Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 16:12-14    “As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.” It seems apparent by the division that Paul had named among the brethren at Corinth that Apollos had been with them. Not only had he been with them, but he was very well thought of by some. This was clearly seen when Paul rebuked them because some said they were of Paul, others of Apollos, still others of Peter, and finally some of Christ (1Co 1:12). Knowing that Apollos was well respected among them, Paul had entreated him to go and visit the church at Corinth. It was not Apollos’ mind to go to them at the time of Paul’s choosing, which may be part of the reason why Paul spoke to them about receiving Timothy if he came. It would appear that Apollos wa...

Psalm 145:1-2     "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  (2)  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." Notice the "I will's" of these two verses: "I will extol thee. I will bless thy name. I will praise thy name." David seems to have been overcome in the moment by the attributes of God and His mercy toward us. David's commitment was to lift up the name of the Lord in every way and at all times. Isn't that a good commitment for us to make also? As I read through this Psalm, David lists some of the things that came into his heart as he made these commitments. I will list them by verses and ask that we all meditate upon them and make the same commitment as David. Verse 3:  "Great is the LORD." Verse 8:  "The LORD is gracious." Verse 9:  "The LORD is good to all." Verse 13: "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom." Verse 14: ...

1 Corinthians 16:8-11    “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.” As Paul relays his plans to the Corinthians to come and spend time with them, he further details his labor in the Lord. Here he shares that it is his intention to remain at Ephesus until the observance of Pentecost. He further outlines that this is not just some wish or whim on his part. There has been a mighty entrance (great door) opened for Paul at Ephesus. With the opening of this door, he has been granted a powerful witness to the Ephesians. Note that Paul did not say he had opened a great door, but rather that a great door had been opened unto him. As messengers of the gospe...

1 Corinthians 16:5-7    “Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.” As Paul works toward the conclusion of his letter, he seeks to assure the church at Corinth of his plan to come and see them. He did not leave the time of his arrival completely ambiguous. He told them he would come to them when he had passed through Macedonia, which was about 365 miles from Corinth. Considering that a day’s journey in Biblical times has been estimated to be twenty to twenty-five miles, it would take Paul about sixteen days assuming he traveled that distance every day. He did not intend for them to take his journey lightly or assume an “I may or may not attitude” about his coming. He let them know that they were his destination at t...

INTRODUCTION   Romans 11:33-36 are the concluding verses to the apostle’s doctrinal treatise; a treatise which commenced in Romans 1 and continued through Romans 11:32. The apostle expresses his amazement at God’s ways in a captivating doxological statement in verses 33 through verse 36,  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.  The term “doxology” comes from the Greek word doxologia, which means “giving glory.” As we read through it, we cannot help but to be impressed by Paul’s description of the glorious persona of God in all of His perfections. Scripture is much like an onion. It has many lay...