November 30, 2023
Luke 4:4 “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”
Jesus spoke these words when He was tested by the devil in the wilderness. He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 and declared the profound truth that the Word of God is the source of all life. God spoke all things into existence and He holds all creation together and in order by the power of His Word. The enemy knows this and has been at work throughout time to discredit God’s Word and make it seem irrelevant. He doesn’t mind if we have churches, conduct worship, talk about religious stuff, study theology, and practice some form of spirituality. As long as we stay away from the Word of God and its power. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:20-22, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh”. It is possible to talk about the Bible, speak of the need for the scriptures, and explain the historical legacy of the Bible and it will all sound like a fundamental sermon. All that is fine and well except it’s like talking to a sick man about a medicine, showing him the bottle, explaining what it can do, and telling the history about how many people it has helped. It does the sick man no good until he grabs the bottle, opens it, and begins to take the medicine to get it inside his body. The Bible says in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”. God’s Word is pure and when we receive it into ourselves, it is a Holy Entity to itself. As believers, we can either trust what God said in His Word and believe it is our life or we can ignore His Word and listen to other voices. Sometimes, it’s easy to trust God because the trial isn’t too severe or we can see a way it looks like God is going to help us. But the battle of faith gets intense when we don’t see a solution, all the options look too hard, or it’s a situation that’s beyond the ordinary for us. But Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”. We live because God’s Word is life itself.
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November 29, 2023
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”
There is a difference between wishing for the best and hoping for the best. The American Dictionary says this: Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied by pain and anxiety. The Bible here, calls God, “The God of hope” and His desire for us is that we may abound or overflow with hope. The source of our hope is from the joy and peace of our faith. We believe God is faithful, we trust His Word, and the faith that is produced is empowered by the Holy Spirit to give us overflowing hope. We have hope in our daily lives, hope for our future, hope for our children, and even when it looks like circumstances are against us, we still have unfailing hope. The Bible says in Psalms 71:14, “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more”. Faith, hope, and praise all go hand-in-hand and the Holy Spirit is leading us away from the world’s thinking of despair, failure, and bleak outlooks. With God, there is hope, the certainty that He is in control, and the expectation that what He said, He will perform. My present journey through cancer treatment is a journey of hope because my life belongs to the Lord. God is not whispering in my ear, “You’re going to die”, those are the words of the enemy. God is saying, “Trust in me because I love you. Receive my peace and don’t be afraid. I am Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals you”. The enemy says that if my faith was real, then I wouldn’t have any sickness at all. But hope tells me God says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all”. The enemy says I should just give in and accept the consequences. But hope in the Lord says. “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” and, “O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me”. We need a strong message of hope in our world: hope that God is for us and not against us, that He is working on our behalf, and that He has already made a way to deliver us.
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November 28, 2023
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”
They are treating the cancerous tumor in my throat with both radiation and chemotherapy as it is too close to the major arteries in my neck to safely remove it surgically. The radiation is 5 days a week for 6 weeks and every morning when I arrive at the hospital, they fasten my head and shoulders to the treatment table using a custom mask which they created by molding some flexible material to me, to make sure they hit the same spot with the radiation beam as precisely as possible. While I lie there, the above verse is often continually going through my mind and it brings me great comfort. The Lord is telling me to not be afraid because He is with me and He is my God. He is a friend, yes, but more than that. The Almighty God who created all things and who created me, the One who spoke worlds into existence is right there with me. I don’t understand His purpose in these things but what I’m going through didn’t catch Him off-guard. He says He will strengthen me, help me, and hold me up with His righteous right hand. The meaning here is that God’s right hand is a symbol of His power. In times of our greatest weakness, we need to be assured that God is faithfully reaching down to us with His great power to help us and comfort us. It’s comforting to know He is with us when things are calm and peaceful but it is a blessing beyond words to know that when we are helpless within ourselves to change our situation, the Sovereign Lord is standing by our side, fighting our battles, and telling us that everything is working for our good. My prayer in these times is, “Thank You Lord for being with me in this trial. Thank You for giving me help and strength. Thank you for holding me firm with Your great power. Thank You for taking away my fear and giving me joy in place of discouragement”. Thank You that You have ordered my steps and that You are working to cause this affliction to quickly pass”. It is a light affliction, it is but for a moment, and when it is finished, it will produce a crown of Glory!
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November 27, 2023
Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”
Our world is one of introspection; that is, a lot of people are consumed with themselves. Selfishness is so common it’s taken for granted with the pattern being that it’s the way to live because it’s normal. In the body of Christ, the fruits of such are what we are warned against in today’s verse: strife, vainglory (conceit), and the vanity of pride. Placing ourselves at the center of our lives, wanting and even demanding what we think we need to be happy, produces the opposite of God’s will for us and leads us down the rabbit hole of misery. Because, when we only look inward without the help of the Holy Spirit, we’re looking at the truth of Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing”. We are messed up because of sin and without God’s help, we are hopelessly trapped in a prison of selfish ambition, lustful desires, the lies of this world, false interpretations of who we are, and misplaced purpose. The Lord has a better place for us, a place of victory where we rise above ourselves by God’s grace and begin to take our place like Jesus, focused on what matters to God: helping and serving others. As for us, we are children of God and the Lord will take care of what we need, how we will develop and grow, and what will make us contented and happy. If we waste our valuable days trying to do for ourselves what God is already doing for us, we will miss the greatest pleasures and joys of walking in God’s purpose. This is why we’re told here to, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”. People all around us need the light of the Lord and God planned it so that light, His light, shines through us. The words we speak to others, the actions we take, the goodness and mercy we show them, the material things we share, and the effort to be a friend in times of need are the salt and light that pleases God and fulfills His will. It is the way that God is glorified and His love is proclaimed. Anything else, including the path of legalism, is all about self.
