Happy 43rd Anniversary

Beautiful Bride!

Bob Lewis 9 · MAY 16 AUDIO 2026

May 16

Daily Devotional

The Way of Life through Jesus!

The phrase “The Way of Life through Jesus” encapsulates a profound invitation at the heart of Christian thought: a transformative path that reorients human existence away from self-centered striving toward divine communion with God, ethical integrity, and eternal hope through Jesus Christ.

Rooted in the New Testament declaration of Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), this way is not merely a set of doctrines or rituals but a lived relationship that reshapes identity, purpose, and destiny.

It stands in contrast to ancient philosophical schools—Stoicism’s endurance, Epicureanism’s pleasure, or Buddhism’s detachment—by centering on relational redemption through the person of Christ rather than abstract principles alone.

At its foundation lies the recognition of human brokenness. The biblical narrative portrays humanity as alienated from its Creator, God, through sin, a condition manifesting in fractured relationships, moral failure, and existential emptiness.

Jesus enters this reality not as a distant moral exemplar but as the incarnate God who “emptied himself” (Philippians 2:7), living among the marginalized, healing the sick, and challenging religious hypocrisy. His life models the narrow gate of self-denial and cross-bearing (Matthew 7:13-14), where true life emerges paradoxically through surrender.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) distills this ethic: blessing the poor in spirit, turning the other cheek, loving enemies, and seeking first the Kingdom of God. These are not burdensome rules but invitations into a liberated existence where love fulfills the law and automatic acceptance into the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven for Eternity through: Repentance from sin, Acceptance of Jesus as Savior and following Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Central to this Way is the mechanism of the Gift of Grace from God the Father.

Unlike merit-based systems, salvation through Jesus is an unearned gift—accomplished through his atoning death and validated by resurrection. The Apostle Paul articulates this as dying to the old self and rising to “newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Faith, then, becomes active trust: believing Jesus’ claims, receiving forgiveness, and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This indwelling empowers moral transformation. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—mark the believer’s character.

No longer driven by fear or ego, the follower experiences freedom to serve others, mirroring Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet.

Community forms another pillar. The early church in Acts exemplified this way through shared meals, radical generosity, and bold proclamation despite persecution. “The Way” (Acts 9:2) was their self-designation, emphasizing movement and pilgrimage. In a fragmented modern world of individualism, digital isolation, and ideological tribalism, this communal dimension offers counter-cultural belonging.

Churches, small groups, and acts of service become laboratories where forgiveness is practiced, burdens shared, and hope sustained. Yet history shows failures—crusades, scandals, cultural accommodation—reminding adherents that the way demands continual repentance and reform.

Philosophically, the Way addresses ultimate questions. Meaning arises not from Nietzschean will-to-power or Sartrean self-creation but from being known and loved by God the Creator.

Suffering gains redemptive purpose, as Jesus’ Cross demonstrates God’s solidarity with pain.

Death loses its sting through resurrection hope: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). This eschatological horizon infuses daily life with urgency and patience—working for justice while awaiting ultimate renewal.

Practically, embracing this Way today requires intentionality. It might mean prioritizing prayer and Scripture amid distraction, extending mercy to cultural opponents, stewarding creation responsibly, or advocating for the vulnerable.

In Austin’s vibrant yet restless culture—marked by tech ambition, creative energy, and social flux—Jesus’ Way offers grounding: success measured by faithfulness rather than metrics, identity rooted in adoption as God’s child rather than achievement or approval.

Critics rightly note tensions: exclusivity claims can seem intolerant in pluralistic societies, and interpretations vary across denominations. Yet the core invitation remains testable. Millions across centuries testify that following Jesus yields deeper peace, resilient joy, and purposeful love than alternatives. As C.S. Lewis observed, Jesus leaves no room for mere admiration—he demands decision.

Ultimately, the Way of Life through Jesus is an ongoing journey of becoming. It begins with encounter—often in quiet conviction or crisis—and unfolds through obedience, community, and Grace. It promises not escape from the world’s brokenness but victory within it, culminating in the renewal of all things. For those who walk it, life ceases to be random wandering and becomes pilgrimage toward the One who is both destination and companion.

In an age hungry for authenticity and transcendence, this ancient path retains startling relevance: come and see that the Lord is good, and find life abundant through this one simple verse in John 3:16:

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.”

To get into Heaven, no matter what sins you have committed, just lift up this simple Prayer:

Lord I confess that I am a sinner, I Pray that You will let Your Son Jesus Christ come into my heart, forgive me of my sins and help me to sin no more by following Him for the rest of my life, In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Welcome to your Gift of Eternal Life which has just begun.

Bob Lewis

Vietnam Vet

Blog: OurDailyBread101.com

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If you have questions, please call the 24-Hour BGEA Prayer Line at:

(855) 255-PRAY.

CONTINUE:

Let us Praise Him Daily!

A good way to learn to Praise God is to memorize the first 6 Verses of Psalms 148:

1 Praise the Lord, O heavens! Praise Him from the skies!

²Praise Him, all His angels, all the armies of heaven.

³Praise Him, sun and moon and all you twinkling stars.

⁴Praise Him, skies above. Praise Him, vapors high above the clouds.

⁵Let everything He has made give praise to Him. For He issued His command, and they came into being;

^{6 H}e established them forever and forever. His orders will never be revoked.

PLEASE read the last 6 Chapters of Psalms: 145-150 so that you will learn how to Praise God like David did!

