Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 9:19-23    “For though I be free from all   men,   yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all   men,   that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with   you. ” Paul makes it clear in all of his letters that he is not under bondage to any man or any system of men anywhere. He is the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ and none other. Yet he here confesses that he has willingly become a servant to all types of people that he might have the opportunity to share t...

Psalm 115:1-3     "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.  (2)  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?  (3)  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." We find instances throughout the Bible where individuals have tried to claim glory for themselves. Let me just say, it didn't work out very well for them. The Lord speaks to us through the Prophet Isaiah, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8) Yet, men still try to lift themselves up before others. The Psalmist was made to see that there is only One True and Living God. Jesus tells us that eternal life is this: "... that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) You and I know this is true; yet, there are still numerous people on the earth who question ...

1 Corinthians 9:16-18     “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation   of the gospel   is committed unto me. What is my reward then?   Verily   that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” To be able to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is a wonderful thing! There is a joy in sharing the truth of the love and commandments of God that words cannot describe. It is both encouraging and humbling to be thought of as “a good preacher” among His saints, and there is a sweet fellowship between those that declare the gospel and those that hear the gospel. Being a true preacher of the gospel is not something we have any reason to boast about. It is not a career choice or a profession even tho...

Psalm 114:1-8    "When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;  (2)  Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.  (3)  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.  (4)  The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.  (5)  What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?  (6)  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?  (7)  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;  (8)  Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters." Do you ever read something in the Bible and say, "Wow, that was incredible!" When I say that, I have to ask myself - "Just what was incredible about it? One instance that comes to mind is when Israel was trapped and suddenly the Red Sea parted. That was incredible, wasn't i...