Pittsburgh Standard

SCRIPTURE:
�This is what the LORD says� he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.�- Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

"A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured" (Mark 1:40-42, NIV)

Approach Question:
What present do you look forward to in 2026?

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what did the man with leprosy do and the significance of that?
The man with leprosy does 3 things:

1. He came to Jesus with the disease that made him feel like an outcast. (Skin falling off and blisters everywhere)

2. He fell on his knees

3. He begged Jesus, �If you are willing, you can make me clean.�

The significance of his actions show that he was not willing to stay in the past because of his disease but took a proactive step to move forward in the PRESENT. But moving forward was not some self-help new age enlightenment for he knew that only Jesus can give him a new PRESENT. That is why he came to Jesus with all the baggage of his past and fell on his knees. In essence, there is an acknowledgment and realization here of his condition, that his identity will always remain a l***r unless there is outside intervention, so he comes to Jesus. He does not stop there but humbles himself before Jesus by falling on his knees and begging Jesus. This shows complete surrender of himself and his past begging Jesus for a new PRESENT when he said, �If you are willing, you can make me clean.�

Observations:
I asked myself what were Jesus� reactions towards the l***r and the significance of each reaction?

I loved Jesus' 5 way reaction towards the l***r:

1. Jesus was filled with compassion.
2. Jesus reached out his hand.
3. Jesus touched the man.
4. Jesus said, "I am willing"
5. Jesus said, "Be clean"

Point 1: Jesus was filled with compassion.
It is important to remember if Jesus had not left Simon and Andrew's place with his disciples after spending time in prayer, the man would not have had an encounter with Jesus. Jesus already knew there was a l***r who needed His help and goes there to show His mercy and grace to the man who was sick and who wanted to be clean from his past for a new PRESENT. So, Jesus did not shun him but exhibits mercy and grace towards the man by doing something amazing that would have surprised the crowds which is evident by point 2:

Point 2: Jesus reaches out his hand.
Picture the person with leprosy whose skin was filled with spots and was falling off. Now think about the law that imprisoned the l***r to a l***r colony. No one would even come close to him but now Jesus reaches out His hand. This is so significant to me because by reaching out His hand, Jesus started the process of healing the man emotionally and psychologically. Now the man knew even as an outcast to society that He was loved by One person who really mattered. Jesus did not stop there but goes even a step further which is evident by point 3.

Point 3: Jesus touched the man.
By touching the man, Jesus continued the process of healing the man spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally by the loving Hands of Jesus. By touching the man in his sickness and disease, Jesus was letting him know that he is loved as he is with all the baggage of the past and that his identity is not found in being a l***r but what the Lord Jesus wants to make him to be in the PRESENT. Jesus is letting him know he is valued as a person regardless of his disease. Wow! That is awesome to know! Jesus could have just said, 'Be clean' but Jesus made it so personal to the man. By touching the man, Jesus was directly getting involved in his life and the baggage the man was carrying as a l***r. After being an outcast, if Jesus had just said the words 'Be healed', it would not have had the powerful effect of a personal relationship with Jesus that the man got to have in his interaction with Jesus. Jesus does not stop there after touching the man but gives him words he wanted to hear. This is evident by point 4.

Point 4: Jesus said, "I am willing"
These are the words the man wanted to hear from Jesus and must have been ecstatic to hear them. Lepers were usually confined to a l***rs colony and could not do a lot of things that healthy people were able to do including making a financial living. Now he knew he could be part of a community that he was an outcast of because Jesus is willing to help him with that. This is evident by point 5.

Point 5: Jesus said, "Be clean!"
By saying, 'Be clean', Jesus was healing him of the bo***ge of his past and giving him a new identity in the PRESENT. He did not have to see himself as a l***r anymore but one who is cleaned by the Lord. How amazing! Thank you Jesus!

I asked myself what was the result of Jesus' actions and it's significance!

"Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured!!!"

