Gleanings From The Word

Tag: daily devotional

Leadership Lessons From Sheep and Shepherds

Can we talk? That phrase has been known to create moments of panic in many relationships. It was used by comedians, particularly John Rivers, in the 1980’s to open blunt dialogue. I’m going to talk this morning about the roles of shepherds, sheep and leadership. That can be touchy.

This morning’s image is from some years ago. The lambing season at a local sheep farm is open to the public. It’s a beautiful time. To watch lambs, sheep and shepherds.  To learn how they naturally interact.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the head of the church. We are to follow Him.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees—and the wolf snatches and scatters them— because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not from this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. John 10:11-14

Jesus has appointed godly followers to act as His under-shepherds. They have a God-given role of leading and protecting the sheep. The role of shepherd carries no more prestige than any other role in the kingdom, but it is an invaluable role.

Sheep without shepherds are lost. Sheep trying to lead other sheep become easy prey to wolves.

Too often, the sheep try to lead themselves, or a weak shepherd keeps asking the sheep to see what their perceived needs are. That’s people pleasing, not leading.

I’m not opposed to surveys and talking to the sheep. They can be valuable tools in assessing the current state and health of the flock. Our local assembly is currently going through an assessment of church health with the Affiliation we belong to. It’s good at times to do that. An objective outside perspective can be very healthy.

Still, constantly relying on the sheep for leadership is a recipe for disaster.

The shepherd’s job isn’t to pander to the self-perceived needs of the flock. It is to follow God’s leading, grow the flockand equip them for life. The shepherd is to be praying, discerning God’s will and teaching.

The shepherd leads, the sheep follow. That’s the order of things.

Can shepherds make mistakes? Of course they can, they are flawed like the rest of us. Can there be shepherds who were never called to the role but act like hirelings? Of course. Some people should never be in leadership of that sort.

Still, leaving the sheep to run the show without proper leadership is dangerous at best.

The sheep are to follow the shepherd as he follows the Good Shepherd. They need to be praying for their pastors and leaders and providing whatever support they can.

Do you have helpful input or suggestions? Then by all means share them with the shepherd, after praying about it and searching the Scriptures for yourself. All sheep have the Spirit. Your input has value.

Remember, though, that the direction God is leading His flock may not be the exact way you think it ought to be. Trust God to work through the shepherd.

Thank God for the under-shepherds He has given us to lead the way.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin

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SUMMARY

This devotional emphasizes the biblical pattern of Christ as the Good Shepherd and pastors as under-shepherds called to lead, protect, and guide the flock. While leaders are imperfect, the church functions healthiest when shepherds seek God’s direction faithfully and the sheep support them with prayer, discernment, and trust.

KEY POINTS

·  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and church leaders are called to follow His example in caring for and guiding the flock.

·  Sheep need godly leadership, while pastors must lead by prayer, Scripture, and discernment rather than people-pleasing.

·  Believers should prayerfully support their leaders, offer wise input humbly, and trust God’s direction for the church.

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All contents, “Gleanings From the Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2026 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, “Gleanings From the Word.” All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible® (LSB®), Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc.

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

26 May 2026
Pentecost Insights: Unveiling Spiritual Connections
I’ve been reading some Messianic Jewish material on Pentecost and have learned some astounding similarities between Moses coming down from the mountain and the events of Acts 2.

Some of the material I recognized from previous studies, and others were new to me. I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon that did a full comparison. I’m just going to touch on a few key points

And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41

It’s a very familiar passage if you have been in the church for any length of time. The church is born with a supernatural sign and outpouring of miraculous signs. What I didn’t recognize before is that it is directly comparable to an event in the account of the Exodus. You likely know it as the story of the golden calf.

Let me point out some parallels.

When Moses is on the mountain, there is lightning, fire and clouds. At Pentecost, we have the tongues of flame.

When Moses comes down, he finds the people worshipping at an altar of a golden calf. In God’s judgment, 3000 were slain. At Pentecost, by God’s grace, 3,000 were saved that day.

Moses intercedes with God for the people and their sin. With Christ we have the true mediator for all believers.

