November 30, 2024
James 5:7 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”
The opening verses of James 5 rebuke those who have great wealth and resources and they use the power or their wealth to oppress others. Verse 5 says, “Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” The theme is economic and social injustice and the cries of all those who have been abused by those who exploit them have been heard by the Lord. He will soon make things right in this world. It is unjust that some people in this world are starving while others throw away enough food that could feed them. It is unjust that global companies manipulate the markets, including the ones that control basic needs like food and shelter, to insure themselves unimaginable profits while poor people suffer. But the Lord says all that is coming to an end and today’s verses encourage us to be patient until Jesus comes. Believers who love the Lord also love others and it’s heartbreaking to consider people suffering around the world, some in deplorable conditions. It’s heartbreaking to think that much of their suffering could be eliminated or at least reduced if all nations, global corporations, leaders, and everyone else who has the power and ability would work together for the good of humanity. But sin, greed, and the lust for power and control keep that from happening. The Lord said to be patient just like a farmer who plants seed and waits until the cycle of growth runs its course and then he gets the harvest. The harvest of all humanity is coming soon and the Bible uses an agricultural parable to declare this in Matthew 3:12, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Jesus, the King of Kings, will set the earth in order and injustice will end. Until then, let’s be patient and keep honoring the Lord, helping those in need, praying for our leaders, and rejoicing in hope of our Lord’s return.
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November 29, 2024
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”
The first 11 chapters of Romans lay out the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. They explain how sin is universal and the whole world is guilty before God. But the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus satisfied God’s demands for justice on sin and set us free. Now, He has imputed the righteousness of Christ to those who are saved. With today’s verse, we come to understand our response to the truth of the amazing grace of God and His plan and purpose for us. When people from other religions think of sacrifice, they usually think of it as a way to obtain mercy and favor from the god they serve. If they need rain, get sick, or if they just fear what might happen to them from some unknown circumstance, they try to appease their god by offering some type of sacrifice. Some have even gone as far as to sacrifice their children to win their god’s favor. But we offer ourselves to God not to win His mercy and grace but because we have already received it freely as a gift from God. We are not trying to pay Him back or shield ourselves from His wrath but it is an act of thanksgiving. Mercy was given to us when our sins demanded the justice of condemnation and death. Grace was shown to us when we deserved no kindness and in the place of wrath, we received God’s indescribable love. Our response to that is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to honor and serve our Lord. We pursue the path of holiness because we have been cleansed from our sins and we are no longer enslaved to their power. We have been declared and made “dead to sin” and are free to exercise our will to turn away from what is wrong and embrace what is right. At the altar of God, we remain alive and the altar becomes a place of communion with God. And in a wonderful fulfillment of Matthew 1:23, “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”, our bodies are now the temple of God, the Holy Spirit living within us. Some always want to teach the wretchedness of our bodies but we have been washed in the pure water of the Word (Heb 10:22) and now God accepts our living sacrifice.
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November 28, 2024
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Blessed. That’s the word that comes to my mind when I think about why I am thankful on this Thanksgiving Day. Blessed in every area of life and we have the promise of even greater blessings in the future. We can always give thanks for everything because we know we belong to the Lord and He is our source. The source of hope, joy, peace, and everything else we call blessings. He is our provider, our comfort, and our rock and shelter in times of storms. But while we celebrate, we remember those who are walking through troubling times today. Maybe you know someone or have family who is battling cancer or other illnesses. Maybe you have lost a loved one and feel great sorrow because they are missing from your Thanksgiving meal. Everywhere we look, people are enduring hardships and uncertainties and they need the comfort of the Lord and they need our loving support. I’m thinking about the thousands who have no home and no place to enjoy a meal today. In our area, many lost their homes to the floods several weeks ago and they are living in tents, borrowed campers, and crammed in with relatives or anywhere they can. Without answers about their future, they need strength from the Lord and help from their neighbors, family, and friends. Praise God for all those who have not forgotten or abandoned them but are still working, still helping, and still fighting for them. God is with us in our trials and He wants all of us to come to Him, put our trust in Him, and believe He will direct our steps. The Bible says in Psalms 34:17-19, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” May we pray a prayer like this on this Thanksgiving Day: Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for all the blessings we receive from You. Thank You that in Jesus Christ, we have hope both here and now and for eternity. You are our God, our Savior, our Provider, and our Friend. Bless and help all who are suffering today and those in troubles and trials. We put our trust in You.
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November 27, 2024
Psalms 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever”
I want to encourage us all to put away any negativity, gloom and doom, and prepare our hearts for the best Thanksgiving ever. Maybe if we made two lists: One of things we’re thankful for and another of things we despise we could see a visual of all we have and what the Lord has done for us. I love Psalms 126:3, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Personally, this time last year I was having radiation treatment every morning and periodic chemotherapy. I spent Thanksgiving Day isolated from my family and friends because of my compromised immune system. But this year, the cancer has been declared gone and they removed my chemo port a couple of weeks ago. The Lord has done great things for me and I am glad. Take a look at your list of blessings and don’t forget to put, “The Lord has given me the free gift of eternal salvation and eternal life”, at the top of the list. Even in our trials and times of difficulties, God is faithful to help us and He never leaves or forsakes us. He always loves us and shows Himself to be a friend in the fires we walk through. It might sound strange to some, but I wouldn’t trade the trial I went through the past 12 months for anything this world has to offer. I’m a different man today, a lot of things got burned away by the fire of the cancer trial and I can see the Lord and His goodness more clearly, hear His Word more distinctly, and enjoy His presence in a way I’ve never enjoyed it in my life. I thank God for 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Psalms 100:4, “Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Maybe a list, not of things we want for Christmas, but a list of what we already have and have been through to celebrate this Thanksgiving. And, the good news: We are blessed now but it’s nothing compared to what the Lord has waiting for us. Maybe we should make another list of things God has promised us for our future. The past with all our sins is under the blood of Jesus and will never be remembered against us again. The present is filled with blessings, goodness, mercy, and grace. The future is one of glory and splendor, so much that our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, and we can’t imagine what good things God has in store for us.
