by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 24, 2025 | Daily Devotional |
For Your Encouragement and Edification
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7
We don’t belong here.
Not in this fallen system. Not under this dark rule. Not in this world system ruled by the evil one.
We are outsiders—citizens of heaven, ambassadors of a kingdom not of this world (Philippians 3:20).
We’ve been rescued—snatched from the grip of darkness and translated into the body of Christ (Colossians 1:13). And because of that, we don’t blend in—we clash.
The Battle Is Real
The pain, the persecution, the despair—it isn’t your imagination.
Believers face more than just the troubles of life.
We face hell’s hatred.
We stand in direct opposition to the god of this world, Satan, who is bent on destroying everything God has created. And that includes you.
He attacks your joy.
He stirs confusion.
He sows fear.
He whispers lies into your mind and uses the world around you as a weapon.
But here’s the truth:
The War Is Already Won
The Lord Jesus Christ crushed the serpent’s head at the cross.
Victory isn’t pending—it was accomplished 2,000 years ago by God the Son.
We are not fighting for victory—we are fighting from victory.
And because of that, you have nothing to fear.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear…”
That fear you feel?
That crippling anxiety?
That sense of dread and discouragement?
It’s not from God.
What is from God?
- Power – the strength of the Holy Spirit to stand, speak truth, and press on.
- Love – a heart that overcomes evil with good, never compromising.
- A sound mind – clear thinking, grounded truth (what is truth? Christ Jesus), and unshakable confidence in His Word.
Your Weapon: The Word
This battle isn’t won with willpower.
It’s not won with optimism.
It’s won with truth.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”
—2 Corinthians 10:4
You want to walk in power?
You want to resist fear, lies, and spiritual attacks?
Study the Word of God.
Know it. Stand on it. Speak it. Cling to it.
Because when the world screams in chaos, and Satan presses in with deception, your greatest defense and deadliest offense is truth rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15).
Final Word
You were never promised ease.
You were promised eternal life.
You were never promised applause.
You were promised tribulation.
But you were also promised power, love, and a sound mind.
Fear is a liar.
Christ is the Victor.
And you are His.
So take your stand, soldier of Christ.
Suit up.
Hold fast.
And never surrender to fear.
🔥 Reading Plan: Strength for the Battle
Day 1: 2 Timothy 1:6–14
Fan into flame the gift of God. You’ve been entrusted with truth—walk in power, love, and a sound mind.
Day 2: Ephesians 6:10–18
The armor of God equips you for spiritual battle. Stand firm, fully armed, and ready for the fight.
Day 3: Romans 8:31–39
Nothing can separate you from God’s love. You are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 23, 2025 | Daily Devotional |
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalms 27:1
Life has a way of throwing shadows—uncertainty, illness, loss, fear of the future. But Psalm 27:1 cuts through that darkness like a sword of light:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation…”
Not a light. Not a salvation. He is your light. He is your salvation. It’s personal. It’s present. It’s powerful.
When David penned this, he wasn’t in a palace sipping peace. He was surrounded by enemies, slander, betrayal—yet he spoke with boldness. Why?
Because he knew his God.
He didn’t place his confidence in his circumstances but in the character of the Lord—a God who saves, delivers, strengthens, and never forsakes His own.
What Fear Can’t Do
Fear can shake your hands.
Fear can race your heart.
But fear cannot touch your salvation.
It cannot steal your light.
It cannot break the One who holds you.
“Whom shall I fear?”
“Of whom shall I be afraid?”
That’s not denial. That’s defiance—against fear, darkness, and doubt. It’s the bold cry of a heart anchored in truth.
Your Strength Today
Maybe today you feel weak, worn out, or uncertain. Let this verse speaks directly to your heart:
“The Lord is the strength of my life…”
He doesn’t lend you strength—He is your strength.
He doesn’t give you light—He is your light.
He doesn’t offer temporary help—He is your eternal salvation.
Believe it!
Encouragement for Your Day
You don’t have to muster courage from within.
You don’t have to pretend to be fearless.
You just need to rest in the One who is never afraid.
Whatever you’re facing today, say it aloud if you need to:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
Let that truth carry you through.
📖 3-Day Reading Plan on God’s Strength & Protection:
Day 1 – Psalm 27:1–6 – Confidence in the face of fear
Day 2 – Isaiah 41:10–13 – God upholds you with His righteous hand
Day 3 – 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given you a spirit of fear
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 10, 2025 | A Parenthesis of Grace, Daily Devotional |
Romans 9:1–13 Verse by Verse Study
“Israel’s Past: Chosen, Not Cast Away”
Romans 9–11 is a divinely inspired pause—a parenthesis—within Paul’s teac of the gospel. After eight chapters expounding God’s righteousness, justification by faith, sanctification, and the believer’s security in Christ, Paul now answers an urgent question: If Israel was God’s chosen nation, what happened to them? Have they been replaced by the Church? Is God done with Israel?
Absolutely not.
