GuideStone® was originally established in 1918 to provide financial support and assistance for retired pastors and widows. Today, we continue to carry out that mission through the ministry of Mission:Dignity®. Here’s an encouraging devotional from one of our recipients:
L-O-V-ERevelation 5:5 (CSB)
Anna Manning authored this issue’s devotional. She served the Lord alongside her late husband, James, for 36 years.
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5 (CSB)
This verse says that only one person in Heaven was worthy to open the scroll with seven seals, and that person was Jesus Christ. His worthiness can overshadow our unworthiness. Because of the salvation only He can give, we can truly feel His love and have no feelings of worthlessness.
I don’t know how people live without Christ in their lives. I feel ashamed of myself when I think of what he went through for you and me. Can you imagine the pain he went through for us? He let them spit on him, pull his hair and beat him nearly half to death. Then they gave him a crown of thorns — that alone was an ordeal. The thought of him just standing there and letting them push that crown down on his head makes me want to hang my head in shame. Then, the worst of all, the cross. It was so heavy that they had to get someone else to carry it to the hill. Any time during that ordeal, Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to his aid, but he didn’t. Do you know why? It’s spelled L-O-V-E. Love for you, me, and everyone who calls on his name. He let them nail him on that cross for us. I don’t want what he went through to be in vain. Do you?
If you don’t, repent of your sins, tell Jesus you are sorry and ask him to come live in your heart. He will. He has been my savior since 1961, and I look forward to the rapture when Jesus calls all his children home.
If I go to heaven before then, I’ll bow at Jesus’ feet and thank him for his forgiveness. All my family is waiting for me there, including my husband of 58 years. It’s a lonely place down here without him. I’m so glad he told me about Jesus so many years ago. Just think of what I could be missing if I didn’t know the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. I hope you come to know him, too.
If you haven’t already, will you call on the name of Jesus today?
Want more devotionals? Our 40-day devotional book written by our Mission:Dignity recipients is available to order here.
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Commentary
• Jan 21, 2026 