Recent Devotions
Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.” (Luke 9:2-3, NLT) I love to travel, but I’ve finally figured out that it’s easier when I pack light. I am not quite to the point where I can exist for a week or two with one small carry-on bag, but at least I no longer cram so much into my luggage that it won’t zip closed. I…
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.” (II Corinthians 9:6, NLT) Two men. Two different philosophies of life. I was a teenager at the time, but I doubt I was perceptive…
“Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26, NKJV) One of the things I enjoy in studying the Bible is doing character studies. Some, like Abraham and David, have chapters dedicated to their stories. Others are lesser known and…
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“And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.” Genesis 21:19. This week our subject will be: “Encounters at the Well.” There are many stories in the Bible that centre around a well. Shall we look and see what the Lord might be wanting to teach us from them. The story in Genesis 21 is a familiar one. Abraham had purchased Hagar in Egypt to be a maid to his wife, Sarah. Her name means “forsaken.” Hagar has long represented the plight of…
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Psalm 103:1-2 Do you ever talk to yourself? I live alone, and some days if I did not talk to myself, I would have nobody to talk to. Perhaps you are looking for something, and there is no one else around to help you find it, so you ask yourself, “Now where did I have that last?” Sometimes just speaking that out loud, helps you remember, and you can go right to…
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15, ESV) “You don’t understand; you’ve never been through what I’m going through.” Has anyone ever said that to you? They may be right. It’s difficult to know how someone feels in a particular situation if we’ve never been down that road ourselves. With the best of intentions, we may even say, “I know just how you feel.” But often we don’t know. When I read Hebrews 4:15,…
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message of salvation did not suddenly appear in the New Testament. From the earliest pages of Scripture, God was already revealing His plan of redemption. A PROPHETIC PICTURE The Old Testament is not separate from the Gospel. Instead, it foreshadows and prepares the way for it. As we read Exodus chapters…
