Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 5:3-5     “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Although necessity had dictated that Paul physically move on from Corinth, the church there was obviously still much in his thoughts and prayers. Even as pastors today, when the Lord sees fit to move us from one congregation to another we never completely lose some feeling of attachment and spiritual responsibility for each congregation. By God’s grace, Paul was still sufficiently attuned to the Corinthian brethren that he was confident in the matter before him. Paul’s judgement was not only aimed at the man guilty of fornication. He was very concerned wit...

1 Corinthians 5:1     “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” Up until this point, Paul has been dealing with a division among the brethren. This division is one that comes from putting men before God. It does not matter that the men themselves were godly and called of God to minister. Men are never to be honored for that which comes from God: the glory is His alone. While on the one hand they had all this division going on, there was something else taking place in which there seemed to be no great division. Not only was there no division, but there was no real concern over the situation. The situation was a matter of fornication, and fornication to an extent that was unheard of among those that were considered unbelievers an...

Psalm 94:22   "But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge." Life is filled with struggles from the time of birth until the last breath that we take on this earth. Sometimes we struggle physically whether it be arthritis, bursitis, or one of the other "itis" brothers. Sometimes we struggle emotionally whether it be because of our own weakness or something that another has done to us. Sometimes we struggle spiritually because of sin in our lives. But the truth of the matter is that we all have our struggles with which we must deal. Psalm 94 is an example of the writer expressing himself from the depth of his struggle. Earlier in the Psalm, we see him asking the question, "How long, O Lord?" Then we see him being specific in some of the things that troubled him and when we read them, we can identify with his questions. "LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things...

1 Corinthians 4:18-21     “Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God   is   not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and   in   the spirit of meekness?” Paul demonstrated an intimate knowledge of the children he had begotten through the gospel. Apparently, those that laid claim to Apollos or Peter felt a certain vindication that Paul had written this letter and sent it with Timothy, but had not come himself. They were boastful in their conceit that Paul was not really concerned with them and would not come to exercise any authority. Here Paul lays that notion to rest. As at other times, Paul makes recognition of the fact that his will in this matter was not primary. We never want to fall into a pattern of saying “the Lord willing” ...

Psalm 93:1-5    "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.  (2)  Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.  (3)  The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.  (4)  The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.  (5)  Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever." I read these five verses and my mind begins to go in many different directions. It seems to always come back to the place where I ask myself, "How high do I esteem the Lord, my God?" What thoughts go through my mind when I think of God? How often do I think of Him? Do I think of Him as being the One I can always go to when I am in trouble? There's nothing wrong with that line of thinking u...

1 Corinthians 4:14-17     “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn   you.  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet   have ye   not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” During times of correction, it is easy to lose sight of the love and sacrifice being shown to us. Our feelings are hurt because someone we hold in esteem is finding fault with our behavior. It is unsettling and often embarrassing to us. We may even find ourselves harboring feelings of resentment toward the one doing the correcting. Paul is careful to assure us that his correction is not meant to shame us or belittle us. He calls this a warning, a...