May 31, 2025
Matthew 12:35 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things”
It’s common to think that if we can change our circumstances or if God would change them, we could be satisfied and live a better life. And, there is some truth that our situations can contribute to our happiness or fuel misery. But today’s verse is part of our Lord’s teaching about the power of our words, their source, and how our words bring good or evil. He is warning about blasphemy and “Idle words”. We know what blasphemy is because Jesus defines it in verse 32 as speaking against the Holy Spirit. But idle words, worthless and careless, are defined by Robertson’s Word Pictures as: “Ineffective, useless words. A word that does no good and so is pernicious like pernicious anemia. It is a solemn thought. Jesus, who knows our very thoughts, insists that our words reveal who we are and form a just basis for the interpretation of character”. If we think what we say does not matter, consider Romans 10:9-10, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. We certainly then believe that our words matter in the salvation of our souls so why would we not be careful to choose our words carefully and reject blasphemous and idle words? Jesus said in verse 34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”. And, since our words come from the condition of our hearts, the entire trajectory of life can be changed by having a good heart. When our hearts are established and settled upon the Word of God and when they are powered by faith and the Holy Spirit, good things, good words come out. We praise the Lord, give thanks for all things, honor and bless others, and speak words of truth, life, peace, and spiritual power. But if hearts are unregenerated, worldly, and evil, we speak confusion, unbelief, discouragement, dishonor, and ingratitude. Matthew 12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”. This looks back to the Lord’s words in verse 33, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit”. Our words reveal who we are within and they either show blessing or condemnation.
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May 30, 2025
1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time”
If you attend, or grew up in, churches that hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible, no doubt you have heard about the prophecies of the Antichrist. It’s not a new subject as indicated in today’s verse. John wrote these words about 60 years or so after Jesus ascended back into heaven and believers were already discussing the appearance of the Antichrist. And, through the years, there has been speculation in every generation as to who he will be, when he will appear, and what will be the signs of his appearing. But even in 90AD, God’s Word tells us there were many antichrists at work, and in chapter 4:3, it says, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world”. The issue of this test of the spirit, is whether Jesus came in the flesh. More succinctly, Is Jesus the God-Man? Another possible view of this verse concerns the words “Is come in the flesh”. Strongs says the verb phrase “Is come” is only present and imperfect tenses. It is, perhaps, one of the enigmas of scripture where we could find it referring to Jesus appearing in a body like ours or it could refer to the Spirit of Christ that has come into our flesh as the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ in us, the hope of glory. Either way, the meaning is clear: Both God in Christ Jesus as God incarnate and now Jesus Christ in us point to a condition that is rejected by the spirit of antichrist. Listen carefully to the doctrines from your church’s pulpit. Cut through all the human stories, the presentation of ideas, and the other stuff that normally constitutes the body of the teaching and listen to see if Jesus is declared to be God in the flesh and if believers are declared to be temples, vessels of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of antichrist will always be disguised as religion and many times as Christianity. It will use most of the normal keywords, subject matter, and familiar phrases we expect concerning the faith. But at the core, if Jesus Christ as God-in-the-flesh is not declared and there is no declaration that at the moment we are saved the Holy Spirit enters our body and remains in us until we depart for heaven, beware. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. The man of sin is coming. But until he does, his spirit is already at work.
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May 29, 2025
Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us”
This verse tells us where Jesus is right now and what He is doing. When He ascended back into heaven, He left the church in the hands of the Holy Spirit and the mission for the church in the hands of the saints. What He did on the cross redeemed all creation back to God and we are waiting for the conclusion of God’s plan. The scriptures reference this in 1 Corinthians 15:24, “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power”. Until then, Jesus is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. He speaks for us on our behalf. He represents us, pleads our cause, and fills in for us. The devil continually brings accusations against us, pointing out our unworthiness and our sins. But Jesus is our advocate, our lawyer proclaiming our case and our blood-covered righteousness to the Almighty Father. This gives us confidence that the seated Savior at the Father’s right hand never approaches our situation with indifference or lack of understanding. He knows, He understands, He cares, and He does His mediation with the love and mercy that only Jesus can show. He is our High Priest and has walked in our shoes on this earth. He was numbered with us, that is, “enrolled” as one of us, He has identified Himself with us in all aspects of our nature and our life. So when the enemy comes against us spewing accusations, he can’t make his case stick because our advocate has already countered everything he could raise against us and nailed it to His cross. Praise God for the day our accuser will be struck down: Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night”. We are the children of God and the Righteous Judge has declared us justified and uncondemned by the blood of Jesus. Jesus is our Savior, our intercessor, and our soon-coming King.
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May 28, 2025
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”
This verse looks back to Isaiah 64:4, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him”. It’s interesting how the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to phrase this truth in the context of the New Testament. For all who believe the Old Testament has no value in this day of grace, the many New Testament scriptures, Holy Spirit-inspired, that reach back and quote or paraphrase the Old Testament are proof enough that the whole Bible speaks to us of God’s will for humanity. But today’s verse is especially precious in that it reminds us that what awaits us after this life ends is so wonderful, so incredible that we have nothing down here for comparison. I love the phrase, “Things which God hath prepared for them that love him”. He prepared it all for us and in the words of our Lord in John 14:2-3 we are told there has been a lot of preparation going on since Jesus ascended back to heaven: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. There is a lot of good stuff down here and all praise to God that He supplies all our need and blesses us beyond what we deserve. The scriptures say in Psalms 68:19, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah”. But no joy we’ve ever had, no beauty we’ve ever seen, no music we’ve ever heard, no food we’ve ever eaten, and no blessing God has provided down here can come close to matching what awaits us. I encourage us to keep looking beyond, keep our attention on things above, call this fallen, sinful world what it is: a garbage can, and praise the Lord for the promise in today’s verse.
