life of gratitude towards his God and his Savior. His famous band has only two characters in its name, a letter and a number and was named for the famous flying spy plane of the 60s. Some of you already know who I'm talking about, some don't. The number is 2, and the letter is U. Put in the right order; U2, and Paul's more recognized name is Bono. And this intro is because U2 always closes their concerts with a song called 40. It is based on this psalm and was so named because of the psalm and because it was at the end of the recording day; their bass guitarist had gone home and then their drummer decided to leave as well, and so knowing they needed only one more song needed for their album War, and so Bono opened a Bible and found this psalm and The Edge played a simple bass line to the words Bono had written based on the psalm. It took 10 minutes to write. 10 minutes to record. 10 minutes to edit, and 10 minutes to review it; thus another reason for its name, 40. The song lends itself to a spiritual, almost communal liturgical moment as the bass begins the song, Bono starts it, and one by one, the members of U2 leave the stage and the audience keeps singing as it participating in a closing prayer. Here are the lyrics as found online:(Hear it here: https://youtu.be/rt0TTa9R09k?si=O4HrI9VR3ykgYfTw)

I waited patiently for the Lord He inclined and heard my cry He lift me up out of the pit Out of the miry clay I will sing, sing a new song I will sing, sing a new song How long to sing this song? How long must we sing this song? How long, how long, how long How long to sing this song? You set my feet upon a rock You made my footsteps firm Many will see, many will see and hear I will sing, sing a new song I will sing, sing a new song You sing it! How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song? How long, how long, how long How long to sing this song?

As used in the Church this coming Sunday as part of a celebration of Epiphany, the song celebrates God revealing Himself, looking upon us, listening to our cries—and Psalm 40 captures this perfectly. "I waited and waited and waited for God." The repetition emphasizes the length, the difficulty, the patience required. Waiting feels endless when you're stuck in the ditch, when you're sinking in deep mud, when every day looks the same and deliverance seems impossible. But then: "At last he looked; finally he listened." God's attention turns toward the one waiting. He sees. He hears. This is epiphany—God manifesting His presence to those who wait for Him. "He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud." God doesn't just observe from a distance; He reaches down, grabs hold, and pulls us out of places we can't escape on our own. "He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip." Not just rescued but established, not just pulled out but placed securely. The rock is Christ—the foundation that never shifts, the solid ground beneath our feet. "He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God." God doesn't just rescue us and leave us silent; He gives us a new song, fresh praise, a testimony to share. And when others see this transformation, "More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God." One person's deliverance becomes a witness that draws others to abandon themselves to God, to trust Him with their own ditches and deep mud. This is truly Light shining on us when we truly and deeply need it.

So dear friend, whatever may have you down, or worried, or anxious; turn it over to Jesus! Jesus will know you, how much pain you've been in, how long you have been waiting; and will lift you up out of the "mud" you've been in, into the beauty and fullness of this life that is knowing and trusting Him!

PRAYER: Loving God who lifts us from ditches and stands us on solid rock, thank You for looking upon us, listening to our cries, and teaching us new songs of praise; thank You for sending Jesus who delighted in doing Your will and preached Your righteousness to the whole world; help us testify to what You've done, drawing others into the mystery of abandoning themselves to You, knowing that Your love and truth are all that keep us together, in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Share your testimony with someone—tell them about a specific "ditch" or "deep mud" God lifted you from, and how He gave you a new song, inviting them to abandon themselves to the God who looks, listens, and rescues.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! Bless the Lord with your life and words!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Christ for the Nations

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4pDIzEo

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1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God. 5 And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength— 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 7 This is what the LORD says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” (Isaiah 49:1-7 NIV)

When I was called into ministry I had a narrow world view. I had been born and raised in a Spanish-speaking church which was a member of the Spanish language conference of The United Methodist Church. I had no idea where God would lead me but it had to be a Spanish language church. My first language was Spanish and my second one was English. As I grew up in public schools my español escaped me. I never thought I'd be a master at preaching in Spanish but I knew I could get my points across, while trusting God to help me. As I prepared to graduate from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, I prepared for my oral final. SU made a big deal about taking an oral exam with all the professors of your major, and the graduate to be could invite a professor of his/her choice. My major was Sociology and there were only two professors at the time who would sit in and I invited a religion professor new to the faculty. The final went smoothly; not any difficult sociology questions asked of me; my invited professor did ask me the hardest one related to my field of study but then one of the sociology professors asked me the hardest question: "Eradio, would you consider coming to First United Methodist Church of Georgetown sometime in the future?" I answered it in knee-jerk response time, no. "NO? Why not?" This was the difficult part of the oral exam. I knew there would be no negative effect on my grade, but what about my life I asked myself silently. I would come to realize that my "distant nations" was limited only to the people of the Rio Grande Conference, where I was born and raised. Did God form me in my mother's womb to preach only in Spanish to Spanish people? Had my mouth been sharpened to share only with those who spoke Spanish?

