Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 126:5-6    "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  (6)  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Have you ever felt like throwing up your hands and saying, "I quit!" Have you ever thought that your work was not doing any good at all? "What's the use in this? Nothing is going to happen! Why should I even continue?"  If you have ever felt like any of those things, then you know that it can be very detrimental to your emotions. But we have a promise from God in our verses today that if we are faithful in our work for Him, there are blessings to be experienced. I'm not a farmer by any stretch of the imagination, but I remember times when I would sow grass seed on a barren part of the yard. I would water and watch! Water and watch! If it didn't come up when I thought it was supposed to germinate, then I would sow more seed and water and watch. Somet...

1 Corinthians 13:11-13    “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” In previous verses, Paul has spoken about things that we have here “in part.” God, in His wisdom, has shown to us a measure of who He is. In the flesh, we are not able to fully grasp His judgment, mercy, grace, and love. He gives us faith sufficient to have great hope in Him for our salvation. As natural children, we had to learn to speak. Those of us who have been blessed to spend time around little ones can call to mind things they have said that still brings a smile to our face. There is a joy in hearing little ones learn to speak and a sweet innocence in the way they express things. Their co...

Psalm 125:1-2    "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.  (2)  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever." I urge each of us to read these verses and let the truth of them sink deep inside us. When you read the concluding verses of this Psalm, you can see that if we turn away from the Lord, we open ourselves to the wiles of Satan and the consequences of such actions. But in these verses, God is promising us security and safety. He is promising His holy and divine presence with us as we go through life. God is leading us to the place where our absolute confidence is in Him. We are to lean heavily upon Him in all our ways whether it be making decisions in life or whatever the situation. Our only stability is found in the Lord. Jesus Christ is the Rock of all ages. He is the only One who can satisfy the hunger inside us. We may go from place ...

1 Corinthians 13:8-10    “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” In a world where there is failure all around us, this should be a source of great joy and comfort to God’s people. Regardless of what else is falling apart, the love of Christ never fails. Even when we do not understand why things are happening as they do, we can rest assured in the steadfastness of God’s charity toward His children. We should never look at things that fail in any sense of the word and equate those things with the charity of God which we receive from Him and are able to share with others. Prophecies may fail, but that is not due to any failure in Christ. On the contrary, true prophecies fail (end) in the sense that they become fulfil...

Psalm 124:6-8     "Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.  (7)  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.  (8)  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." "Blessed be the LORD." That sentence stands on its own merit. No matter the situation in my life, the Lord is blessed and holy and righteous and pure. There is no spot or blemish in Him or any of His actions. If I can understand that great truth, then I am truly blessed to realize that out of that holiness, God chooses to deal mercifully with me. His mercy does not make Him more righteous. His blessings upon me does not make Him more holy. His goodness and gentleness toward me does not make Him more pure. He is all that and has chosen to reveal those qualities and blessings unto me; therefore, I am to be receptive and reflective of His holiness. How many times have you heard this said...