Abiding in His Love

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Don Merritt

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

There is something deeply comforting about the image Jesus gives us in John 15:5. He does not describe us as workers striving in a field, or soldiers fighting in a battle. He calls us branches—connected, supported, and sustained by a living vine.

A branch does not struggle to produce fruit by sheer effort. It simply remains attached. Its life flows from the vine. In the same way, our strength, wisdom, peace, and purpose flow from Christ. Apart from Him, we wither under the weight of self-reliance. But in Him, we flourish.

At the heart of this connection is God’s love.

The vine does not ration its life to the branches, but freely gives; so, it is with God. His love is not earned by our productivity, nor withdrawn when we feel weak. It is constant, nourishing, and faithful. Even when we feel fruitless, His love still flows toward us, inviting us to remain.

To “abide” means to stay, to dwell, to make our home in Him. It is not about striving harder but about trusting deeper. When we rest in God’s love—when we remember that we are already held, already known, already cherished—fruit becomes a natural outgrowth of relationship rather than obligation.

Love produces love, grace produces gratitude. Connection produces fruit.

Today, if you feel tired or discouraged, hear Jesus’ gentle invitation: Stay with Me. Let My love sustain you. You were never meant to grow on your own.

Lord, thank You for being the true Vine. Forgive me for the times I try to live apart from You. Help me to abide in Your love and trust that Your life is flowing through me. Bear fruit in my life that reflects Your goodness and grace. Amen.

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The Gift of Honest Companionship

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Don Merritt

Proverbs 27 reminds us that real love doesn’t flatter; it strengthens. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” True friends and family members care enough to speak truth, even when it stings. Their honesty protects us from self‑deception and guides us back toward wisdom. Loving correction is one of God’s greatest gifts through the people He places in our lives.

“Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.” Proverbs 27 honors the value of those who show up—those who stand with us in ordinary days and difficult seasons. Family is a blessing, but so are the friends who become like family through steady presence, shared burdens, and mutual encouragement.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Relationships rooted in God’s wisdom refine us. They challenge us to grow, to think, to repent, to hope. Friends and family who love the Lord help us become more like Christ simply by walking faithfully beside us.

Our text also celebrates the joy of companionship: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” God designed us to flourish in community. The warmth of shared wisdom, laughter, prayer, and encouragement is part of His daily grace.

God invites you to cherish the people He has placed in your life. Who sharpens you? Who speaks truth with love? Who stands near when life is heavy? And just as importantly, who needs you to be that presence today?

Lord, thank You for the friends and family who strengthen my walk with You. Help me be a source of truth, encouragement, and steady love in their lives. Shape my relationships by Your wisdom and make them places where Your grace is seen. Amen.

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Lesson 6: Walk in the Light

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Don Merritt

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 13:11-14

 These verses are the summation for this entire section (12:1-13:14) and serve to bring the message into sharp focus. Remember that Paul has been teaching about our response to God’s grace, giving us a clear picture of what our daily lives should look like. Here he sums it all up with a metaphor: Light.

And do this, understanding the present time (13:11) is the transition, referring back to the prior section discussing love in action. It is time to wake up, for the day is coming when the Lord Jesus will return. Notice the urgency in what Paul is talking about here; time’s a wasting! It may seem funny to us all these centuries later to read this urgency, but it is important for us to always bear in mind the fact that Jesus is coming. His literal return could be at any time, or it could be in 10,000 years, and no one knows for sure either way. Yet He came for every single recipient of this letter a long time ago. He came for all of those who have ever read this letter in the centuries that have followed, and He will come for us soon enough, thus Paul’s urgency applies to each of us: Wake up!

Paul’s metaphor of living in the light of day is clear enough; we are to behave in a respectable manner, not as people do in the wee hours when nobody is looking. In verse 13, he mentions several behaviors, and I think they are obvious, so I will only comment on two of them; dissention and jealousy.

I try not to miss opportunities to make a plea for Christian unity, and this is certainly such an opportunity. Must we continue fighting among ourselves, arguing over every little doctrinal difference of opinion? Must we be jealous about the name on the sign in front of the building? Is all of that really so essential?

I don’t believe that it is, do you?

