Devotional Thoughts

Matthew 3:1-4    "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey."  The Greek word translated here as “came,” carried the idea “to have arrived (See Strong’s).” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary in part describes the word “arrived” to mean “to gain or compass by effort, practice, study, enquiry, reasoning or experiment.” My point is simply this: John the Baptist did not “just happen” to show up in the wilderness of Judaea when he did. God’s purpose was being fulfilled in John’s coming. Isaiah (who was called in the Greek, Esaias) prophesied of the coming of John the Baptist (Isaia...

Comfort Food, you have heard that phrase before. It is a phrase you may intuitively know what it is, but it is one that may be difficult to give a good definition. I came across this definition I thought was rather good. It is, “food associated with emotional comfort, familiarity, and a sense of well-being, often connected to home, family, or positive memories.  That is a good understanding of what “comfort food” is, don’t you agree? Well from a spiritual perspective, would not it be appropriate to think of this much beloved Psalm as the believer’s “comfort food” for their souls. For it has fed the souls of countless numbers of God’s people through the ages. It is connected to the Christians true home, his true family, and the positive memories of it continue to be a source of encouragement. This is especially so for those who have gone through the hardest and darkest of times. One of the hardest and darkest of times is the death of a loved one. Psalm 23 has been the most popular p...

Ephesians 1:3   "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" Let your mind dwell on the first part of this verse. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is a true statement and stands on its own strength. No matter what the situation in my life, "God is blessed." In my highest point of joy and gladness, I can heartily say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." But also in my lowest point, I should also say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is a part of the action of praising our God. We saw several weeks of being reminded that we are to constantly praise our Lord. As long as we have breath, we are to praise Him and declare boldly His blessedness. "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  (2)  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not...

Matthew 2:19-23     "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.  And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Herod sought to kill Jesus from the moment he heard that He had been born. Even though this great event happened practically under his nose, Herod had no idea concerning Jesus’s birth or the time it occurred. In his desire to destroy the very Truth of God, Herod ...

Matthew 2:12-15     "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." Many times in life, we are warned of God. Thayer’s Greek definitions interprets “warned of God” as meaning “to give divine command or admonition.” Sometimes that warning comes from the Scriptures. Other times, it may come as that still, small voice that whispers in our hearts to do (or not do) a thing, or, as in ...