Author: S. Tory Teller

Stan’s main takeaway for each posting this past week. Each posting can be accessed by clicking the link for that day. 

Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian who is pursuing discipleship.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com 

_________________________________

Monday, April 27, 2026 —Belief is what it takes to have life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever, but is there something that’s to come after our belief? Stan talks about how worship and service are to follow. Link — April 27, 2026 — What’s to follow belief

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 —We are to be prepared to meet God every day, whether than means stepping into eternity because our time here is finished, or whether it means for the time God has for us while we remain here. To make this point, Stan uses something God told Moses to tell the people. Link — April 28, 2026 — Treat every day as the “third day”

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 —For us to help fulfill the great commission, Jesus said to “go into the world,” but too often we don’t go anywhere to tell anyone the truth of the gospel. Stan talks about how others will be impacted if we’re sent, but don’t go. Link — April 29, 2026 — How can they be sent if they don’t go?

Thursday, April 30, 2026 — At one point, Peter said to Jesus, “Everyone is looking for you.” Stan uses this to talk about how we are to be a part of helping others see that God wants them to be included in that group. Link —  April 30, 2026 — They are included in the “everyone”

Friday, May 1, 2026 — A man by the name of Zaccheus did what he needed to do in order to see Jesus. With him that meant climbing a sycamore tree. Stan talks about the “sycamore trees” in our lives that we need to climb in order to see Jesus. Link — May 1, 2026 — Doing what’s needed to see Jesus

“Do you ever go to Tom’s Tree Farm out on Jackson Road on the way to Weston?” Stan asked me one morning while we waited for Ricky to bring our breakfast orders.

“Tom’s Tree Farm? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it, so I’m pretty sure I’ve never been there. Why do you ask?”

“Tom’s a friend of mine,”Stan replied. “The other day I was on my way to Weston and I stopped to see him. We were talking about trees and at one point we got on the subject of the guy in the Bible who climbed a tree to see Jesus.”

“Somebody climbed a tree to see Jesus? I don’t remember anything about Jesus being in a tree. Somewhere I think it says something about Jesus hanging on a tree, but I’m not sure it says He was ever in a tree.”

“You’re right,” Stan agreed. “Jesus wasn’t in a tree. He was on the ground passing through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem and the cross. But there was a man named Zaccheus, who was also on the ground. He wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd so he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed by.”

“Okay,” I said, “that makes some sense, but what does it have to do with anything?”

“While I didn’t climb an actual tree in order to see Jesus,” Stan replied, “there came a time in my life I had to make adjustments in order to see Him. As well, I think it can certainly be an ongoing thing.”

“How so?”

“Like Zaccheus, who realized he had to do something in order to see Jesus, when God awakened in me the desire to see and know Him through Jesus, I realized I couldn’t see Jesus where I was. I couldn’t just continue with things the way they were. I needed to make adjustments in my life in order to see Him.”

“What kind of adjustments?”

“Zaccheus couldn’t see over the crowd, so he left it and did what he needed to do,” Stan said. “Same with me. I realized I couldn’t remain in the crowd where I was and see Jesus. I needed to get away from that crowd, do whatever needed to be done, and then be able to see Jesus.”

“Oh,” I replied, “and that’s something people might need to do on a regular basis if they want to continually see Jesus and what He has for them to be and to do. Right?”

“Absolutely,” Stan agreed. “There are all sorts of ‘sycamore trees’ we need to climb regularly if we’re going to see Jesus and what He has for us to see and do in order to follow Him as He intends. It’s all a matter of doing what’s needed to see Jesus!”

_________________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

And He entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold, there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; and he was a chief tax gatherer, and he was rich.  And he was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.  And he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. Luke 19:1-4.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t do what’s necessary to see what you know I need to do and to be yours for you and your kingdom. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead so I do whatever I need to do to see you and what you have for me to be and do for you. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you able to see God because you’ve accepted His free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, are you doing whatever you need to do in order to see God and all He has for you, both for now and forever? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need in order to see Him, both for eternal purposes and for while you remain here? Spend time on this studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God  knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

“Earlier this morning,” Stan mentioned during breakfast, “when I was journaling in Mark’s gospel, I saw something that reminded me of what a neighbor once told me.”

“What’s that?”

“Wondering if God wanted to include him in the category of ‘everyone’.”

“The category of ‘everyone’?”

“Yeah,” Stan replied. “There’s a verse in Mark’s gospel that says that everyone was looking for Jesus, and my neighbor came to the point of examining himself and realizing that’s not where  he was. He was not included in the ‘everyone.’ He wasn’t looking for Jesus.”

“Then what?”

“He was opened to see that God wanted him to be included not only with those who look for Jesus, but with those who actually find Him!”

“Did he do that?”

