Max Lucado Daily: YOU ARE GOD’S IDEA - November 9, 2026
You are so much more than a few days between the womb and the tomb. Paul the Apostle says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone” (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG).
Above and around us, God directs a grander saga, written by His hand, orchestrated by His will, and unveiled according to His calendar. Your life emerges from the greatest mind, the kindest heart in the history of the universe, the mind and heart of God. You are God’s idea. And remember, God doesn’t have any bad ideas.
God Is with You Every Day
Ecclesiastes 2
1–3I said to myself, “Let’s go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!” But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke.
What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane!
My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?
With the help of a bottle of wine
and all the wisdom I could muster,
I tried my level best
to penetrate the absurdity of life.
I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do
during the years we spend on this earth.
I Never Said No to Myself
4–8Oh, I did great things:
built houses,
planted vineyards,
designed gardens and parks
and planted a variety of fruit trees in them,
made pools of water
to irrigate the groves of trees.
I bought slaves, male and female,
who had children, giving me even more slaves;
then I acquired large herds and flocks,
larger than any before me in Jerusalem.
I piled up silver and gold,
loot from kings and kingdoms.
I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song,
and—most exquisite of all pleasures—
voluptuous maidens for my bed.
9–10Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What’s more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day’s work!
I Hate Life
11Then I took a good look at everything I’d done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.
12–14And then I took a hard look at what’s smart and what’s stupid. What’s left to do after you’ve been king? That’s a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that’s it. But I did see that it’s better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness. Even so, though the smart ones see where they’re going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they’re all the same in the end. One fate for all—and that’s it.
15–16When I realized that my fate’s the same as the fool’s, I had to ask myself, “So why bother being wise?” It’s all smoke, nothing but smoke. The smart and the stupid both disappear out of sight. In a day or two they’re both forgotten. Yes, both the smart and the stupid die, and that’s it.
17I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It’s smoke—and spitting into the wind.
18–19And I hated everything I’d accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can’t take it with me—no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me. Whether they’re worthy or worthless—and who’s to tell?—they’ll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.
20–23That’s when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth. What’s the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that’s what it is. A bad business from start to finish. So what do you get from a life of hard labor? Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night’s rest. Nothing but smoke.
24–26The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that’s it—divine fate. Whether we feast or fast, it’s up to God. God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God’s favorites. Nothing but smoke—and spitting into the wind.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Monday, November 09, 2026
by Alyson Kieda
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
Genesis 25:19-26
Jacob and Esau
19–20This is the family tree of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham had Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21–23Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, “If this is the way it’s going to be, why go on living?” She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her,
Two nations are in your womb,
two peoples butting heads while still in your body.
One people will overpower the other,
and the older will serve the younger.
24–26When her time to give birth came, sure enough, there were twins in her womb. The first came out reddish, as if snugly wrapped in a hairy blanket; they named him Esau (Hairy). His brother followed, his fist clutched tight to Esau’s heel; they named him Jacob (Heel). Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
Today's Insights
As the chosen son of the Abrahamic covenant, Isaac carried the burden of ensuring that Abraham would have countless descendants (Genesis 17:1-8). But there were obstacles to overcome. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (25:20), and she was barren (v. 21). But unlike his father Abraham with Hagar (see 16:1-4), Isaac didn’t try to help God out. Instead, he turned his predicament over to God, prayed, and asked Him to intervene (25:21). Isaac persevered in his prayers and unwaveringly trusted God. Many years later, God answered his prayer when Rebekah became pregnant (v. 21). Isaac was sixty years old when Jacob and Esau were born (v. 26). Whatever difficult challenges or trials we face, we can bring them to God. Jesus said “to always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Trusting God means waiting patiently for Him to act. As we bring our struggles to Him, He’ll comfort us as we wait.
For additional reflection, read: A Recipe in Waiting.
Time and Struggles
Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife. Genesis 25:21
Josephine Cochrane (1839-1913) was tired of having her dishes damaged by handwashing, so she decided to create a dishwasher. Shortly after she began her design, her husband passed away, leaving her in debt. Those circumstances reinforced her need to succeed. In 1886, with a mechanic’s help, she built and then patented the first commercially successful hand-powered dishwasher. At first her dishwasher didn’t sell, but then hotels and restaurants began purchasing them. It wasn’t until the 1950s that dishwashers became popular in homes.
Sometimes it takes time and struggles for plans to come to fruition. The same is also sometimes true of God’s promises. Abraham and his descendants were promised they’d become a great nation, yet Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never saw it happen. Abraham was one hundred years old when Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac (Genesis 21), and Isaac was sixty when Rebekah finally gave birth (25:20-21, 26). When Jacob settled in Egypt during a famine, his family numbered only seventy persons (46:27). It wasn’t until the time of Moses (about 400 years later) that the Israelites became a great nation.
