Scroll to read a recap of Pastor John’s sermon from November 8, 2026
Let’s Break it Down
Like Mary, who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, we are called to choose Him before we choose anything else. The question worth asking is simple: does your daily schedule reflect that God is your first choice or your last resort?
Key Takeaways
The Christian life is not just about coming to faith but about continually living by faith, from start to finish, as Romans 1:17 describes.
Our righteousness in Christ is based entirely on faith. There is nothing we can do to earn it, no program to maintain it, and only faith by which we continue in it.
Choosing to spend time with Jesus is a deliberate decision. Just as Mary chose the better part, we must choose him over busyness, comfort, and everything else that competes for our attention.
The story of Peter at two charcoal fires illustrates two postures toward God: warming yourself at a comfortable distance while denying him, or running to Him with urgency and desire regardless of the cost.
Growing in faith requires intentional investment of our time, and when we prioritize God first, we position ourselves to be sustained, nourished, and strengthened by His presence throughout the day.
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5-Day Devotional
Day 1: From Moment to Lifestyle: Living by Faith
Devotional
Faith is not a one-time event. It is a way of life. Many of us can point to the moment we first believed. Maybe it was at an altar, in a quiet room, or in the middle of a hard season. That moment matters deeply. But faith was never meant to stop there. Romans 1:17 tells us that the righteous person lives by faith. Not lived. Lives. Present tense. Ongoing. Faith is the air a believer breathes, not just the door they walked through. Here is the encouraging truth: your righteousness before God is not something you have to earn or maintain through perfect performance. It is a gift, received by faith and sustained by faith. There is no checklist. There is no maintenance program. There is simply trust in Jesus, renewed each day. This means that no matter where you are right now, whether you feel spiritually strong or like you have been coasting, faith is available to you today. You do not have to earn your way back. You simply return to trust. The invitation is not to try harder. It is to believe more fully, today and every day after.
Bible Verse
'For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.' - Romans 1:16-17
Reflection Question
If faith is meant to be a daily way of life and not just a past decision, what does your faith actually look like on an ordinary Tuesday?
Quote
'Everything about God, from salvation to the sanctification process we are all in, begins and continues with faith.'
Prayer
Lord, thank You that my standing before You rests entirely on faith in Jesus, not on my performance. Teach me what it means to truly live by faith, not just believe in it. Amen.
Day 2: The Choice That Changes Everything
Devotional
Every day, you make hundreds of small choices. What to eat. What to watch. How to spend your evening. Most of them feel automatic. But one choice shapes all the others more than you realize: whether or not you give God the first part of your day. Mary understood this. While her sister Martha was busy with good and necessary things, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. She made a deliberate choice to be present with Him. And Jesus said that what she chose would never be taken from her. Time spent with God is never wasted. It is never lost. It is the one investment that holds its value forever. Here is the honest reality: if God does not get the first of your attention, He often ends up with the leftovers. Not because He demands it out of pride, but because life fills up fast. The morning sets the tone. The first hour shapes the rest. You do not need a perfect quiet time routine. You just need to show up. Open your Bible. Pray a simple prayer. Give Him the first moments before the noise of the day takes over. He is already there, waiting. And He has never once told anyone to come back later.
Bible Verse
'Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' - Proverbs 4:23
Reflection Question
When you look honestly at your mornings, what or who is actually getting your first and best attention?
Quote
'Time spent with God is a choice. Time in the Word, time in prayer. It’s a choice. And it’s your choice.'
Prayer
Father, help me to choose You first, before the noise and demands of the day crowd in. I want my time with You to be a priority, not an afterthought. Amen.
Day 3: Closing the Distance
Devotional
There is a big difference between being near Jesus and being close to Him. Peter learned this the hard way. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter followed at a distance. He stood at a fire in the courtyard, warming himself among strangers, and denied three times that he even knew Jesus. He was physically near the situation but spiritually far from His Lord. Maybe you know what that feels like. Going through the motions. Showing up to church. Saying the right things. But keeping a comfortable distance from actually surrendering to Jesus. Then comes the second fire. After the resurrection, Peter heard that Jesus was on the shore. He did not wait for the boat. He jumped into the water and swam. He closed the distance as fast as he could. And when he arrived, Jesus was not waiting to shame Him. He had already prepared a meal. There was warmth, food, and restoration. That is who God is. He is not standing at a distance, arms crossed, waiting to remind you of your failures. He is on the shore, fire already lit, meal already prepared, watching for you to come running. Close the distance today. He is already there.
Bible Verse
'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.' - Hebrews 11:6
Reflection Question
Are you currently warming yourself at a comfortable distance from Jesus, or are you actively running toward Him?
Quote
'At the first fire, Peter warmed himself at a distance from Jesus and denied knowing Him three times. At the second fire, after the resurrection, Peter heard that Jesus was on the shore and did not wait for the boat. He jumped in and swam to Him.'
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I have kept You at arm’s length. Give me the courage to close the distance and run to You, trusting that You are already there waiting. Amen.
Day 4: He Is Running Toward You
Devotional
One of the most beautiful things about the second fire in John 21 is what Jesus had already done before Peter arrived. He had already built the fire. He had already prepared the meal. He was not waiting to interrogate Peter or rehearse his failures. He was waiting to feed him. This is the heart of God toward you. He is not reluctantly available. He is actively pursuing. He wants to be with you more than you want to be with Him. That truth alone should change the way you approach your time with God. Sometimes we treat prayer and Scripture like obligations we have to fulfill before God will be pleased with us. But that gets it backwards. God is not waiting for you to earn His presence. He is inviting you into it. When you run to Him, He provides. When you seek Him, He meets you. Not with condemnation, but with nourishment, restoration, and grace. You are not bothering God when you come to Him. You are not interrupting Him. He has never once told anyone to come back later. He is present, attentive, and ready. Run to Him today. The fire is already lit.
Bible Verse
'Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.' - Jude 1:24-25
Reflection Question
Do you genuinely believe that God wants to be with you, or do you approach Him as though you have to convince Him to show up?
Quote
'He wants to be with me more than I want to be with Him.'
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You pursue me even when I am slow to come to You. Help me to believe that Your arms are open and Your table is already set. Amen.
Day 5: Choose Him, Every Day
Devotional
Five days of reflection come down to one simple truth: we choose Jesus, or we do not. Faith is not passive. It is a daily, active decision to trust Him, seek Him, and run to Him rather than warming ourselves at the comfortable fires of distraction, busyness, or self-sufficiency. Your identity is not built on your accomplishments, your reputation, or even your church attendance. It is built entirely on Jesus Christ. When life revolves around Him, everything else finds its proper place. When it does not, even good things become substitutes for the real thing. The good news is that every day is a fresh opportunity. Yesterday’s distance does not define today’s choice. Like Peter swimming toward the shore, you can close the gap right now. You can give God your morning, your attention, your trust. Time spent with Jesus is never taken from you. It accumulates. It shapes you. It sustains you through every season. So as you move forward from this week, carry one question with you: What fire am I running to? Let your answer lead you back to Him, every single morning, for the rest of your life.
Bible Verse
'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship.' - Romans 12:1-2
Reflection Question
What is one specific, practical change you can make this week to choose Jesus first, before anything else competes for your attention?
Quote
'We choose him or we don’t.'
Prayer
Father, I choose You today. Help me to make that choice again tomorrow, and every day after. Let my life be a living act of faith from start to finish. Amen.