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May 27, 2025
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”
This is one of the Bible verses and promises that every believer should memorize and use daily. The peace God promises is not the peace of this world because the Bible says in Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked”. To the believer, Jesus said in 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”. The peace God gives us, promised in today’s verse, is not just a feeling of peace but the Hebrew is “shalom, shalom” which emphasizes and intensifies the promise of peace by doubling the Hebrew word for peace. It means peace, completeness, soundness, welfare, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment, and friendship with God (Brown-driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions). The qualifying condition, and there is a qualifying condition, is when our minds are fixed, focused, and resting on the Lord. It’s a matter of not trusting ourselves, but relying solely upon God. Our enemy is the enemy of God and he is the author of confusion, calamity, chaos, and destruction. Wherever he shows himself, disaster follows. He is a thief, liar, and destroyer. He promises peace but his goal is to inflict pain, sorrow, disease, humiliation, and dearth. Adam and Eve had peace in the garden. But by the time Satan had worked his lies and deception, they were driven from the garden, stumbling under the weight of the curse, and dealing with the wages of sin: Death. But Jesus is called The Prince of Peace and He will give us perfect peace when our eyes are fastened on Him and our faith is trusting in Him and His promises. We can say today’s verse as a daily declaration: “The Lord is giving me perfect peace because my mind is fixed on Him and I’m trusting in Him alone”. Whenever storms hit us and the enemy tries to knock us off our feet, let’s declare this promise and shout it long and loud. God loves to hear us declaring His truth and our words of faith in His promise of perfect peace will put the enemy and our unbelief to flight. Let’s say it in faith even when we haven’t yet experienced peace in our storm because the promise is true and God will not fail us.
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May 26, 2026
Joshua 4:6-7 “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever”
Memorial Day. It makes me sad that on this day when we remember and honor those who gave their lives while serving our country, that many people in this great nation do not know nor care about the meaning of such sacrifice. Many among us, have no heritage in this nation and do not love our flag and what it stands for because they broke our laws to trespass. But all that aside, we are humbled and thankful beyond what our words can express for those who died not only for our freedom but for the freedom of other people in other nations where American troops fought. Many of them were so very young, their lives snuffed out by horrible wars, the madness of human hatred, demonic leaders like Hitler, and the barbaric savagery of nations that will not value freedom and truth. Today’s verses tell us about the time when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River to enter their promised land. God dried up the water so they could cross and told them to take 12 stones from the river bed and set them up on the bank of the Jordan as a memorial to help them remember the day they were delivered into God’s blessings. Whenever their children saw the stones and asked about them, they would tell their children about the day of the crossing, the day God’s people entered the land the Lord gave them. We need to be knowledgeable about the meaning of Memorial Day and tell our children and grandchildren what it means. We are free because others gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice. We should explain our flag and what it stands for and teach our families to respect it and love this country it represents. When I was a child, every morning in school, we stood, faced the flag, put our hands over our hearts, and said, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. As a symbol, the flag and our pledge were a memorial of all the flag represented. On this Memorial Day, we will fly our flags, honor God and thank Him for our country, and honor and remember those, and their families, who died to make us free.
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May 25, 2025
Hebrews 6:1-2 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment”
It’s easy to get hung up, stalled out on some Biblical point or doctrine, and remain stuck there. The things listed in today’s verses are beliefs and ceremonies that are common to both Jews who turn to Christ and stop depending on the law for redemption and all believers in general who get the basics of doctrine established and settled as their foundation of truth. But at some point, we need to realize we have the basics down and that some things must be left in the hands of God. No amount of study, arguing, and rehashing the same things repeatedly is going to clear all the minute details unless God gives us special wisdom or understanding. There are many questions that will not be answered on this side of eternity. These verses tell us to move on to perfection, a word that means a state of completeness, broader knowledge, or maturity. The same word for perfection used here is also used in Colossians 3:14, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness”. When we learn to walk in God’s love and love one another, everything is bonded, united, and tied together in our Christian life. The plan of God is being fulfilled in us and we are living out His ultimate will: To love Him and love each other. It’s too bad we sometimes get sidetracked in some doctrinal rabbit hole and waste valuable time trying to convince everyone else of our views. It’s like a 30-year-old fellow, still living with his mom, and having a bottle of milk for every meal. It’s the rebuke of Hebrews 5:12-14, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”. Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
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May 24, 2025
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans chapter 8 starts with these words: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”. The words “no condemnation” mean no condemning sentence, no punishment. By the time we read from there to today’s verse, we are told of how God has given us the Holy Spirit, resurrected us from death, called us His children, and by His foreknowledge and power to predestinate, completely established our relationship with Him, the course of our lives, and our eternal destination. That’s why He asks us, “What shall we then say to these things?”. He wants us to consider who we are, what He has done for us, and how secure we are in His hands. He has taken care of everything, even the things that have not yet happened. And since God is for us, never against us, there is nothing in the universe seen or unseen that can pull us away from God and His great love for us. The chapter closes by mentioning many things that might seem like they have the power to separate us from the Lord. But God’s revealed purpose for us concludes with verses 38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. That does not mean we will never face troubles, go through trials and hardships, and spend seasons wandering in wildernesses of our own making. This life sometimes brings pain and suffering, heartaches, and disappointments but through it all, Jesus will never let go of us and He will bring us safely through. We can’t always see or understand how God is working things on our behalf. But He is, and He will always deliver us. The Bible says in Job 23:9-10, “On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”. My prayer is that we will be encouraged to remember that nothing we face is unknown or a surprise to the Lord. If we are believers, we are in the hands of God and He has promised He is working all things for our good.