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November 26, 2024
James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you”
When we are in a battle much of the struggle is within us. We know God is stronger than our troubles and we know He is working all things for our good. But our adversary, the devil, hopes we will panic and give in to the pressures that try to take us down. Today’s verses give us God’s answer for any time we’re feeling overwhelmed and we know the enemy is to blame. First, we submit ourselves to God. A good way to do this is to get on your knees if you are physically able and tell the Lord that you completely surrender yourself to His authority and protection. Place yourself before God while following the example of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when He fully submitted Himself to the Father. Know that what Jesus did, He did it for us so that we can be victorious over the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then resist the devil. The word for resist means to stand up and stand against. When we resist, we take a stand against sin, the world, and the devil. Stand up and declare something like, “I am a child of God, and God, the Holy Spirit, lives within me. I claim victory in the name of Jesus and the devil is a defeated foe. Jesus won the battle against Him on the cross and in the resurrection. No weapon formed against me will prosper and God has made me more than a conqueror. I resist the enemy and all his devices and I proclaim I am free in Jesus’ name.” Then the scripture tells us to draw near to God and He will come close to us. We draw near by praising and thanking God. We worship Him and speak about His goodness, grace, and glory. We open His Word and fill our minds with what He said and we speak His Word back to Him. God loves for us to honor His Word and He delights when we use the Word to encourage ourselves in the faith. Remember when our Lord faced the devil in the wilderness, He spoke to Word of God to him and the enemy departed. Every believer fights the good fight of faith and every believer needs the plan in today’s verses. Someone said we’re going into a battle, we are in a battle, or we’ve just come out of a battle. But praise God, the day is coming when all the battles will be over!
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November 25, 2024
Psalms 51:3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me”
When we read the Bible’s account of David’s terrible sin, its sheer darkness sets us aback. How could a man who wrote most of the Psalms, including the prophetic ones that looked ahead to Christ, do such horrible things? After all, in 1 Samuel 13:14, the Lord called him a man after God’s own heart. It was the overall pattern of David’s life that pleased the Lord and when he sinned, he owned it. That’s something that’s often missing in people but something that the Lord requires: That we take full responsibility for our sins and wrongs and face God with an honest heart concerning them. The church of Laodicea talks about the goodness of God and speaks about grace and mercy but will not teach the truth that we all must own up to our sins. It’s not a comfortable conversation with most people nowadays who want to sweep their sins under the rug without confessing them and repenting. Laodicean churches are too embarrassed to mention the truth of Jesus’ words in Luke 13:3, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” You can confirm people, have them recite a little statement of salvation, and baptize them but unless they own their sins and repent, Jesus, God Almighty in the flesh, said they will perish. The conviction David had when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan who bluntly pointed out David’s sins to his face, caused David to confess his sins, repent of them, and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Some people now argue that when the Apostle Paul received the enlightenment of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, that owning our sins, being sorry for them, and repenting is no longer a part of God’s plan. But that’s nonsense because Paul himself declared in Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. And, in Acts 20:20-21, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” God wants us, like David, to acknowledge our sins and He sends the Holy Spirit’s conviction so that we are always aware of our sins until we own them, confess them, repent, and then God forgives them so completely, He never remembers them again.
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November 24, 2024
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”
Our American Holiday of Thanksgiving has its roots in American history all the way back to 1578 when Europeans in Newfoundland held the first known Thanksgiving service. Along with Easter and Christmas, it is set aside to especially honor and thank the Lord for what He has given us. But what we do here on earth to celebrate and give thanks can’t compare to what happens continually in heaven around the throne of God. Revelation 9:7 describes a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, kindreds, people, and languages surrounding God’s throne along with heavenly creatures and armies of angels praising God and giving thanks. We get the sense that they are not just giving thanks because of what they have received, but because of the glorious character and magnificence of the Almighty God. We enter this week of Thanksgiving ready to enjoy our traditions of food, family, football, and fun. Hopefully, we will remember to look back on a year of blessings and remember that it’s because of the goodness and grace of God that we can celebrate. My past year has included radiation, chemotherapy, and recovery from all that but my family and I can testify that through it all, Jesus has shown Himself to be a true friend and healer. And while we look back with thankful hearts, we look forward also to a future bright with hope and expectation. I love 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him”. We praise and thank God for all He has given but we learn from the angels and the ceremony in heaven described above to worship, praise, and thank Him for who He is. If the passage is anticipatory, then it is revealing that one day all believers and all other created beings will be gathered around the throne praising, worshipping, and giving thanks. Let’s prepare our hearts for a special week of Thanksgiving, a time when we remember that the Lord is God, we are His people, and we have every reason to continually be thankful.
