Author: S. Tory Teller

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?”

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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?”

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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?

As we were enjoying breakfast together one morning, Stan mentioned that in his journaling time earlier that day he had been focusing on something Jesus’ mother did that he wished he did more often.

“What,” I asked, “did Jesus’ mother do that you wished you would do?”

“Treasure in my heart everything about Jesus.”

“Treasure in your heart everything about Jesus? What made you focus on that?”

“Luke’s gospel,” Stan replied. “It says that’s what Jesus’ mother did. What Luke wrote about that caused me to focus on what I treasure.”

Continuing, he added, “I had to ask myself, ‘Do I treasure in my heart all the things about Jesus?’ Do I treasure His life, death, resurrection, and everything else about Him? Am I like His mother?”

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Bible verses to consider:

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19.

. . . and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Luke 2:51.

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 treasure in my heart everything there is to treasure about Jesus. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in truly treasuring all there is to treasure about Jesus. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted what God provided through Jesus so you can treasure Him  in your heart? 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 treasuring in your heart all there is to treasure about 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 God know you need to truly treasure in your heart all there is to treasure about Jesus? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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?

After Ricky had refilled our coffee cups and taken our breakfast orders one morning, Stan mentioned that he would like to talk about how to avoid being taken captive. Since I really had no idea what he meant, I asked, “What’s on your mind about being taken captive?”

“Two things,” he replied. “I saw them both earlier this morning in my journaling time. One is about me being taken captive; the other is about what God wants me to take captive.”

“You being taken captive? By what?”

“The world,” Stan replied. “The apostle Paul warned about that in his letter to the Colossians.”

“But beyond that,” he continued, “Paul also gave instructions as to what I’m to take captive.”

“Something you’re to take captive? What’s that?”

“Every thought,” Stan replied with a smile. “I’m to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. If I do that, I won’t be taken captive by the world!”

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Bible verses to consider:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

. . . we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.

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’m taken captive by the world when I fail to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ so I am not taken captive by the world. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you no longer captive to the world in the sense you have accepted God’s provision of life eternally with Him beginning now and continuing forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ so you are not taken captive by the world? 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 so you in fact take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and are not taken captive by the world? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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 we were enjoying our breakfast time together one morning, Stan mentioned that his friend who travels around and takes pictures of things that have some sort of spiritual meaning had sent him another one. I asked him what he’d sent this time.

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

“The past is prologue,” I read. “It looks like a small sign inside a car. Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Stan agreed. “My friend said he was in a taxi somewhere and the driver had it stuck to the sun visor.”

“Did your friend ask the driver what it meant?”

“He did,” Stan said, “and the driver told him, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet!’”

“What’d he mean by that?”

“My friend asked him and the driver said he was driving a taxi to pay his way through college and that he had big plans for his life beyond driving a taxi.”

“Okay,” I replied, “but what’s the spiritual significance of that? What’d you and your friend talk about?”

“That Jesus could have said the same thing.”

“Jesus could have said the same thing? How so?”

“As you may remember,” Stan replied, “in Luke’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, he wrote that the whole bunch of disciples praised God for all the miracles they had seen Jesus do.”

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

“Jesus,” Stan replied with a smile, “could have said, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’.”

“I doubt Jesus would have talked like that,” I countered, “but even if He did, why do you think He might have said that?”

“He was going to give them a whole lot more on which to base their belief than just what He had done before,” Stan replied. “He was going to the cross for their sins, He was going to die, be buried, and rise again on the third day. He was going to ascend to heaven. They hadn’t seen anything yet. The past was truly prologue.”

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Bible verses to consider:

And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen. Luke 19:37.

And immediately he received his sight, and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. Luke 18:43.

And as He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. John 8:30.

I do believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24.

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 need you to do something to sustain my belief, rather than believing based on what you’ve already done. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead into the deepest possible belief based on what you’ve done through the finished work of Jesus cross. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted what Jesus provided by His finished work on the cross, namely 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 your belief? Does your belief need something more than what God has already done through the life, death, and resurrection of 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 to have an ever-deepening faith based on Jesus’ finished work on the cross, without needing anything else to sustain your faith? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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 Tellere?

For those who may have missed it (or want to spend more time focusing on it), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The selection for this week concerns when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane on His way to the cross. Stan talks about how what Jesus did is a great example of what God has for us to do in not staying where we are in our relationship with Him. Link — April 14, 2026 — Going beyond where I am to where He knows I need to be

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, April 13, 2026 — Sin can be described as choosing to live independently from God. Stan uses this definition to tell us what a neighbor said about moving to a place where he wasn’t going to do that any more because he had done that for way too long!  Link — April 13, 2026 — Independent living is not a real good idea

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 —In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus left the disciples and went to spend intimate time with His Father. He told the disciples to wait and watch. That’s not what they did. Stan uses what they did to talk about how, too often, he does the same thing rather than follow Jesus’ example. Link — April 14, 2026 — Going beyond where I am to where He knows I need to be

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 — Jesus told the rich young ruler what he needed to do to be complete. Stan uses this to talk about a testimony he heard once about someone realizing he was a complete fool to not follow Jesus. Link — April 15, 2026 — Complete in the wrong way?