The significance of Jesus' actions is that the man now was instantly healed spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally from the past trauma he faced after a personal encounter with Jesus. Now, Jesus made something new in his life and gave Him a new identity in the PRESENT. In essence, Jesus became the Lord of the past for that man and helped him move forward. The wounds of yesterday were taken by Jesus and Jesus brought healing because Jesus can do anything.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
Just As the man with leprosy did not let his past come in the way of receiving healing in the PRESENT and moving forward, I can do the same. But for that to happen, I need to bring myself before the Lord Jesus and give Him my past. After coming to Him, I need to literally fall on my knees and beg Jesus to give me a new identity from the past that has governed me to the PRESENT that He alone can give me. That means, I need to completely surrender all that I am before the Lord Jesus laying my sin before His feet and asking Him to give me a new PRESENT in Christ. No matter how bad the past may have been like, I don't have to remain and dwell in it, for the Lord wants to do new and exciting things in my life as I wait upon Him. It starts with having a desire to move forward and asking the Lord to be in charge of the move. It is exciting to know that He can do it in my life just as He transformed the l***rs life! He can do that for you too friend!

I ask you now dear friend how will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2026?
Dear friend, how your PRESENT looks like in 2026 will depend on you giving up your past identity and all its baggage to Jesus and take the PRESENT He blesses you with. It could have been easy for the l***r to have given up and taken his identity from his past thinking this is how it is going to be all the time or supposed to be in my life so why bother with a new PRESENT. But he did not and it paid off when he took the risk to come to Jesus, fall on his knees, and beg Jesus to clean him up from where he was to where he wanted to be. He wanted to have a new PRESENT and Jesus gave that to him by His grace and mercy being shown through His loving compassion resulting in the healing of the l***r by making him clean.

It is exciting to know what Jesus did for the l***r, He can do for us too when we have a personal encounter with Him. He waits for us to come to Him to clean us even from our past and give us a new PRESENT. Yes, He does! Clean me Lord Jesus! I don't know His timings but I know He loves us and wants the best for us!

Whether you already believe in Jesus or don't, you are not exempt from the pain of the past. But the Good News is that Jesus is there to bring healing when we turn everything over to Him. His healing will come in His way and in His time. But, it will come. Thank you Jesus.

When Jesus becomes the Lord of the past, moving forward can become easy because He will permeate your PRESENT and future giving you His Hope, His Help, and His healing. Thank you Jesus!

�This is what the LORD says� he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.�- Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

The same Lord who parted the red sea to make ground so the Israelites can escape and the same Lord who healed the l***r with His compassionate healing touch and words, wants to be your Jehovah Rophe, the Lord my Healer. He wants to take your past and give you a new PRESENT. It can happen this year of 2026!

Jesus loves you so much and wants to be the Lord of your past and move you forward. No matter what your past looks like, 'he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters' can make a way in the desert areas of your life and streams in areas you see as a wasteland. Yes, He can friend! Jesus healed the wounds of the l***r and delivered him from his past. He can do the same for you.

You don't have leprosy but you may have a stigma of things that happened to you that brings you torment; you maybe feeling yucky on the inside because of past things you are haunted by; you may have been in perpetual sin over and over that your conscience has become desensitized, etc. Now you cannot wash that past and identity away because the past sticks like glue to you just as the l***r could not wash away his leprosy. You want to forget the past but the past won't let you forget.

But the Good News is you can give in to the Savior who wants to become the Lord of your past so you don't have to live in the past anymore, no you don't!

Whatever happened in 2025 or before, bring it before Jesus. Bring all your pain, guilt, suffering, shortcomings, stigmas before the cross of Christ and lay them before Jesus so you can have a new begininng in 2026. Yes, you can friend!

Jesus who had compassion on the l***r, will also have compassion on you! Jesus who touched the man to bring restoration in his life, will bring restoration to your life. Jesus who said to the l***r, 'I am willing' will say to you 'I am willing' if you are willing to come before Jesus on your knees begging Jesus in your pain, suffering, torment, etc as the l***r did. Then, as Jesus' touch and words healed the l***r and cured him, Jesus can cure you too.

Yes, He can friend, Oh yes He can! Come as you are and find grace in time of need! He will show you His mercy and grace exhibited by His wonderful compassion to you just as you are. So come to the throne of grace and find help in time of need. He is Mighty to Save!