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November 26, 2023
Isaiah 58:12 “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in”
All around us, there is brokenness. Broken homes, broken lives, and broken hearts. Some families struggle with addictions and some are dealing with illnesses that rob them of their joy. There was a time when there were fences of protection around us that helped keep us safe from the enemy’s devices and we were guarded from things that nowadays, hurt us and our children. Fear and uncertainty loom over us like a dark cloud and there is little rest for people’s souls. God is calling us into this brokenness to make a difference in people’s lives by bringing help and the message of hope. That’s the words of today’s verse where the Lord says that we and our families can rebuild the broken places that lie in waste and raise up strong foundations for those who follow us. Our title, “The repairer of the breach” speaks to the repairing of the broken walls of protection that help keep us and our families safe. We need a return to pure morals and higher standards. The enemy has polluted our homes and minds long enough and we need integrity and courage to take a stand for what’s right. We need the Holy Spirit’s directives to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” and we need to make sure our children and grandchildren have no doubt about what is right, what is wrong, and what the Lord wants for us. The title, “The restorer of paths to dwell in” speaks of the way we live and how we need the old paths of faith, consecration, and steadfastness in the ways of the Lord. Let’s keep doing what’s right, keep honoring God with our lives, and be builders of the things that are pleasing to the Lord. May we have the integrity to refuse compromise and know that the way of God’s grace is described in Titus 2:12 as, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”.
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November 25, 2023
Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”
This chapter of Isaiah foretold the sufferings of Jesus. We can blame the devil, blame the religious bigots of the Lord’s time, or even blame our sinful selves but Jesus’ sufferings were a most important part of God’s plan. He purposed to redeem back to Himself what sin had destroyed. Look how many times the word “our” and then the word “we” appears. God planned not only for Jesus to suffer and die in our place, but that in the sufferings and crucifixion, the blood of Christ would pour from His precious body as an atonement for our sins. This erroneous church age of Laodicea does not want to place the greatest emphasis upon the power of Christ’s suffering and His blood. It is far more soothing to speak of the goodwill of humanity and our need to calm down and all will be well. But our sin is so great it took wounds, beating, and the raw stripes from a wicked whip on the body of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins, our peace, and our healing. We are not just silly, mistaken people. But without Jesus, we are sinners beyond hope and doomed for complete destruction by the righteousness of God. And anyone who would argue otherwise is already deluded to utter foolishness by their sin. The unimaginable happened: God, in His great love for us and doing what we could not do for ourselves, became a man and took our place. On a personal level, when they beat Him with their fists, they were beating Him for me. When they ripped out His beard, spat in His face, and crowned Him with thorns, I was the one who deserved it. And then, when the strong, practiced Roman soldier took the whip and began to rip open the body of our Lord, each stripe bought my healing. Our hope, our salvation, and our eternal joy were completely paid for that day when Jesus took our place. As we enter this Christmas Season and enjoy the lights, the music, and the wonderful times with our families and friends, may we remember that our Amazing God set us up for our time of joy by the sacrifice of Himself. All praise be to Him, the only True and living God as said in Ephesians 4:8, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men”.
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November 24, 2023
Revelation 7:11-12 “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen”
We just finished our annual Thanksgiving Day here in America and believers everywhere offered thanks for God’s blessings. But all we can muster to give thanks pales in comparison to this scene above described when an innumerable mass of people, all saved by the blood of Jesus gather around the throne of God. They are there along with the angels, the twenty-four elders, and the four beasts, and the entire congregation falls on their faces and worship God, praising Him and thanking Him. The identity of this mass of people is given in verses 13-14, “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. This reference is not to us, the saints of the church age because we were not saved through great tribulation. Our salvation came to us as part of the dispensation of the grace of God while Israel was removed from the root of the faith of Abraham. But there will come a time when earth’s circumstances will change and the world will be plunged into great tribulation. Yet even during that time when God will deal with the wickedness of humanity and the antichrist will lead the nations of the world in rebellion against the Lord and Israel, God will still be busy at work saving people and will save them as described in verses 9-10, “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”. To those who doubt that God’s plan is to save even during the season of His wrath, remember that the unchanging Word of God always declares in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. Isaiah 63:1, says He is, “mighty to save”.