In many ways, with the Law’s declaration, the nation of Israel was formally born. At Pentecost, the church was born.

The Law was given 50 days after the Passover before the Exodus from Egypt. Pentecost was 50 days after Jesus. Last Supper (in some sense, the last Passover).

In both cases, a large assembly is gathered and waiting. The people at the foot of Sinai are waiting for Moses to return; the disciples in Jerusalem are waiting as Jesus commanded. In both cases, something dramatic descends from above and transforms the situation entirely.

Pentecost isn’t just a “birthday of the church” moment — it’s a deliberate new-covenant Sinai, where everything that went wrong in Exodus 32 is reversed. The covenant that was broken before the ink was dry is now written inwardly, and the three thousand who fell under judgment become three thousand who receive life.

Next time you think about the miracle of Pentecost, take a moment to contemplate the incredible ways God blesses us and how His word is a signpost pointed directly at Him. It’s all part of His redemptive plan for His creation.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin

Profound Change: The Journey to New Creation

Summary

Pentecost in Acts 2 mirrors and fulfills the events at Mount Sinai, revealing a deliberate connection between the giving of the Law and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Where Israel’s sin at the golden calf brought judgment and death to three thousand people, Pentecost displays God’s grace as three thousand are brought to life through Christ and the new covenant.

Key Points
- At both Sinai and Pentecost, God’s presence is revealed through dramatic signs from heaven, including fire, sound, and a gathered assembly waiting below.
- When Moses descended from the mountain, Israel fell into idolatry and three thousand died under judgment; at Pentecost, after Christ’s resurrection and ascension, three thousand were saved through repentance and faith.
- Moses acted as an intercessor for Israel, foreshadowing Christ, the true and perfect mediator of the new covenant.
- Sinai marked the formal establishment of Israel under the Law, while Pentecost marked the birth of the church through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
- The Law was given fifty days after the Exodus events, and Pentecost occurred fifty days after Christ’s resurrection, emphasizing God’s intentional covenant pattern and fulfillment.
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22 May 2026
The Gospel – Spreading Joy

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you likely know that my favorite flower is the Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor). It seeds prolifically, pops up in unexpected places, grows in rough conditions and brings a smile when you see one. It reminds me in many ways of the gospel, bringing joy.

Only God knows how many gospel calls have gone out (He sows prolifically). The gospel is seeded through the words of the Bible. The life of Christians calls people. Our testimony calls people.  The Holy Spirit calls out the good news of the gospel in ways we can only imagine. Like Johnny-jump-up seeds, the gospel is being sown everywhere, bringing joy as it grows.

The gospel takes root in what we might consider the hardest of soils and the worst of conditions. It’s sown into the hearts of the enemies of God, people who love their sin, and people who had no idea that they needed a savior or who at times rejected the concept entirely.

It happens unexpectedly. Even you and I were transformed by the power of the gospel and God’s incredible, unending grace. The Lord died to cover our sins and bring us to life.

When the gospel takes hold, the person is changed forever. It’s a beautiful sight to behold. The newborn is far from perfect yet (what newborn is?), but they are undeniably changed.

A sinner is forgiven. An enemy is now an heir. A former slave to sin is welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

I have to rejoice and smile every time I see or hear of the gospel bearing fruit. I know it isn’t just me. The Lord rejoices and all the angels in heaven do as well.

Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

My Johnny-jump-ups bring temporary smiles and joy. The fruit of the gospel brings everlasting rejoicing.

Let us do our part to sow seeds of the gospel and rejoice when we see what the Lord does with them.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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SUMMARY

The Johnny-jump-up becomes a picture of the gospel: spreading unexpectedly, taking root in hard places, and bringing lasting joy wherever God causes it to grow. Just as the flower thrives in unlikely conditions, the gospel transforms sinners through God’s grace and produces eternal rejoicing in heaven and among believers.

KEYPOINTS

·  The gospel spreads widely through Scripture, Christian witness, testimony, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

·  God causes the gospel to take root even in hardened hearts and impossible circumstances, transforming lives completely.

·  Every repentance and changed life brings joy not only to believers, but also to heaven itself.

