Author: S. Tory Teller

As Stan and I were enjoying breakfast together again one morning at the Twelve Baskets Cafe, he mentioned he’d been talking with a neighbor about his motivation for being involved in the great commission. I asked him what his neighbor said.

“As you know,” Stan replied, “Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. That’s what He told them then, and He tells us to do the same thing today.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “But it’s not always easy to do.”

“Easy has nothing to do with it,” Stan replied with a smile. “Jesus didn’t say to go if it’s easy, He said to go.”

“And,” he continued, “my neighbor told me he was really challenged by something else Jesus said about what happens if he doesn’t go and do what he can to tell everyone not to be an anyone.”

“Tell everyone not to be an anyone? What’s that mean?”

“Jesus said that if anyone does not abide in Him, they’ve got an eternal fire problem.”

“An eternal fire problem if they don’t abide in Jesus? You mean like being burned up in the eternal fire?”

“That’s what Jesus said,” Stan replied. “And my neighbor takes it seriously by telling everyone he can about not being that kind of anyone!”

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Bible verses to consider:

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6.

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, . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.

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.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, for Jesus’ warning of the consequences of not abiding in Him. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because I have accepted what Jesus accomplished on the cross, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone anything about the eternal consequences of not abiding in Jesus. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in doing what you have for me to do. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you know you will not be eternally separated from God because you’ve accepted His provision of Jesus and His finished work on the cross? 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 the consequences of not abiding in Jesus? 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 abide in Jesus, but to go and tell others the consequences of not abiding in Him? 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?

For those who may have missed it (or want to spend more time with it), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The selection for this week is the one about what Jesus told His disciples concerning the advantage they would have by His leaving the earth and returning to heaven. The advantage He talked about is available to us today, but too often we don’t take advantage of that advantage. Link — June 16, 2026 — The advantage of His presence

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 

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Monday, June 15, 2026 —It’s not uncommon for our prayers to be a list of things we tell God we want. But doesn’t He already know what we want, and what He desires is for us to ask Him what He knows we need? Stan uses a picture of a wishing well to talk about this. Link — June 15, 2026 — It’s not just a wishing well

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 —When Jesus was getting close to the end of His time on earth, He told His disciples that it was to their advantage that He go away. We have the same advantage He was talking about, but too often we don’t take advantage of that advantage! Link — June 16, 2026 — The advantage of His presence

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 —Who we know makes a difference, not only for our lives here, but for our lives for the rest of eternity. Link — June 17, 2026 — It’s all about Who you know

Thursday, June 18, 2026 —One of Stan’s neighbors went to see his cardiologist for an annual checkup to see how his heart is doing. He also got a checkup on how his spiritual heart is doing. Link — June 18, 2026 — Measure how my heart’s doing

Friday, June 19, 2026 —Not only is God’s word sharper than any two-edged sword, it also has a point. Often that point is to ask us pointed questions about where we are in our relationship with Him. Link — June 19, 2026 — They kept His word; do I?

Stan and I had again gathered for breakfast at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. Stan said he had a question for me to see if I remembered something we had talked about previously. “What’s your question?” I asked.

“Do you remember what the writer of the letter to the Hebrews said about God’s word being sharp?”

“Yeah,” I responded, “I think so. Doesn’t it say something about it being sharper than a two-edged sword?”

“It does,” Stan agreed. “And do you remember when we talked about how God’s word, in addition to being sharp, also has a point?”

“Now that you mention it, I do remember that. God’s word has definite points. Probably a lot of them!”

“Exactly,” Stan replied, “as well as something else.”

“Something else? What’s that?”

“God’s word not only has lots of points, it often raises pointed questions.”

“Pointed questions?”

“Yeah,” Stan said. “Like earlier this morning in my journaling time. I was reading where Jesus said something about His disciples that raised a very pointed question for me.”

“What’d Jesus say about His disciples?”

“That they kept God’s word.”

“And what’s the pointed question?”

“Do I do the same thing? Do I keep God’s word?”

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Bible verses to consider:

. . . they have kept Thy word. John 17:6.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; . . . .” John 14:23.