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November 22, 2023
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
I am thankful for God’s love. When I was growing up, our family attended churches that seldom spoke of God’s love for us. They preached a doctrine of God that presented Him as so severe, so set apart from us that I didn’t think He even liked me let alone loved me. They taught that God demanded our best attempts at sinless perfection and unless we were striving for that standard, He wasn’t happy with us. As I’ve said before in other devotions, there came a time in my teenage years when I gave up trying to approach God because I saw my failures and knew I didn’t have it in me to measure up to what I thought He demanded. But thanks be to God His grace reached out to me and when I was a young adult and for the first time, I started to understand the Lord really, truly loves people and that’s what He’s all about. Yes, He hates sin but He made a way for sinners to be saved before He ever created the world. His foreknowledge saw our need for salvation before Adam and Eve fell into sin and His power that brought us back to Himself was the power of His love. Today’s verse says that He commended, which means He proved and demonstrated the depth of His love by sending His Son to die in our place while we were still in our sins. He didn’t wait for us to do better, become holier, or meet some level of His expectations. He saved us because He loves us. Love was the whole purpose of creation: God loves us, He desired us to love Him, and for us to love each other the way He loves us. And of all the things we’ve done on this earth and all we’ve accomplished; love is the thing we’ve miserably failed at. But every day and in every part of my life, I’m conscious and thankful for God’s love for me. This Thanksgiving Day when we look around us at the people we love, we can love them because God created us with the ability to love and He is the One who taught us how to reach out in love. The scriptures tell us in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us”.
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November 21, 2023
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
When we live a blessed life with a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear, we might be tempted to forget our source of all good things. Many people have looked around themselves at what they have and declared, “It’s all mine. I earned it and I deserve it”. But on this Thanksgiving week, may we all look upward to our source, the loving hand of our Almighty God. He is to us our Heavenly Father and through Jesus Christ, He supplies all our need. His compassion towards us is stated in Psalms 103:13-14, “Like as a father pitieth (Shows love, has compassion towards) his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust”. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:8, “For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”. God is a loving, giving God and He will never fail to keep the promise He made us in today’s verse: we can count on Him to supply all our needs. And our needs cover all the aspects of physical and spiritual. When the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, even though they were there because of their unbelief, God still supplied all their need. Every day He fed every single one of them, millions, with manna. The Bible says in Psalms 78:24-25, “And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full”. That provision of manna had all the nutrients necessary to fill them and sustain their bodies. The Bible tells us that their clothes miraculously did not wear out year after year. When they wanted something besides manna, God sent them quail and He always provided water for them and their animals. The Lord supplied all their need. This week is a time to remind ourselves and our families that God is the One that gives us what we need and even though we might have income from a job or another source, to God be the glory because He has ordered our steps as they are and He is taking care of us. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:26, “For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof”, a quote from Deuteronomy 10:14, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is”.
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November 20, 2023
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful”
We start this week of our traditional American Thanksgiving in a time when around the world, there is so much suffering and sorrow. Peace is not reigning. No matter how much diplomatic effort is being put into trying to bring people together and stop the violence, there is no peace. The basic, desperate needs of people just like you and me for food, water, and hope for tomorrow, cancel out the thought of thankfulness. And yet, the Lord tells us to let God’s peace rule in our hearts and to be thankful. How is that possible? For a couple of days, I’d like to look at some reasons I have to be thankful and it begins by reminding myself that I’m thankful I know how to be saved. I think of the darkness of an uncertain future that many people face and I am so thankful, beyond words to express it, that I heard about Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross. I heard the truth of how He died in my place and that all I needed to do was accept Him as my personal Savior and God would forgive all my sins past, present, and future. With that forgiveness came eternal life in heaven with the Lord. Oh, how easy it is to take all that for granted when we live in such a great country where the gospel has been freely preached since this nation was established. How good God has been to us to keep the message of the blood of Jesus that covers all our sins before us through the years. How blessed we have been to have the movements of the Holy Spirit in our brush arbor meetings, churches, and revivals where so many were drawn to Jesus Christ and He secured their eternal destiny. Yes, I’m thankful above all else that I know how to be saved and that I am saved. This is the foundation of the source of peace in my heart. I’m saved, sealed to the day of redemption, and my name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life all because God loves us and has made a way for us through His blessed Son Jesus. The world can’t destroy this salvation, nothing can take it away, and for this unspeakable gift of God, I am truly thankful.
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November 19, 2023
Revelation 1:5-6 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”
Us? Kings and priests? That’s what the Word of God clearly says and because God’s Word is infallibly true, it’s a certainty. This is mentioned again in connection with the elders gathered around God’s throne, Revelation 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth”. When Jesus returns, conquers the antichrist, and establishes His kingdom, we will have a role in His reign that will be far different than the one we have now. In the here and now, we suffer for the cause of Christ as we battle our flesh, the enemy, and the opposition of the world around us, a world that is controlled by the devil, the prince, and the power of the air. We are not under the curse because Christ has set us free but we are pummeled by the curse that’s still upon the world and anything we do, we do while dealing with a fallen, cursed world. But the day is soon coming when Jesus takes control of creation, the devil is sealed in a bottomless pit, and peace will reign. We have the promise of 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”. War will cease, the animal kingdom will be dominated by the Prince of Peace, and all wickedness will be swiftly dealt with. People will live long, prosperous lives and there among them, we will live, glorified and serving Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords King of Kings. Our role will be kings and priests as we represent the Lord on this earth. Consider Daniel 7:27, “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him”. Also, the words of Psalms 149:5, “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” And then, there is the powerful promise of Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”.
