Recent Devotions
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “masterpiece” means “a work done with extraordinary skill.” We were all created by a very skilled master. He took His time forming us, making sure everything was perfect. He decided our hair color, the exact shade of our skin, and our height. HE is the master artist and WE are his masterpiece. He knew who you would be, what your talents were, and what you…
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” 1 Timothy 1:15 As I read through this chapter in 1 Timothy, I realized that as Paul preached the gospel, it was infused with…
“But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.” Exodus 8:15 Isn’t it so easy for us to look at Pharaoh and shake our heads in disbelief? After numerous plagues that destroyed his crops,…
Readers Loved
A conversation with someone looking away or at something else besides you is only half a conversation. Their inattention makes you wonder if what you have to say is important to that person at all. They may be distracted because they don’t have a vested interest in what you are saying. It may be selfishness on their part that has them believing that only what they say is worthy of a listen. It might even be that the value they place upon you is less than what you thought, and therefore they can justify their divided attention. That is a…
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” (I Corinthians 9:24, ESV) Cliff Young was a determined man who accomplished what he set out to do. You may not recognize his name. After all, it’s been forty years since the then sixty-one-year-old Australian potato farmer decided to run a multi-day ultra-marathon from Sydney to Melbourne. Unlike the other runners, Cliff sported no fancy running gear, just his usual farm clothes and boots. His “training” was rounding up his 2,000 sheep on foot. Although…
In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This unconditional love is the core aspect of the culture of the Kingdom and one of two core elements of God’s character (see 1 John 4:8,16). The other core element of God’s character is holiness—“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The culture of the world would…
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands”. Psalm 100:1 KJV While reading my Bible, I became intrigued by the word “noise” in the above verse. Why was it not written as a joyful sound, joyful song, or joyful melody? The term “noise” appeared to be a peculiar choice for the opening of this Psalm. According to the Blue Letter Bible, “noise” translates as “rûaʿ” which means to shout, raise a sound, cry out, or give a blast. Strong’s Definition explains it as to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound). Strong’s Concordance explains…