And why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life 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 keep your word. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live the new life you’ve given without keeping and obeying your word. Help me follow every step of your lead in doing do. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s provision of life 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 keeping and obeying God’s word while you remain here? 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 actually keep and obey His word? 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?

Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe enjoying breakfast together. As Stan often does, he told me he had been talking to a neighbor. This time the neighbor told him he’d recently seen his cardiologist for an annual checkup where he also got a spiritual checkup. I asked Stan to explain.

“My neighbor,” Stan began, “has a history of some problems with his heart. Each year he goes to his cardiologist for a checkup to see how everything’s going.”

“How’s it going with him?” I asked .

“Everything seems to be fine, with his physical heart,” Stan replied, “and he was delighted to have his doctor also spend some time checking on his spiritual heart.”

“Spiritual heart?”

“Yeah,” Stan replied, “since the condition of our spiritual heart is what determines our receptivity to God’s word and what He wants to do in and through us, it’s important to have a regular checkup on it’s condition.”

Continuing, he added, “My neighbor said that’s what his cardiologist does with all of his patients. He checks to see how they are doing with what Jesus said about people who have honest and good hearts.”

“What’d Jesus say about those people?”

“They are the ones who hear what God has to say, they hold it fast or dear, and they bear fruit on a consistent basis.”

“You’re right,” I responded. “Hear what God has to say, hold it dear, and bear fruit. Checking to see how I’m doing with those things is a great way to measure how my heart’s doing!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And the seed in the good ground, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.  Luke 8:15.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.

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.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life 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 hear your word with a good and honest heart, I don’t hold it fast, and I don’t produce the fruit you have for me to produce. Please forgive the foolishness of attempting to live the new life you’ve given without having such a heart. Please help me follow every step of your lead in having a good, honest, and receptive heart to hear and apply all you have for me. Thank you the I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Can you hear what God has for you as a Christian because you’ve accepted His provision for you through the cross of Christ? 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 having a heart that is receptive to God’s word? How about holding that word fast? How about your consistent fruit production? 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 hear what He has for you, to hold it fast, and to produce the fruit He intends? 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?

As Stan does frequently when we get together for breakfast, one morning he mentioned he’d been talking to a neighbor about the neighbor’s walk to faith. “What’d he have to say?” I asked.

“After he’d pursued a life that focused on the seeming importance of who he knew to get ahead in his business career,” Stan replied, “my neighbor told me that he came to realize that everything of importance is really contingent on something else.”

“Something else? Like what?”

“Who, with a capital W, you know,” Stan replied with a smile. “Jesus talked about that.”

“What’d Jesus say?”

“That eternal life is knowing Him and His Father.”

“Eternal life is knowing Jesus and His Father,” I repeated. “Sounds like your neighbor got it right. It is all about Who you know!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. John 3:16-17.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life 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 make the effort to know you and Jesus as well as you want and intend for me. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live the new life you’ve given without knowing you and Jesus as deeply as possible. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you know God in the sense you’ve accepted His provision of life with Him through Jesus? 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 pursuit of knowing God as well and as deeply as possible? If you sense the need 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 actually know Him as deeply as possible? 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?

Stan and I had again gathered at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about discipleship and what it means to be a Christian. We had told Ricky what we wanted Cook to fix for breakfast. While we waited, Stan mentioned he had been focusing on the advantage Christians have over the world, and how too often it seems we don’t take advantage of that advantage. I asked him what advantage he was talking about.

“The advantage Jesus mentioned to His disciples at one point, “ Stan said, “when He told them that it would be to their advantage that He was going away.”

“Why’d He say that?”

“Because if He didn’t go away, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t come.”

“And the Holy Spirit’s coming is some kind of advantage for us?”

“Absolutely,” Stan exclaimed. “The Holy Spirit is in us to teach and lead us in actually being Christians who live Christian lives that are pleasing to God. That’s a distinct advantage Spirit-filled people have over those who are not spirit-filled.”

“Not Spirit-filled,” I said. “You mean people who are not Christians?”

