Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 118:8-9    "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (9)  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." The words, "It is better," are written twice in these verses. I'm of the generation that looked forward each year to the Sears, Roebuck Catalog. I especially looked forward to wearing out the Christmas Catalog by turning the pages so many times. I bring that in because Sears had three levels of products that were sold - "Good, Better, and Best". Each one was supposed to be a little more reliable than the other. God's way of seeing things is quite the opposite. Psalm 39:5 tells us that "... every man at his BEST state is altogether vanity. Selah." The word, "better," as used in today's verse is looking from man's viewpoint, meaning we are prone to look for help in places that are not so good. But the word, "good," is used when we are told of God's good...

1 Corinthians 10:1-5    “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” In chapter nine, Paul spoke to the Corinthians about how that all who were in a race ran but not all were triumphant. He now makes an application of this concerning the fathers who came up out of Egypt. While they were not “fathers” to the Gentiles among the Corinthian brethren in a genealogical sense (as they were to the Jewish brethren), they were still fathers from the standpoint of having the commandments and promises of God delivered unto them. Paul again emphasizes his kinship ...

Psalm 117:1-2    "O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.  (2)  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD." Years ago, a preacher friend of mine felt like the congregation was not listening to his messages. He decided to preach the same sermon until someone noticed. After preaching that same message for four Sundays, a man came up to him and said, "Preacher, I think that is the best sermon I've ever heard." He replied, "I'm glad someone finally heard it."  In that vein of thought, I believe this is the third time that I have tried to write devotions on the book of the Psalms and this is the first time that I have actually noticed the vast number of times that we are told to "Praise the Lord." I think I can hear the Lord saying to me, "I'm glad you finally heard it." The original word for praise means to to be clear in sound, to shine,...

1 Corinthians 9:24-27     “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they   do it   to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring   it   into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Public games were a big deal in Paul’s day, just as they are today. Men strove to be champions in running and fighting to prove their prowess and to receive a crown of plaited branches or vines. This was something the Corinthians would be very familiar with, and possibly involved in. As such, they would certainly know that all who aspired to win the prize had to run. There was no prize for just showing up on race day. No one was goi...

Psalm 116:1-7    "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (2)  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. (3)  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (4)  Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (5)  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (6)  The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. (7)  Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee." I used more Scripture than usual this morning. There are 19 verses in this Psalm where the Psalmist is explaining why he loves the Lord. I'm sure that if each of us listed our reasons, the entire Bible would not be able to contain them all. In fact, the entire world would not be able to contain all of them. As I read these 7 verses, my mind went in tw...