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November 18, 2023
2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”
When we’re going through a trial, sometimes it seems it’s never going to end. But it helps to remember the words we often read in the Bible, “And it came to pass”. We belong to the Lord and there’s nothing that will ever come to us except it comes through Him and, He will never allow us to be tested above what we are able to bear. The Lord promises us that all things are working for our good. And even when we can’t see the reason for our situation at the time or see the path ahead, we trust Him as a child who trusts a loving parent. We confess His Word, verses like today’s verse that tell us what we’re going through, in view of eternity, is light. That’s a word meaning smaller and quicker than it seems. It may not appear light, smaller, and quicker at the moment but we walk by faith believing what God says is true. The doctor’s report of the return of cancer for me a few weeks ago seemed heavy and discouraging when I first heard it. I would much rather have heard the “All is well” and walked away from my yearly follow-up scan and gone back home to our normal routines. But my wife and I remembered that Jesus is our life and we are not bound by any opinions of this world. I belong to the creator of all things. Every cell in my body and my soul and spirit was bought by the suffering and blood of Jesus Christ. Cancer is not who I am, it is a foreign object in a body that is the temple of God, a body indwelt and given life, quickened, by the Holy Spirit. God’s purpose for me has not changed and His will for me was set before I was born. The trials and afflictions we face are just as much a part of our journey as the mountain-top blessings. When we face them armed with the whole armor of God, especially the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, we can declare we are more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us. The afflictions will pass and God will walk through them with us every step, every moment. Praise God we are not at the mercy of this world or anything the devil throws at us. Our lives are safe: Covered by Jesus’ Blood and hidden with Christ in God. When the trial and affliction are in the rearview mirror, glory lies ahead!
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November 17, 2023
Ephesians 3:11-12 “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him”
God’s eternal purpose is to bring all things together in Jesus Christ and place all things in subjection to Jesus. This is declared in Ephesians 1:9-10, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him”. No one viewing the little Christ Child lying in a manger could have imagined that one day, all things in heaven and on the earth would bow to His mighty Name. This is part of what the Bible calls here, the mystery of God’s will. And an even further depth of the mystery is that we, made from the dust of the earth and sinners by nature and choice, play an enormous part in God’s eternal plan. How lightly people take the gift of salvation! How foolishly they choose sin and death over freedom and life! God created us to live immortally with Him in eternity and He became a man like us, the God-Man to share His eternity as heirs of the Almighty, indescribable Creator, and joint heirs with Jesus! And then, He tells us that God’s will is purposed in such a way that we can have boldness and access to God and the things of God simply through faith in Christ Jesus! Not by our efforts at holiness, our failed attempts to achieve and maintain righteousness, or our hard work to earn eternal life. As the Lord declares, again in this wonderful book of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. It’s all wrapped up in Jesus and when we believe His Words and trust Him as our Savior, we get the eternal package deal. Salvation, eternal life, the Holy Spirit as a down payment, an inheritance that will never cease to be, a glorified body, an eternal home that words can’t describe, and a life filled with joy, peace, happiness, fellowship, and splendor. He tells us to be bold about it and confidently enjoy our sonship with God and our place in the body of Christ. Not arrogant as if we earned it but bold because we are the children of the Most High God.
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November 16, 2023
Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
At this very moment, while you are reading this first sentence, Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. He is making intercession for us whenever the devil brings accusations against us. But He is also waiting for the moment when His Father tells Him it is time to go get His church. Then, all the things that were not God’s best for us that we immersed ourselves in on this earth will have no meaning at all. That is what the Bible is telling us here: to set our minds and keep our focus on heavenly things because those are what matters. It’s easy to get caught up in our routines and allow our involvement in the junk of this life to become our reason for living. But really, when we do, we are just living for temporary things as the Bible says in 1 John 2:16-17, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (desire for worldly things), and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof”. And again in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”. We set our affection on heavenly things by becoming involved with the things of God. We don’t just have a Bible lying around somewhere, we get involved in the scriptures. We read them, do Bible studies, download a Bible app on our phone and use it, and listen to the Word being preached. We ask God for open doors of opportunities to help others and share the hope of our Lord with them. We turn away from all that is not God’s best for us and follow truth, integrity, and faith. We operate from a place of God’s love and we are not ashamed to share that love with people around us, especially, our families. When we do wrong, we repent and apologize if it involves someone else. And above all, we keep our spiritual eyes looking heavenward with love for our heavenly home and the anticipation of our Lord’s appearing. He is coming soon and heaven is where we’re going!
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November 15, 2023
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers”
Are you a believer? If so, are you a praying believer? If you see the need for improvement in your prayer life, don’t feel bad: You are not alone. The enemy tries to discourage us from praying because he knows that when we pray, God listens and answers. He works to distract us, to get us in the habit of facing everything on our own without bringing it before the Lord. He wants us to wear ourselves out carrying our own burdens and sets traps to keep us boxed in and frustrated. But the Almighty God is listening and the phrase here, “His ears are open” means that He has inclined Himself in awareness of our prayers as a father attentively listens for a beloved child. When doubt comes to us that God is not listening to us or that we are unworthy to receive anything from the Lord, stand against the doubt with the Word of God. We are invited to come boldly to the throne of God’s grace and He will help us (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock and says when we do, God will answer. The scriptures are filled with examples of when people just like you and I prayed, God was listening and answered them. God is listening to us and He never gets tired of hearing our prayers. And we are not on our own when we pray but we have a prayer helper: The Holy Spirit within us helps us. Just look at the comfort of Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”. The Lord tells us in Philippians 4:6 not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. This is quite the opposite of some people who worry about everything and don’t pray about anything. Jesus began His ministry praying, as the scripture records in Luke 3:21-22, “It came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased”. If the Son of God set our example by praying, may we follow Him and pray.