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May 23, 2025
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”
The words “Praying always with all prayer” means to always pray all kinds of prayers. Standing, kneeling, or lying in bed. Personal praying, group prayers, prayers of praise, prayers of pleading, whispered prayers, shouted prayers and the list is endless. But here we are also encouraged to make supplications. Supplications are a type of prayer but refer to times when we earnestly plead for something. Sometimes it’s in a time of urgent need or a dire situation. It is a serious and humble request, often used when our words are not enough and we need help from the Holy Spirit to speak for us. That’s where today’s verse says prayer and supplication in the Spirit. In yesterday’s devotion, we spoke about seeking God’s face and there is no reason for us to not make supplication a part of our prayer life. Most of us have urgent needs: Family members who need deliverance, people close to us who need salvation, and all of us need God’s help making choices and following His will. We need a revival of victory in our nation, our homes, schools, and churches. But such prayer is a battle and if you’re like me, as soon as I get on my knees or bow my head, my mind tries to wander off, I think of a million things I need to do, and everything starts distracting me. Here are some things I share that help me. Find a quiet place where you’re away from everyone and everything distracting. That’s the idea of entering into the “closet” our Lord spoke of in Matthew 6:6. Don’t just start praying but be quiet and slowly and deliberately clear your mind. Then focus on Jesus, our intercessor. I form a picture in my mind of Him sitting at the Father’s right hand and I keep that picture in front of me as I start to pray. If my mind starts to wander, I focus on His face and I begin to thank Him that He has invited me to come boldly into His presence. As you pray, allow your heart to speak. I’m not sure how to explain that but it involves willfully submitting yourself; All you are with and all about you as if you are lifting yourself with outstretched hands to the Creator of all things. Say to the Holy Spirit, “Pray for me, Holy Spirit, as God’s Word says in Romans 8:26 that You will make intercession for me”. Then, as you continue to pray, distractions blocked and focusing on the person of Jesus Christ, speak to the Lord from your inner being, saying whatever comes from deep within.
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May 22, 2025
Psalms 27:8 “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek”
The Lord invites us to seek His face. But what does that mean and how is it different from seeking His hand or His strength? Consider 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually” and 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. When we seek the Lord’s strength, sometimes referred to as “His hand”, we’re asking for Him to help us, to move in our favor. But seeking God’s face is different than even praying as the verse above says if we will humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face. The word for “face” also means presence and when looked at as a whole, we get a picture of looking someone in the face, even into the eyes, and getting the sense of their attention and countenance. We start to understand who they are. It’s an intimate, personal, connection like when a mother gazes at her precious little child’s face and that child looks back into the face of its mother and something wonderful is formed in that bond. I believe we can pray, talk to God when we’re driving or doing other things. And I believe we can kneel or bow our heads in prayer when we’re praising God, petitioning God, saying thanks for a meal, or anything else that constitutes a normal, usual prayer. But I believe when we seek God’s face it’s more than that. Just like I can talk with my wife while we’re cooking dinner or folding laundry. But when we need to discuss important things, make complicated decisions, or just need deeper conversations, we stop what we’re doing and come face-to-face. Today’s verse is a challenge to us, at the Lord’s invitation, to seek God’s face. He wants it and whether or not we realize it in this rat-race world when we sometimes feel we don’t even have the time for a prayer and Bible study component in our schedules, we need it. The Bible says in Psalms 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”. Here, “presence” is the same word translated as “face” in today’s verse. It’s a place of joy and pleasure. I encourage us all to not just pray but to seek God’s face and grow in a stronger, more intimate relationship with Him.
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May 21, 2025
Hebrews 7:19 “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God”
The “Better hope” spoken of here refers to the finished work of Jesus Christ when He died in our place, was buried, and resurrected, defeating death, hell, and the grave. Under the law, only the High Priest could enter into the Holy Place in the temple, into the presence of God and he only did that once a year. People prayed, offered sacrifices, and worshipped but there was no access, no door to enter to get close to God. But when Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”, He was declaring Himself able to do what the law could not do: Bring all believers into God’s presence. When our Savior died on the cross, the thick, heavy curtain called the veil that blocked people from entering the room and coming face to face with God, ripped from top to bottom, opening up access for all believers. The scripture says in Hebrews 10:19-20, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh”. We are encouraged to come before God in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. This fact that we can now meet with the Creator of all things and are not only welcome in His sight but emboldened by His personal invitation to draw near to Him, is worthy of much meditation on the matter. It is a privilege of honor and unspeakable, priceless treasure. The price of admission? The shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As the verse above declares, it’s a new and living way through the veil, a door that was opened by His own bloody body. Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the Father”. God does not want us to live as if we are outcast strangers, unworthy and unwelcome in His presence. He does not want us to believe the lies of the enemy that we are not good enough to walk hand-in-hand with our Maker. Jesus is the better hope, the door, the way, and the perfect solution to our separation from God. Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”.
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May 20, 2025
Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”
We live and walk in the Spirit when we have yielded to His authority and power. That’s why Ephesians 5:18 is so important to believers who desire a life of obedience and spiritual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”. Many people have equated this with emotions we may have during a worship service or a time of refreshing from the Lord. Seeking that type of experience is a religious trap that leads us from one emotional “high” to another with lulls in between spent searching for the next occasion. But yielding to the Spirit’s authority, being filled with His presence, is from following a gnawing desire for intimacy with God that pulls on us no matter where we are or what we’re doing. And, even though we may become temporarily distracted from that desire, it’s always there, drawing us, urging us, and can never be satisfied by anything else. It is the hunger and thirst for the Lord, His righteous glory and power. We are not entirely satisfied by salvation, the starting point of our relationship with God, but only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We can only live in the Spirit when we have, as verse 24 says, “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”. The Bible says in verse 17,” For the flesh lusteth (fights, struggles, and has desires), against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”. Aside from a miraculous intervention from God such as when He breaks the power of an addiction, the way to crucify, put to death, the flesh is to starve it: To block, remove access to, or in some way cut off it’s source of power. We need self-control for that and sometimes it takes help from others, depending on the depth of the root. All of the fruit of the flesh, that which it produces in our lives as listed as works of the flesh in verses 19-21 and many more like pride, deception, evil speaking, and so on, must be acknowledged, confessed, surrendered to the Lord, and carefully starved to death. As the old nature is subdued and the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit, we learn to walk in the Spirit with the word “walk” picturing a soldier who marches under orders, being directed by the one in authority. In our case, the precious Holy Spirit.
