Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 78:1-4  Maschil of Asaph.   "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  (2)  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  (3)  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  (4)  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth." God is saying to us, "Listen to me!"  Too often, God's Word is viewed as suggestions that we should follow if we want to get our way in life. "If you do this, God will do that." God's Word is not a suggestion; rather, it is the only way to find peace and joy through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is the word of assurance that is needed in a society that doesn't always mean what they say. There was a time when a man's word was hi...

1 Corinthians 1:14-17     “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 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.” In our way of thinking today, Paul’s comment in verse 14 is almost shocking. We who have the privilege of administering baptism rejoice in seeing God’s children manifest the answer of a good conscience toward God (1Pe 3:21). Paul was making a point here that he was not keeping a tally of those he had baptized. This was important to Paul considering the division that existed in the church at Corinth at the time of Paul’s letter. Apparently there were some who were trying to give Paul and others credit for their conversion and being added to the church. He was making sure tha...

Psalm 77:20    "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." "We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."  Like sheep, we are prone to wandering off the beaten path. We see this or that and our desires are sometimes drawn away from that which is most important. But still the "rod and staff" of our wonderful Shepherd protects us and brings us back to the fold.    How are we led in "the paths of righteousness"? Is it not by the light from the lamp that shines and directs our paths? Isn't it by the Word of God? It is of the utmost importance that we, as God's people, maintain two things in our lives. We must stay in God's Word. If we begin to neglect reading the Bible, our lives will soon grow cold and stale. It is to our benefit that we have a daily routine of Bible reading. I call it a routine, but soon it becomes a part of us that we look forward to. The second thing that we must maintain is church a...

1 Corinthians 1:10-13     “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and   that   there be no divisions among you; but   that   ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them   which are of the house   of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Seeing that God has called us unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ (1Co 1:12), we should walk in  that  fellowship. This was apparently not the case with the Corinthians at the time of Paul’s writing, nor is it always the case with us today. Paul implored them by the authority and character (name) of Jesus Christ to be of...

Psalm 77:1-3  To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.   "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  (2)  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  (3)  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah." Psalm 77:9-12     "Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  (10)  And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  (11)  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  (12)  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." Do you ever have questions for God? We all do, don't we? Here's the tricky question: Have you ever questioned God?  My first response, and I'm sure your's also, is that I...