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November 14, 2023
Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones”
This world is filled with anger and bitterness. People use their words to attack, slander, accuse, and belittle others and it seems no one is exempt. We are campaigning against bullying and even then, it continues from the youngest children to the helpless elderly. We’ve come to expect our leaders to lie to us and twist the facts as they look into the cameras as if they are paragons of integrity. But in all this, God’s people have the opportunity to use our words to bring light and healing. Today’s verse tells us that when we speak pleasant words, meaning words that are kind and graceful, they bless people’s souls and heal their bones (bodies). We don’t often think that our words matter so much and that they carry the ability to affect others in such a wonderful way. Yet we can tear others down with our words or we can lift them up. Children sometimes grow up in homes where their parents argue, yell, curse, and disrespect each other. And sometimes, they speak to their children the same way. Their words crush the children’s spirits and set the tone of dysfunction in what could be a safe, happy home. The people we meet every day are battling the storms of life. Some of them are sick, lonely, and discouraged. We have the words of life, words of comfort and hope. We can join with the negative chatter of the world and contribute our worthless negative two cents or we can rise above all that trash and speak encouragement, blessing, and kindness. On the job, some employees may spend their time bashing the company, bad-mouthing the boss, or sowing seeds of ingratitude. But we don’t have to join in and participate. The truth is, we are blessed, God is supplying all our needs, and the company is not our source, God is. We follow the truth of Colossians 3:22-24, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”. Let’s use our words to lift people up and encourage them. Let’s set a standard in our homes and everywhere we go that God’s people should be speaking life, hope, and blessing because we are the children of the King of heaven and earth.
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November 13, 2023
Genesis 15:18 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates”
What we’re seeing unfolding in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies, as horrifying to imagine as it happens, is stepping stones to the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants through Issac. We hear the chants and see the posters of those in support of Israel’s enemies as they proclaim, “From the river to the sea”. They mean that Israel should be driven out and cease to be a nation and the Jews scattered back into the nations of the world. They’re demanding that the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea be given completely to the Palestinians. But very few people are proclaiming the infallible promise that God gave Abraham concerning the Jews 4,000 years ago before the Jews were a nation and before Arabs existed. The Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, who owns the world and all its lands, has given the Jews the land from the river to the river: From the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates River. That Includes current Israel, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, part of Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, part of Saudia Arabia, most of Iraq, and a few other bits and pieces. Genesis Chapter 15 is a most important chapter in the Bible because it contains the unilateral covenant (one-sided with Abraham not required to do anything but receive), a promise that God declared to Abraham in a ceremony sealed with blood. It was in that covenant where God moved among the sacrifice while Abraham watched and listened, that God promised Isaac, the Jews bondage and deliverance from Egypt, and the details of the land which the Lord set apart for Israel when the covenant will be fulfilled. The occupation of the land was partially seen during the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 8:65) and under King Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25). But the final possession of the land will take place soon during the millennium reign of Jesus Christ. The world can shout, “From the river to the sea” in hatred and defiance of God’s people and His covenant with them. But the world’s armies will be destroyed when Jesus returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, builds His millennial temple, and establishes His kingdom with a rod of iron. Until then, we honor the Lord and pray the prayer of Psalms 122:6-7, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces”.
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November 12, 2023
2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”
There is no doubt that sin has the power to enslave and destroy. We are all proof that once sin has control, we will follow it like a slave. The Bible says in John 8:34, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” and in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death”. But the grace of God which is the manifestation of God’s love for us, is stronger than sin and stronger than death. The scriptures tell us in Romans 5:20-21,” But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”. We have every reason to be strong in the grace of God because the grace of God is the only hope for our world. It is the fulfillment of John 3:16 that God so loves this world that He gave His only begotten Son so that anyone who believes in Him will have eternal life and never perish. Depending on self-righteousness, believing in ourselves, and trusting in human efforts cannot save us but trusting in Jesus Christ will. Religion, church work, and dedication to religious things may have some benefit to help us get better organized as Christians to further the cause of Christ but only the preaching of the grace of God will break sin’s hold over us and set us free. We lay a strong foundation of grace and build on that foundation until our faith and hope are only in God’s mercy and His willingness to forgive and save all who come to Him. In today’s verse, Paul is telling the young preacher Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ and only if ministers would heed this message and throw away their denominational garbage, legalism, ceremonial rituals, and all the other baggage that has been added to the simple truth of God’s grace. Grace says Jesus paid all our sin debt and when we trust in Him, we are saved. Nothing can be added and nothing can be taken away. Grace says Jesus saved us because He loves us and we don’t need to measure up, pay Him back, or fear of losing the gift of salvation. Grace says we have been made righteous, washed eternally clean, and in the plan of God, we are already citizens of heaven.
