Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 87:1-7    A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. "His foundation is in the holy mountains.  (2)  The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.  (3)  Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.  (4)  I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  (5)  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  (6)  The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.  (7)  As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee." This Psalm speaks of the blessings of the Church. The immediate thought is concerning the city of Jerusalem where the temple worship took place. But as we look at it today, we can see the blessings of being in the New Testament Church of the ...

1 Corinthians 2:9-11    “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. But God hath revealed   them   unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” In the book of the prophet Isaiah we find these words: “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 (Isa 64:4).” As Paul has been writing about the inability of the wisdom of man to know the wisdom of God, he turns to the scripture to support what he has been telling the church at Corinth. Mankind (see Strong’s definition of the word rendered here as “man”...

Psalm 86:3-7    "Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.  (4)  Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.  (5)  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.  (6)  Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.  (7)  In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me." This 86th Psalm begins with the writer asking God to "Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me." I sit here pondering those words and am asking myself, "Do I believe that God hears every prayer that I send up to Him?" Do I? Do I understand that when I pray, I have the attention of the Creator and Sustainer of this universe? Do I believe that? Am I sincere when I pray or do I just send up words and hope that He will catch some of them? I have a lot of questions that are raised when I see the Psalmist asking God to "bo...

1  Corinthians 2:6-8     “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,   even   the hidden   wisdom,   which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known   it,   they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” In the first chapter of First Corinthians, Paul spoke about the “foolishness” that preaching the crucified Christ was to some. In the opening verses of this second chapter, he emphasizes that he did not come trusting in man’s wisdom. He now turns our attention to the idea that what some considered foolishness and outside the realm of man’s wisdom is indeed wisdom to some. The term “howbeit” is basically the equivalent of our usage of “however.” Paul is now redirecting our thinking to a higher form of wisdom. By God’...