Maybe I’m just a fool, but I think that the times we are living in today are much too serious to indulge ourselves in this sort of thing. Our calling is to build the Body of Christ, so let’s get to building instead of tearing it apart. Let’s clothe ourselves in Christ and answer our calling instead of glorifying ourselves in endless arguments.

Incidentally, this is a transitional thought that leads us into the next section, verses 14:1-15:13 which discuss our liberty to hold different opinions. With that said, we have come to the end of our brief study from Romans. I hope that these six lessons have been helpful and give each of us something to think about as we move forward with Christ, and that this will bring all of us closer to our Lord in the proves.

I’d like to mention that I am working on another short study that will discuss the meaning and purpose of being born again, and I think it will be an interesting one. I’ll give more information about it in the days to come; in the meantime, thanks for reading this far, and I’ll see you all next time.

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Photo of the Week: May 27, 2026

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Don Merritt
MV614 016-LR
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The Wisdom Continues

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Don Merritt

Proverbs 26

The proverbs in chapter 26 can feel sharp—almost abrasive at points. They expose folly, warn against laziness, confront deceit, and unmask the destructive power of the tongue. Yet beneath these vivid contrasts lies a quiet, steady truth: God’s love is the moral gravity that keeps life from spinning into chaos. Every warning in this chapter is ultimately an expression of His care.

1. God’s Love Reveals the Nature of Folly (vv. 1–12)

The opening verses describe the fool with almost painful clarity. He resists correction, repeats destructive patterns, and refuses wisdom. At first glance, these verses seem harsh. But look deeper: God names folly because He loves us too much to let us drift into it.

His love is not sentimental; it is protective. It exposes what will harm us. It calls us away from self-deception. It invites humility, the doorway to grace.

Even the strong statement in verse 12—about the danger of being “wise in one’s own eyes”—is a mercy. Pride blinds us to our need for God. Love unmasks the illusion so we can return to Him.

2. God’s Love Calls Us Out of Laziness (vv. 13–16)

The sluggard’s excuses are almost humorous—“There’s a lion in the road!”—but the consequences are not. Laziness slowly erodes purpose, joy, and fruitfulness.

Yet the point is not condemnation. The point is invitation.

God’s love calls us into meaningful, Spirit-empowered labor, the kind that reflects His own creative, sustaining work. He does not shame the weary; He awakens the stagnant. He stirs desire. He restores strength. He teaches us to live with intention rather than drift.

3. God’s Love Exposes the Destructive Power of the Tongue (vv. 17–28)

The final section confronts gossip, quarrels, deceit, and hidden malice. Words can wound deeply, and Proverbs 26 does not minimize that reality. But again, the warnings are rooted in love.

God cares about the integrity of relationships. He cares about the health of communities. He cares about the purity of our hearts.

When He warns against stirring up strife or disguising hatred with smooth speech, He is protecting us from the relational fractures that steal peace and joy. His love is a refining fire that purifies our speech so it becomes life-giving rather than destructive.

4. The Thread of Love Running Through the Chapter

Though Proverbs 26 never mentions the word “love,” the entire chapter is shaped by it. God’s love is:

  • Corrective — steering us away from paths that destroy
  • Formative — shaping character that reflects His wisdom
  • Protective — guarding our hearts and relationships
  • Redemptive — calling us out of folly into life

Every contrast between wisdom and foolishness is an invitation to return to the God who loves us enough to speak truth plainly.

5. A Closing Reflection

Proverbs 26 reminds us that God’s love is not merely comforting; it is transforming. It meets us in our folly, our excuses, our careless words, and our hidden motives—not to condemn, but to heal.

His love is the steady center. His wisdom is the path back home. His correction is a form of grace. His truth is an expression of His heart.

To walk in wisdom is to walk in the warmth of His love, learning to reflect His character in every word, every choice, every relationship.

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Lesson 5: Love

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Don Merritt

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:8-10

In this short passage, Paul is nothing short of profound; deep in fact. Yet it is so simple that we might just fly past it and not notice how profound it is; a second-grade child can easily understand it, and it requires a mature adult to miss it− that is how simple it is.

