Recent Devotions
“Be thou an example of the believers, in word.” I Timothy 4:12 This week we are looking at this verse in I Timothy where Paul is giving Timothy guidelines for his life, and considering how they can apply to our lives. Perhaps you can remember instances of someone making a promise to you and then not following through on it. It is very disheartening to be anticipating a special treat and then being disappointed. It is far better to not make a promise than to break it. One of the greatest compliments that someone can say about us is that…
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I Timothy 4:12 This admonition was written to a young man, Timothy, but I believe that we all can take heed to the guidelines…
What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 1 Samuel 17:31, NIV. I use to think that David presented himself before Saul to fight Goliath. However, the above scripture explains that someone heard what David was saying about the uncircumcised Philistine and reported everything…
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“O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 Sometimes I over-complicate things. Okay, most of the time I over-complicate things. I have always struggled with trying to figure out “what does God want from me and for me?” To be honest, I was always searching for this deep, profound, lightning bolt moment type of answer. Boy, was I off base. I always thought that God wanted me at my very best, slaying giants and conquering mountains. In reality, I was setting myself up for failure because I had experienced the…
“Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.” Genesis 13:18 As usual, at the beginning of this month, I started reading the Bible through again. I can’t remember how many years I have been doing this, but it has been a long time. I have certificates to show for the last fifteen or so years but had been doing it long before that. It always amazes me as I read through the familiar stories, that new thoughts and ideas jump out at…
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:4-7, KJV.…
For Such a Time as This At the start of Esther’s story, Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, which set off a chain of events that threatened the entire Jewish people. But Mordecai stood firm. He didn’t regret his stand, and he didn’t back down—he acted in faith, not fear. When the decree to destroy the Jews went out, Mordecai sent word to Esther, calling her to go before the king. Esther hesitated. She was safe in the palace and knew the risk—approaching the king uninvited could mean death. But Mordecai’s words pierced her comfort: “Who knows whether you have…