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November 23, 2024
Galatians 1:3-5 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
We live in it every day and it’s all we’ve ever known. It’s the reality of how we think about ourselves and interact with all that’s around us. Yet when we stop and think about what the Bible calls it, it’s shocking: “This present evil world”. That’s why we lock our doors, install security lights, and warn our children about all the dangers and people trying to harm and destroy them. That’s why many of us have weapons. That’s why we shudder every day at the news reports of horrendous crimes, violence against children, and the destruction caused by drugs and sinfulness all around us. That’s why anxiety levels are overwhelming people and we see the fulfillment of Luke 21:26, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”. The present evil world. Since the Russia/Ukraine war began, tens of thousands of young men have been killed as Russia sends wave after wave of troops across the battle lines, and precious young men are slaughtered on both sides. And for what reason? One evil man with a wicked heart and an insane mind sends them to their deaths with no regard for them and their families for no reason except his pride and desire for power. Then, who can understand the horrors of the deaths of over 45,000 people as the Israel/Hamas war drags on? A war caused by hatred in the hearts and minds of people with a religion that lusts for the death of those who oppose them. The suffering and sorrow can’t be imagined. Praise God for His unfailing promise that Jesus will deliver us from this present evil world. Praise God that peace is coming. Real, lasting peace and not the temporary peace humans try to establish. In the spiritual realm, we have already been delivered from this present evil world because we are no longer “Of the world” (John 14:17). The Bible says in Colossians 1:13, that God has, “Delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” But the final deliverance will with the fulfillment of Revelation 11:15, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Can you say, “Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!”?
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November 22, 2024
Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward”
Here the scriptures give us insight into what was driving Moses when he decided to take his stand with the Israelites rather than remain Pharaoh’s grandson. Reading the account in Exodus 2 of how Moses came to flee Egypt might lead us to believe he did so only because of the fear of retribution when he fought for an abused Israelite and killed an Egyptian. But his real fight within him was the fight of faith and even though we don’t know the course of Moses’ life growing up in Pharoah’s household, we gather from today’s verses that he had learned about the God of Israel. Two paths of life lay before him. He could remain as he was raised, the son of Pharoah’s daughter, and enjoy all the riches of Egypt and the power of being a member of the royal household and even possibly the Pharoah himself one day, or he could forsake all that and follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The choice of faith is found in the words, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” He walked away from Egypt penniless because he was looking ahead to the day when a life lived for the Lord would bring him more than Egypt had to offer. As believers, we must always keep that vision in front of us and remember Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Repeatedly, the Bible warns us that this world and all that it offers will pass away. Every person must deal with 1 Timothy 6:7, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” When we choose the reproach, the shame, defamation, and disgrace of following Christ it might seem like we are forfeiting the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of this life that so many people want. But the choice of faith knows that any pleasure this life offers is just for a little while but the treasure of Christ is eternal.
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November 21, 2024
Luke 2:49 “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
When Jesus was 12, he accompanied his parents and a group of relatives to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. On their return home, they discovered Jesus was missing, went back to Jerusalem, and found Him in the temple discussing the scriptures with the religious leaders. When they told him they had been very worried when He was missing, He spoke the words in today’s verse, explaining He was doing His Father’s business. It shows us that even at that young age, Jesus was focused on doing His Father’s will. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit also puts the desire within us to do God’s will and even though we can override that desire by seeking our own will, the prompting remains within us to please our Father. It’s not a matter of making Him happy, but following His plan for our lives so we can become the best of what He created and called us to be, and that brings glory and honor to His name. We know the first step in following His will is to believe the gospel of Christ. The Bible says in John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” When we are doing the “Father’s business”, we are living to do what is right in God’s eyes and our motto is that of Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We walk in faith by the light of God’s Word for the scriptures tell us in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please him”. When we know what God’s Word says and we faithfully make our choices and live our lives guided by the Word, it is the fulfillment of Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. Finally, the greatest work in God’s business is being a servant, serving others in the name of the Lord. The Bible says in Matthew 23:10-12, “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”.
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November 20, 2024
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
Don’t worry about anything. That’s what this verse is telling us and living in a world that looks like it’s about to blow apart at the seams, the thought of not worrying about anything seems impossible. But it comes back to some questions we have to settle in ourselves. Is the God we serve on heaven’s throne and is He sovereign over all His creation to the smallest detail? Do we belong to Him as His children and is He working all things for our good? Does God know us personally, understand all about us, and is He aware of every situation we face before it happens? And, does God have a plan and purpose for our lives that He is faithfully following and nothing can thwart that plan? If you are a believer, you know that the answer to all the above questions is “Yes”. The Lord tells us here that the weapon we use against the nagging anxieties and uncertainties that come to us is to take our needs, worries, and uncertainties to the Lord in worship and prayer while thanking God that we have a sure and settled outcome. We have the confidence that no matter what is happening, God sees it, He knows how to handle it, and even before we ask, the answer is on the way. We may not like how He handles it but we can be sure He is acting in goodness and love on our behalf. The scriptures follow that when we live this way, the peace of God which is greater than our ability to understand, will protect us in times of anxiety. We pray and thank God we have the answers, that we are protected, and that because of the Lord’s unfailing power and promises, all is well. It takes faith to stare down this world while proclaiming that no matter how things look, we will walk by faith and not by sight. Faith rises against doubt and discouragement with God’s promise that our faithful God will not allow us to be overcome with evil and He is making a way for our escape. 2 Corinthians 1:10, “Who delivered us from so great a death (past deliverance), and doth deliver (present deliverance): in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (future deliverance)”.