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May 19, 2025
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”
If the preaching of the cross is the power of God, then why would we neglect it? Interestingly, modern pulpits are filled with many references to baptism as if baptism brings the new birth but few linger on the message of the cross. The Apostle Paul here, the man God called to write much of the New Testament and expound the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, declares his God-called mission was not to baptize people but to preach the gospel. If he believed baptism was essential for salvation he would not have boldly said in verse 14, “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius” and went on to say he didn’t want people to identify his name with their baptism as if they were followers of Paul. In these two verses, we can see that the preaching of the cross, the power of God, is the preaching of the gospel and the Bible says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. We see crosses everywhere. They adorn churches as works of art and symbols of Christianity. They are worn as earrings, necklaces, and bracelet charms. But when the gospel is preached in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and the message of the cross penetrates hearts, going past the intellect until it embeds and explodes on the conscience, only then can conviction produce conversion. That’s the meaning of “power of God unto salvation”. There is no power in the images or symbols we might cling to, no power in the water we are immersed in, and no power in the psychobabble palming itself off as “gospel truth” in this age of Laodicea. It’s still the message of the cross that entails the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that leads us to God. And, the message includes a denouncement of sin and our sinful selves with repentance and faith towards God. Our Hope is in Colossians 2:13-14, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”.
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May 18, 2025
1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”
In the Old Testament law, God calls His people to be holy three times: Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, 20:7. And, even though in this dispensation of grace we have been declared holy by the imputation of Christ’s holiness, today’s verses point to our “conversation” which means how we live in every aspect of our lives. Biblical holiness is not a religious denomination or a set of rules of conduct imposed by churches or religious leaders. The word means to be set apart, completely dedicated to God, and living in obedience to Him as defined in the scriptures. The Bible calls us vessels as the Holy Spirit lives within us and as vessels of the Living God, what we speak, what we do, and how we live matters. For example, we are called to speak truth and live truthfully as the Bible says in Ephesians 4:24-25, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another”. We are called to live apart from this rebellious, God-rejecting world and apostate religions: 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you”. There is a trend today among some Evangelicals who allow their children to curse, as they also do, as long as it’s done in private. They will not take a stand against strong drink and practice it themselves. There is no separation in their homes when it comes to entertainment and they watch the filth that Hollywood spews out with its profanity, degenerate scenes, and occult themes. There is no conviction to live apart from this world’s trash and no will to live holy, Christ-centered lives. Shame on us for identifying with Jesus and then living like atheists. God said, “Be ye holy; for I am holy”. None of us are perfect but that’s not an excuse to love the world and the things of the world. It’s not an excuse to live tarnished, nasty, and contaminated lives. It’s a call to crucify the flesh with its unbelief and lusts and give our best efforts to rise above what we lost in Adam and embrace the purity and wholesomeness of Jesus Christ.
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May 17, 2025
Mark 13:32-33,37 “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch”
Jesus spoke these words, teaching that there would come a day when He returns and no one knows the exact timing of that event. It seems perplexing since Jesus is God and one with the Father that He doesn’t know the moment when He will return. But some have pointed out that He voluntarily chose not to receive that knowledge in obedience to the Father’s will. The important part is that Christ will return and we are told to watch and pray where the word “watch” means “To take heed lest, through remission and indolence, some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one” (Thayer). The initial meaning of this warning is for the return of Jesus Christ according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “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”. But there is another meaning to be ready to leave this world personally because we do not know but that today might be our last day. Many people woke up this morning to face a normal day but they will be called into eternity before this day ends. Some will have a heart attack, some a stroke, some will have an accident, some will be murdered, or any number of things that cause death. Jesus is saying that no matter if it’s by death or His return, we’re leaving here. Our part is to always be mindful to live each day with our hearts reaching out to God, fully aware that this world is not our home. Also, we daily and prayerfully consider that so many are unconcerned and unready for Christ’s return. We live as the salt and light of this world, championing God’s goodness and grace. Our prayer is that in some way we can encourage others to prepare for eternity. Our Lord’s words, “What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch”, were spoken for all generations to hear and heed.
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May 16, 2025
Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”
God created Adam and Eve in His image and they were glorious. Before they sinned against their Maker, they were flawless in every way and were the crown of God’s creation. But sin changed everything about them and left them marked. Gone was the glory they received from God and in its place, decay and death. They tried to cover themselves with leaves, to hide their appearance after sin stripped them of their innocence and radiance. But the glory of fig leaves compares nothing to what they had lost. Since that day, people have searched for something to give them glory; Something to set them apart, make them stand out, and something to make them shine. We dream of making our mark, setting a record, or becoming famous and rich. When we can’t achieve those things, we rely on the collection of stories we tell about ourselves, of what we’ve accomplished, particular things we’ve done that seem remarkable, or how we’ve used our wit and talents to turn the tables of life’s circumstances. But nothing we have done or can do is truly glorious compared to what we lost to sin. The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:24, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away”. As believers, our glory lies in our identity with Jesus Christ and when we get this truth settled in our minds and souls, we can follow in the steps of those like the Apostle Peter here who knew he was dead to this world and what it offers and the world was dead to him because the world wants nothing of the things of God. And, of all things to glory in, it’s not our role in the church, our significance in the ministry, our talents on display, or our level of spirituality. It’s the cross of our Lord. To glory in the cross means we take our place with Jesus on the cross, crucified with Him as one who has died to the world, to sin, and to self. We claim no life, no authority, and no power of our own but confess it is only in Him that we have a reason to exist. We are dead, unresponsive to this world, and seek to glorify Jesus Christ in a life of happy obedience because we love the One who was crucified to put away our sins. The world, in rebellion against the True and Living God, wants nothing of what the cross represents and we want nothing of this world.