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This might be the best news you’ve ever heard. You may also like “Spread of the gospel”

20 May 2026
Is self-help the answer? What does the bible say?
The self-help industry is estimated to generate over $50 billion a year worldwide, with about 40% of that in North America. That tells me people know they are a mess. I have no doubt that some of that money brings at least temporary results for some people. I’m all in favor of better people.

The problem is that very little, if any, self-help material addresses our key problem. Our problem is sin, and the effects of that sin.

The Bible is not a self-help book, and the gospel is not a self-help program. The Bible tells of our need for God and His plan of rescue. The gospel is that plan.

The gospel tells us that when we become believers, we are no longer the same person.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

That person no longer exists. The new creation still has problems, but we are reconciled to God and transferred into the Kingdom.

… giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-24

That doesn’t immediately clear up all of our other problems. For that, the Holy Spirit works in us. As we draw closer to God, our behavior and character change. Our ideas about what is and isn’t truly important transform over time.

Other than Jesus, no one has been born without sin. Adam and Eve were sinless for some short period of time, but they fell in a most spectacular way. You and I were born with a sin nature and a propensity to sin. We cannot defeat it on our own, no matter how many good works we do or how many self-help books we read.

The Lord is our helper. The Lord is our healer. He created us in His image, and His desire is for us to be more like Him.

We are works in progress, but we are His workmanship.

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

He will not fail to finish what He started in us.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Get help where you need it, but never forget that your true help and healing is supernatural. The God of the Bible is the ultimate helper.

Trust Him.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin

A Progressive Revelation of Heaven: Seeing Jesus More Clearly Every Day

Summary:

The self-help industry may offer temporary improvement, but the Bible teaches that humanity’s deepest problem is sin, and true transformation and healing come only through God through Jesus Christ.
- The gospel is not a self-improvement program but God’s rescue plan that makes believers a new creation reconciled to Him.
- Human effort alone cannot overcome sin; lasting change comes through the work of the Holy Spirit shaping believers over time.
- Christians are God’s workmanship, and He faithfully continues the work He began in them until it is complete.
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19 May 2026
Newborns

All the ladies of the small church and not a few of the men were gathered in one corner. It was easy to see why… One of the women of the church had brought in her newborn baby, born just days before. Everyone was oohing and aahing over this little miracle.

You know the scene. You’ve seen it many times in many locations when a newborn appears. The same thing happens when the new grandmother pulls out the photographs of the latest addition to the family lineage.

I have a confession to make. I’m not much of a newborn baby fan. I’m getting better as the years go by, but I’m still not very comfortable around them.

Babies are small, and they used to terrify me. I was that afraid I was going to drop them or hurt them. Babies seem so very fragile to me.

Babies are wrinkly and funny colored. Often, heads are misshapen, and their coloration is funny. There is just something spooky about them. Now, I know none of that is rational; in fact, it is quite silly, but it’s true.

I was present when both of my sons were born. Even though I’m not much of a baby fan, there was something beautiful about them. There was something beautiful about my wife. She had just been through hours of labor and wasn’t looking quite like a supermodel, but she and my sons were the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

Now I’ll admit I was biased, because after all, they were my sons and my wife. Still in my eyes, they were beautiful beyond description. I still worried about dropping them or hurting them in some way, and I wasn’t as comfortable as perhaps others in the same situation might have been.

I was also present within minutes or hours of many of my grandchildren’s births. I love them dearly, and they were almost as good-looking as my own boys.

I’m a lot more comfortable when babies reach the age when they are moving around better, talking a bit and have insatiable curiosity. They look more like people, and I’m not so worried about hurting them.

There is that precious age when they think you know things and ask you questions. You get adoring smiles when you can answer them. I don’t get a lot of those when I tell things to teens or other adults.

There is a newborn baby that I love to be around, though. When someone comes to know Jesus, when they are born again, they are a new creation.

Therefore, from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

New Christians have a zeal, a passion for Christ that many older saints seem to have lost. They hunger for the Word and they long to know Jesus more.

Newborn believers actually want to go to worship services. They don’t go because someone told them that they had to attend.