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November 19, 2024
Psalms 116:12-14 “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people”
We know that there is nothing we can do to repay the Lord for His gift of salvation. In Romans 5, 3 times God’s Word calls it a “free gift”. But because of the greatness of what God has done for us and how he has loaded us with benefits, we can’t help but feel a sense of indebtedness. Not in the sense we are trying to repay Him but that we are responding to His grace by offering something of ourselves. It seems rude and unthankful to want to take what He has given and just walk away as if it is nothing. All of us can testify that God has been good to us and the first thing mentioned here, is that we receive the cup of salvation. This happens initially when we hear the gospel and respond by receiving Christ as our Savior. Jesus received the cup of sorrow and suffering as He declared when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane and to us, He offers us the cup of eternal salvation, filled with mercy and grace. And, each time we participate in the Lord’s supper, the communion of the saints, we receive the cup as a symbol and type of His blood that was shed for us. We commemorate His death for us and remember How much He loves us. We also call upon the name of the Lord, honoring His name when we pray, worship, and witness. The fact that we are called Christians means we bear His name. The Bible is filled with verses that encourage us to sing praises to the name of the Lord, trust in His name, exalt His name, and declare His name. The verses close by saying we will be determined to keep our promises. The scriptures tell us in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” None of us keep our word perfectly but we can’t use our humanness as an excuse. God always keeps His promises and He expects us to keep ours. Both vows made to Him and those made to others.
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November 18, 2024
Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip”
These words were written to Jewish people, hence “Hebrews”, who had heard the gospel of Christ and were in danger of ignoring what they had heard. Thayer’s Greek Definitions says the word slip means to “slip my mind”. When the gospel was preached, Hebrew people might listen to the message of how Jesus was the Lamb of God but the pull of their Jewish law and traditions were so strong they couldn’t turn them loose. Even though they may have made a move towards salvation by Christ, they let the words of the truth of Jesus slip out of their minds and they went back to the law and their traditions. For us Gentiles, it is a warning about our human nature to hear the Word of the Lord, believe it, and then a little while later, we live as if we hadn’t heard God’s Word at all. Most of us have cycles when we are on fire for God, the Bible is speaking to us loudly, and we are convinced to move in some direction for the glory of God. We’re full of faith and think at that moment, anything is possible. But it doesn’t take long for distractions to set in and before long, we find ourselves drifting away from the place of strong faith. We go back to where we’re no longer at the level where we were revived and fired up. We are told to, “Give the more earnest heed” to what we have heard and Mounce’s Concise Greek-English Dictionary has a definition of that word as “to be given or addicted to”. When we addict ourselves to what God says and refuse to let His Word slip out of our minds, we will keep moving closer to His promises and not further away. It is the difference between Martha and Mary whom the Bible says in Luke 10:39-40, that Martha was over-busy trying to make sure her guests were properly served but her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His Words. Our Lord said that Mary made a better choice in how to live. It’s easy to get swept along by the pace of this life like Martha and all the things we think we need to do. But when we determine to take hold of God’s Word and addict ourselves to it, the Word will change us, satisfy us, and build our faith until we are steadfast and unmoveable believers.
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November 17, 2024
Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
Most people hesitate to open up completely to others and become vulnerable. We usually hold back parts of our thoughts, how we feel, and how things affect us. Sometimes we’ve been dealt hard, painful blows and we put up walls to keep it from happening again. We can become prisoners within ourselves and never be free from what keeps us from living the way God intended. These above verses are a bold prayer that the Lord will search us and examine what’s inside. It’s a prayer that asks God to expose anything within us that is not His will for us and set our feet on a path that follows His ways. A few translations have rendered the Hebrew for “thoughts” as anxieties or worries and the Lord is always a present help in troubling times. But its root means deep thoughts, contemplation and from the context in this verse as it relates to “And see if there be any wicked way in me”, the prayer is asking God to “try” us, meaning to investigate, and examine who we are in our hidden self and know, understand what we’re contemplating and reveal if it’s right or wrong. When we get to a place in our relationship with God where we trust His love and mercy on a level where we not only open ourselves to His searching eye but we ask Him to fully examine us inside, our thoughts and motives, we are maturing in His grace. And, we trust that whatever amiss He finds there He will help us to turn away from it and fully follow Him. It’s a far different prayer than the ones we usually pray which center around asking Him to fix problems, help us in difficulties, or even prayers of praise and thanksgiving. This prayer implies that we do not really know all that is within us but we are confident enough in the Lord’s mercy that we want to be free of anything that is holding us back from being our best. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:1, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” This is the goal in our pursuit of holiness and a conscience void of offense before God and men (Acts 24:16).
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November 16, 2024
Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear”
Beginning in verse 17 of this chapter, the scriptures speak of the reign of Christ, and today’s verse tells us that God will be so personally involved with His people that He will hear and answer them before they speak. There will be such an astonishing change in all of creation that the Lord says in verse 17, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Verse 25 is a well-known passage that says, “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” And, while this is primarily speaking of the future, we can take great comfort in knowing that the principle of today’s verse is active with us here and now. God knows our needs before we ask as our Lord tells us in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” He even knows our thoughts, Psalm 139:2, “Thou understandest my thought afar off.” The phrase translated “afar off” here can also refer to time and would mean that God knows what we are going to think before we think it. When we pray, God knows beforehand what we are going to pray and He already has an answer en route. But even though He knows our needs and desires and knows what we are going to pray and how He will answer, He still delights to hear our voice and welcomes us into His presence as we seek His face. Sometimes, praying is more of us verbalizing what’s in our minds and hearts so that we can get a better understanding of where we are in our season or journey. It’s a time when we direct our attention heavenward and towards the throne of grace. Praise the Lord that He is never confused or surprised at what we say but is patient and good while we stumble through our prayers and often pray half-heartedly and distracted. If you’re like me, sometimes it’s a battle to keep my mind from wandering off even though I’m talking to the Almighty Creator of all things. But He knows us, that we are flesh and bones and full of imperfections and He hears and answers.
