Breakfast of Champions

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

– Isaiah 58:8

Less than 1% of the global population will ever finish a marathon — an official long-distance road race of roughly 26.2 miles. Legend credits the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides as the original marathon runner. In 490 BC, he ran about 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news about the Athenian army’s victory over Persian invaders. Pheidippides then collapsed and died from sheer exhaustion.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and many marathoners follow special diets to optimize their body’s performance for the long run. In her Runner's World article The Healthy Runner's Diet, Dr. Liz Applegate recommends a regimen of seeds, fruits and vegetables, plant foods with their skins intact, milk and milk products, foods originating from cold water (like fish and other seafood), plus meat, poultry, and eggs from free-range or grass-fed animals. The key takeaway is that eating the right foods can mean the difference between finishing the race in record time — or dropping out with miles still to go.

A similar principle applies to Christ-followers. After all, our spiritual race isn't a jog or even a sprint. Instead, it's a life-long marathon. And it's to that end that Believers strive for lives exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What’s more, we’re called to live out our faith by demonstrating justice, generosity, and compassion for the vulnerable. Unfortunately, expressions of jealousy, bitterness, and frustration can result when we skip the right spiritual foods for going the distance.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, a smart way to start our race is with ongoing prayer … as well as a continual awareness that we can't make it without the Spirit living within us. Second, let's filter our thinking. Do the movies we watch, the websites we visit, and the friends we make feed our spirit — or our sinful nature? And finally, we must die to ourselves each day by constantly avoiding the traps and obstacles that can run us off course. 

In 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul confirms that his spiritual diet and rigorous training paid off along his own journey of faith:

"I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. At last the champion's wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me. The Lord, who is the righteous judge, is going to give it to me on that day. He's giving it not only to me but also to all those who have set their heart on waiting for his appearance."

Whether you're a brand-new Christ-follower or you've been a Believer for years, be sure to start your day with the Breakfast of Champions: the powerful spiritual diet that will help take you across the finish line of faith. Because as the saying goes, you are what you eat.

Hope for the Best

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,

and he rules with a mighty arm.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

– Isaiah 40:10

According to Global Christian Relief’s 2026 report on Christian persecution, an estimated 388 million Christ-followers worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination. Likewise, Open Doors UK & Ireland reports that 4,849 Christians were murdered for their faith as well as 4,712 detained or imprisoned. More than 3,600 churches or Christian properties were also attacked. Sub-Saharan Africa is the deadliest region for Believers this year, with Sudan, Nigeria, and Mali being the epicenters of violence.

Anti-Christian persecution also isn’t isolated to faraway lands. In Canada, 2026’s passage of Bill C-9 (the so-called Combating Hate Act) established hate-motivated offenses with escalating sentencing penalties under the nation’s Criminal Code. Moreover, it removed a section of the Criminal Code that provided a specific good-faith religious opinion defense for quoting or interpreting religious scriptures. That means traditional scriptural teachings or moral stances on sexuality and marriage can be prosecuted as hate speech, and public preaching and the expression of sincerely held beliefs are now under fire.

Christ-followers shouldn’t be shocked. After all, the apostle Peter penned this admonition that’s as applicable now as it was nearly 2,000 years ago:

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Peter adds that “… those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 

How should we deal with our 21st century adversities? Let’s remember these words of hope from Jesus:

“Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

What does Jesus mean by light? It’s really that “spark” or inner power that God grants each Christ-follower for demonstrating his goodness through their words and deeds. We might show it by running a much-needed errand for an elderly neighbor or by volunteering to manage a co-worker’s project when they’re struggling to finish an earlier assignment. Other examples could involve cleaning up a community park, buying groceries for a shut-in, or visiting the residents of an assisted living center. Ultimately, this kind of light shines bright when we tangibly live out our faith.

From the earliest Christ-followers to their modern-day counterparts like you and me, Believers have lived in dark times marked by persecutions both far and near. But the good news is that we can remain faithful through uncertainty and exhaustion because our God is sovereign, faithful … and unfailing in strength.

That’s why we can — and should — hope for the best.

Worthy of Worship

 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

– Isaiah 6:3

Is any particular faith or religion better than any other? 

