A WORD FOR TODAY, June 26, 2026
Peggy Hoppes
We pray you are blessed by this daily devotion.
Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, June 26, 2026
“Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31, WEB
I once read an article from Forbes magazine about teamwork, specifically teams that work. The article listed several characteristics common to teams that are successful, from sports teams to creative teams to business teams. Of all the examples given in the article, I found the one about Thomas Edison to be most interesting. It led me to do more research on the man. Though it is impossible to summarize his life in just a few paragraphs, I think what I learned most about him is that he has been viewed in both positive and negative light.
The article focused on Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park, New Jersey research and development center. This was the first center of this type ever created, with a variety of laboratories in one area working on different inventions at the same time. Edison was a genius in team design who invited the most intelligent, creative, and passionate men in diverse fields to join his team. These men were able to work together to create much of the technology that has become a staple of our lives today.
When asked about Thomas Edison’s greatest achievement, most people would say that he invented the light bulb. In reality, Edison had little to do with that invention; it was another man’s idea that was developed and perfected by his research team. Some criticize Edison for this reason, claiming that he can’t be considered the greatest inventor because he didn’t even invent the thing for which he is given the most credit. Yet, of the thousand or more inventions that came out of the research and development center, Thomas played a hands-on role for many; he actually invented quite a few. On top of that, Thomas Edison can be called “the father of the electrical age” because he was the one who first developed the standardized, commercially centralized, underground central power facility. By doing so, Edison proved that electric light and power could be made practically available to all of mankind.
When asked where this amazing historical event took place, many might say it was in New York City. Thomas Edison was indeed working on a station in New York, but the real success was developed in Brockton, Massachusetts. Edison was a practical man who knew how to handle the business aspects of inventing as well as the actual inventions. He knew that he would receive more publicity, acclaim, and credit if he presented his work in New York. However, his work in New York paled in comparison to the work done in Massachusetts. His critics even agreed that Edison deserved recognition for the plant in Brockton. Still, Edison kept his focus on New York, leaving the history of his greatest accomplishment practically forgotten and with school children remembering him for something that he really did not do.
If you asked a student about Thomas Edison, he would most likely tell you something different than an electrician or a historian. Some will describe him positively and others negatively. Thomas Edison accomplished great things, but he is also a fascinating study in business savvy and ethics. He was an inventor, but he was also a man who received credit for the work of others. Yet, it was his very ability to choose the right men at the right time for his team that made him - and them - very successful.
Who is Jesus to you? This is a most important question, yet it is a question that comes with as many answers as answerers. Your see Jesus differently than your neighbor, even if they are Christian. The non-Christian will have a totally different answer. Some say Jesus is a friend, others Savior, others a wonderful teacher, yet others say He is a miracle man. The scriptures give us His story, and tell us the stories about the people, places, and events that His life. He chose people we would not choose because they are not always the most intelligent, creative, or passionate men. They were often foolish and uncertain. However, Jesus did not depend on the disciples. They were chosen to support Him, to follow Him, to take His grace to the world. In the stories we see the human nature of the disciples so that we will see ever more clearly the Christ. They told us about Jesus so we can decide for ourselves who He is.
He is indeed friend, Savior, teacher, and healer, but He is so much more. He is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe in Him and you will be saved unto eternal life!
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