These three chapters form a vital bridge between God’s promises to Israel and His present work among the Gentiles. Paul opens this section with grief—not gloating—because of Israel’s unbelief. And yet, the overarching theme of Romans 9–11 is not judgment, but hope, sovereignty, and God’s faithfulness to His covenant people.
Romans 9:1–5 – Paul’s Heart for Israel
“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.”
“For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…” (Romans 9:1–3)
Paul’s anguish is deeply personal. Though he is the apostle to the Gentiles, his heart still beats for his fellow Israelites. He’s not attacking Israel—he’s mourning their spiritual blindness. He lists their privileges: the adoption, the covenants, the Law, the promises, the patriarchs, and the Messiah Himself (vv. 4–5). No other nation has been given what Israel was given.
Yet despite all these blessings, Israel as a nation rejected their Messiah.
But this leads us to the heart of the confusion: Does Israel’s unbelief mean God’s Word has failed?
Romans 9:6 – “They Are Not All Israel Who Are of Israel”
“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel…” (Romans 9:6)
This is the hinge verse of the chapter, and one that has been twisted into Replacement Theology by many throughout history.
Paul is not redefining Israel. He is distinguishing between ethnic Israel and the believing remnant within Israel. God’s promises have not failed—they are being fulfilled in the true remnant, just as they always have been. God never promised that every single descendant of Abraham would inherit the covenant blessings. Rather, He has always chosen according to His sovereign purpose.
Verse 6 is not a license to spiritualize or replace Israel with the Church. Instead, it reveals that God has always worked through a believing remnant within Israel. Paul will continue this theme through chapter 11, clearly stating that the rest of Israel has been temporarily blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25).
Romans 9:7–13 – God’s Sovereign Choice in Israel’s Lineage
“Nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’” (Romans 9:7)
Paul uses examples from Israel’s own history to show that not all physical descendants are recipients of the covenantal promises.
- Ishmael was Abraham’s son, but the promise came through Isaac.
- Esau was Isaac’s son, but the promise came through Jacob.
These examples are not about individual salvation or predestination to heaven or hell (as Calvinism misapplies), but about God’s sovereign choice in carrying out His redemptive plan through specific people and nations.
“…Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:13)
This declaration (quoted from Malachi 1:2–3) refers to nations, not the individual souls of two brothers. God chose Jacob (Israel) to be the line of promise, not Esau (Edom). This was not based on merit or works—it was God’s sovereign purpose, according to His plan.
The Bigger Picture: The Mystery Revealed Through Paul
Paul is building a case to show that God’s dealings with Israel have shifted, but not ended. What happened was not plan B, but a hidden mystery now revealed.
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery… that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25)
This “mystery” was hidden from the prophets and only revealed through Paul (10 years after Pentecost, let that sink in), (Ephesians 3:1–9; Colossians 1:24–27). That Gentiles would be saved apart from Israel, apart from the Law, and apart from the covenants was unthinkable in Old Testament prophecy. But now, salvation has gone to the Gentiles—not because of their righteousness, but because of Israel’s unbelief (Romans 11:11).
The Gentile’s Role: Gratitude, Not Arrogance
We Gentiles must never boast. Paul will strongly warn against this in Romans 11:18–20. The root supports us—not the other way around. Israel’s fall has brought us blessing, but her future restoration is assured. The Church has not replaced Israel; we are a temporary insertion—a grafted branch, a parenthesis in God’s prophetic timeline.
Conclusion: A Faithful God, A Future for Israel
Romans 9:1–13 introduces a crucial theme: God’s promises have not failed. The current unbelief of Israel does not nullify God’s plan; it highlights it. God is sovereign, His Word stands, and His covenants endure. Israel’s past privileges and future restoration are part of the same unbroken purpose. The parenthesis we are in today—this dispensation of grace—will end. And when it does, God will resume His dealings with Israel exactly as prophesied.
The Church must remember: our salvation was a revealed mystery, a glorious detour, not a divine cancellation. And when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26). Until then, we preach Christ—crucified, risen, and coming again—grateful, humble, and in awe of His unfolding plan.
by Jamie Pantastico | May 29, 2025 | Daily Devotional |
For Your Edification and Encouragement
God’s Plan Through Israel and the Church – Part 8
Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
Romans 15:8
Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to the fathers and offer the Kingdom to Israel. He came as the promised Messiah—performing miracles, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and confirming that the time had come.
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
— Matthew 4:17
The majority of Christendom, whether Church members or not, assume that the opening of Matthew Chapter 1 marks the start of Christianity. That the Lord Jesus has arrived to start the Church, this is a misconception. At this point, the narrative remains an extension of God’s covenant with Israel, rooted in Old Testament promises. In Luke Chapter 1, as the angel’s announcement to Mary reveals, Jesus enters the scene not primarily to proclaim His death on the cross for the world’s sins—though that is undoubtedly part of God’s plan—but to fulfill the promises made to Israel. With 2 exceptions, the context of the Four Gospels is distinctly Jewish, and language and the context make it undeniable.