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November 15, 2024
1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content”
Godliness is the pursuit of God and the things of God. It’s who we are and the life we live when we are reverent towards the Lord and living set apart from sin and this world. Coupled with contentment, the scriptures here tell us that it is greatly profitable to us and it is not speaking in monetary terms for that is warned against in verses 3-5. Discontentment seems to run rampant in all humans no matter who they are, where they live, and how much they already possess. In 1 Kings 21, the Bible tells us about King Ahab who had all he could want and should have been satisfied, enjoying his palace, fine foods, royal clothing, and all else that we could imagine. But he wanted a vineyard near his palace that belonged to another man. The vineyard was a little piece of property that had been passed down through the generations of a family until it was owned by a fellow named Naboth. Ahab demanded that Naboth either sell him the vineyard or trade it for another one that Ahab already owned. Naboth refused and Ahab’s wife, Jezebelle, had Naboth killed. The seed of discontent became the horror of the murder of an innocent man. The scriptures tell us here that if we have food to eat and clothes to wear, we should be content and that’s a hard truth to swallow in a world where so much is available. We can buy almost anything in a few seconds from an app on our phones and have it delivered to us within a few hours. But when we look at what the Lord has provided us and grow discontented with it, it is a measure of unthankfulness because God has promised to faithfully supply all our needs. This doesn’t mean we should stop working, setting goals, and striving to advance but it does mean that we should have a heart that is thankful for what God has provided, and if and when He provides more, our gratefulness will not be based on the quantity He has provided but, on His faithfulness to satisfy us. The Bible says in Psalms 107:9, “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
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November 14, 2024
Hosea 10:2 “Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty”
We know that people look on the outside but God looks into our hearts and deals with us from what He sees there. When our hearts, with their motives and desires, are filled with the Spirit of God and a desire for the things of God, we walk in truth and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:26, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” This speaks to us of surrendering ourselves completely to God, holding nothing back. Do you ever pray a prayer similar to this one, “Lord, I give myself to You and I want what You have purposed for me. Take my life, my abilities, and all that I am and all that I have and use me for Your glory”? If so, you are on a path where you are offering yourself as the Bible says in Romans 12:1, as a living sacrifice to God. Today’s verse was spoken about Israel and tells us their heart was divided. The Hebrew words translated divided also mean insincere and prone to flattery (insincere praise). The Almighty King of heaven and earth deserves our best efforts, our best offerings, and our best allegiance and devotion to Him and His glorious Name. When we think of someone with a divided heart, we might picture a person who has some religious tendencies but also holds fast to the world at the same time. The scriptures tell us in James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. It’s the lukewarmness of today’s Laodicean mess and God says the divided heart will be found faulty (offensive, guilty, and worthy of punishment). I pray we will all examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to show us if we have divided hearts or double-mindedness in any way. In these last days before the return of our Lord, I want to whole-heartedly follow the ways of God. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him”. David prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” and may that be a prayer we pray today and every day. A heart undivided, filled with the Holy Spirit, and filled with the desire to follow in the steps of Jesus.
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November 13, 2024
Hebrews 10:19,22,23 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
God invites us into His presence with an invitation of a Father to a child. The words here, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith”, speak to us that we can have confidence that we do not have to be timid or uneasy when approaching God. The blood of Jesus removed every barrier that once stood between us and the Almighty. In another place, Hebrews 4:16, we are encouraged to “Come boldly to the throne of grace” where boldly means, “free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, and full assurance”. God has made us His children and we are His heirs, joint heirs with Christ. God loves us and Jesus is the proof. This invitation to come to Him comes from the heart of God who orchestrated all things in time and eternity so that we can be with Him. He wants us to come, worship, and be unafraid to ask Him for our heart’s desire. I once wrote in these devotions that a child of a multibillionaire might be asked every day what it wanted for dinner and it might respond with, “Just bread and water, that’s all I need”. The child might be served just what it asked for even though the cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator were overflowing with every kind of food imaginable. Someone needs to tell the child, “Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for what you like or what you want. Everything in this house, and more, is yours because of who you belong to.” Be bold in believing your Heavenly Father opened the door wide for you to approach Him. If you seek something that is not for your best, God will direct your heart in another direction but He said, we have not because we ask not. This boldness comes by faith when we know who we are in Christ and whose we are by the new birth. We hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering because God is faithful. We believe that when we come to Him, we are more than welcome and that He is pleased to have us in His presence as a loving father welcomes his child. He receives our worship and praise. He delights to hear our prayers and He delights to answer them.