Thursday, April 16, 2026 — Words are easy. It’s easy for us to say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, but what we focus on may indicate the opposite. Stan talks about a pointed question we need to consider. Link — April 16, 2026 — Is Jesus Lord?

Friday, April 17, 2026 —What are we to do when someone who is troubled and distressed comes to us? Stan talks about how the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane were a good example of what not to do. Link — April 17, 2026 — “Let me sleep on it” is not the right answer

As we were enjoying breakfast together one morning, Stan commented, “When I look and see how the disciples interacted with Jesus, I often see lessons for how I’m to relate or not relate to other people. I saw one of those instances earlier this morning in my journaling time. I’d like to share it with you.”

“Okay,” I responded. “What’d you see?”

“When someone comes to me and tells me they’re troubled and distressed, my answer is not supposed to be, ‘Let me sleep on that’.”

“What led you to see that?”

“When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane,” Stan replied, “that’s basically what happened. Jesus was in deep prayer with His Father about going to the cross. He told His disciples he was troubled and deeply distressed, but the disciples went to sleep rather than staying awake to pray with and for Him.”

“How does that relate to you?”

“When someone comes to me and tells me they are troubled and distressed, my role is to pray with them to help them see what God knows they need. I’m to pray right then and there. I’m  not to say, ‘Let me sleep on it’!”

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Bible verses to consider:

Then He sad to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. . . . And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, . . .”  Matthew 26:38-41.

And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14:37.

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, too, that you allow us to come before you in prayer to lift the needs of others to you. 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’m not as responsive as you want to the prayer needs of others. Help me follow every step of your lead in helping others who come to me with their prayer needs — help me  help them see what you know they need by praying with and for them. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted what Jesus did on the cross in opening to you 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 responding to the prayer needs of others? Are you willing to do what you can to help them see what God knows they need? 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 as responsive as He wants to the prayer needs of others? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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?

From his continued journaling through the gospel of John, one morning Stan mentioned that he  had been focusing on the importance of knowing who and what dominates our lives.

 “Dominates our lives in what way?” I asked.

“It’s really ‘ways’ plural, rather than ‘way’ singular,” Stan replied with a smile, “but the point, as it always should be, is simply about what Jesus said.”

“Said about what?”

“Enslavement.”

“Enslavement? Enslavement to what?”

“Jesus called it enslavement to sin,” Stan replied, “but the apostle Paul called it whatever we obey. In addition, the apostle Peter called it by whatever we are overcome.”

“So,” he continued, “it seems to me that the bottomline, whether it’s called sin, what we obey, or by what we’re overcome, the pointed question concerns who and/or what is Lord in our lives. Is Jesus Lord?”

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Bible verses to consider:

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is the slave of sin.” John 8:34.

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Romans 6:16.

. . . by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 2 Peter 2:19.

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

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, Jesus is not Lord of my life. Please forgive the foolishness of seeking to live the new life you’ve provided without Jesus being Lord. Help me follow every step of your lead in truly making Him Lord of every part of my life. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s provision of the finished work of the cross so you have 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 Jesus being Lord of your life while you remain on this side of eternity? 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 for Jesus to actually be Lord of every part of your life? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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?

During breakfast one morning, Stan mentioned that he had again been looking at the story of the young man who is commonly referred to as the rich young ruler. He asked me if I remembered that story.

“Yeah,” I replied, “I think I remember the basics of that story. Isn’t he the one who after Jesus told him what to do in order to follow Him, he said that he wouldn’t do that because it would cost him too much?”

“That’s basically it,” Stan agreed and then said, “when I was focusing on what Jesus said to the young guy, it reminded me of a testimony I heard once from a friend about how this story really impacted his faith.”

“How’d it do that?”

“This friend of mine,” Stan replied, “told me that one day he was looking at the story about the rich young guy and he saw the contrast of his own life in what Jesus said.”

“The contrast of his own life? How so?”

“Jesus told the rich young guy what he needed to do to be complete,” Stan replied, “and my friend realized he was complete, but in the wrong way.”

“Complete in the wrong way? What wrong way?”

“That rather than being complete in following Jesus,” Stan replied, “he was a complete fool by not accepting what Jesus offered, as well as by not doing what He said. He was complete in the wrong way!”

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Bible verses to consider:

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, . . . ; and come follow Me.” Matthew 19:21.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.

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

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 opening me to the truth of your provision so I could accept it and not continue as a fool walking apart from you, both here and in eternity. I confess that 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 you know I need in order to follow Jesus. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in following you just as you intend. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you stopped being foolish in the sense that you have accepted the life that  God offers through Jesus, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why is that your choice? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with what Jesus says about following 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 following Him as He intends? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, 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?