Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 10:14-17     “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” In the verses immediately preceding these, Paul has described how Israel transgressed and many fell due to following after idols and murmuring against God. He furthered cautioned those that were sure they were well established to consider the example of Israel lest they should fall in a similar fashion. Paul’s admonition in verse fourteen is given as the result of serious consideration to the examples God has left for us all. Seeing the example of natural Israel laid before us, Paul tells us to flee from idolatry. He uses his deep love (“my dearly beloved”) to call for their attention. When we call for ...

Psalm 118:24    "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." In Genesis chapter 1, we read that God said on the first day, "Let there be light." That was the day the Lord made. We read of many days in the Word of God when He showed Himself strong on behalf of His people. There was the day God sent rain upon the earth. There was a day when God parted the waters of the Red Sea. There was a day when He caused the sun to stand still for the people to fight their battle in the daylight. Another day, He caused the sun to go backwards. There was a day when His only begotten Son was born of a virgin. All those days are very important to us as we seek to bolster our faith through the Word of God. But there was a very special day that God made for us. "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will...

1 Corinthians 10:10-13    “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it .” How often do we stop to be thankful for the simple blessings of God in our lives? Instead of thanking God that He sends us the preaching of His word, we wish the vessel He sent would hurry and finish. After all, we are going to miss kick-off at the very best we can do. Rather than thank God for the hymns or praise and adoration that are sung, we murmur that they never sing the song we like; or maybe it’s that they sing the sa...

Psalm 118:10-14    "All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.  (11)  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  (12)  They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  (13)  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.  (14)  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation." I want my words this morning to be directed directly into our hearts, minds, and circumstances. Have you ever felt like the world was against you? Or, have you ever felt like every way you turned was a dead end and there was no way out? Have you ever felt all alone and then your mind began having thoughts that took you into an even darker place? Have you ever felt like nothing was going right and your life was in a downward spiral? Or maybe, you let yours...

1 Corinthians 10:6-9    “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as   were   some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” Paul has just told the brethren about the journeying of the fathers in the wilderness. He reminded them (and us) that they all ate the same spiritual meat. They all drank the same spiritual water from the Rock, which was Christ. Yet, because they did not believe God in all things, many of them died in the wilderness having never received the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. All these things were left for us as examples or models of how we should  not  behave before our God. ...