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May 15, 2025
Ephesians 4:2-3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
Would people who know you describe you as a patient person, especially when dealing with other people? Personally, through the years I have become more patient but I regretfully spent much of my younger years with a short fuse. Today’s verse calls us to live humbly, in gentleness, patiently, and with forbearance, ready to put up with other people; all in the power of God’s love. The Lord’s will for us is to strive, to work towards the goal of unity by the Holy Spirit bound by peace. The short fuse, ready-for-a-fight temperament is a destructive thing and works against God’s plan for His people. It’s harmful to families, a terrible model for children, and sometimes makes a mess by deeply hurting others. It can cause damage that may take years to heal if healing ever comes. It can wreck churches and ministries and sidetrack us from lives filled with joy and peace. Some people are more naturally calm and easy-going and it’s easy for those who aren’t, to excuse hot tempers and argumentative natures away by saying, “That’s just the way I am” or, “That’s how all my family is”. But the Lord can help us change our temperaments and the first step is when we acknowledge our need for change. In the scriptures, we might characterize the Disciple Peter as high-strung, quick-tempered, and very assertive. But after the ascension of Jesus, the Apostle Peter wrote these words in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity”. That doesn’t sound like the same Peter who cut off a soldier’s ear with a sword at Jesus’ arrest. The Lord changed him. The word “forbearing” here sometimes translated as “suffer” has a literal meaning, “To tolerate something, even if you don’t like it”. Jesus used it in Matthew 17:17 when he said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?”. The Lord loves us and puts up with our humanness. My prayer for today is that He will help me be humble, kind, patient, and forbearing. For my family, for the people of God, for all those who are not believers, and especially when I’m driving.
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May 14, 2025
Acts 17:26-27 “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us”
In yesterday’s devotion, we spoke about times when it seems God is far away. But we are His children through faith in Jesus Christ and, in the person of the Holy Spirit, He is always with us fulfilling His promise that He will never leave or forsake us. But what about those who have not trusted in Christ as their Savior? Is God far away from them, upon His throne in heaven and looking down like a distant observer? Today’s scriptures are from a sermon the Apostle Paul preached at Athens when he told the Athenians God is not far from all of us. In the preceding verses 24-25, he said, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things”. He was preaching a few hundred yards from the Acropolis where the giant statue of Athena was standing, gleaming in the sun. The Greeks looked to their multitude of gods for protection, inspiration, and explanations of creation. All the while, the Lord God Almighty who Paul referred to as their “Unknown God” was not far from them, seeking, searching, and ready to give them mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Today’s verses tell us that all humanity is unified as one from Adam’s blood and it is God who has appointed when and where they should live. The sermon encourages people to reach out to God as someone might feel around in the dark, trying to find something. It’s not a strange description because it follows in the line of Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”. A part of salvation is that God comes looking for us. But there’s another part where we, encouraged and convinced by the Word of God, reach out to the Lord. I believe the words, “he be not far from every one of us” looks back to Jeremiah 23:23, “Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?”. It gives all people everywhere the hope that God, the missing piece of their life’s puzzle, is not far away if they will just reach out to Him.
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May 13, 2025
Psalms 22:19 “But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me”
This Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm, foretelling the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This verse captures a prayer of our Lord, prayed from the cross. God the Father turned away from His Son when Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. The New Testament records our Lord’s Words in Mark 15:34, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. Because of our sins he carried, He was forsaken of God so that we will never be. And, even though we know that God will never leave us or forsake us, there are times when God seems far away. Today’s verse is our human way of calling out to God, wanting to sense His presence, and needing His comfort when the distance between him and us seems vast. Maybe you’ve had the experience of being in a season when your faith is strong, the Holy Spirit is in control, and God seems like He’s right by your side. Then maybe the next day or even a few hours later, doubt looms, the connection with the Lord seems broken, and your frame of mind and heart changes. God seems to be nowhere close. Praying is a battle, your praise is shallow, and you wonder what went wrong. But then is the time to dig in your heels and stand in faith, believing that the Lord is not far away. It’s just a time of testing, a time when God wants us to sink our roots of faith deep into His Word and trust Him. We begin by declaring what we know to be true: We are children of the Almighty God, His eyes are upon us, and His ears are open to our prayers. Satan is a defeated foe and the world, our flesh, and the devil have no power over us. All the lies the enemy is slinging at us that God isn’t listening and that we’re on our own can’t stop God’s purpose and outcome for us. He will never fail. Even though we don’t feel like it, we speak praise to God and declare 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ”. And, we pray the prayer of today’s verse: “But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me”. He can, He wants to, and He will!
