Devotional Thoughts

Romans 14:4-6    “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day   alike.   Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth   it   unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard   it.   He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” If we have been blessed with the mind of Christ, then we are able to discern whether or not someone’s actions are good or evil. The scripture certainly tells us that we can judge (know) a tree by its fruit. Having the ability to make this sort of judgment is necessary if we are to comprehend Peter’s instruction to eschew evil and do good (1 Peter 3:11). However, being able to ...

Psalm 55:16-17    "As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.  (17)  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." Psalm 55:22    "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." This 55th Psalm is a very interesting one, to say the least. Quite honestly, if I didn't know better, I would think it had been written within the past 4 years concerning our own nation. We read in the very middle of the Psalm, "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance." (Psalm 55:12-13) One of Satan's most used tactics is to try to drive a wedge between people. And the wedge that is most often used is that of pride. We read in James 4:1, "Fr...

Romans 14:1-3     “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” It becomes quickly evident as we begin to follow Christ that we do not all have the same measure of faith. We are often tempted to try and “correct” what we may perceive as a deficiency in a brother or sister. While I intentions may be good, this can come across as holding them on the fringes of our fellowship. This is not the way that Paul taught. We are not instructed to strengthen the faith of those that might be weaker in their understanding of the power of Christ to save. If their faith is in Christ, then we need to receive them and love them as fellow servants. Certainly, we should speak freely about our faith and our understanding, but we should d...

Psalm 54:1-7   To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? "Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.  (2)  Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.  (3)  For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.  (4)  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.  (5)  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.  (6)  I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.  (7)  For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies." There is such a contrast between Psalm 53 and 54, in that previously the Psalmist declared, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."  In today's Psalm, he speaks of the importa...

Romans 13:11-14     “And that, knowing the time, that now   it is   high time to awake out of sleep: for now   is   our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to   fulfil   the lusts   thereof. ” We find Paul speaking with a sense of urgency here. He is speaking to the believers about a knowledge that they had. It is apparent that they Paul expected them to understand exactly what he was talking about. There was something very near to them. We who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ also face life today with a certain knowledge. We know that it is needful for us to live our life in ...