“He did,” Stan replied. “And since becoming a Christian, he’s been led to help as many people as possible see that they, too, are included in the ‘everyone’!”

_________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

And Simon and his companions hunted for Him; and they found Him, and said to Him, “everyone is looking for You.” Mark 1:36-37.

He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). John 1:41.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who told me that God did not want me to perish, but to come to repentance. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t tell anyone about you and how you want to include them in your provision to save the lost world through Jesus. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in telling and helping everyone to not only look for Jesus, but to find Him! Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Have you found Jesus in the sense of accepting what He accomplished by His finished work on the cross so you have life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others about God’s provision for them to come to repentance and not perish?If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need not only to know you are included in the “everyone” He wants to come to repentance, but what you need to tell others the same thing? Spend time studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

One morning during breakfast together, Stan mentioned that he had been talking with a neighbor about what the apostle Paul wrote concerning people being saved by calling on the name of the Lord. I asked Stan what they had talked about.

“Why Paul hadn’t asked another question,” Stan replied with a smile.

“Another question? How so?”

“Well,” Stan said, “as you may or may not remember, after Paul wrote that people can be saved by calling on the name of the Lord, he wrote a series of questions about how they can call on Him if they don’t believe, and then how can they believe if they haven’t heard, and how can they hear unless someone tells them, and how can someone tell them if they’re not sent.”

“At that point,” he continued, “is where my neighbor wondered why Paul didn’t ask the next question.”

“What next question?”

“How,” Stan responded with a smile, “can they be sent if they don’t go.”

“Oh,” I said, “that’s kind of like where Jesus said to go and make disciples, but if people are sent and don’t go, that won’t happen. Right?”

“Right you are, my friend,” Stan replied. “How can they be sent if they don’t go?”

______________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

. . . whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Romans 10:13-15.

Go therefore and make disciples . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone about the gospel so they will be saved. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in going to help others be saved. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you saved because you have called upon the name of the Lord? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption how are you doing with going and helping others to be saved? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only be saved, but to help others call upon the name of the Lord so they are saved? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about this to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

As we were enjoying breakfast together one morning, Stan mentioned that he had been focusing on something he called the importance of the third day. I assumed he was talking about the importance of Jesus’ resurrection and asked, “The third day? You mean Jesus’ resurrection on the third day?”

“That’s obviously a most important third day,” Stan replied, “but what I was focusing on in my journaling time was the third-day conversation between God and Moses.”

“The third-day conversation between God and Moses? What’s that?”

In the Book of Exodus,” Stan said, “there’s an account where God told Moses to have the people prepare for His coming down on Mount Sinai the third day. The people were to prepare to meet God, and it’s the same thing for me today.”

“How so?”

“I’m to be prepared to meet God not only on a third day, but on every day. In the first place, I’m to be prepared to step into eternity and meet Him at any time.”

“As well,” he added, “for as long as I remain on this side of eternity, every day I’m to be prepared to seek what He knows I need to be His for whatever He has in store for that day.”

“So,” I said, “the point is to be prepared for whatever God has for me. Is that it?”

“That’s it, my friend,” Stan replied. “Treat every day as the third day!”

_________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” Exodus 19:10-11.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you that He came down to provide that life. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t prepare to meet you on a daily basis and, as a result, I miss what you have for me to be and to do for you and your kingdom. Please forgive the foolishness of seeking to live the new life you’ve provided without being prepared to meet you! Help me follow every step of your lead in being prepared to meet you and to be involved in what you have for me. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you prepared to meet God in the eternal sense by having accepted the way to life eternally with Him through Jesus, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain apart from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with being prepared to meet God each day while you remain here so you can be involved in what He’s doing for His kingdom? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to be prepared to meet Him, not just for eternal purposes, but for what He has for you each day while you remain here? Spend time on this studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

One morning while we waited for Ricky to bring our breakfast orders, Stan mentioned that in his journaling through John’s gospel he had focused on a single verse that showed him what’s supposed to follow after we come to believe in Jesus. 

“Something’s supposed to follow belief in Jesus?” I asked. “What’s that?”

“Worship and service,” was Stan’s short answer.

“Worship and service? I thought belief was enough.”

“Well,” Stan replied, “belief is enough for salvation, but, as we’ve talked about many times, there are things we’re supposed to do while we’re waiting for the train into God’s eternal presence. It sure seems that worship and service are to follow belief!”

___________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Him. John 9:38.

. . . and they fell down and worshipped Him; . . . . Matthew 2:11.

Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:10. See also Luke 4:8.

. . . work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13.