May you receive healing in the Arms of our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever who wants you to forget the past and find your PRESENT in His precious Arms of Love! He wants to be the Lord of the past and the Lord of your PRESENT 2026.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.�-(Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)

"Present Reveals Eternal Savior's Emancipation Now Today! (P.R.E.S.E.N.T)"How will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2026?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you remember everything. You remember the time the man with leprosy came to you, fell on his knees, and begged you to make him clean. You were filled with so much compassion and you reached out your hand and touched the man who was seen as diseased and you were willing to make him clean and healed him by saying the words he needed to hear. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you so much for your love. Lord, you know the wounds and scars each of us face from our past or even the present. You know Lord what it has done to us on the inside and many times on the outside. Lord when the pain is too much it is so easy to try to forget it by focusing our minds on other things so we do not have to deal with it. That won't help us in the long run. But, I know Lord you can heal each person who is faced with hurts when they come to you. You can clean us of our sins and make us pure again no matter what we have done or faced with. Oh Lord, we need that cleansing in our lives. There are those right now Lord who need to feel clean but their guilt has a hold on them. Their identity is found in their guilt, pain, brokenness, torment, etc. Please Oh Lord come and break that guilt, brokenness, pain, torment, etc. Please Oh Lord, help them to hold on to you. Let them know they are loved and can start over again as you gave the l***r new life. Thank you Jesus. Please Jesus reach out to the one who is hurting and touch them with your love and power. Provide them the means to get the healing you want for their lives. Thank you Jesus so much. Please Lord help them not to let their past influence them from getting the help they need. You know how they can receive that help. Please make it clear to them. Thank you so much Jesus. Use your children to bring healing to others within your family and outside your family so one day they can come into your family. Thank you so much Jesus. Help us Oh God of our Salvation for the glory of your name. Help us that we will always find our identity in you. Thank you so much Jesus! Please deliver us and provide us healing for your name's sake. We are sinners in need of a Savior. Our sin has separated us from you and has made us broken and shattered. Only your love and forgiveness can restore us by the cleansing blood you shed on the cross of Calvary and coming back to life on the third day to save us. So, we come to you as we are and ask you to come into our heart and make our heart your home cleansing all the areas of our lives that need your cleansing. Thank you Jesus for being our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us. Thank you that we belong to you and can find our PRESENT in you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

The formatted devotional with previous devotionals can be found online at

"Present Reveals Eternal Savior's Emancipation Now Today! (P.R.E.S.E.N.T)"How will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2026?" By Ramesh C. Reddy "Present Reveals Eternal Savior's Emancipation Now Today! (P.R.E.S.E.N.T)"How will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2026?" By Ramesh C. Reddy

SCRIPTURE:
"After the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:15-20)

Approach Question:
How have you handled a greatest event in your life?

Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of the shepherd's statement, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened'
In the Old Testament, we learn that the angels are messengers of God! Yet, the shepherds cannot yet fully grasp what is happening to call the GREATEST EVENT IN HISTORY a THING: "Let's go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened".

I have a feeling the shepherds could not completely believe the angels until they saw the baby Jesus themselves. Without saying, 'let's go to Bethlehem to see the Savior born or to see Christ the Lord, they say 'let's go see this thing'.

There is a lot to say here because the shepherd's really may not have grasped the message of the angels in their heart. For all we know, they could have all been unbelievers without a knowledge of the Old Testament and prophecy.

This all changed when they chose to obey the angels, hurried off and saw Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They sought after Jesus and found Jesus. Even as a baby, Jesus became personal to them now.

In v.17 we read 'when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child'.

The event was not a thing anymore to them but the birth of a Savior became reality to them. We are told that these shepherds now spread the word concerning what had been told about this child.

We are not told that they saw the baby Jesus and went back to their fields, saying "yeah, that's cool, we have work to do now" but they were engaged in EVANGELISM. This is the first instance of evangelism by humans that we see here in the New Testament.

This evangelism was not done by pastors or missionaries but ordinary shepherds who had a mundane and routine job to do every night.

What better persons to promote evangelism for the Kingdom of God than shepherds who would one day bow down to the Good Shepherd who said, 'I AM the Good Shepherd and I came to lay down my life for the sheep' (John 10)

What they saw and heard, they did not keep to themselves but spread the word.

The cause-and-effect relationship shows the result of the shepherds evangelism is that 'all who heard were amazed.'

The shepherds belief in the Savior and their actions of spreading the news had ripple effects.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. Many years ago, through a difficult time in my life, I started sharing 'problem-solution' poems calling them 'Christian Rap' to share Jesus with my coworkers who were mainly African-American. I made them curious to wonder, see, and then read 'what this Indian person called rap'. By the Lord's grace, it changed lives. At the time, I was working at Giant Eagle and wanted to share Christ with all who would read. So, I started distributing a poem each day. Everyday, they wanted a new poem which I shared.