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May 12, 2025
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”
Do you know, or have been around, people who one day are friendly, open, and kind but when you meet up with them another day, they’re completely different? One day they seem to be a good friend, seem happy to see you and wear what seems to be a genuine smile. Then the next encounter they’ve morphed into guarded, chilly strangers with an “I can’t wait to get away from you” demeanor. We might check ourselves to see if it’s something we’ve said or done that scared them, offended them, or made them feel uncomfortable at our last meeting. But when we can’t think of anything, we conclude they’re just an example of a world of people who can’t seem to get it together in the consistency category. We learn not to take offense at them, pray for them, and be on guard that we do not treat people that way. Praise the Lord, God is never inconsistent and today’s verse amplifies that truth. He is always the same, never shifts in the way He treats us, and attends to His creation. Rich Mullins wrote a line of song lyrics that says, “There’s people been friendly, but they’d never be your friends. Sometimes this has bent me to the ground”. It’s tough to take when people identify with Jesus and come on strong like they follow Him. And then, over time, you see through their façade and realize it’s all just religion, learned and practiced without the unction of the Holy Spirit. They speak Jesus and it sounds a good talk but lacks consistency in the long haul. My prayer is that despite our wobbles and stumbles, God will help us be more like Jesus: consistent, transparent, and seekers of humility. We want others to see us the same at home or the Walmart as we are at church and we want it to be real, powered by the Holy Spirit, and void of any variableness or change like a shadow. Let’s strive to treat others the same and all with a Christ-like Spirit and let’s live our lives so that when others meet us, they know exactly what to expect. Aren’t you glad you know Christ? And, aren’t you glad that every day from the moment you first trusted Him, He’s remained the same? No matter what happens, no matter what shifts in the world around us, our God declares in Malachi 3:6. “For I am the LORD, I change not”.
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May 11, 2025
1 Corinthians 16:9 “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries”
In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul is speaking of a wide-open door allowing him to do powerful, effective ministry. He is talking about opportunity: The opportunity to do the Lord’s work and be a blessing to others. No matter how small and unqualified we might think ourselves, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can make a difference for good in the world around us. This teaching is referenced in Galatians 6:10. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”. The eye of faith looks for open doors where we can practice what we preach and hands of faith are ready to reach out with a message of hope and compassion. The good Samaritan saw an opportunity to do good when he came upon the man wounded and suffering in the ditch. He didn’t just speak words of comfort to the beaten and bruised fellow but he jumped into the ditch with him and helped him. When Zachaeus turned his heart to Jesus Christ, he had the opportunity to reverse the wrongs he had done and that was the first thing he pledged to do. Our Lord finished teaching a large crowd of people and they were all hungry. He used that opportunity to perform a spectacular miracle by feeding the entire crowd with a couple of fish and 5 small loaves of bread. Almost every day opportunities, wide-open doors, to minister and make a difference in the lives of others come our way. But often we’re too busy, too afraid, or apt to procrastinate and we let them slip by. May the Holy Spirit help us remember the principle taught by Jesus in Matthew 10:42, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple (Because he is a disciple), verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”. Let’s be willing to do the small things, things that we’re tempted to bypass because they seem insignificant. Isaiah 1:17 tells us. “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow”. Let’s pray for opportunities to serve God and the eyes and wisdom to see the wide-open doors. When we stand at the judgement seat of Christ to have our lives examined and be rewarded, we’ll be eternally grateful for every time we followed through and did good in the Name of Jesus.
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May 10, 2025
Revelation 21:23 “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”
We can somewhat comprehend the man, Christ Jesus. He had a body like ours, He was a member of an earthly family, and when people saw Him, they saw someone like themselves. But we have nothing to compare with, no points of reference for, the Being, God Almighty. Throughout the scriptures, He is described as glorious. When Moses spent time in His presence, though he was not able to look directly upon God, Moses’ face absorbed enough of God’s glory that people could not look at Moses’ face because of the residual luminance of the glory of God. It’s not just glory because of His honor and prominence but it is also a physical reality that today’s verse says will one day provide the light for the new Jerusalem. Have you ever stopped everything for a while, found a quiet secluded spot, and spent time meditating on our Father God? Have you considered the Being that has no form, is everywhere simultaneously in His creation, and is limitless in His power and abilities? Have you thought upon the One who knows all, everything, from eternity and throughout all time until time ends? Do you not, despite the truth that He loves us completely, sense the awesomeness of His incomprehensibleness and reverence Him with Godly fear? Oh, how the enemy has deceived us and stolen this awareness of God, manipulating our minds until the glory of God is diminished for us. He, and we following his delusion, has made the Almighty God in our image. He is not like us and even though He gave us His only begotten Son, formed in our likeness, the Almighty remains beyond anything we’ve ever seen, thought, or experienced. When His creation project, if we can respectfully call it that, is finished, and sin and Satan are put away forever, the saints will enter into the eternal home. And there, God in all His glory will shine with such splendor and majesty that the thought of it makes me shudder while I type these words. And not just God the Father, but the Bible says in Matthew 13:43, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear”. Daniel 12:3 says it like this: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever”.
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May 9, 2025
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself”
Many of us have made promises to God that we didn’t or could not keep. At the time we made them, we may have been in a crisis, a season of uncertainty, or a time when we desperately wanted God to answer a prayer or move on our behalf in a specific way. We meant what we promised as if it was etched in stone. But we broke our word. Sometimes, we may not even remember what we promised. It’s a witness to our unbelief, our human tendency to speak words without counting the cost. But God is not like us and today’s verse tells us that even when we are unfaithful, the Lord always remains faithful. One way of thinking about today’s verse is that if we are not steadfast and fail, the Lord will never falter, change, or fail. Christ cannot be false, untrue to Himself. This is not an excuse for us to take our words or promises lightly because we should carefully consider anything we want to promise to God. Although He understands our weaknesses, He wants us to emulate His faithfulness in what we say and do. If we do not keep our word even though we fully intend to, we should ask the Lord to forgive us and then purpose to not be so hasty to vow what we won’t or can’t do. But praise the Lord for His faithfulness! It’s one of His infinite attributes that makes a solid foundation for our faith in Him. Our God will never fail because He cannot fail. His very nature and perfection means He will never be unfaithful, never break His Word, never be defeated, and never change. Considering the Word of God, the Bible says in John 10:35 that “scripture cannot be broken” meaning that all we know about God from His Word, all He has said, and all He has promised is eternally true and will never be disannulled. This is the source of our hope as described in Hebrews 6:17-19. “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil”. The anchor of our souls!
