Recent Devotions
The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. (John 11:44-46, ESV) Many times, eyewitnesses to the same event will each “see” the event differently. I suppose it’s a combination of one’s perspective, attentiveness, or even bias that may affect our perception of…
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, ESV) We are now into the second month of the new year. By this time each year, about eighty percent have fallen behind on their resolutions and slipped back into…
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him . . . And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (I Samuel 3:7 and 10, ESV) I…
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“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9 Has there ever been a time in your life when you were going through a trial or difficulty and a friend said to you, “God will not give you more than you can handle”? But is this true and scriptural? Would it not be better to say, “God will not give you more than He can handle”? In Chapter…
“Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.” (II Chronicles 24:2, NLT) Thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets, and garage sales are all good places to pick up items at just a fraction of their original cost. Or, if you don’t want to leave home to shop, there’s always the internet. Some people just have a knack for finding hidden treasures under the tarnish and dust of the years. I don’t seem to have that knack. While I do enjoy browsing the tables of used books, most items just look dreary and…
“In the beginning, GOD …” In our last study, we noted that the story of the beginning of all things started with a RIGHTeous GOD. Like Hebrew reads from RIGHT to left, our life story would do well to be read from the perspective of “RIGHT FIRST.” In everything we do, it’s RIGHT to put GOD in the beginning—to consider His Ways, His Word, His Will … FIRST. Over one hundred years ago, Charles M. Sheldon, through the characters in his fictional story, “In His Steps,” posed a similar challenge that, before making any decisions, of first asking “What would…
These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19, NKJV) As I sat in midweek Bible study, our pastor made the point that we must “love what God loves and hate what God hates.” Proverbs 8:13 confirms this. “The fear [respect, reverence] of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and…