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

If we think of love as a mere emotion or feeling, maybe we can miss this, but godly love is not an emotion, it is a commitment to put the interests of other people ahead of our own, and love in action puts the interests of everyone ahead of our own. If we actually do this, then we will not do anything to offend or hurt them, and if we love God then we will not do anything to hurt or offend God. We will not do this because somebody told us that we must, we will do this because we want to.

In short, this is the transformation that Paul spoke of in 12:1-2; this is love in action from 12:9-16.

There are times when I grow weary of people telling me that the Bible never tells us how we should accomplish the Christian life; yes, dear reader, I grow weary of such remarks.

Put your love into action!

“But how do I do that?”

Love your neighbor as yourself.

“But that is too hard.”

No, it isn’t too hard! Love God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength.”

“But how do I do that?”

Make a decision that you love God and then commit to stick with it and trust the Holy Spirit to give you the strength you need.

“But that’s too hard.”

Dear Lord, open our ears that we might hear, open our eyes that we might see, open our hearts that we might believe so that we might become like little children and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Wisdom and Humility

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Don Merritt

Proverbs 25:1-27

Hezekiah was one of the best kings Judah had (2 Kings 18:5,6). 1 Kings 4:32 says that Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs. Since there are not 3,000 in the book of Proverbs, Hezekiah’s scribes (under his direction and by inspiration of God- since their work is included in the Old Testament that the Jews and Jesus accepted) copied the many good sayings found in chapters 25-29. This forms one of several appendixes to this book; other appendixes: 24:23-34; 30: 1-33; 31: 1-31. Hezekiah lived around 270 years after the death of Solomon; the prophet Isaiah was a contemporary of Hezekiah (I1 Kings 19: 1-2), and he likely headed the project. If so, we can see why the material would be included in the Scriptures.

This section of Proverbs gathers a series of sayings that revolve around one central theme: wisdom knows its place. It understands the difference between God’s glory and human limits, between honor and self-promotion, between patience and impulsiveness, between restraint and excess. Each proverb becomes a facet of a single jewel—humility shaped by reverence.

Verses 2–3 set the tone. God’s glory is to conceal, ours is to search. The point isn’t that God hides truth maliciously, but that His wisdom is infinitely higher than ours. Kings—and by extension, all leaders—must search diligently because their understanding is limited. The wise person recognizes this gap and approaches life with humility, curiosity, and dependence on God.

Verses 4–7 warn against self-exaltation. Just as impurities must be removed from silver, pride must be removed from the heart. The one who pushes himself forward will be humbled; the one who waits will be honored—Jesus echoes this principle centuries later. Wisdom refuses to grasp for status.

Verses 8–15 turn to speech. Don’t rush into conflict, don’t betray confidences; don’t exaggerate your case. Words can wound like a sword or refresh like snow in harvest. A gentle tongue can break bones; wisdom speaks with restraint, truth, and timing.

Verses 16–17 use vivid imagery to warn against excess—even in good things. Honey is sweet, but too much makes you sick. Friendship is precious, but overstepping boundaries strains it—wisdom knows when to stop.

Verses 18–23 contrast destructive and constructive speech. False testimony is a weapon, trusting unreliable people is like chewing with a broken tooth; but a timely word, a patient spirit, and quiet perseverance can soften even hardened hearts.

Verses 24–27 close with warnings about contentiousness, secrecy, and self-glory. Living with constant strife drains the soul. Whispered words can inflame conflict. And seeking your own glory is like overeating honey—sweet at first, sickening in the end.

Taken together, these proverbs call us to a life marked by humility, patience, disciplined speech, and self-control. They remind us that wisdom is not loud or demanding; it is steady, quiet, and deeply rooted in the fear of the Lord. It seeks God’s glory, not its own, it builds peace rather than contention. It knows when to speak and when to be silent, and it trusts that honor comes not from grasping, but from walking faithfully before God.

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Lesson 4: Dealing with Government

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Don Merritt

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Romans 13:1-5

Obviously, I haven’t planned very well, for we have arrived at these verses at a moment in time where many of us don’t really want to hear this, at least many of us in the US.

Yet here we are and I’m not going to just skip the section because it’s not entirely convenient.