Newborn believers tell everyone about Jesus whether they want to hear about it or not. I don’t have numbers to substantiate it, but I believe that for the bulk of the faithful, they talked to non-believers about Jesus far more as new creations than they do as battle hardened saints.

I know I am generalizing, and you may well be the exception to the rule. We can probably all thing of a believer who never lost that zest for Jesus.

Still, my hearts desire is for people to know Him more deeply and to be transformed into His image. That’s one of the reasons I love to write about Him; to preach and to teach Bible studies.

It isn’t that I have somehow “made it”, I am a long way from being a fully sanctified believer. I have my struggles like everyone else and my own sin to wrestle with. It isn’t that I know more than everyone else.

It’s simply that I know the zeal of someone who could never have been redeemed under his own merit who has been set free by Jesus. I know it isn’t going to happen but I want everyone to have that moment of freedom, of rebirth.

If you haven’t yet been born again, I pray you would come to know Jesus. If you have been born again, my prayer is that your fire for Jesus never be extinguished and that you grow ever deeper in your relationship with Him.

Be blessed

Kevin

Kingdom Diversity

Summary

A newborn baby at church prompts reflections on both the beauty and fragility of new life and the excitement people naturally feel around it. The piece then shifts to the spiritual parallel of being “born again,” celebrating the passion, joy, and eagerness that new believers often have in their relationship with Jesus.

Takeaway

  New life, whether physical or spiritual, carries a sense of wonder, hope, and transformation.

  New Christians are often marked by enthusiasm for worship, Scripture, and sharing their faith with others.

  The closing message encourages people to come to know Jesus and to continue growing spiritually without losing their zeal.

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11 May 2026
Hobby Horse Alert – Read the Word
All preachers and teachers have hobby horses, topics they come back to over and over again. Read the Word, and be saved by grace alone, are two of my hobby horses.

I am a big advocate of Christians reading the Word. I’ve been known to repeat the mantra “Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.”

There are several reasons I think reading the Scriptures is important.

Firstly, it’s God’s instruction book to us. It tells us who He is, what His plan for us is, and how we should live.

Secondly, you’re never going to hear the Scriptures preached on a Sunday Morning. If the preacher read three new verses every Sunday morning, neither he nor you would live long enough. It will take 200 years of Sundays.

Thirdly, you can’t evaluate the merit of preaching or teaching properly if you don’t actually know what the Word says. You read the Word, so you understand the context of what is being discussed, and its place in the overall Scriptures. Plenty of times the scriptures are taught out of context or to make a point, rather than let the Scriptures bring the message.

That’s why I’m a big fan of expository preaching, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book. Proper exposition in the sense of whole book preached in context, and the Scriptures speak clearly. There is a time and place for seasonal or topical preaching, but I believe they should be the exception, not the rule.

Now, I will confess that I can’t point to a Bible verse that says, “Read the Word.” However, even a cursory look should show that the Bible calls out to be read.

Here are a few samples. I’m sure you can find more on your own.

Now it will be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, to carefully observe all the words of this law and these statutes. Deuteronomy 17:18-19

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will be prosperous. Joshua 1:8

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, ^for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:11

And when this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Colossians 4:16

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

The Bible often frames it as “hearing,” “meditating,” or “searching” the Scriptures, the clear expectation is that God’s people actively engage with His Word regularly.

Be blessed

Kevin

Kingdom Diversity

Summary

This article argues that Christians must personally read and know the Scriptures, not merely rely on sermons or teachers, because the Bible is God’s instruction to His people and the standard by which all teaching should be judged. While Scripture may not explicitly command “Read the Word,” the consistent pattern throughout the Bible is that God’s people are expected to read, hear, examine, and meditate on His Word regularly.

Key points:
- The Bible is God’s revelation of who He is, His will, and how believers are to live.
- Christians cannot properly discern good teaching or recognize Scripture taken out of context unless they know the Word themselves.
- The author strongly advocates expository preaching because it allows Scripture to speak in context rather than bending passages to fit topics or agendas.
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8 May 2026
The Countercultural Jesus

Looking at this picture of trees reflected, it’s hard to tell which way is up. That’s the way things are sometimes. The bible upends everything, and we worship the countercultural Jesus.

