Recent Devotions
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) Joses, whom his fellow believers called Barnabas, was an encourager. That’s how he obtained his nickname. Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” He was the kind of person we would all appreciate having as a friend. Despite his miraculous conversion, not everyone readily accepted Saul (later Paul), who had severely persecuted the early church. Barnabas, however, spoke in his defense to the disciples and persuaded them to accept this new convert as a fellow brother in the Lord (Acts 9:26-27). How encouraging it must…
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Tonight, we say goodbye to 2023 and begin another year. As we look back over the last twelve months, we have a choice. We can remember all the terrible things that…
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 “Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year…
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“And I saw a great white throne . . . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11–15) Revelation 20 gives us one of the most sobering scenes in all of Scripture. John saw a great white throne. He saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. He saw the books opened. This passage reminds us that…
And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:15-16, ESV) One of my favorite ways of socializing is over food. It can be something as simple as a fast-food lunch or more upscale dining for special occasions. Entertaining at home can mean snacks on the counter, a complete meal, or…
“Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21, ESV) Some jobs are difficult! They can be dirty, smelly, or just plain hard work. When I was younger, I would add such jobs to a mental “never want to do that” list. It wasn’t that I found the jobs unimportant, but I knew it was something I could not do it. While doing a little online…
“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” (Psalm 119: 142) The first sentence of a newspaper article grabbed my attention: “Morality evolves constantly,” the writer boldly declared. He went on to list many things considered taboo fifty years ago that are now considered acceptable behavior. Was he confused about the meaning of morality—or was I? Can morality change? Or is it only man’s perception of what is moral that changes? What is morality? Morality is defined as: “(1) The quality of being in accord with standards of good or right conduct. (2) A system of…
