Devotional Thoughts

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...

Psalm 90:9-12    "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  (10)  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." I can tell these verses are going to demand more than one day, so bear with me the next few days as I try to share my thoughts. There is so much to consider while reading these four verses. "All our days are passed away in thy wrath." Before I say anything about this, I remind myself of the inspired Word of God written by the Apostle Paul: "... being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:9)  I think of his further thoughts in Romans...

1  Corinthians 3:12-15    “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” In the verses immediately prior to verse twelve, we have been assured that there is only one foundation; Jesus Christ. He is not a foundation established by men but by God. This holy foundation exists for the building of God’s house and everything under consideration here is taking place on this One Foundation. Paul’s remarks are being directed to “the church of God (1Co 1:2).” While the letter specifically names the church at Corinth, the salutation goes on to include “them that are san...

1  Corinthians 3:8-11    “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry,   ye are   God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” There is unity in the Spirit (Eph 4:1-6) that surpasses anything mankind could ever accomplish on his own. It is in our nature to want to stand out and be recognized as a leader; to be esteemed as someone worthy of honor. School, sports, and work environments all teach us to desire to excel for our own sakes. We desire to be valued above our peers. Unfortunately, this attitude can invade even ministers of the gospel and the church. Paul addressed the fact ...