The world tells us either that there is no truth or that you make your own truth. The world tells us that there are many paths to heaven. Jesus says, “No.”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

The world tells us that we are all good people. Jesus says that isn’t true.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.Mark 10:18

The world tells us we can earn our way to heaven. The Bible says differently,

^{For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [a]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.} Ephesians 2:8-9

The world teaches us to hate those who are different from us and to hate our enemies. The countercultural Jesus differs.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …” Matthew 5:44-44

The way of the Christ follower will always be a path that conflicts with those who are not. The world hates Him and His message. They may well hate and reject us as well.

The path of the Christian leads to eternal shalom (peace with God and blessing). The path of the unbeliever leads to torment and turmoil forever.

There truly are, as the countercultural Jesus said, a wide path and a narrow one. I urge you to stick to the narrow trail.

Trust Him by faith and follow even when the path diverges from the ways of the world.

Be blessed

Kevin

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Kingdom Diversity

SUMMARY

Following Jesus means embracing a truth that often runs against the values of the world, trusting that the narrow path of faith leads to eternal peace with God.

Three takeaways:

Jesus teaches absolute truth and declares Himself the only way to the Father.

Salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not something earned by human effort.

Christ followers are called to live differently from the world, even loving enemies and enduring rejection for His sake.

The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear

7 May 2026
Upon This Rock

In Matthew 16 is a well-known but controversially understood verse. Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is and gets various replies. Upon hearing Peter’s reply, Jesus says, “…and upon this rock I will build My church.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:16-18

The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common, less formal Greek language. There are nuances that don’t transfer over to English. There is an important word play here that doesn’t come across well in our language.

Jesus calls Peter petros, a word meaning a very small stone. The word we translate as ‘rock’ is petra, meaning a massive, immovable bedrock.

This same word, petra, is used elsewhere in the bible to describe absolute stability. The wise man builds his house on petra (Matthew 7:24). The solid petra is where Jesus tomb was carved (Matthew 27:60).

The idea that Jesus the Christ is the rock is further reinforced in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies the imagery with Christ, stating, “…that Rock was Christ.” Similarly, throughout the Old Testament, “Rock” is a title reserved for God, not a human leader (see Psalm 18:2)

When Jesus is saying “upon this rock…” What is he saying?

By moving from the image of a “small stone” to that of “solid bedrock,” we are gently drawn into a deeper understanding. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” He pointed beyond the strength of any one man to something far more enduring—the truth that had just been revealed: that He is the Messiah.

Peter was chosen, shaped, and given a meaningful role, yet even he stood upon that same foundation. The strength of the Church does not rise from human ability, but from the unshakable reality of who Christ is.

And so the Church stands—firm, steady, and secure—because it is built upon this rock: the living truth of Jesus Himself.

Hold fast to the petra, the living bedrock of Jesus.

Be blessed

Kevin

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Spread of the Gospel

Summary

In Matthew 16, Jesus contrasts Peter (a small stone) with the “rock” (petra), pointing not to Peter himself but to the foundational truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The Church is built on this unshakable reality—Christ Himself—not on human strength.

Three takeaways:

The “rock” refers to the revealed truth of Jesus’ identity, not merely Peter as a person.

Scripture consistently uses “rock” (petra) as a symbol of divine stability, often pointing to God or Christ.

The Church’s foundation is secure because it rests on who Jesus is, not on human leaders.

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Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

4 May 2026
Streams of Living Water

I love to walk by small streams, creeks and brooks. There are great places to relax and enjoy nature, and they often make me think of streams of living water.

The Bible uses the phrase “streams of living water” as a picture of something deeply refreshing, life-giving, and never running dry. It points to God’s presence and Spirit flowing into a person’s life, bringing renewal, peace, and a sense of purpose. Just as water in a dry place brings everything back to life, this “living water” represents an inner fullness that satisfies the heart in a way nothing else can.

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37:38

And Yahweh will continually guide you, and satisfy your soul in scorched places, and fortify your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, Revelation 22:1

Those versions are only a sampling. The concept appears in many other places in Scripture as well.