If you don’t want to get your Bible, Here they all are, just click on each Chapter and I will read them to you:

PSALMS 145 PSALMS 146 PSALMS 147 PSALMS148 PSALMS 149 PSALMS 150

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JESUS IS:

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH,

THE LEADER,

THE ORIGINATOR,

THE LORD & MASTER,

THE SUPREME LEADER,

OUR HOPE,

1ST BORN FROM THE DEAD WITH AN IMMORTAL BODY TO NEVER DIE AGAIN,

THE 1ST FRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION,

HE IS OUR FESTIVAL OF HOPE,

OUR PARDON,

GIVEN 1ST PLACE IN EVERYTHING,

HAS BEEN EXALTED AS SUPREME OVER EVERYTHING,

IS ENOUGH,

THE FULLNESS OF GOD DWELLS IN US THROUGH JESUS,

JESUS HAS BROUGHT US INTO HARMONY WITH GOD,

HE HAS BROKERED A PEACE TREATY BETWEEN GOD & MAN,

YOU WERE BORN ON THE WRONG SIDE, BUT BY ACCEPTING JESUS

YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE NOW,

YOU ARE BEYOND REPROACH,

JESUS WAS THE SOLUTION BEFORE YOU HAD A SIN PROBLEM,

NEVER GET OVER WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU!

NOW:

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH:

TO TEACH US TO LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST!

AMEN!

(You might want to copy those down and memorize them!)

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DAILY BIBLE READING:

>1. Chapter for the DAY in Proverbs;

>2. PLUS: 1 NEW Chapter from the Old Testament AND

>3. PLUS: 1 NEW Chapter from the New Testament Daily:

Chapter 16 in Proverbs for today: (MAY 16 (MT) (ESV)

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.^[a]
³Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
⁷When a man’s ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
⁹The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.
¹⁰An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹A just balance and scales are the Lord‘s;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will appease it.
¹⁵In the light of a king’s face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
¹⁷The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word^[b] will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
²¹The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
²²Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
²³The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[c]
²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him;
    his mouth urges him on.
²⁷A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[d] is like a scorching fire.
²⁸A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans^[e] dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained in a righteous life.
³²Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
³³The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord.

Footnotes

Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan

CHAPTER 02 IN SONG OF SONGS for today: (MAY 16 (TLZ) (ESV)

2 I am a rose^[a] of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.

He

²As a lily among brambles,
so is my love among the young women.

She

³As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
    so is my beloved among the young men.
With great delight I sat in his shadow,
    and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
⁴He brought me to the banqueting house,^[b]
    and his banner over me was love.
⁵Sustain me with raisins;
    refresh me with apples,
    for I am sick with love.
⁶His left hand is under my head,
    and his right hand embraces me!
⁷I adjure you,^[c] O daughters of Jerusalem,
    by the gazelles or the does of the field,
that you not stir up or awaken love
    until it pleases.

The Bride Adores Her Beloved

⁸The voice of my beloved!
    Behold, he comes,
leaping over the mountains,
    bounding over the hills.
⁹My beloved is like a gazelle
    or a young stag.
Behold, there he stands
    behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
    looking through the lattice.
¹⁰My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away,
¹¹for behold, the winter is past;
    the rain is over and gone.
¹²The flowers appear on the earth,
    the time of singing^[d] has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
    is heard in our land.
¹³The fig tree ripens its figs,
    and the vines are in blossom;
    they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away.
¹⁴O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
    in the crannies of the cliff,
let me see your face,
    let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
    and your face is lovely.
¹⁵Catch the foxes^[e] for us,
    the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
    for our vineyards are in blossom.”

¹⁶My beloved is mine, and I am his;
    he grazes^[f] among the lilies.
¹⁷Until the day breathes
    and the shadows flee,
turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle
    or a young stag on cleft mountains.^[g]

Footnotes

Song of Solomon 2:1 Probably a bulb, such as a crocus, asphodel, or narcissus
Song of Solomon 2:4 Hebrew the house of wine
Song of Solomon 2:7 That is, I put you on oath; so throughout the Song
Song of Solomon 2:12 Or pruning
Song of Solomon 2:15 Or jackals
Song of Solomon 2:16 Or he pastures his flock
Song of Solomon 2:17 Or mountains of Bether

Revelation 08

for today: (MAY 16

(NN) ESV)

8 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ²Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. ³And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, ⁴and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. ⁵Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,^[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

The Seven Trumpets

⁶Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

⁷The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

⁸The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. ⁹A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹The name of the star is Wormwood.^[b] A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.

¹²The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

¹³Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

Footnotes

Revelation 8:5 Or voices, or sounds
Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is the name of a plant and of the bitter-tasting extract derived from it

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Please Remember:

“CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS

AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD!”

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The Steps to Salvation:

> Repent: Repentance means that you are turning away from sin to turn to Christ. It does NOT mean that you will be perfect.

> Believe/Receive: Salvation is through Faith in Jesus and by the Grace of God. Believing means putting your Faith in Jesus and receiving forgiveness of sin.

>Walk in the Newness of Life: Jesus died so that we might live. We walk in the Newness of Life being Born Again by His Blood.

Additionally, if you feel you need someone to Pray for you,

please call the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,

24 Hours/Day, at: 1+855 255 PRAY (This is the same as: 1+855 255 7729).

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GOD THE FATHER IS THE SOVEREIGN KING
AND CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE
UNIVERSE AND BEYOND!

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