Isaiah did not have the same sociological implications that I did; his audience was prepared for him; he was to preach to all the people of the world, both those of islands and those of distant nations. His was to find and retrieve the lost sons and daughters of Israel, to restore the tribes of Jacob. God then identifies His servant: "He said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.'" This is complex—the servant is called "Israel," yet the servant's mission includes restoring Israel. The servant embodies what Israel was meant to be: God's representative to the nations, displaying God's splendor. Jesus is true Israel, faithful where Israel failed, accomplishing what Israel couldn't. Through Him, God's glory is displayed to the world. But the servant experiences discouragement: "But I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.'" This is brutally honest—feeling like effort was wasted, strength exhausted for no result. Jesus experienced this: rejected by His own people, misunderstood by His disciples, abandoned at His arrest, crucified as a criminal. From a human perspective, His ministry looked like failure. Yet the servant maintains faith: "What is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God." He trusts that God sees, God evaluates, God rewards—not according to human measurements but divine purposes. Epiphany teaches us that apparent failure in God's service isn't the final word; vindication comes from God, not from immediate visible results.

Then comes God's response to the servant's discouragement: "And now the Lord says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord and my God has been my strength." God affirms the servant's calling and reminds him of divine resources: "I am honored in the sight of the Lord"—God values him even when others reject him. "My God has been my strength"—not his own power but God's provision has sustained him. Then comes the stunning expansion of mission: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." Restoring Israel alone is "too small"—not unimportant, but insufficient for God's ultimate purpose. The servant's mission expands to encompass all nations. "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles"—not just to Israel but to the nations. This is Epiphany's central theme: the light revealed in Christ is for everyone, everywhere. "That my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth"—God's saving purpose knows no boundaries. Every nation, every tribe, every tongue—all are included in God's redemptive plan through His servant.

The passage concludes with God's declaration: "This is what the Lord says—the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: 'Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.'" The servant experiences profound rejection—"despised and abhorred by the nation," reduced to serving rulers rather than being honored. This describes Jesus perfectly: rejected by His own people, despised by religious leaders, crucified under Roman authority. Yet God promises reversal: "Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down." Those who rejected Him will recognize Him. Those who scorned Him will bow before Him. Why? "Because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." The servant's vindication isn't self-promotion but God's faithfulness. God chose him, God will honor him, God will ensure that kings and princes acknowledge him. At Jesus' birth, Magi (representing Gentile kings) came to worship. At His return, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Epiphany celebrates that the light has dawned, the servant has been revealed, and though rejected by many, He will ultimately be recognized by all. The mission that seemed too small—restoring Israel—has become gloriously large: bringing God's salvation to the ends of the earth. As we grow in our faith, we should also grow in understanding the scope of our ministry; we are to reach all nations with all languages; we need to show love and acceptance to all people.

PRAYER: Lord, our Redeemer and Holy One, thank You for sending Your servant as a light not just for one nation but for all nations, that Your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; when we feel our service is in vain or our efforts wasted, remind us that You are faithful, that vindication comes from You, and that Your purposes are larger and more glorious than we can imagine; help us shine Your light to all people, in Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Epiphany season, pray specifically for one nation or people group that hasn't yet heard the gospel, remembering that God's salvation is meant to reach the ends of the earth, and consider supporting a missionary or organization working to bring Christ's light to the nations.

I love you and I thank God for you. You matter to God, and you matter to me. You're a person of much positivity that needs to be shared with the world. Start now.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Called. Prepared. Deployed. Faithful?