The streams are meant to overflow—not just stay within someone but pour out into the lives of others through kindness, love, and hope. The image is one of constant movement and abundance: not a stagnant pool, but a fresh, ongoing stream.

In simple terms, the streams of living water are about receiving something from God that continually restores you and then naturally spills over to bring life to those around you.

What a powerful concept and beautiful image.

My prayer this morning is that the streams of living water from God fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit. That the refreshing brings forth a harvest of Spiritual fruit and overflows from you and blesses the lives of everyone you encounter.

Be blessed

Kevin

Don’t Judge Jesus by Christians

Summary

This devotional reflects on the biblical image of “streams of living water” as a picture of God’s Spirit actively at work within a believer—bringing continual renewal, deep satisfaction, and spiritual vitality. Drawing from both personal experience in nature and key Scripture passages, it emphasizes that this living water is not meant to remain contained but to overflow outward, expressing itself through a life marked by peace, purpose, and tangible impact on others.

Key Takeaways

God’s Spirit refreshes and sustains — like water in a dry place, it restores inner life and provides lasting satisfaction.

The flow is meant to overflow — spiritual renewal is not private; it naturally extends into acts of love, kindness, and hope.

True fullness comes from God alone — the “living water” meets the deepest needs of the heart in a way nothing else can.

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Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

1 May 2026
Don’t Judge Jesus by Christians

I frequently meet people who have given up on Jesus and the church. They tell stories of hurt and disappointment. I can only say, “Don’t judge Jesus by Christians—He is not like us.”

The chances are good that if you have been in the church for any length of time, you have been hurt, betrayed or disappointed. A Christian friend has behaved in a most unchristian way. A pastor has said something you didn’t like or gotten some detail wrong in Scripture.

If that hasn’t happened yet, your turn is coming.

Christians are not perfect. I often refer to us as a “bunch of messed-up people trying to follow Jesus.” We know we don’t have our acts together, and we need God’s help.

If perfection were the benchmark to becoming Christian, none of us, including you, could get in. There was only one perfect human being, and they nailed Him to a cross 2000 years ago.

Don’t judge Jesus by Christians. Don’t evaluate Jesus based on me. I’m on a good day, a very dim image of Him. You need to put your faith and trust in Jesus, not His followers. He never changes and will never fail you or leave you.

Let me say it again, “Don’t judge Jesus by Christians —He is not like us.”

Evaluate Him based on His claims and the changes you see in yourself and others. Sometimes that change is a tiny whisper, sometimes He moves mountains. Search honestly and put Him to the test.

Don’t be content to rely on the impressions of others or second hand accounts of who Jesus is. Study the Scriptures and let the Spirit reveal Him.

Others have left the church because they tried “Christianity and it didn’t work.” A Christless Christianity is an empty, powerless lie. It will never fulfill what you truly need.

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful 2 Timothy 2:11-13

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Come to the cross with open arms, He is waiting for you. He will forgive your sins, make you into a new creation and begin your transformation into being everything He created you to be.

Don’t let the failure of others keep you from the one who loves you beyond measure.

Trust Him.

Be blessed

Kevin

Streams of Living Water

Summary

Many abandon faith because of hurt caused by Christians, but that failure reflects people—not Christ, who remains faithful, unchanging, and worthy of trust. True faith requires engaging Jesus directly, not relying on flawed representations of Him.

Key takeaways

Expect imperfection in Christians. Hurt and disappointment in the church are common because believers are still unfinished.

Judge Jesus, not His followers. He alone is perfect, unchanging, and faithful—unlike those who represent Him imperfectly. Don’t judge Jesus by Christians.

Seek Christ personally and honestly. Don’t rely on secondhand impressions; test His claims through Scripture and experience.

Christ remains faithful and transforms lives. 2 Timothy 2:11–13 and Philippians 1:6 affirm His faithfulness and ongoing work in those who trust Him.

All contents, “Gleanings From the Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2026 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, “Gleanings From the Word.”

Scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible® (LSB®), Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc.

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

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# Right Belief Must Become Right Living

30 April 2026