Devotional Thoughts

1  Corinthians 1:22-25     “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” The Jews require a sign (Mar 8:11, Joh 6:30). Even though Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets, God’s chosen people under the law were blinded to it. They had determined for themselves that the Messiah would certainly come in a manner that would elevate the Jews above other men. This carpenter’s son did not fit their ideal of what Israel’s King should look like or do. The Greeks were wrapped up in hearing new things (Act 17:21). They greatly desired the wisdom of men. The doctrine that Paul came preaching intrigued them. However, the notion of a man who had been ki...

Psalm 79:9    "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Psalm 79:13      "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations."   I will let each one that reads this come to their own conclusion as to our reason for asking God's help. I read verse 9 and I admit I have mixed feelings. I'm guilty of asking for help for my own benefit. "Help me Lord so that I....." The writer of this Psalm sees a higher and holier reason for asking for help. What was his reason? First of all, he was needing help "... For the glory of THY name." Lord, I want to glorify your holy name, but I need your help that I might lift up the precious name of Jesus. "Please deliver me and forgive me for thy name's sake." Help me, Lord, that I will not bring reproach upon your name. You see, his reque...

1  Corinthians 1:20-21     “Where   is   the wise? where   is   the scribe? where   is   the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Paul, in verse nineteen, has called attention to the word of God in the scriptures (Isa 29:14) that He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and negate the understanding of the prudent. He then calls on the church to examine this truth against their thoughts and actions. This is something we often fail to do today. When we hear men begin to speak with what seems to be great wisdom, we need to stop and consider where they are. It is not their physical location, but the mental, moral, and spiritual terrain we need to be aware of. We have a responsibility to consider this wisdom in the light of God’s teaching. If that wisdom is ...

Psalm 78:4     "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." I realize I used this passage yesterday, but my mind is drawn back to it this morning. I understand this had a primary purpose for the people of Israel in that the writer revisits the "wonderful works" that God did for the people of Israel in bringing them out of bondage. He refers to many miracles that were done in their great deliverance. Let's be reminded of some of the things he mentioned. In verse 13, "He divided the sea." In verse 14, "He led them with the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night." In verse 15, He "clave the rocks to provide rivers of water for the people." In spite of all His wonderful works, the people still doubted and murmured and complained while traveling. In verse 19, we see them questioning the ability of God: ...

Introduction   The Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome is, without question, his most sterling effort at setting forth the doctrines of God, especially the doctrine of justification by faith alone. As the apostle introduces himself and praises the saints of Rome, he proceeds to give them the reason for his writing. First, he thanks God through Christ “that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8); second, that he has a tremendous desire to come by the will of God to visit them personally, but he notes in verse 13 that his coming to them had been hindered in his desire to visit them; third, that he “might impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me” (vss. 11-12); lastly, and most importantly, the apostle emphasizes his desire to “preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also” (Romans 1:15).  This brings us to the focal point of th...