One day, an African-American employee stops me and says, "Ramesh, I was planning on commiting su***de but I found 'Downing Depression' on the floor and read it with the prayer you had included. It saved my life. Thank you so much!" Today, I still see this person doing another job and he is full of joy and excitement. Jesus was shared with this person including principle promises from the Word of God. It changed the person's life.

Another person's life was changed online when I counseled her and shared with her 'Never Forsaken' poem. She gave her life to Christ then and there. Since it was done online, I never met her in person but years later she sends me a letter with a donation while I was working for IVCF stating, 'Because of you sharing Jesus with me, my husband is also a Christian now and I am pregnant with a child'

Another person wrote that through the devotionals I publish on this site, she gave her life to Christ accepting Him into her heart. Almost, in every instance, those that came to the Lord Jesus and had their lives changed when they were pointed to Christ whether it was a Christian poem, written counsel, etc focusing on Christ.

Jesus can change lives whether we share him using the written word as I have done time after time or the spoken word as the shepherds used.

To share Jesus with others, I need not be a great orator like the Evangelist Billy Graham. I don't even need to have a title of pastor or missionary. As an ordinary person, I can share the Good News of Christ to those around me. When people heard the shepherds spread the news concerning what they learned about Jesus, they did not say to themselves, 'They are just ordinary shepherds, why should we listen to them'. On the contrary, the message of the shepherds changed lives. For 'all who heard were amazed'. Thank you Jesus. This excites me to know that the message of the Gospel and the sharing of Jesus can be done by anyone to change other people's lives. Through that process, our own lives are changed too. We see the shepherds were changed inside out when we read, "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

When I think about Christmas, my focus should not be on getting presents or gifts but spreading CHRISTMAS around for it is CHRIST MAS (Christ to the mass of people). Christ came to spread Himself around to the mass of humanity. The shepherds understood that and knew it started with them after the angel of the Lord had revealed the Good News to them.

It is important for us to realize that 'EVANGELISM' began at Christmas. The angels news to the shepherds and the shepherds news to the people had positive ripple effects in so many lives.

I ask you now dear friend, why be the one to S.P.R.E.A.D the Good News of Jesus this Christmas season?
Dear friend, it would be a shame if we celebrate the Christmas season without having told anyone about the Savior who came into this world to save the mass of people . That is what CHRISTMAS is about! Christ added to the mass of people so they can be saved one day.

Let us do the math and we get Christ + Mass = Christmas.

This Christmas season, if you have not shared Jesus with atleast one person, who does not know Jesus, through the written word or spoken word giving them the Word of God, it is not too late. Reveal to them the Good News offered through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Christmas season as we know it is coming to an end but there are still days in this year of 2025 and the New Year of 2026 is coming. With Christ in our hearts, everyday can be Christmas.

The tendency of a lot of us can be to leave it to the pastors, priests, reverends, ministers, missionaries, etc to preach the Gospel and spread the Good News of the Salvation offered through Christ who came to 'ransom humanity from the bo***ge of sin and death'.

But, from the shepherds we learn that they took the initiative within their own profession and made a huge difference which is evidenced by:

"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:18, NIV)

They were not commissioned missionaries, pastors, priests, reverends, etc but lowly shepherds who went back to their profession with a joyful mindset after spreading the Good News of the Savior.

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:20, NIV)

Friend, you too can use the profession you are in to make a huge difference in the lives of those you come across. You do not have to be an Evangelist like Billy Graham to spread the Good News of Christ to those who need the Lord, for people need the Lord and you can be the One to show them the Lord.

God used shepherds to lead people to the Good Shepherd.

God used fisherman to fish for the souls of men.

We see the example of using a person's profession to spread the Good News of the Savior here:

True story of the Candy Cane (Dramatization to make the point)

Once upon a time in a land far away, there was an elderly gentleman who loved children so much and wanted to make them a candy where the message of the gospel can be presented too.

One Christmas morning, he decided to give all the children a striped candy. The children loved the candy and it's taste. However, they wanted to know how come the candy had a weird shape. This gave the elderly gentleman the opportunity to spread the gospel.

"You see children, this Christmas day I want you to remember the birth of the Savior who was born for you and me even as you eat this candy. Let me tell you the meaning of the candy", replied the elderly gentleman.

The elderly gentleman started to tell the meaning. "I made this candy in the shape of a cane to represent the 'staff of a shepherd'. Jesus is your Good Shepherd and you all are his tender sheep. The 'staff' is used to lead/pull you all in the right direction if you go astray.