Paul’s message, simply stated, is that human government is ordained by God, and that’s all I should have to say about it. Yet even though human government is ordained by God, human government exists in a corrupted world environment, and we should not pretend to be shocked when it turns out to be corrupted: It happens. What is really instructive in this teaching is that the government Paul was referring to had a nasty habit of persecuting Paul and his readers; yes, maybe we should reflect on that for a while.

If I had been Paul, I might want to write something quite different on this topic, but if I had, or if he had, then a great disservice would have been done to the Gospel. God did not call us to serve His kingdom so that we could engage in political action, for His Kingdom is not of this world. Instead, He has called us to share the Gospel, to share His love with those who have not yet heard it, to nurture and mentor other, younger Christians to maturity in the faith, not to protest stupid court decisions or corruption in Congress or the White House… or wherever it may exist in your location. I will add that if we did a better job of serving His purpose in a free society, it is quite likely that a very different group of people would be elected to represent us, without our ever needing to bring up politics.

When I teach such self-explanatory texts as this one, this is often where I toss out a question, a rhetorical one of course: When you are driving your car around town, do you observe the speed limit, or do behave as the pagans do?

That one gets a groan from the group every time… or at least a laugh. 

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13:6-7

Taxes: Nobody likes taxes, except the ones somebody else must pay. Here in America, we have a horrible tax system, and I will boldly declare that if the entire Tax Code went up for a vote as is, and if it didn’t already exist, no one would vote for it; no one has even read the whole thing, and the people who enforce it don’t entirely understand it, and if you don’t believe me, ask a tax lawyer!

Now ask yourself, how was the tax system Paul lived under? Well… it was horrible as well! Money is not supposed to be our primary concern in this life; our priority is supposed to be on things that are above, so why should the inequities of the tax system be our priority? Paul’s message is to pay them what they want and get on with serving our Lord in peace and love, for that is what we are here for.

Yes, I know… I’m gritting my teeth too, but that only goes to show that we have a long way to go to attain maturity in the faith.

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More Sayings of the Wise

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Don Merritt

Proverbs 24:23-34

This section of Proverbs gathers several sayings that reveal the heart of wisdom in daily life—justice, diligence, and discernment.

Verses 23–25 remind us that integrity must govern judgment. “It is not good to show partiality in judgment.” Wisdom refuses favoritism because truth is not negotiable. When justice is upheld, people rejoice; when it is twisted, society decays. The wise person speaks honestly, even when it costs something, because righteousness builds trust and peace.

Verses 26–29 turn to personal conduct. A straight answer is compared to a kiss on the lips—an image of sincerity and respect. Wisdom values clarity over flattery. The call to prepare your work and establish your field before building your house teaches order and foresight: secure your foundation before seeking comfort. And the warning against revenge—“Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me’”—echoes the divine pattern of mercy. Wisdom leaves justice to God.

Finally, verses 30–34 paint a vivid picture of the sluggard’s field—overgrown, broken down, neglected. The scene is not merely agricultural; it is spiritual. Laziness erodes life the way weeds choke a garden. The closing line, “A little sleep, a little slumber… and poverty will come like a robber,” warns that neglect, not catastrophe, often ruins us. Wisdom calls for steady diligence, not frantic striving—faithful attention to what God has entrusted.

Together, these verses remind us that wisdom is not abstract. It is lived in fairness, honesty, preparation, mercy, and perseverance. The wise heart does not drift; it builds, tends, and trusts God to bring fruit from faithful labor.

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Memorial Day 2026

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Don Merritt

Today is Memorial Day in the US, a day set aside to remember all of those who have given their lives in service to their country for the protection of our Freedom. It seems to me that this is also a day for prayer and reflection, and this is my submission for Memorial Day 2026…

Heavenly Father, we thank you today for all the ways in which you have blessed our Nation for the past 250 years. We thank you for our freedoms and our opportunities to live and worship you freely and openly, and we thank you for those brave souls who were willing to give their all to protect those freedoms when it was necessary to do so.

Lord, I also pray today that your righteousness will prevail across our Nation and throughout the world as time moves forward. I pray that we will learn to live according to your ways and that we will learn to settle disputes without resorting to armed conflict. I pray Father that your justice and mercy will prevail in this world, and that the day will soon come when our young people never again need to be called upon to risk their lives, and that the day will quickly come when your will is truly done here on Earth as it is in Heaven, where it is the only will that is done.

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