Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 3:20-23     “And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ   is   God’s.” God uses the worldly wisdom of man to ensnare him in his own trap (Job 5:13, 1Co 3:19). In the same way, He knows the thoughts of those who consider themselves wise in this world’s wisdom. He knows those thoughts and He knows them to be empty (vain). There is no profit in worldly wisdom. Man’s wisdom did not create the world. Man’s wisdom did not establish laws of righteousness. Man’s wisdom did not see the need we would have for a Savior before the world was made. Man’s wisdom is bound by time; it did not exist before man and will not remain after he is gone. Only the wisdom of God can claim to be from everlasting to eve...

2 Timothy 4:2   “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”  “Preach the Word!” This is the plea of the Apostle Paul given to Timothy, a pastor and beloved by Paul as a fellow laborer in the word. Well, this admonition is stronger than a plea, isn’t it? It is more on the lines of a directive, a command. Preach the Word! This is a special passage to me for two reasons. The first reason is because this is the primary task for which God called me to do. This is the primary task for all who are called into the ministry as an Elder. In the book of Acts, the apostles called for men to be selected to take care of the physical needs of widows so the Apostles could give their attention to the ministry of the word of God - “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom...

1  Corinthians 3:18-19     “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” Deception seems to be a way of life. There are so-called leaders in the world that daily try to make people believe that evil is good and unrighteousness is just. There are religions that teach Christ in a way that portrays Him as being inadequate to finish the work He came to do. Retailers deceive us every day with advertisements that are overstated and sale prices that supposedly are saving us thousands of dollars. However, the worst deceptions are the ones we sell ourselves on. Self-deception was at work in the garden. Even though the Serpent beguiled Eve and she took the forbidden fruit to Adam, they deceived themselves. They convinced themselves that God did not really mean they were going...

Psalm 90:10-12    "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  (11)  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.  (12)  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." "Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath." As I pondered this question this morning, I'm thankful that I do not know the "power of thine anger." I'm thankful that, by the grace of God, I will never know the power of His anger and wrath. We may think that we are experiencing the anger of God, but we saw back in Psalm 85:2-3, "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger." Yes, the anger of H...

1 Corinthian 3:16-17    “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and   that   the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which   temple   ye are.” Although Paul phrases verse sixteen in the form of a question, there is a plain statement of fact couched there; you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God lives in you. This should touch us both with great reverence and great amazement. It should serve as a reminder of Jesus’ promise that He and His Father would make their abode (dwell) with us (Joh 14:23). A temple is a place that is dedicated to the worship of a deity. In our case, our temple is not dedicated to just any deity, but to the True and Living God. As a collective church body and as individuals within that body, we are the temple of God. We are the temple of God because He has “built” us to be so (1Co 3:6). He has saved us and called us with a holy callin...