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November 12, 2024
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”
In this season of my life, I sometimes ask myself if I had my past race to run again, what would I do differently? There’s one thing that always comes to mind: I would keep my eyes on Jesus daily and be careful not to be distracted from Him. The almost 40 years that I spent pastoring churches and preaching I was immersed in church stuff and while we know some of that stuff is necessary, much of it isn’t. Even though it is religious activity, it sometimes pulls our attention away from Christ and keeps us stuck in the “church rut”. All the time I spent concerning and worrying about things I couldn’t change I could have been looking unto Jesus with the hope and expectation that He will do exactly what He promised in His Word and work all things for my good. After all, that’s exactly what He’s done every step of my journey. This is not a declaration of regrets because I know the Lord foresaw all my wobbles and crashes and every time, He faithfully corrected my course. I’m just saying that all of us could enjoy our Christian Walk more, have less anxiety, laugh more, smile more, and be a better witness and friend to others if we would just keep our eyes on Jesus. What does that mean, to keep our eyes on Jesus? It’s our Christ-centered spiritual view that we use when we take God’s Word as literally as He intended and then learn to proclaim it in faith over every aspect of our lives. We go through different seasons when we’re growing, parenting, working, facing trials, and all else that life brings us. But we learn to move our interpretation of reality away from worldly explanations. Christ-centered truth becomes not only how we interpret life, but it transforms us into His image. This view becomes the guiding force that we rely on no matter the season or situation. When we are struck with uncertainty, we look to Jesus by proclaiming He is the wisdom of God and He reigns in us. He will reveal the answers to our questions. (Eph 1:17, 1 Cor 1:24) When our way seems dark, we look to Jesus and proclaim He is the light and His Word is our guide. (John 8:12, Ps 119:105) When we feel overcome by fear or doubt, we proclaim that fear and doubt are cast out by His perfect love. (1 Jn 4:18) For every season, every situation, and every step we take our Lord is there and He is the answer, the hope, the expectation, and the joy. Looking unto Jesus the source and goal of our faith.
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November 11, 2024
John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”
Today we honor and remember all the men and women who honorably served and are currently serving our country. The verses above remind us that such sacrifices are done in love and there are no words to thank those who stepped up and put their lives on the line for us all. Many of those men and women, America’s bravest, bear the wounds and scars physically and emotionally because of the price they paid for freedom. And, it was not just the freedom of Americans, but many served and sacrificed for other people in other countries to give them a chance at what we have in our great nation. When we see the mayhem around the world and when we hear of the atrocities people in other nations like North Korea suffer at the hands of their horrible governments, we shudder to consider what it could be like here without our liberties. It’s sickening to see how we have treated some of our veterans and how we pushed them completely aside to accommodate those who never served under our flag and never will. They brazenly and openly break our laws as if the cost of liberty in our nation was cheap. But the red in our flag reminds us that blood was shed, wounds were suffered, and unbearable hardships were endured on behalf of us all. And, let’s remember the families of our veterans who shared in their sacrifices. Wives, husbands, and children whose lives were woven into the years of service that our veterans gave. Families that supported and often suffered and endured months and years of separation while their veterans went to training and deployment. But the Bible commandment to love one another follows the example of our Savior who laid His life down for us and we say, “Thank You” to all the veterans who stood up for us all and put themselves and their comforts aside while they served others, laying their lives down for their friends.
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November 10, 2024
Isaiah 14:27 “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”
These words come from a chapter of Isaiah that foretold the fall and destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of Israel from their enemies. But it speaks to a larger prophecy where Babylon represents all those nations who despise God’s people and says God will deliver His people from them. It then uses the destruction of the king of Babylon to foretell the day when Satan will also be brought down. The Bible says here, that, “The LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” It may look at times that God is not in control and we may question that if He is in control why He is allowing things to be as they are. But that is because we see things from our moment in time and we can’t see the full scope and the future. We can be assured that the Lord’s plans and purpose are right on track. Just as it is true for Israel and God’s plans for them, we can have great joy in knowing He has ordered the steps of every one of His people. Just like Israel, sometimes it may not seem fair what we’re going through and we might be tempted to believe God has forsaken us or that He is not working all things for our good. But His words for Israel in Jeremiah 29:11, are also words for us who belong to Him: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The word thought here refers to God’s formulation of a plan and then bringing it to pass as stated in Isaiah 14:24, “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” We rejoice and praise the Lord that there will be an “Expected end” for all God’s creation and that that end will be the eternal destruction of all that is evil and an eternal establishment of all that is good. It sounds too good to be true but the One who created all things will not fail to bring it to pass.
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November 9, 2024
Psalms 113:3 “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised”
The scriptures tell us in Psalms 150:6, “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” And, the idea of today’s verse, “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same”, is that we are to praise Him continually. It’s sad to hear the name of God and of Jesus Christ being taken in vain as if it means nothing. If we could only grasp the power in the Lord’s name when it is spoken in faith and honor, we would treasure that name more than anything on earth. Many of us love the words to the hymn that says, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s just something about that name.” Sometimes when we are burdened so heavily that we don’t know what to pray and don’t have the words we can just say the name of the Lord and it is enough. Other times when we are so filled with joy and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit we shout, “Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Lord.” The Bible says in Acts 4:12, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” He alone is worthy of our praise and we open our eyes in the mornings while declaring His goodness and we drift off to sleep at night with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts. The phrase, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” is repeated four times in Psalms 107 and urges us to live a life of praise to God. The words we speak and the attitude of our hearts matter more than we can imagine. When our mouths are filled with praise to the name of the Lord, the Lord is honored and exalted, situations turn around, and strongholds of the enemy are broken. Most people will praise something or someone. Themselves, their heroes, their sports team, or anything else that fills their hearts. May we consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 21:16, “Have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” The cries of babies and the prayers of children are praises to the Lord and we adults should never be ashamed or negligent to praise the name of the Lord.