In this era of moral relativism, many people say that it makes no difference. But let’s consider that Christ-followers like you and me have the privilege of worshiping the one true God who’s revealed, proclaimed, and proven throughout the 66 books of the Bible. 

No other faith can make such a staunch claim. In contrast, various religions around the world promote false deities, ancestor worship, and even the reverence of living things or nature (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). Then there are today’s popular false teachings such as New Age, Scientology, and Kabbalah. How many religions are there? While an exact number is impossible to pinpoint, scholars estimate that there are between 4,000 and 10,000 worldwide.

It’s interesting to note that even atheists are active worshipers. True, they’re not faith-filled churchgoers who proclaim Jesus as their Savior. But they — like everyone — bow to their favorite idols. Some worship money, luxury, and pleasure while others bend the knee to intellect and higher learning. And still more kneel at the altar of more-negative gods such as alcohol, drugs, and illicit relationships.

The saying goes that there are no atheists on the battlefield. But within everyone rages a different conflict: The God of the Bible versus the world’s gods and idols. And it's our hearts and souls that are the prizes of this hotly contested struggle.

Perhaps you and I don’t literally kneel and worship before an Old Testament-style golden idol. But secretly (and maybe not-so-secretly), we do cherish our own personal gods. Think about the things you worry about or sacrifice your time and money for. What are the issues that make you angry? What brings you the most joy? And here’s a revealing question: Whose attention and adoration do you most crave?

For Christ-followers, encountering God’s holiness transforms how we see ourselves — and how we respond to his calling. So, let’s reflect on the God (and false gods) in our lives, and choose the only One who’s worthy of worship. As Joshua — Moses’ successor — proclaimed to the leaders of Israel through his farewell address:

“But if it doesn't please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship — the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord."

God’s Waiting Room

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’"

– Isaiah 46:10

We live in a 24/7 world of hurry — one of instant messaging, Amazon Prime, and microwave popcorn. And just about anything we want is available through a mere tap or two on our smartphone. But take another look, and you'll discover that we're not always on the move. On average, we spend between 45 and 62 minutes per day just waiting, such as in traffic or at the grocery store checkout. And for many folks, this adds up to about five idle years over a lifetime.

Few people like to wait, and multi-tasking to make the most of downtime has become a valued life-skill. But the fact is that waiting isn't always a waste. Instead, it can be an essential part of God's plan for our lives — a process that enables us to become. This concept might be difficult to grasp because the human viewpoint of time differs greatly from our Creator’s. Here’s how the apostle Peter puts it into perspective:

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day."

We need to understand that what happens while we're waiting is often more important than what we're waiting for. Ask anyone who has spent grueling hours at the hospital contemplating the health and future of a loved one. Did their soul-searching experience bring a closer dependence on God? It's when we're so humbled and powerless that we realize we can do nothing on our own.

The good news is that Christ-followers like you and me are a people with a future. And as broken as we are, God promises to rescue and restore us through his coming Messiah — Jesus. So, let’s make the most of our time in God's Waiting Room — a place where we can look for ways and opportunities to say yes to him with a sense of expectancy and hope. As Psalm 130:5 reminds us:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Penny for Your Thoughts

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 

– 3 John 3

The U.S. Treasury minted about 540 billion Lincoln pennies between the coin’s 1909 introduction and the series’ end in November 2025. And nearly each one features the motto In God We Trust inscribed by Honest Abe’s profile. 

You’ll also see the phrase E Pluribus Unum — Latin for Out of many, one — on the penny’s flip side. An early motto of the United States, it’s a reminder that our nation was born when the 13 Colonies united behind the common cause of liberty. The Founding Fathers from Massachusetts often clashed politically and socially with their compatriots from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia. But they set aside their many differences to write the Declaration of Independence, win the Revolutionary War, and eventually ratify the Constitution.

Here’s where the Bible lesson comes in: The Church — meaning all Christ-followers on Earth — is also an entity that’s marked by distinct differences. Believers come from various religious traditions and have a broad range of preferences regarding worship music and sermon style. Likewise, the Church is also a place where all races are welcome and present. It mingles the rich, the poor, and the middle class. But what unites them all — or at least should bring them together — is a common faith and focus on Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to his Father (God) about the Church — and not just his original followers, but also Believers like you and me in the centuries to follow: 

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Christ’s prayer for his followers’ unity links the dusty streets of 1st century Israel with the crowded superhighways of modern North America and Europe … and everywhere in between. Moreover, it’s a reminder that Believers were never meant to go through life alone. Instead, we’re to gather regularly to share our joys, troubles, triumphs — and even doubts — all to strengthen our walks of faith. We’re also secure in God’s love, so there’s no need to compete for recognition or control. And that means we can use what we have to strengthen others … and help God’s work flourish. 

