Daily Devotions for Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Anchored in One Hope

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The Daily Devotional

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Anchored in One Hope

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” — Ephesians 4:4

Introduction

Welcome to Day 4 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today, the Apostle Paul invites us to look beyond the surface-level differences of our denominations and traditions to see the bedrock of our faith. He highlights a profound unity that binds the Church worldwide—a unity not rooted in uniform worship styles or identical church governance, but in "one Spirit" and "one hope." As we reflect on this passage, we remember that while our methods may differ, our mission and our ultimate destination are the same.

Reflection

On January 21, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States. It is a date that marks a turning point in modern history. In the months that followed, the world faced a storm that did not care about national borders, political affiliations, or religious labels.

During the height of that uncertainty, we saw something remarkable happen in neighborhoods across the world. In Italy, people sang from their balconies to encourage neighbors they couldn’t visit. In New York, people banged pots and pans at 7:00 PM to cheer for healthcare workers. When the electricity of "normal life" went out, we suddenly realized that we were all in the same dark room, searching for the same light. The crisis stripped away the luxury of division and revealed our common fragility and our shared need for hope.

Paul speaks to the Church in a similar way. We often focus on what makes us distinct—our specific liturgies, our preferred hymns, or our theological nuances. These distinctive identities are beautiful, much like the unique instruments in an orchestra. However, Paul reminds us that we are playing the same song. We are "called to one hope."

Just as the pandemic forced us to realize that our neighbor’s health was tied to our own, the Holy Spirit reminds us that our spiritual health is tied to the global Body of Christ. The hope we hold—the hope of salvation, redemption, and the restoration of all things in Christ—is too big for any one denomination to own exclusively. It is the anchor that holds the entire fleet of the Church together, even when the storms of the world try to drift us apart.

Application

Today, consider the question: In what ways can we embrace the challenge of our one calling, while maintaining our unique identity?

Your challenge for today is to view your specific church traditions not as walls that separate you from others, but as gifts you bring to the family table. If you are from a liturgical background, cherish your prayers but honor the spontaneity of others. If you are from a charismatic background, cherish your freedom but honor the silence of others. Reach out to a Christian friend who belongs to a different denomination today. Don’t debate doctrine; simply ask them, "What gives you hope right now?" and listen to the "one Spirit" speaking through them.

Conclusion

We are defined not by the name on our church sign, but by the singular hope we have in Jesus. When we live out this unity, it ceases to be a theological concept and becomes a lived reality that the world desperately needs to see. Let us remain anchored in that one hope, reinforcing our shared mission to love one another and the world.

Prayer

Jesus Christ, You have brought us together in all our diversity as your family and church. In the face so many situations on earth where hope has given way to despair and wounded hearts, renew our hope in the Holy Spirit’s work of changing the world. Move us to spread this hope to everyone everywhere. You are the true Light, who casts out the darkness of sin, and shines into our hearts the joy and hope of your eternal love. Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.