Recent Devotions
“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all!” (Job 16:2, NKJV) I recently again read the Book of Job. Each time I read this familiar story, I gain new insights (and ask more questions) about the meaning of suffering. Job faced great affliction and loss, yet ultimately he came through victorious. Much of the book contains dialogue between Job and three friends who came to console him during this dark period in his life. The more I read, the more I had mixed feelings about their “help.” The phrase “Job’s comforter” derives from this story of Job and…
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm 105:19, NLT) When I recently did an online search for the meaning of character, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to define when one entry came up as the ”best 74 definitions of character.” The list included…
“And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.” (Acts 3:2-3,…
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“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV) As a prisoner of Rome, the apostle Paul could not move freely about to continue ministering to the believers. He could, however, strengthen and encourage the churches in the various cities in which he’d ministered by writing letters (epistles). At least four New Testament books (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon) are letters Paul wrote from prison. He wanted the believers to thrive in their walk with God. His words still speak to us today. Called to Discipleship When…
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” II Peter 1:4 We used to sing a chorus in church about every promise in the Bible being ours. I always questioned that as there are some things that God promised people that I don’t want to have come true in my life. I have been thinking of all the wonderful things He has promised us that we can trust and stand upon. Promise of Heaven – John…
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. “Life without books is like an unsharpened pencil…it has no point.” When I saw this quote recently, I immediately wanted to re-word it to read: “Life without the Bible is like an unsharpened pencil…it has no point.” My daughter and son-in-law recently moved into a new home and chose to use one room just as a library. I had the privilege of unpacking boxes and boxes of…
“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.” (Philemon 10-11) One of the shortest books in the Bible is actually a personal letter written by the apostle Paul while a prisoner in Rome. The recipient was a fellow believer named Philemon, who probably lived in Colossae. The letter concerned a runaway slave named Onesimus. The problem: Onesimus was Philemon’s slave and Paul’s convert. Yes, new converts often have complicated and messy backgrounds. That’s why we need wisdom…