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1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:1-9 NRSV)

As we were driving home from a birthday party, I asked our daughter which church that I had served had been her favorite, maybe not a fair question, but opened a good discussion between her, her mom, and me. Each church has been different; some super good, some not so good. And no, I didn't expect a perfect church to be out there; especially when 9 out of 10 ministers if asked, would argue with some who have said, "Ministry would be good if it weren't for the people!" And one minister left the ministry to become an undertaker and has reported that no one he works on has talked bad about him or started angry discussions with him! I started this devotional because Paul never said he had a favorite church but did have more than his share of woes in each. The one in Corinth caused him to write two letters! He lovingly begins this first letter with a reminder that they are called to be saints, meaning holy people in an unholy world; God people among godless people. And this was especially true as they called on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus was Lord of them and Paul. Paul gives thanks for them because they were people of grace as shared with them by God; and this grace had made them richer because as they spoke and grew in learning, they gained spiritual gifts which they were using until the second arrival of Jesus Christ. Jesus, meanwhile, was busy at work in them to make them all blameless on that day He returns. By God's faithfulness they were called into fellowship with Jesus and with each other.

Paul was the original vlogger without video (by the way a vlogger is term for a video blogger. And a blogger, well, google it! LOL). Paul started or helped churches and rated them. Okay, I'm stretching it a bit. But here is the reality of what is being shared in this passage: Paul reminds them and us, that to be a Christian means we have responded to a call. God called us out of sin into a fellowship and a ministry in which we are deployed to reach others and influence them with the holiness that God has shared with us. None of us were self-appointed to be a Christian. Some may have tried, but they are no longer among us. This calling involves us to be saints; not "holier than thou" snobs, but humble, imperfect people hot in pursuit of perfection in this life because we are following Christ Jesus. Our life is not perfect, we have trials and challenges, but we're not alone. We have Jesus walking with us, holding us and guiding us; but we are aware and we are committed to the work that lies ahead. There sits in a church near here, that when I was the district superintendent, took seriously what I said about fellowship halls versus mission halls. Fellowship is important and useful for churches, but it sometimes causes us to lose focus on our mission as believers; so they went and named their new facility their Mission Hall. They hold true to that and as a result that church is growing. Yes, they have a tremendous pastor who has that vision and excitement about what we are called to and is reaping the harvest of same.

Paul also encourages their being enriched by God's grace. He gives thanks to God for His grace through Jesus which has enriched them in every way; in their speech, how they interact with each other; their knowledge, how their dedication to God's word through worship, study and prayer they are growing in knowing God and as a result they share God. This has provided a union with Jesus, Who provides enrichment by that grace,, and gives them strength. A connected church is a growing church and a working church; reaching as many as they can for the glory of God.

Paul knows that this church is equipped while waiting. They lack no spiritual gift while they wait for Christ's revealing second coming, their goal is to reach and win the world while allowing God's Holy Spirit to equip them to be blameless. This is righteousness in action; trying to be Christ-like in all our interactions; thought, word, and deed - all pointing up to Him. All programs, classes, outreach efforts are geared to sharing Jesus and reaching the world.

Finally, Paul shares how God's faithfulness is a strong foundation for the church. God is always faithful and not dependent on our consistency; it's a gift (grace) as a result of God's love for us and not what we have done to deserve it. God has called us into fellowship with Him and His; a relationship is what we are to enjoy not rules or beliefs with Jesus truly as our Lord and through that relationship God will complete what He started. This is truly Epiphany, Christ revealed through our lives. The light that dawned at His birth, that shone at His baptism, that was manifested through His miracles—that light continues to shine, revealing Jesus and drawing people into relationship with Him. And because God is faithful, He will complete what He's started, enriching us with every gift, strengthening us to the end, and presenting us blameless when Christ is finally and fully revealed.

Have shared all this; is your church faithfulo? Are you found to be faithful?

PRAYER: Faithful God, thank You for calling us into fellowship with Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, for enriching us with every spiritual gift, and for Your promise to strengthen us to the end so we may be blameless when Christ is revealed in glory; help us live as those who have encountered Your grace, waiting expectantly for Jesus' return while using the gifts You've given us to build up His body, in His name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Identify one spiritual gift God has given you (whether teaching, encouragement, service, generosity, hospitality, etc.) and intentionally use it this week to build up Christ's body, remembering that you've been enriched in Him for the blessing of others.

I love you and I thank God for you. You matter to God and you matter to me. Continue to be the Light of Jesus in someone's darkness.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Behold: Christ for the World!

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29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ). John 1: 29-42 NIV

Happy and Blessed Monday to you, Friend! May the Light of Epiphany continue to shine in all the recesses of your soul. May Jesus bring you to life, a fullness of life that can be found nowhere else other than in the arms of Jesus.