As Believers united in Jesus, we’re indeed one out of many. And it’s also in God we must trust.

The Naked Truth

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

– 2 John 6

First published in 1837, The Emperor’s New Clothes is a beloved short story by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote that there was once an emperor whose life revolved around fashion. This ruler even had a stylish outfit for every hour of the day. So it happened that two swindlers — claiming to be master weavers — arrived at his castle. And they assured the chic royal that they could tailor a unique suit of clothes for him from the magnificent cloth they would weave.

The emperor agreed to the frauds’ terms and gave them an extravagant down payment to begin their work. Eager to learn about his outfit’s status, the emperor sent his prime minister to inspect the tailors’ progress. Much to the prime minister’s surprise, he found only empty looms. But he was afraid to reveal his ignorance when the conmen asked for his thoughts about the imaginary fabric’s vivid colors and pattern. The prime minister replied that he was very impressed with their craftsmanship. And then he complied with the tailors’ new demands for more money and gold thread to complete their work.

“Is not the cloth magnificent?" asked two high government officials when the emperor came to view the progress for himself. "See here, the splendid pattern, the glorious colors," they proclaimed. Each pointed to the empty looms. And each thought that the others could see the material. 

"What can this mean?" said the Emperor to himself. "Am I so stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? This is disastrous," he thought. But aloud he said, "Oh, the cloth is perfectly wonderful. It has a splendid pattern and such charming colors." And he nodded his approval, smiled appreciatively, and stared at the empty looms.

The day soon came for the emperor’s grand procession — the celebrated occasion when His Majesty would reveal his new suit of clothes. As he walked by, the emperor’s subjects could only gasp at the spectacle. Silence enveloped the room. But no one dared to proclaim the remarkable sight before their eyes. Finally, a little boy pointed at the emperor and stated the obvious:

“Look!” said the youth. “The emperor has nothing on.”

It’s a lesson for every Christ-follower: Real love and truth belong together. And because love cares about people, it also cares about what’s true — which means love requires discernment. Hans Christian Andersen’s nearly 200-year-old tale also says much about our modern society. Its well-intentioned characters followed the politically correct path and told the emperor what he wanted to hear. But it took a naïve child to reveal the naked truth.

Give It a Rest

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

– Matthew 11:29

Climbing the career ladder, beating tight deadlines, and closing the deal are all marks of success in Western society. Millions of Americans even skip or cut short their well-earned vacations because they’re either afraid to fall behind at work or they can’t find time on their busy calendars. A study by jobs and recruitment website Glassdoor reveals that on average, American workers use only 54% of their eligible vacation time. For workers under "use-it-or-lose-it" company policies, this translates to hundreds of millions of completely forfeited days and billions of dollars in lost benefits nationwide.

Jesus had the world’s most important job — saving humanity from its sins — and his routine was often nonstop. In just three years he cured disease, raised the dead, and even calmed a raging storm. So, with such a tight schedule, it would seem like Christ would have little or no time to take a break or even socialize. But Scripture reveals that he indeed enjoyed quality off-time, and often with those who mattered the most to him. Jesus also admonished his busy disciples to give it a rest from time to time:

“Now come along to some quiet place by yourselves, and rest for a little while,” said Jesus, for there were people coming and going incessantly so that they had not even time for meals.

Likewise, Luke’s gospel records the time when Jesus visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary. While Martha busily prepared the food and straightened the house for a gathering, her sister Mary opted to take time out to listen to Christ’s message. Upset with Mary’s attitude, Martha complained to Jesus about the apparent injustice. But instead of scolding her sister, Jesus commended Mary for choosing the most important thing: quality time with him. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our non-stop routines to recharge our batteries and forget the everyday grind? The Bible teaches that well-earned rest is part of God’s design. With that in mind, let’s take a break from our daily busyness so we can take time to be with Him.