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November 8, 2024
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank”
Daniel was carried off to Babylon with as many as 20,000 other Israelites as captives when the Babylonians defeated Israel, almost 600 years before Christ. He was living in a strange country far away from his homeland among people who worshipped false gods and followed pagan customs. The Babylonians ate a diet that did not follow the Jewish laws and they wanted Daniel to become like them. But instead of choosing to fit in with his new environment and caving in to the pressure to compromise his faith and loyalty to God and the laws given to the Israelites by God, Daniel made a choice: He purposed in his heart that he would not compromise his faith. We can be saved but still be tempted to follow the ways of this world. Unless we have convictions based on God’s Word and we determine steadfastly to follow those convictions, we can find ourselves drifting away from the standards and lifestyle that honors God. A few years ago, a popular theme was for people to live their “Best Life”. The best life for a believer is to live in a way that glorifies God and bears witness to a dark world that Jesus Christ lives in us. When Daniel made his decision, there’s no doubt that he felt the pressure from people around him to stop being different. But he was a man of great courage and refused to water down or abandon his faith. When we read the entire account, we know that Daniel came out of the situation better, stronger, and more blessed. When we compromise, we live beneath our privileges as children of the King. We miss opportunities and open doors the Lord would give us and depending upon the compromise, we might face God’s correction as a rebellious child. God’s call is for us to be strong in the faith, committed to the ways of God, and pursue a path of holiness as the scriptures teach in 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” Stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). The life of Daniel, his unwavering faith even when facing the lion’s den, is a testimony to us that we can live an uncompromised life even in the presence of the worst this world throws at us.
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November 7, 2024
John 13:17 “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”
In John 13, Jesus performed the duty of the lowest servant in a household and washed His disciple’s feet. For many of us, that’s an unthinkable act because it violates the norms we are accustomed to. Even Peter, when Jesus came to him with the basin of water and a towel, said, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” Our Lord’s answer to him was, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” We know He was not speaking just to that occasion but of the truth that unless we have been cleansed from our sin, we can not have fellowship with Christ. When Peter heard that, he said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head”, submitting to a total cleansing by Christ. The foot-washing scene is one that is hard to fathom. The God of all Glory in the person of Jesus Christ kneeling before the people he made, people that were sinners by nature and choice, and becoming a servant to them. He was teaching us by example that none of us should consider ourselves so great and high that we couldn’t bring ourselves to serve others in the humblest ways. But when we receive the truth of this and follow our Lord’s example of willingness to serve even in the lowest capacity, the promise is that we will be happy. Pride is a wicked and deceitful thing sometimes disguising itself as false humility, a way we can posture ourselves to appear humble but in reality, we are unwilling to follow the Lord as He demonstrated in this chapter. Sometimes people have an image they want to maintain, an appearance or form of godliness that is far from a heart of humility. The paradox of greatness is given in Matthew 23:11-12, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” May God help us to seek the will of God in the smallest, most common things so that when we are tested in these, we will pass the test. We have the unfailing promise of James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
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November 6, 2024
Psalms 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it”
A lot of energy, time, and money went into this year’s elections. Over 14.7 billion dollars were spent trying to convince us to vote for one side or the other. Candidates talked incessantly about their plans, made promises, and jumped through all the hoops trying to gain the advantage. Now that it’s over, today’s verse keeps coming to me reminding me that despite the best of all human attempts and abilities, we need the blessings and favor of God to get us on track and keep us on track. I encourage us all to pray for Donald Trump and his administration that they can do, with God’s help, what all of us want: make decisions that will move our country in a good direction. The word house in this verse is a metaphor speaking of anything we’re trying to build, organize, or establish. Abraham Lincoln used this idea when he quoted our Lord’s words from Matthew 12:25, that a “House divided against itself shall not stand.” It can refer to our homes, churches, relationships, nation, or anything else that we are trying to establish or uphold. If God is not in the building process the house will fall. The fallout doesn’t usually happen overnight and people think they are getting by as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” But remember the parable of the two fellows who built their houses, one on the sand and the other on the rock. The one who built on the sand, a symbol of a foundation without the Lord, watched as his house was destroyed by forces, he could not control. This is not a message of despair, negativity, and gloom but one of truth. Someone said we want God to heal our land referring to His promise to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 but we do not want to do our part which is to humble ourselves and pray. Any nation that excludes the Lord when it formulates its plans and attempts to govern without following the truth of God’s Word shouldn’t be surprised when the outcome is a failure. The Lord is not telling us to stop building or to stop planning and using our God-given creativity. He is telling us to be sure we are following His ways, filtering everything through His Word, and always looking to Him as the source of our success. I believe there are enough capable, honest, and godly people in this country who can join together, pray for our leaders, and pray that in these last days, God will heal our nation and restore what has fallen.
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November 5, 2024
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”
When Jesus was about to be crucified and go back to heaven after His resurrection, He told His disciples about the opposition that would come against them. Our Lord’s words have been fulfilled not only in the lives of the disciples but also in untold multimillions of believers throughout Christianity’s history. On one hand, it’s mystifying why the world would hate, persecute, and even torture and murder people who did them no harm but simply had faith in Christ. But then, we know that the power behind the opposition is the power of satan who hates all that belongs to God and stirs the minds and hearts of those who will join him in his schemes to stamp out the name of Jesus and His followers. We may fail to truly appreciate how blessed and fortunate we are to be citizens of America where we enjoy the freedom to worship as we choose and do it in safety. We may fail to understand that many who came to this country were not looking for wealth but to escape the persecution they were enduring in their countries of origin. I fear we have taken our freedom to worship God and carry the banner of Jesus Christ for granted and we are seeing the opposition to our way of worship rising up in our faces in these last days. When we stand for what we believe in, there’s an undercurrent stirring of those who mock us as if we are the evil ones who are corrupt and holding this nation back from progress. But our Lord said to “Be of good cheer” because He faced opposition from the world like no other and overcame it. Our peace is not in this world but in Jesus Christ. It’s time to pursue a better, stronger relationship with God and better, stronger bonds with those of like faith. Think of all the things our Lord faced. He was mocked, betrayed, hated, abused, spit upon, tortured, and crucified and yet He overcame it all! There is hope and peace for us in Jesus and He is a shelter from the rising storm. Knowing that He overcame the world means He is fully in control and confidence in that, brings great peace.