It’s also important to recognize that these events unfold under the Law. The Temple is still active, sacrifices continue, and even those who become followers of Christ (those who believed that Jesus was indeed Israel’s promised Messiah, the Son of God) retain their Jewish practices. Jesus does not rebuke them for this, quite the opposite. The Lord Jesus doesn’t tell them that they are Law no longer under the law—that’s a revelation that comes many years later (around 14 years later) through Paul. This reflects the Bible’s progressive revelation: God doesn’t disclose everything at once. And why it is so important to study the Bible in time, not getting ahead of events as they unfold. While prophecy abounds in the Old Testament, some truths remain hidden until God chooses to unveil them. In Luke Chapter 1, the angel’s announcement to Mary sets the stage for Christ’s first advent, fulfilling God’s promises to Israel.
Take time to read the passages below carefully—and pay close attention to the language. Read these verses in real time, as if the events are unfolding before your eyes. This will help you see clearly that the angel is announcing the imminent birth of Israel’s promised Messiah—the One who will crush Israel’s enemies and establish the promised kingdom, ruling and reigning from David’s throne in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion.
‘Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus . He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”’
Luke 1:30-33
The following passages make it even clearer that Christ’s first advent was to fulfill the covenant promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. In Luke 1:67–75, we find Zacharias—John the Baptist’s father and a priest—speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And what does he proclaim?
In the opening words of what many call the “New Testament,” Zacharias praises and exalts the Lord God of Israel. But notice what he emphasizes—not primarily salvation from sin (though that is part of the overall plan)—but deliverance from Israel’s enemies.
What enemies?
The same enemies that surround Israel today.
Read these verses carefully. Pay attention to the language. You don’t need to be a seminary graduate—just read the plain text. And do this: read the verses in real time, as if you’re watching the events unfold in the present moment. When you do, it becomes unmistakably clear:
- This passage is about Israel.
- It’s about the redemption of Israel.
- It’s about the fulfillment of the covenant God made with the patriarchs.
Luke 1:67-75
Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Israel’s Rejection Was Foreknown
From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was opposed by the religious leaders. They questioned His authority, rejected His miracles, and attributed His works to Satan (Matthew 12:24).
This accusation marked a national turning point. From that moment, Jesus began to speak in parables and focus more on preparing His disciples for what was to come.
Betrayed by His Own
Though multitudes followed Him for miracles, the nation as a whole did not believe that He was indeed the Israel’s Messiah. When given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, they chose a murderer.
“We have no king but Caesar!”
— John 19:15
The Cross Was Not the End of the Offer
Even after the crucifixion, in the early chapters of Acts, God offered Israel the Kingdom again—through Peter and the apostles:
“Repent therefore and be converted… that He may send Jesus Christ… whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration…”
— Acts 3:19–21
But once again, the leaders rejected the message. The final act of national rejection came in Acts 7, with the stoning of Stephen.
Why This Matters
Jesus was the promised King. The Kingdom was offered. But Israel—as a nation—rejected it. They crucified their Messiah and refused to repent, even after the resurrection.
This doesn’t mean God’s promises failed. It simply means the prophetic program was paused—and something brand new was about to be revealed.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 20, 2024 | Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement |
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul encourages believers with three powerful exhortations: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” These verses form a simple yet profound guide for daily living as a follower of Christ.
Rejoice Always
Our joy isn’t dependent on circumstances but on our relationship with God. No matter what life throws at us, we can rejoice in the knowledge that we are loved, saved, and secure in Christ.
Pray Without Ceasing
Prayer is our lifeline to God. It’s not just for emergencies or special occasions; it should be a constant, ongoing conversation with our Creator. When we pray continually, we keep our hearts aligned with His will, seeking His guidance and strength in everything we do.
Give Thanks in Everything
Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. When we thank God in all circumstances, we acknowledge His sovereignty and trust that He is working all things together for our good. It’s a practice that deepens our faith and fills us with peace.
Daily Power-Up:
As you go through your day, remember these three commands: rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Let them guide your thoughts and actions, keeping you connected to God’s purpose for your life. No matter what challenges you face, know that in Christ, you have the strength to endure and the assurance of His unwavering love.
Reflect on these verses today and let them be a source of encouragement and empowerment as you navigate your daily walk in this ungodly world.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 14, 2024 | Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement |
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Devotional: Jesus never promised a life free from tribulations, but He did promise us peace in Him. His resurrection power has already overcome the world, and through His victory on the cross, we can find hope and courage. No matter what challenges we face, Christ’s triumph assures us that we, too, can overcome.
Paul echoes this truth in 1 Corinthians 15:54-56:
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption (by physical death or rapture), and this mortal has put on immortality (our glorified bodies), then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law (neither have any power over the believer).”
Beloved, our trials and tribulations on earth are temporary and pale in comparison to the mind-boggling, eternal life we will experience with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His victory at Calvary should fill us with joy and hope.
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Corinthians 15:57