I find it so fascinating that many birds love the HEB parking lot. I often search my grandkids visited back seat to see if a crumb or two of something missed by the mouths of my dear boys is there for the birds to enjoy. I often say that I will buy a bag of birdseed and place it in the back seat of my truck and have it there so that I can feel hungry birds. When we lived in Corpus Christi, Nellie and I would take slices of bread and visit the T-heads and the seagulls put on quite the show as they squawk and scream what sounds, "Me, me, me!" In the same way I still long to be able to share Jesus with others as this passage is saying those first disciples did. We find John the Baptist seeing Jesus come to him and John makes that awesome declaration, "Behold (Look), the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This coming after so many presented themselves to him for a ritual cleansing of sin; something or Someone touched their souls and they recognized that they did indeed need to be cleansed of their sin. They realized that sin can lead to death; and to be alive, fully alive, they needed to have their sin taken away. And John has called Jesus the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!" Like hungry birds, they had found the seeds of faith that began to feed their spiritual hunger.

This is an epiphany—a sudden revelation, a divine disclosure. John doesn't say "a lamb" but "the Lamb"—the specific, prophesied, long-awaited sacrifice. "Of God"—provided by God, belonging to God, sent by God. "Who takes away the sin of the world"—not just covers it temporarily like the Old Testament sacrifices, but removes it permanently. Not just for Israel but for the world. Every person, every nation, every sin—past, present, and future—dealt with definitively through this Lamb. John continues explaining: "This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." John's entire ministry was preparatory, pointing beyond himself to the one coming after him who actually existed before him—a reference to Jesus' pre-existence as the eternal Word. John baptized not as an end in itself but as a means to reveal the Messiah to Israel. Everything John did served this single purpose: to make Jesus known.

John then describes his own epiphany moment: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One." John didn't initially know Jesus was the Messiah—they were relatives, but John needed divine revelation to recognize Jesus' true identity. God told him what sign to look for: the Spirit descending and remaining. When John saw this at Jesus' baptism, everything became clear. This is the one who will baptize not with water but with the Holy Spirit—giving not just external cleansing but internal transformation. John's testimony is emphatic: "I have seen and I testify." He's an eyewitness declaring under oath what he observed. "This is God's Chosen One"—the Messiah, the Son of God, the fulfillment of all promises. Epiphany reminds us that Jesus' identity isn't based on human speculation or religious tradition but on divine revelation confirmed by eyewitness testimony. God revealed His Son through the Spirit's anointing and through faithful witnesses like John who pointed others to Jesus.

The next day, John is with two of his disciples when Jesus passes by. "When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus." Notice what happens: John points to Jesus, and his disciples leave him to follow Jesus. This is the mark of true ministry—not gathering followers for yourself but directing people to Jesus. John doesn't resent losing disciples; this is precisely why he came. The disciples follow Jesus, and Jesus turns and asks, "What do you want?" Their response is telling: "Rabbi, where are you staying?" They're not asking for a miracle, a sign, or even teaching—they want to know where He's staying because they want to spend time with Him. Jesus responds with an invitation that echoes through the centuries: "Come, and you will see." Not "Let me tell you about it" but "Come and see for yourself." "So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him." This is Epiphany in action—divine revelation leading to personal encounter. They came, they saw, they stayed. They moved from curiosity to commitment, from secondhand testimony to firsthand experience, from hearing about Jesus to being with Jesus.

One of these two disciples is Andrew, and what he does next is beautiful: "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus." Andrew's first impulse after encountering Jesus is to share the news with his brother. "We have found the Messiah"—though more accurately, the Messiah found them. Andrew doesn't just tell Simon; he brings him to Jesus. This is the pattern of Epiphany: God reveals Jesus, we encounter Jesus, we tell others, we bring others to Jesus. When Simon meets Jesus, "Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)." Jesus immediately sees Simon's true identity and future potential. He gives him a new name—Peter, the rock—prophesying who he will become through relationship with Jesus. This is what happens when we come to Jesus: He sees us truly, knows us completely, and speaks over us who we're becoming, not just who we've been. Epiphany celebrates that Jesus is continually being revealed—not just historically to John and Andrew and Peter, but presently to all who will come and see, to all who respond to the invitation, to all who spend time with Him and discover that He is indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, thank You for being revealed through faithful witnesses who point us to You; thank You for the invitation to "come and see," to move from hearing about You to being with You; help us, like Andrew, to bring others to You so they can encounter You personally and hear You speak over their lives with hope and transformation, in Your strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Epiphany season, identify one person in your life who needs to encounter Jesus, and like Andrew with Peter, don't just tell them about Jesus—invite them to "come and see" by bringing them to church, a Bible study, or simply sharing your own experience of spending time with Him.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! Be a bird-feeder if you have already been fed!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.