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November 4, 2024
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do”
Certainly, no one can deny that these are discouraging times. Both believers and nonbelievers are battling to find a way forward for themselves and their families. Many families are in disarray, addictions of all sorts are the norm, and some people are lonely, afraid, uncertain, and confused. There is a great need for people to minister hope and encouragement. People who are peacemakers and bold in their witness that although the nations of the world are reeling and shaking, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The good news is we have the mind of Christ, we have the peace of God, we have the message of hope, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit. God has given us wisdom and there are open doors of opportunity all around us to encourage people and be the salt and light the Lord has called us to be. We don’t need to beat people with drawn-out advice and lists of rules. If we will just speak words fitted to the occasion, words of truth spoken in love and sincerity, words that lift people up and offer hope in the Lord, we can be what today’s verse tells us. The phrase “comfort yourselves together”, means to invite each other to join as one and console and encourage. Some other verses that speak to this are Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Do you think of yourself as an encourager? Do you make it a point to speak kindness and faith to others? Remember the ten spies who came back from the promised land with words of defeat and unbelief. They were instruments of doubt and failure. We have a better message. The world has nothing like this to offer because the world only has false hope. We declare that God is still on the throne, He is working all things for good in the lives of His people, and He is more than enough. We are not victims with no hope, we are children of the King. The best is yet to come because the Eternal God has already declared the end from the beginning.
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November 3, 2024
Romans 9:28 “For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth”
In the present dispensation when the outpouring of grace and mercy is extended to the Gentiles, Israel has been set aside nationally. But this is only for a while until the words of Romans 11:25 are completely fulfilled: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” God plans to restore Israel by turning them to Christ and even though what we see currently happening in the Middle East doesn’t look like the Jews are coming to faith in Jesus, that’s where the nation is headed. The Jewish people have always been the target of Satan’s wrath because they are God’s chosen and throughout history, they have suffered. The devil has stirred up the people of the world to hate and persecute them. Sometimes, attempts have been made to annihilate them and their history is one of great bloodshed. The seething anger we see being poured out on them currently around the world will increase until the antichrist, filled with the power of Satan, comes to power and leads an army into Israel to completely destroy them. Zechariah 13:8-9 says that two-thirds of the Jews will be killed during the horrible times of the tribulation and it is only because of God’s mercy and His promise to them, that the Lord will do what today’s verse says and bring it all to a end suddenly. Our Lord spoke of this in Mark 13:20, “And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” Romans 9:29 says, “And as Esaias (Isaiah 1:9) said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.” God will not allow total destruction of Israel but will bring one-third of them through the fire of tribulation as a remanent. Romans 9:27, “Esaias (Isaiah) also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.“ We should keep praying for Israel and keep looking to the Lord with the great hope that soon Jesus will return and God will bring an end to all the suffering and will reconcile His people to Himself.
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November 2, 2024
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”
So much of what we hear and read nowadays are lies. It is what happens when a culture falls away from the truth. The Bible speaks of people who have turned away from God in Romans 3:13-14, “With their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” It’s a precise description of the world around us now with its lying words, spewing poisonous, angry venom-like snakes, and profane, vulgar speech. The source of it all is the devil described by Jesus in John 8:44, “There is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” He, his fallen spirits, and those who are enslaved to him are spoken about in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The battle we are in is not political, it is a battle of good vs evil. The lies and the in-your-face deception we have seen and heard in this year’s election, the wickedness that has been uncovered and exposed that shows the level of rot and decay in our country has turned the stomachs of anyone who holds to truth and decency. But above it all, the Word of God stands Supreme and eternally true. As believers, we may differ on a few points here and there, but we are united in the Name of Jesus, the blood of Christ, the empty tomb, the power of the Holy Spirit, the glory of God’s grace, the imminent return of our Savior, and the ultimate victory of the Almighty God, Creator of all things. As today’s verse says, we are sanctified by the truth and that is the truth of God’s promises: That He loves us, has washed us from our sins in His own blood, and we are children of the most High God! May I encourage you to pick up your Bible, open it daily, and be assured that you are reading God’s Word. Surrender yourself, your soul, life, body, and everything you are and own to the Lord. Place your trust in Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Savior and Lord and determine that no matter what happens, you will follow Him.
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November 1, 2024
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Our being on this earth and who we are as persons are not accidents or the result of chance. It is all of God. And, our being saved by the grace of God is not of our own doing but it is also the plan of God. He planned it before He created the earth. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” The verses preceding today’s verse, say: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Some would like to erase these verses and others like them from the scriptures or spin them attempting to make them fit their brand of theology. But the mystery of salvation remains a mystery to us on this side of eternity and we submit our thoughts on the matter to Jonah’s summary in Jonah 2:9. “Salvation is of the Lord.” The details of how we were foreknown, predestinated, called, justified, and glorified are God’s business and I’m just happy and filled with joy to know I belong to Him. I know He is my God, my Father, and I am His child. Because I belong to Him, He has assured me He is for me, not against me. And, because He is for me, there’s nothing on this earth or in eternity beyond that can stand against me and prevail over me. Nothing can separate me from God’s love and nothing can change my eternal destiny. While I am on this earth, He promised that He is working all things for my good. Remember, this all happened in His plan before creation began and faith in what God declared is the foundation of our hope for the present and the future. We don’t have to understand it to believe it, we just anchor our faith to the One who said it.
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