Devotional Thoughts

Ephesians 2:4-7     “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” In the first three verses of this chapter, Paul has described to us our wretched condition. He has assured us that we were children of wrath even as others. We were in no condition to do anything for ourselves to improve our situation. In the fourth verse, he begins by penning two of the most important words a sinner will ever read or hear; “But God.” Our entire situation is about to undergo a miraculous change. We were unable to help ourselves,  but God  is rich in mercy. He has an abundance to draw from. His mercy is such that it is new to us ever...

Isaiah 53:4-6      "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (6)  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Be certain that every word of the Bible is important, but notice the first word of verse 4: "SURELY he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows..."  There can be absolute peace when God says something is sure or certain. In our verses, something has surely happened and nothing can change it. Surely, or most certainly, the servant of God (Isaiah 42:1 and 52:13) has done something for us that we could not do. That which brings grief and sorrow into our hearts was laid upon Him. What is it in our lives that ...

Ephesians 2:1-3     “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Paul has spoken in the closing verses of chapter one about the mighty power of God that raised Jesus from the dead. Now he says to us who make up the body of Christ here that we have first-hand knowledge of this same power. We were dead (Thayer definition: destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God). We were physically animated beings without any ability to see the things of God or any desire to do the things of God. It was not in us to desire any change in that condition. The power that raise...

Isaiah 53:3      "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Think for a moment: Jesus was the only perfect One to ever walk on this earth. We cannot fully grasp that great truth. There was no sin in Him. He was not born with the sin nature as every other person. The only other person who was not BORN with the sin nature was Adam, but that perfection did not last long. The perfect nature of his clay was marred by his transgression in the Garden of Eden. Jesus walked in that perfection. Peter wrote of Jesus that He "... did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth."  Pilate's wife said of Jesus, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man..." (Matthew 27:19)  Even Judas witnessed, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." (Matthew 27:4) Why am I stressing these things? I'm glad you aske...