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November 11, 2023
Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live”
These words were spoken by Moses right before he died and they were part of his message to Israel. He was encouraging them to follow the Lord and do what is right so they could enjoy an abundant life. Although we read them in that context, their words apply to us in principle because every day, we have choices as to how we will live and conduct ourselves. When Jesus went to visit Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He pointed out Mary and Martha’s choices with Martha choosing to encumber herself with serving. But of Mary who chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His teaching, the Lord said in Luke 10:42, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”. Choosing Jesus, following Him, honoring His Word, and doing what is right is choosing life because He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. When they diagnosed me with reoccurring cancer a few weeks ago, today’s verse became part of my daily reading, the part where I declare that “I choose life”. The actual truth is that life has been chosen for me by the grace of God because when Jesus saved me, He declared I will never die. But for my part, even though heaven is assured for me and one day I will be there with Jesus and the saints who have already passed, something inside me rose up when I heard the diagnosis. I couldn’t help but declare that as for here and now, I choose life. I’m not afraid to cross from here into eternity and I am sure there will be a time, if Jesus doesn’t return first, when I have complete peace about leaving this earth to be present with the Lord. But at this time, cancer does not belong to me nor am I, its victim. I’m believing God for healing and I choose life that I might live. My wife and I spoke with my sister Bertie yesterday who, over 20 years ago, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the blood cells and she was given a few days to a few weeks to live. But she is here over 20 years later and doing well. The medical field has its opinions and diagnoses and they have been trained to help us. Many times, they are used by the Lord as part of our healing but our life is in the hands of God and He has His own report. He declared in Exodus 15:26, “I am the LORD that healeth thee”. Some might argue, well, He said that in the Old Testament but I declare the New Testament says in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”.
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November 10, 2023
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Everything around us is always changing and with the changes, the enemy is always pushing us, trying to move us off the foundation of faith. It’s easy to get discouraged, to get caught up in life’s commotion, and to get our eyes off the Savior, swept along by this ever-changing, rat race world. And yet, God tells us in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not”. God never changes and His Word, inseparable from who He is, will never change. When we receive the Word of God into us and it becomes a part of us, abiding in our hearts and minds, we are placing our faith in the unchangeable God. The Lord tells us in today’s verse to “Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering”. Everything else will change but we can hold on to the truth of Jesus and He will never fail us. We need faith in God as an anchor and we need the anchors of fellowship, the local church, and homes built and established on God’s Word. We need Jesus as a refuge and a foundation to protect us from the howling storms of life. One verse that helps us remain steadfast, is Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”. The words of 1 Corinthians 15:58 speak to us: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. God gives us the determination and strength to hold fast when we’re surrounded by unbelief, when the world is shouting against the things of God, and when we’re tempted to compromise our faith in times of weakness. The Holy Spirit gives us power from within and the angels of the Lord are around us, delivering us. When Jesus finished facing the devil in Matthew 4:11, angels came and strengthened Him. When He was agonizing in the garden in Luke 22:43, an angel came to strengthen Him. We are not alone. Our faithful God is with us and He will help us hold fast to our profession of faith. He gives us this promise in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”.
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November 9, 2023
Joel 3:2 “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land”
The nations of the world do not yet see their future as described here because they are blinded by their unbelief of God’s Word. They do not realize that the stage is slowly being set for the greatest battle of all times, the battle of Armageddon. They do not understand that it is God moving within world events and forcing all the world’s nations into as it were a funnel to assemble them all in what the Bible here calls the valley of Jehoshaphat and Revelation 16:16 calls Armageddon. The reason given here is that God “will plead with them”, a phrase meaning to judge, vindicate, and punish them for their abuse and mistreatment of His people, the Jews. The hatred of Jews is not a new thing and through the centuries the devil has stirred people, mobs of people, and even entire nations to hate and destroy Jews because they belong to God. We’re watching the events of the war between Israel and terrorists unfold and as it continues, world opinion is already shifting as it has through the years from supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. When America was attacked on 9/11 and we sent our troops into other countries in wars to track down and destroy our enemies, the same terrorist-minded enemies that attacked Israel, the world stood with us even though in the conflict, innocent lives were lost. Before the Middle East conflict is over, the world’s opinions will brand the Jews as deserving of destruction. The value of Jewish lives in the eyes of the world can be seen in verse 3, “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink”. Not just cheap, but worthless. Notice that God makes the point that they “Parted His land”. Not Israel’s land, not the erroneous claim of the Palestinians and Arabs, but HIS land. The man of sin, the antichrist, will offer a peace settlement that the world’s nations will accept but it will not last. Then, before the millennium begins, God will bring the armies and leaders of the world to a place of reckoning. And there, the nations will be judged as Jesus explained in Matthew 25:31-46.
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November 8, 2023
Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
All the stores and online merchants are advertising their Christmas deals and calling it all, “Black Friday Sales” and “Door Buster Specials”. I’m glad the old “Black Friday” scams are over when people trampled each other, some to their deaths, trying to grab some cheap, Chinese-made junk. For many, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has long been turned into a time of excuse to spend a lot of money and buy things no one actually needs. When we return to the basics of understanding God’s gift of love, His only begotten Son, it’s humbling to know God’s gifts to us didn’t stop with Jesus. God is a giver and His willingness to give us good things is a picture of a loving Heavenly Father who listens to the prayers of His children. Today’s verse gives us an example of how we, as sinful and selfish as we are, have a desire to give our children good gifts. We want them to have the food they enjoy and that is good for them. We ask them what they want for Christmas and their birthdays or we listen to them talk and come to know what they want and then we enjoy giving them those things. This is nothing compared to the loving-kindness of our Lord who is ready to honor His word in Luke 11:9-10, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. James 4:3 says we don’t receive because we don’t ask or if we do, we ask in greed, like a selfish, bratty child. God, our Father in heaven, wants to answer our prayers and he wants to give us good things. He says in Psalms 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”. He encourages us to ask, seek, and knock and when we do, He promises to answer us. Let’s keep doing what is right, keep worshiping and praising the Lord, and let’s not be afraid or too timid to ask Him for good gifts. He tells us in Hebrews 4:6, to come boldly to His throne of grace.