“Yeah,” Stan agreed. “Jesus talked about how the people of the world can’t receive the Holy Spirit, but, unfortunately, it seems there may be people in the church who also are not Spirit-filled and, as a result, they don’t have the advantage of His presence!”

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Bible verses to consider:

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. John 14:16-17.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, for sending the Holy Spirit to Help with the new life you’ve provided. 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 surrender to and rely on the help of the Helper in living this new life for you and your kingdom. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in truly accepting all of the help you have available through the Helper. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Can you claim the presence of the Holy Spirit because you’ve accepted God’s provision of life with Him through the finished work of Jesus’ cross? 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 having the presence of the Holy Spirit, as well as relying on His help in living out your Christian faith? 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 no?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to have His Holy Spirit living in you, but to rely on His Help in living your new life in Christ? 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?

As Stan and I were waiting for Ricky to bring our breakfast orders, he mentioned his friend who takes pictures of things that strike him as having some spiritual meaning. Stan said he had another picture he wanted to pass on to me and talk about. I asked him what his friend had sent.

“Take a look,” Stan said as he handed me his phone.

I looked and saw it was a sign with an arrow pointing in the direction of a wishing well. “What’d you and your friend talk about?” I asked. “Your list of wishes?”

Stan laughed and said, “No, we talked about prayer.”

“Prayer?”

“Yeah,” Stan said. “We talked about how prayer is not just going to a wishing well and asking for whatever we want or wish we had.”

“But,” I replied, “didn’t Jesus say something somewhere about asking for what we wish?”

“He did,” Stan agreed, “but he also prefaced that by saying what’s to come before that.”

“What?”

“Abiding in Him and His words. If people do that, they will not ask for whatever they wish for apart from God, they will ask according to God’s will and what He knows they need..”

“What He knows we need, rather than what we think we need and wish we had. Is that it?”

“That’s what my friend and I talked about,” Stan replied. “Prayer is more than just a wishing well!”

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Bible verses to consider:

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7.

. . . whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. John 15:16.

. . . not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Matthew 26:39.

. . . yet not My will, but Thine be done. Luke 22:42.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, that you do answer prayer that agrees with your will and with what you know I need. I confess that too often my prayers are only about what I want and wish I had without any consideration of whether my wants and wishes agree with your will. Please forgive that foolish way of praying. Help me follow every step of your lead in praying only in accordance with your will. Thank you I can and  do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Can you pray in the name of Jesus because you have accepted what He accomplished on the cross in giving you life 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 praying only in accordance with God’s will and what He knows you need, rather than for what you want and wish for apart from Him? 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 pray only in accordance with His will and what He knows you need? 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?

For those readers 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 a neighbor’s faith-walk experience of growing up in the church, but realizing, although he had grown up in that way, he had not grown in his faith. Link — June 8, 2026 — See and enter the kingdom that is at hand

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 

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Monday, June 8, 2026 — A lot or people describe themselves as having grown up in the church, usually meaning they have been part of a church body for a long time, often from the time of being baptized as an infant. Stan talks about a neighbor who described himself that way, but one day realized that although he had grown up in the church, he hadn’t grown in his faith. Link — June 8, 2026 — See and enter the kingdom that is at hand

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 — Modern technology has created cars that drive themselves. One of Stan’s neighbor bought one and remembered from it a valuable lesson about discipleship . Link — June 9, 2026 — Self-driving is not the way it’s supposed to be

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, one of the things He included was, “deliver us from evil.” Stan wonders if there’s a role for us to play in delivering ourselves. Link — June 10, 2026 — Delivered from evil

Thursday, June 11, 2026 — The apostle Paul wrote about “repentance without regret.” Stan tells us about a neighbor who does have a regret about his repentance. Link — June 11, 2026 — One regret about repentance

Friday, June 12, 2026 — What’s the primary role of a servant? Isn’t it to serve? Stan talks about how it’s easy for us to call ourselves servants of the Lord, but are we really doing what servants are supposed to do? Link — June 12, 2026 — Servant of the Master