Daily Christian Devotional

16 January, 2026

1 Samuel 8.4-7, 10-end, Psalm 89.15-18, Mark 2.1-12

When the elders of Israel ask for a king, their request sounds reasonable. They want order, security, and to be like the nations around them. Yet God tells Samuel that this desire is not merely political; it reveals a deeper turning away. The people seek visible control rather than trusting the unseen reign of God. Samuel’s warning is stark: a human king will take, not give; power will cost more than it promises.

Psalm 89 offers a different vision of kingship. Blessed are those who know the joyful sound of God’s presence, whose strength and glory come from the Lord alone. True security is found not in institutions or leaders, but in living under God’s faithful rule.

In Mark’s Gospel, authority is revealed in an unexpected way. Jesus forgives sins before he heals the paralysed man. This is not the power of coercion, but of restoration. When Jesus heals, he returns a man to community, dignity, and life. God’s reign is made visible not through domination, but through mercy that lifts burdens and renews hearts.

Together these readings challenge our longing for control and call us back to trust. God’s kingdom does not arrive through force or fear, but through faith, forgiveness, and the healing power of Christ.

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Prayer

Faithful God,
forgive us when we look for security
apart from your loving rule.
Teach us to trust your reign of mercy and grace.
Heal what is broken within us
and restore us to wholeness.
May we walk in the joy of your presence,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.