As Isaac waited for a son, he did what we’re all called to do: He “prayed to the Lord” (25:21). Bring your hopes and struggles to God. He’ll bring you comfort, guidance, strength, and blessings as you wait.
Reflect & Pray
When have you waited for a desire to be fulfilled? What was the result?
Dear God, please help us to trust You with our dreams as we seek to live for You.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Monday, November 09, 2026
Sacramental Service
I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions. — Colossians 1:24
As Christian workers, we have to be like sacramental go-betweens—so identified with our Lord and the reality of his redemption that he can continually bring his creating life through us. This doesn’t mean that Christ superimposes his personality on ours or overwhelms us with his strength. It means that his real presence comes through every element of our lives and of the work we do for him.
When we preach the historical facts of the life and death of our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words become like holy vessels. God uses them on the ground of his redemption to create something in those who listen—something which would not be created otherwise. If we preach the effects of the redemption on human life instead of preaching the revelation about Jesus, the result in those who listen won’t be rebirth but merely refined spiritual culture. The Spirit of God isn’t able to witness through this type of preaching, because such preaching belongs to a different domain, a worldly domain. We have to make sure that we are in such living sympathy with God that through our preaching he can create in other souls the things which he alone can do.
“What a wonderful personality!” “What a fascinating speaker!” “What fantastic insight!” What chance does the gospel of God have in all that noise? It can’t get through because the line of attraction is always the line of appeal. If a preacher tries to attract with his or her personality, the appeal will be his or her personality. But if a preacher is identified with the Lord’s personality, then the appeal will be what Jesus Christ can do. The danger is to lift up human beings. Jesus says we are to elevate him: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).
Jeremiah 46-47; Hebrews 6
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth.
The Place of Help
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Monday, November 09, 2026
The One Step We Miss With God - #10391
Scripture: Acts 3:19
It all started with an SOS from a counselor who was talking with a young woman after a meeting where I had spoken. Her frustrated counselor just said, “Boy, this one’s really hard.” And, sure enough, Kelly really did seem shut down. I said, “Kelly, do you want to have a relationship with Jesus?” When she said yes, I asked her why. She said, “Because part of me is missing, and I know it’s Him. But if you only knew how many times I have tried to accept Christ, and nothing happens.” Well, I was stuck – until the Lord gave me one question for Kelly, and it changed everything. It might change everything for you.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “The One Step We Miss With God.”
I asked this young woman, who really wanted to know Jesus but could never seem to get the relationship off the ground, this question: “Have you ever told the Lord you are really sorry for your sin and so sorry that you’re ready to change?” She had said yes to Jesus – but she missed an important ingredient in turning to God – saying no to sin.
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Acts 3:19; a roadmap to belonging to Jesus Christ. Here is what it says, “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Now, when you turn to Jesus, you’re turning from the sins that He died for. That’s repentance. You can’t hold Jesus in one hand and the junk that killed Him in the other. You can’t turn to the West to watch the sunset without turning your back on the East. In the process of turning to the West, you are automatically turning your back on the East. You can’t face two directions at the same time.
When you start to name the sins of your life – even of the past couple weeks – you realize what it is you need a Savior for. Then you visit the cross of Jesus to be saved; rescued from that sin. Unfortunately, repentance is the missing page in many a Gospel presentation. We skip over the cancer of sin lightly and we go right to the cure before the person has faced their disease. It could be that the reason that your commitment to Christ has really never gotten off the ground is because you never really repented of your sins when you turned to the One who died for your sins.
There’s no real power in your life as a Christian until you let your heart be broken over your sin. It's the sin that broke our Savior. When Kelly heard the step that she had missed, the tears started coming. She bowed her head and said, “God, I’m sick of the junk.” That’s when the confession began. And, in her case, I believe that might have been when saving faith began.
Could it be that the reality you’ve been looking for begins with really being sorry for the sin that is breaking God’s heart? It is, after all, that sin that killed His one and only son on the cross. I’m not sure a Savior can mean all that much to you until you see the seriousness of the sin that He died to save you from.
You want Jesus. You believe in Jesus. Maybe repentance may be the one step you’re missing. But you can tell Jesus right now, right where you are, “When I look at that cross and I see you dying there, Jesus, I see how awful my sin was. I see what an awful thing you had to go through to have me forgiven. I'm ready to change Lord. I'm turning to you. Please, Jesus, forgive me. Please, change me." Right there, that's your new beginning.
Speaking of new beginnings, our website would be a great next step for you. It's actually called ANewStory.com. If you go there, that might be the beginning of yours, it’s ANewStory.com.
This is the moment Jesus waits to say to you, "Finally, welcome home."
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