I coated it completely with a 'white color' to represent purity. You see Jesus had no sin but was perfect in everything he did. Each of us did yucky things though and Jesus wanted to forgive us and deliver us from these yucky things so he came to earth to be our Savior.

I coated the 'white cane' with stripes of 'red color' to represent the blood of Jesus washing away all the yucky things we have done and make us pure. Jesus died for you and me to rescue us from all our yuckiness by becoming our Savior when we turn to Him and ask Him to forgive us from this yuckiness known as sin.

I also coated it with 'three thin stripes of red' to represent Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit represented in the Trinity: God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

Each time, you eat a candy cane, I wanted you to remember how much God loves you so much that He sent Jesus as a baby, born during Christmas to become your Savior one day and later give you His Holy Spirit to live in you and guide you everyday as He will become your Lord and Master when you ask Him to. He will be a good master who will love you and take care of you. Also, the shape of the cane gives you the first letter of the One who will become the Savior of the world: The letter 'J' for Jesus.

This is the meaning of the candy cane in your hands and the gospel story." replied the elderly gentleman. Never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season and my gift of the candy cane to you represents the Good News of Christ. Amen!

Eating the original candy cane makes it that much more exciting and special to me because of the meaning behind the candy cane!

This Christmas season no matter what our profession, let us take the time to spread the message of true love, joy, peace, and hope that can be found only in the Savior. Christmas can just become a thing to us if we get so bogged down with our jobs and the duties we have to do rather than taking the time to understand the true meaning of Christmas.

My prayer is that each one of you will remember our Lord and Savior during this Christmas season and spread the love of Jesus Christ the remaining days of 2025 and in the coming days of 2026!

May you be touched by the Lord's presence and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ as you yourself bask in the loving Arms of love of our Savior. We cannot give anything or spread the Good News of Christ unless we have personally seen and experienced His love in our own life.

We will only be excited to share or spread any news if it makes an impact in our own life for that is human tendency so may you be impacted by Jesus Christ in your own life that you cannot keep Jesus to yourself but have the urge and desire to keep spreading Jesus.

May you all continue to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"Savior Promote Readily Evangelizing All Daily!" (S.P.R.E.A.D)/"Why be the one to S.P.R.E.A.D the Good News of Jesus this Christmas season?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you so much your birth is so special because you were born to a virgin girl who is your blessed mother Mary, with the purpose to die for me and redeem my life from the bo***ge of sin and death. Later, you came back to life to save me. Christmas is a time of hope because you came to be our Savior. Thank you so much Jesus! I am sorry Lord when I have become too preoccupied with getting presents, etc that I fail to sit at your feet and spend time with you on your birthday. I am sorry when I do not give myself completely to you. Lord, we know when we give others gifts, it is like giving you gifts. Yet, many times we can be bogged down with presents and miss spreading you around. For that we are really sorry Lord. I pray we would always remember the reason for this season is your birth. Thank you so much Jesus! Please Jesus give us boldness to tell others about you as the Shepherds did because you have the power to save all of us and be a light in our lives. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you Lord for hearing us and answering us. I pray for all those who are suffering this season with loneliness that you Oh Lord would send your healing in their lives. Whether they are suffering from a physical ailment, emotional, psychological, or even a financial struggle, please Lord be with them and help them experience the joy of this season. Thank you Lord we can celebrate your birth because you are Savior now and forever as we give our lives to thee. This Christmas season we give ourselves to thee as a present to you. We want to make you really happy for your birthday and always. Please help us Father God to bring you happiness. Thank you Lord and thank you Lord for the elderly gentleman who spread the Gospel through a candy cane. Thank you Lord that you can use anything you want for your honor and glory. Use us in our profession to spread the Good News of your Eternal Salvation and Redemption. Thank you so much Jesus. We lift all these things to you. In Your Name We Pray Jesus, thanking you and praising you for everything! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called �All in All�)

The formatted devotional with previous devotional can be found online at

"Savior Promote Readily Evangelizing All Daily!" (S.P.R.E.A.D)/"Why be the one to S.P.R.E.A.D the Good News of Jesus this Christmas season?" By Ramesh C. Reddy "Savior Promote Readily Evangelizing All Daily!" (S.P.R.E.A.D)/"Why be the one to S.P.R.E.A.D the Good News of Jesus this Christmas season?"