One of my favorite breakfasts is a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza. The pizza must be leftover from the night before and eaten cold from the refrigerator, and the coffee must be fresh and hot. 

Pizza is one of those foods that is good the night before and great cold the following day. It’s probably not the healthiest breakfast in the world, but what can I say?

There are scientific reasons some foods are better the next day. One source says, “The breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars can intensify sweetness, while proteins and fats break down into savory amino acids and fatty acids, enriching umami flavors. Cooling and reheating also play a role, as they can alter the texture of the food, making it more tender and palatable.”

Some of you think my breakfast choice is “gross,” while others think it sounds like a good breakfast. You see, God doesn’t create us all alike. Each one of us is an individual, and while we might have similar likes and dislikes or similar backgrounds, no two of us are exactly alike.

It’s like snowflakes or fingerprints. Out of all the billions of people who have been born or all the innumerable who will come, no one is exactly like you or me.

God’s fine hand of craftsmanship created each of us for a different purpose. He’s given all of us a special purpose in life, a unique ministry, a contribution to be made for all eternity. None of us are here by accident. None of us is without a divine purpose.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Think about what a blessing that is. God made YOU unique because He has something that only YOU can do in mind. That means every person, young or old, rich or poor, Christian or non, has value beyond measure.

It’s ironic that we go to great lengths and travel vast distances to see the world’s treasures and wonders when the real treasures are all around us. 

The person you love is a treasure in God’s eyes. The person at work who makes you crazy has value beyond measure. The street person, the criminal, the person who you disdain because of their lifestyle or skin color, all are valuable in God’s eyes. 

When you look down on or mistreat them, you look down and mistreat the wonders of God.

Until next time, I pray God gives you the eyes to see how unique and wonderful you are and how valuable ALL the people around you are in His sight (even those who like coffee and old pizza for breakfast).

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

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© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

A familiar passage in the gospels warns of the  dangers of self-righteousness.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

Hopefully, most believers understand that our salvation is solely based on the completed work of Christ by grace and faith. Yet self-righteousness is a trap we can all easily fall into.

We do it when we want to deny the effects of our own sin, thinking, “Well, yes, I do that, but at least I’m not as bad as someone else.”

The battle against self is the greatest one we will ever face. Self is the source of all sin. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. 

Jesus’ brother, James, puts it this way.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:13-15

Our sinful nature is selfish. This is compounded by the fact that we live in a fallen world that encourages us to be self-centered and follow our sin-filled hearts. Giving into temptation is glorified as a victory and our right. That thinking is straight from the pit of hell and smells like smoke.

To battle self, let us fix our eyes upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, and the Word encourages and directs us.

Lord Jesus, teach us to understand who we are in you and to live accordingly. Help us set aside our old, self-reliant ways and guard us from sin.

Until next time, may you be ever more like Jesus.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

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© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.