Recent Devotions
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV) Through the years, I’ve worked with some very intelligent, highly educated people. But it didn’t take me long to realize that it’s possible to be smart without being wise. Knowledge is a wonderful thing. I love learning new information on a variety of topics. But I need wisdom to apply that knowledge to my everyday life. First Kings 3 describes a time shortly after King Solomon ascended the throne. The Lord came to him…
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (I Peter 4:10, NLT) Sometimes we disqualify ourselves from areas of service for the Lord for various reasons. “I’m too young . . . too old . .…
“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah…
Readers Loved
Remember “the Uncola?” In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s marketers for 7-Up came up with a scheme to distance their drink from the more popular dark carbonated beverages. They sold it as the “Uncola.” Meaning to cash in on the spirit of rebellion that characterized much of the hip culture of the day, they tried to make 7-up look like a rebel, too. By adding an “un”, they sought to describe what 7-up WAS by what it wasn’t—it was definitely NOT a cola. Jesus often used different kinds of figurative speech to make a point or teach a lesson.…
“My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” (James 1:19, CSB) A friend and I were having a phone conversation one day recently. Or, more accurately, we were “almost” holding a conversation. While chatting, I was also scanning the internet and she was working on something as well. In the background at her end, a little voice kept insisting, “I want your phone” so he could play games. Neither of us was giving full attention to our conversation. We were distracted by other things. But if you had…
Sarah was identified by God as the “mother of nations.” But for so many years, she had been childless. The promise of God was spoken to Abraham, but as time passed, she felt forgotten and forsaken. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12, NIV.) She was heartsick, questioning, and longing for something that seemed so out of reach as the years slipped by. She had waited eleven long years for the promise to be fulfilled. Finally, in her impatience and desperation, Sarah sent her servant to conceive in her place—Hagar,.her…
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10 This Sunday we will be celebrating International Sunday in our church, and we will have 30 different nationalities represented. It is always so amazing to see people march into the sanctuary carrying the flags of the country in…