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November 7, 2023
Luke 18:13-14 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”
One of the reasons that many people do not believe they need Jesus Christ the Savior, is that they do not believe they are sinners. When this man in today’s verse went into the temple, he stood alongside a religious man, a Pharisee, who said in his prayer to God in verses 11-12, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess”. He saw himself as righteous and presented himself to the Lord as flawless because he compared himself to other people whom he viewed as sinful. The publican, on the other hand, a man who was considered non-religious by the Jews, humbled his heart and attitude before God and saw himself as a sinner needing mercy and salvation. Instead of comparing himself to someone else, he compared himself to the infinitely Holy Lord. When we do that, we can not help but see our imperfections and sins. When the early morning sunlight streams into a room at a certain angle, the light will illuminate dust and debris on floors and tables that cannot be usually seen. All that seemed spick and span suddenly is revealed for what it really is: dirty and contaminated. When the light of God shines on us, at first our sins are clearly seen and then we realize we need the cleansing power of Jesus Christ. Who, the Bible says, by His precious blood, can take away all our sins and make us new creations as if we had never sinned. It is far better to see ourselves as sinners rather than seeing ourselves as pretty good, okay, and better than most people because when we identify as a sinner we can be saved. The publican went home justified, that is forgiven, because he humbled his heart and acknowledged his sinfulness, asking God for mercy. The Bible says in 1 John 1:8-9, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
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November 6, 2023
Matthew 25:6 “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him”.
This parable uses an example of a typical Jewish wedding ceremony where 10 young girls carry lighted lamps or torches, and light up the path where the bridegroom will walk to where his bride is waiting. It is a parable about the return of Jesus and is given to us to encourage us to be ready. Like most parables of our Lord, it was not intended to be a perfect picture in this case of the Lord’s return but an overall sense of understanding. Like a bridegroom coming for his bride, Jesus is coming for His church which the Bible calls, the Bride of Christ. But in this parable, there came a moment when a cry was shouted out, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him”. It was a moment when those who were supposed to welcome the bridegroom woke up, came to attention, and lit their lamps. Most people who believe the Bible and are awaiting the return of our Lord are stirring to a cry from within them, the urging of the Holy Spirit who is pointing us to the imminent return of Jesus. The world around us including the apostate church can see the gathering storm of the end of all things coming. But instead of being prepared to meet the Lord, they are running here and there, ignoring the signs of the times, and acting as if all things are going to continue as always. The return of Jesus Christ is the last thing on their minds. The world has a “Doomsday Clock”. Wikipedia says it is, “A symbol that represents the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe, in the opinion of the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Maintained since 1947, the clock is a metaphor for threats to humanity from unchecked scientific and technological advances”. Even the world’s Doomsday Clock shows we’re nearing the end. Today’s verse tells us that God has His own clock and we know by the prophecies of His Word, that we are nearing the midnight hour, the time of Christ’s appearing. The Lord concludes this parable with the words in verse 13, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”. Jesus is coming. Are you ready to meet Him? If not, you can pray a simple prayer like, “Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose from the dead to save me. I turn from my sins to You and receive You into my heart as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen”. If you prayed a prayer like that, tell someone that You accepted Jesus as your Savior.
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November 5, 2023
Jeremiah 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it”
The potter and the potter’s wheel are at first, a picture of God at work shaping Israel into the people He wants them to be. It is also a statement of His power to reclaim and reform them when they become corrupt. But it is also a picture of us all in the hands of God as He makes us new creations according to His purpose for us. Sometimes God’s work in us is smooth and easy and those are seasons of great joy and happiness. Yet other times, the Lord allows us to be tested, to face uncomfortable and daunting circumstances as a part of His refining. In metaphorical terms, such seasons are “threshing floor” experiences where the chaff of our unbelief and fleshly ways are separated from the precious seed of obedience and submission to God’s will. If we can receive the will of God our potter willingly and with the expectation that the work He is doing in us is for our good and His glory, then we can rejoice in our trials, knowing that when the Lord is finished we will be a vessel of honor. This is not saying that the Lord’s work in us is disconnected from our choices and the responsibility to do what is right because the Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these (things that are against God), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”. The Bible continues in verse 22, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”. God is at work in us but our part is to submit to His hands like a piece of clay to the potter and follow the Holy Spirit’s directives to lay aside all the weights and sins that are holding us back. The next time we are tempted to get frustrated, angry, and point a finger of blame at the Lord or someone else for a trial we’re in, let’s realize that God would not allow us to be tested if it wasn’t for our good. Let’s look ahead with faith that the trial will soon be over and we are going to come out better, stronger, and more like Jesus.
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November 4, 2023
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”
Some people read these words and simply do not believe them as they are written. They do not believe Jesus is coming back. But those of us who believe the Lord will soon come, find the greatest of comfort in these words because they offer what the Bible calls in Titus 2:13, our blessed home, which is the, “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. When the pandemic and its shutdown engulfed the world three years ago, none of us could foresee the changes that were about to take place. Now many average families can’t afford to buy a house at the current prices and many can’t afford to pay rent. Families are struggling to buy food and basic necessities and no one is offering any hope of relief or any plans to return things to normal. Many economists are predicting a huge meltdown of the world’s economy anytime. But we are not of this world and the Bible declares in Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself”. The Holy Spirit is pointing us heavenward and reminding us daily that we are about to see the fulfillment of Hebrews 10:37, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”. We may soon see the realization of Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”. The coming of Jesus is a comfort to us when we know that the entire world is disintegrating before our very eyes. The great nation-states: America, Russia, The United Kingdom, France, China, and all the others are in turmoil and world leaders are weak and pathetic. Wars, threats of destruction, and no solutions to it all are the constant headlines. But our hope, our blessed hope, lies in the coming of Jesus Christ. In His words of John 14:3, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”.