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May 8, 2025
1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if any man love God, the same is known of him”
We could paraphrase this verse by saying that when we love God, God knows it. It’s good to tell Him we love Him when we pray or sing praise to Him. But He knows our hearts and He is fully aware of what we love and pursue. Let’s consider some scriptures that speak about our love for God and how we show it. First, when we love God, we honor and love His name. Psalms 5:11 says, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee”. We know the name of the Lord declares who He is and has been progressively revealed to us in the scriptures. When we speak His name, we do so in honor and reverence for His great name. Never do we take God’s name in vain or handle it casually. And then, people who love the Lord love His Word and they obey it. The Bible says in John 14:23-24, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me”. This is the acid test showing our love for God. When it says we keep His sayings, it means we carefully guard, hold fast to, and carry out what God teaches us in His Word. Finally, when we love the Lord we love each other and if we do not love others, we do not love God. 1 John 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” Jesus pointed out that the law teaches that loving God is linked to loving others: Mark 12:30-31 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these”. Let’s proclaim Psalms 116:1-2, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live”.
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May 7, 2025
Luke 12:31-32 “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”
These verses come after the parable of the rich man who had a great harvest and decided his plan of action was to store up all his bounty and declared, “I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry”. Our Lord called him a fool for ignoring his soul’s eternal destination and tells us there’s a better way to ensure a blessed life. When we dedicate ourselves to the kingdom of God, all we need will be given to us. The question for us is: What is the kingdom of God? God’s kingdom is the ruling power and authority of Jesus Christ and if we prioritize following Christ and submitting to His authority, surrendering ourselves, all we have, and all our ambitions to God’s will, we are seeking His kingdom. This same teaching in Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” where we are given the Word to “Seek first” God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Then the scriptures make an astounding proclamation: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. God’s desire called here our Father’s “good pleasure” is to put the kingdom in our hands. The “little flock’ has been understood to mean by some, Christ’s disciples. But the Day of Pentecost changed everything. The ruling authority of God in the person of the Holy Spirit came down not upon us, but inside us. Our bodies became the temples of God and He wants us to surrender ourselves completely to His will. Our minds became the mind of Christ. We are charged with 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 result is declared in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. The Father gave us the kingdom and by the power of His authority and in His holy name, we manifest and spread the news of God’s kingdom wherever we go.
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May 6, 2025
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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”
The Greek word for affliction here means pressure and when used in the scriptures, refers to distress of mind, distressing circumstances, trials, or any kind of uncomfortable afflictions. Usually, it’s hard to see any affliction as “light”. In the moment we’re going through them, it’s often intense and seems uncertain. It may feel unfair, like God is nowhere around, and that there’s no relief in sight. A little over five years ago when I had neck cancer surgery and my vocal cords removed, it was a life-altering thing for my wife and me. My trachea was separated from my esophagus and I now breathe through a hole in my neck, a little larger in diameter than a nickel. But in the eternal view of things, it’s a light circumstance compared to what many people suffer and endure. I’ve gotten so used to it, that I seldom think about it through the day. It’s proof that for believers, God’s grace and the passing of time give us victory over things that at the onset, seem insurmountable. Today’s verses tell us that all our afflictions are for just a little while and they are working to move us closer to God’s will. Some people argue that we are never supposed to go through seasons of afflictions and that if we do, it’s a lack of faith on our part. But that is false teaching. The Apostles and disciples in the book of Acts are a testimony that even the most powerful, Spirit-filled believers all have afflictions. Stephen, who died a martyr’s death, and all those who were beaten, thrown in jail, and suffered in Jesus’ name were not weak in faith but on the contrary. They were heroes of the faith. Hebrews chapter 11 lists many that God tells us suffered for His glory. Soon, we will all leave behind all that pertains to this life and enter into everlasting peace and blessings with our Lord. Until then, we keep our attention focused on the things that are not seen which the Bible calls here, the things that are eternal. I praise God for my afflictions and how the Lord has used them to change me. I can tell you that now, the world and what it offers looks like a trash can to me. But what I see with my eyes of faith looks more glorious every day.
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May 5, 2025
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”
A word often under-emphasized in these verses is “precious”, used as an adjective to describe the blood of Christ. We are reminded that our salvation, our redemption, didn’t come from anything this life considers valuable. Nor did we receive it because we follow the traditions and heritage of those before us. The Jewish people had placed their confidence in their Laws, traditions, rituals, and their history of being known as “The People of God”. But before God, none of those matters. A look back to their redemption when they were saved from slavery in Egypt, focuses entirely on the night when God told them to kill a Lamb that had no flaws, drain its blood, and smear that blood on the side frames and the top frame of their doors. When the final plague was executed, only the people in the homes with the blood on the doors were saved from the death of the firstborn, making the blood of the lamb a precious thing. A further consideration is that their faith in obeying what God said when He told them to apply the blood, combined with the blood, saved them. How valuable was the blood of the lamb? It was the difference between life and death. How valuable is the blood of Jesus Christ who is called “The Lamb of God”? It is the only payment for our sins that is accepted by God. It wasn’t just the cross, but the Bible says in Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” amplifying “the blood of His cross”. If Jesus had been tied to the cross and allowed to die from dehydration, a heart attack, or anything that did not cause Him to bleed, we could not be saved. All the priceless, unfathomable treasures of heaven that await God’s people and the gift of eternal life are only ours because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So, when religion talks about salvation as if it’s a new start, a life reset, or a solution to the disparity of life, it completely misses the point of the necessity of Christ’s blood to redeem us. Our sin was so offensive, so damning in God’s eyes that the only way His Divine Justice could forgive it was for someone with flesh and blood to suffer and their blood be bled-out. Praise God for the precious blood of Christ, the eternal payment for our redemption.