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:17.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because I believe, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t worship and serve you the way you intend. Please forgive the foolishness of believing without worshipping and serving you. Help me follow every step of your lead in following my belief with worship and service. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Can you worship and serve God because you believe in Him and have accepted His provision of life eternally with Him? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with your worship of and service to God? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only believe in Him, but to worship and serve Him? Spend time on this studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

For those who may have missed it (or want to focus on it again), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The selection for this week is the one where Stan talks about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and how many people celebrated His arrival only because of the things they had already seen Him do, rather than for what He was going to do. Link — April 20, 2026 — The past is prologue

Stan’s main takeaway for each posting this past week. Each posting can be accessed by clicking the link for that day. 

Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian who is pursuing discipleship.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com 

_________________________________

Monday, April 20, 2026 —When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the way to the cross, many people celebrated His arrival only for what they had seen Him do, not for what He was going to do. Stan talks about this in a way that suggests Jesus could have said sometime about it to the crowd. Link — April 20, 2026 — The past is prologue

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 —Have you ever felt like a captive — that you were caught and couldn’t escape? Stan talks about the choice between being held captive by the world or taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Link — April 21, 2026 — Captive?

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 —Stan focuses on how what Jesus’ mother treasured in her heart is a great example for him to do the same thing. Link —April 22, 2026 — Am I like His mother?

Thursday, April 23, 2026 —God doesn’t want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Satan doesn’t want any to come to repentance, but for all to perish. Stan talks about how it’s not up to him to decide who’s in which category. Link — April 23, 2026 — Whose voice will I follow?

Friday, April 24, 2026 —How can we depart in peace? Stan uses a man named Simeon as the model answer for this question, not only for ourselves, but for others who don’t have that peace. Link — April 24, 2026 — Depart in peace

One morning while Stan and I were enjoying breakfast together, he mentioned he had been talking with a neighbor who suggested a connection between the great commission and a man named Simeon in Lukes’s gospel.  “What kind of connection?” I asked.

“A little bit about this Simeon guy,” Stan responded. “Jesus had been born. In accordance with the law of Moses, His parents took Him to the temple and presented Him to the Lord. Simeon was in the temple. Earlier he had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. He saw Jesus and held Him in his arms.”

“Wow!” I said. “He saw Jesus and held Him in his arms. How great that must have been. But where’s the connection to the great commission?”

“You’re right about how that must have been great for Simeon to hold Jesus in his arms,” Stan agreed. “The great commission part is what Simeon said while he was holding Jesus.”

“What’d he say?”

“That he could depart in peace because he had seen God’s salvation.”

“Depart in peace because he had seen God’s salvation,” I repeated. “I can see that’s the way it is for us today who have God’s salvation, but I still don’t see what the great commission has to do with it.”

“It seems like a lot of people don’t,” Stan replied, “but it seems pretty simple to me. Because we have the peace of salvation and there’s no need for us to fear death, aren’t we to help fulfill the great commission by going and telling others how they, too, can know they will depart in peace?”

_____________________________

Bible verses to consider:

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolidation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Luke 2:25-26.

. . . then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for my eyes have seen Thy salvation.”Luke 2:28-30..

. . . whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without the preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever when I depart in peace. I confess that even though I know I will depart in peace and spend eternity in your presence, too often I don’t tell others about how they, too, can have salvation and depart in peace when the time comes for them. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in telling others how they can depart in peace. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Will you be able to depart in peace because you have accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others how they can depart in peace, knowing they will spend eternity in God’s presence? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows wheat we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only for you to depart in peace, but to tell others how they will know they will depart in peace? Spend time on this studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to being part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

After we had ordered breakfast one morning and were waiting for Ricky to bring it, Stan mentioned that he had been talking with a neighbor about the great commission. “That’s a big subject,” I said. “Were you talking about anything specific?”

“We were,” Stan replied. “We talked about how we have to be careful to listen to the right voice.”

“The right voice? How so?”

“As you’ll remember,” Stan said, “the apostle Peter wrote that God doesn’t want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I do remember that. What about it?”

“Satan uses the same words, but in a different way and for a different purpose.”

“How so?”

“He wants none to come to repentance, but for all to perish.”

Continuing, Stan added, “If I don’t go and present the truth of the gospel to certain people because I think they’ll never repent and accept that truth, who’s voice am I following? It’s not up to me to decide who’s going to come to repentance and who’s going to perish! Jesus said ‘Go’. Satan says ‘Don’t’. Whose voice will I follow?”

_____________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, . . . . Mathew 28:19-20.

Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. John 8:44.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who came into my world to tell me the truth so I could come to repentance and not perish. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t tell others the truth of the gospel because I think they will never accept the truth. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in truly following you in going into the world with the truth of the gospel. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you know you will not perish because you have accepted the truth of the gospel? If no, why do you choose to perish rather than come to repentance? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with going into all the world? Are you reluctant to present the truth of the gospel because you think others will never accept it? Is that really up to you? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does God know you need to go and present the truth of the gospel without any self-imposed limitations? Spend time studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?