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November 3, 2023
Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all”
It’s our nature to think that we would be better off if we didn’t have any troubles. If only every day was free of problems and if we never had to face any afflictions. But the truth is, usually when we are having sunny days and living carefree, our spiritual life begins to falter and we start taking God’s blessings for granted. Our praying becomes shallow and we spend more and more time doing what we want to do and less time immersed in God’s Word and seeking His will. It is during times of testing, and seasons of afflictions when we search our hearts and cry out to God. A few weeks ago in the Daily Devotions, we considered Psalms 119:71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes”. Trouble causes us to stop living on autopilot and helps us move closer to the Lord. A good witness to this truth is Jonah of whom the Bible says in Jonah 2:1-2, “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice”. I do not like being diagnosed with cancer again and I do not like the many doctor appointments my wife and I have been going through and listening to different doctors give their opinion of what lies ahead for me. But every time I hear them speak, my heart cries out to the Lord because I know they have their medical report to give me but I know there is another report that comes to me from above. Their report is based on their conclusions, and their view from an earthly perspective. But God’s report is His infallible Word and that Word is eternally True. And, for me as a believer, it binds me to Him. Their report is telling me that the radiation will burn me. But God’s Word tells me in Isaiah 43:2, “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned”. Their report is telling me that the chemo will make me sick and have other side effects but God’s word tells me in Mark 16:18, “If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them”. The promise is that even though afflictions will come our way, the Lord will deliver us out of them all.
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November 2, 2023
Mark 9:23-24 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”
Jesus promises that if we can believe, all things are possible. The man here was not an unbeliever. He was not in rebellion against God or doubting Jesus’ power to deliver his son. But in the face of the reality of the situation, he was aware of his nagging doubt. It would be an incredible thing to be able to stand in the strength of perfect faith without a speck of doubt, believing that whatever we ask of the Lord, He will do it. This man represents us all in that when faith arises in us, there is also the awareness of our human nature to doubt. His struggle to have strong faith is witnessed by his tears as he cries out to the Lord for help with his doubts. Jesus did not rebuke him for his imperfect faith but honored what faith he had and delivered the child. Sometimes we believe in our hearts but our minds keep thinking thoughts of doubt. That’s the warfare of 2 Corinthians 10:5 where the Bible says we are, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. The word imaginations here means arguments and reasonings where our mind is trying to convince us that God does not mean what He promised. We battle those thoughts and fill our minds with God’s Word that brings us into agreement with Jesus Christ. “Help my unbelief”, is a prayer we can pray as we release our faith toward the Lord and lean on the power of the Holy Spirit to aid us as we pray (Romans 8:26). Jesus knows our weaknesses as the scriptures tell us in Psalms 103:14, “For he knoweth our frame (imagination, purpose, how our mind works); he remembereth that we are dust”. He knows how we struggle to believe Him fully, without a bit of doubt and He honors our faith no matter how small. Remember His words about faith like a mustard seed? Our part is to keep declaring His Word even when doubt keeps whispering in our minds. We walk by faith, claiming His promises and professing that they are true even if it looks like there’s no way things will work out. Fear and doubt are not of God so we rebuke them and submit ourselves to the Lord. He is our refuge and peace.
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November 1, 2023
Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid”
When they removed a cancerous tumor in my neck three years ago, they removed my larynx including my vocal cords. The doctor believed the tumor was confined to one spot and decided not to follow up with any chemo or radiation treatments. Since then, I’ve had a yearly CT scan and no cancer has shown, until this year. A couple of weeks ago, I went in for my annual scan expecting to be told that all is well. However, the scan showed a recurrent tumor. They sent me for a PET scan and no cancer showed anywhere in my body except a spot near where they had previously removed the tumor. They sent me for an ultrasound and a needle biopsy and the results were that it was indeed a tumor and its cells were cancerous. In the days while they were setting up the appointments with various doctors to decide how to move forward with treatment, my wife and I began to pray, looking to Jesus because He is the healer. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:39, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand”. When Jesus saved me, His sacrifice redeemed the whole me: body, soul, and spirit and I belong to Him. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”. Sometimes, He delivers us from the fire but sometimes He walks through the fire with us. Either way, He is our deliverer. My wife and I started listing verses that promise healing from the Bible and I made them into a PowerPoint for my phone and we read them often and place our trust in the Name, the stripes, and the blood of Jesus. As I begin this new segment of my journey with the Lord, He has given me such calmness and peace that I can’t explain. Today’s verse declares that God is our salvation. And when we trust in Him, there is no fear because we know He loves us unconditionally and is working all things for our good. For anyone who has walked through the valley of the shadow of death and Jesus brought you out, you know what I’m talking about. For all who are like me right now and walking by faith through a valley, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus. He will never fail us. God willing, I will post where we are in this trial as we go along. Laura and I covet and appreciate your prayers.
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