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May 4, 2025
Colossians 1:28-29 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily”
Once we have settled the matter of salvation for ourselves, confident that our faith is in Christ alone, God’s will for us is to look outward to those around us and give them our attention. The contemporary church age has spent the last decades teaching and encouraging people to look to themselves, search inwardly, and focus their attention on what God can do for them. Often, the ministry of helping each other mature in the faith has been pushed aside. In that, the church has mirrored the world around us: A self-centered, self-serving mess that prioritizes obsessing with personal details over having the heart to reach out and help each other grow in our relationships with Christ. It shows in the patterns we see in some local churches when you walk in as a visitor and no one speaks to you, no one extends a hand of fellowship, and you feel like you’ve crashed a private club. In today’s verses, the Apostle Paul says he strives by the power of the Holy Spirit to help other believers become full-grown, mature in their spiritual lives. The Greek word for “striving” here has its roots in someone who is competing in an athletic event and pictures the all-out effort they give, pushing themselves to their limits to do their very best. We might give that kind of effort to gain something we really want for ourselves but would we put forth the same intensity of effort for someone else? We can, and we will if we depend on the power of Christ within us because that power is Him, working in us to achieve God’s will for our fellow believers through us. As I often write in these devotions, the Holy Spirit urges us to encourage each other with our words, to speak blessings and strength over each other, and to be examples of faithfulness and Godliness. He calls our attention to pray for people, to offer assistance at times, and to obey 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”. When we sow seeds of kindness, mercy, and grace into others, God not only blesses them by our actions but He also blesses us with more than we could have gained if we’d only been focused on, and striving to, satisfy ourselves.
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May 3, 2025
Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength”
If we could look into heaven’s throne room at this moment, Revelation 4:8 tells us a part of what we would see: “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come”. Many times in the scriptures God is called God Almighty or referred to as Almighty God or as the Almighty with the “A” capitalized showing it is one of His great names. There is no limit to His power and abilities and even though we know this and say it, we still need to often stop and consider it. When we declare it and then live as if it is not true, we are really no different from people who say there is no God. If we could just grasp a tiny bit of the truth that in the beginning there was nothing and God spoke it all into existence, we could learn to trust Him for the impossible. That’s the basis for what Jesus called “Faith as a grain of mustard seed”. Described here as “The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth”, we are told he never gets weak or diminished in strength and there is nothing He doesn’t know or understand. Then we are told it is He who gives us power and when we are weak, He makes us strong. It all comes from Him and His omnipotence. All creation is sustained by His powerful Word (Hebrews 1:3) and by the same power that created all things, all things will be destroyed. Isaiah 51:6, “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished”. In the light of this truth, our faith rises above our doubts and trusts in God Almighty, the One who can not fail. The One that although He is high, holy, and unlimited in power, still fastens His attention and love on us, the recipients of His unfailing mercy and grace. Let’s worship Him, pray to Him, and trust Him for whatever we’re praying and believing for. He is more than able.
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May 2, 2025
1 Peter 3:10-11 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it”
This pattern for us to love life and have good days is simple: Don’t say cruel, wicked things, always tell the truth, avoid and turn away from evil, do what is right, and always be a peacemaker. I read these words as a believer in Jesus Christ but I know if anyone would follow them, their life would be good. Truthfully however, it’s sometimes hard to control our mouth, turn away from temptation, always do the right thing, and take the path of peace when we want to settle the score or get even with someone who has wronged us. One Bible character who is always a great example to me of how to live when trouble and bad things seem to never end is Joseph. He was hated and sold into slavery by his brothers, taken away from his family, and ripped out of a safe, happy environment. Then he was falsely accused and placed in an Egyptian prison where he suffered humiliation and physical pain. Yet in it all, he kept doing the right thing, honoring God, and staying stedfast to his principles and high standards. My prayer is that we all let the words of today’s verses sink down into our souls and by God’s grace and power, make them a part of our life’s plan of purpose. We have the Holy Spirit within us and by His power, we can use our words to be a blessing to others. We can bless and curse not. We can stand strong in our convictions to do what is right even when it’s hard. We can choose a path of peace and be the means God uses by acknowledging 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”. We can have a ministry that follows the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. It’s all in line with the message to God’s people, Israel, in Isaiah 1:16-17, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow”. May we love our lives and see good days.
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May 1, 2025
Galatians 2:18 “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor”
These words were spoken by the Apostle Paul when he publicly called out Peter at an assembly of Christians at Antioch. Even though Peter knew the Lord saved Gentiles as well as Jews and that obedience to the Law of Moses in any form had nothing to do with being right with God, Peter was afraid of the Jewish Christians at Antioch who taught to be saved people had to convert to Judaism and keep parts of the Law. Here’s how the Bible described it: Galatians 2:11-13, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation”. The word “dissimulation” means hypocrisy and means that Peter and the others were being hypocrites. In today’s verse, the scriptures tell us that the Law of Moses, or any religious laws for that matter, have been done away with in Christ and when we try to return to the belief that we must obey the Law or other religious rules and laws to be justified, we become transgressors. How is that? Because it is saying that the death of Jesus and His resurrection was a good thing but it was not sufficient to make us righteous. It’s saying that we must obey the Law or some other religious rules to be completely right with God. The irony is that by trying to make ourselves righteous we become transgressors because the sin of not believing in the finished work of Christ is a greater sin than the sins we think we are obligated to cover with our good works. Peter knew that faith in Jesus Christ for salvation was apart from the law because God revealed it to him in Acts 10 & 11. But all of us can identify with being under pressure by others and in particular circumstances when we are tempted to act in ways that are contrary to what we know is true. The lesson is that the Lord wants us to stand strong on His Word when it is uncomfortable or even at odds with those around us. We’re reminded that if Peter and other pillars of the early church like Barnabas could be carried away with hypocrisy so can we.
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