Devotional Thoughts

Hebrews 2:3-4    "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  (4)  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" We are not to neglect (turn away, ignore) the word "which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord." What is this word?  It is the good news, the Gospel, of unconditional love and eternal salvation through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Most of us have heard this message of salvation for all our lives, but can you imagine going into a place where the name of Jesus had never been heard?   Jesus commanded the disciples to "be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  Surely people had heard about Jesus for the most part in Jerusale...

Hebrews 2:3-4      "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" Where is your dependence?  Are you resting in your own ability? Are you trusting your ability to make right decisions? Are you placing your confidence in your ability to turn from the world?  When the pressure of guilt begins to come upon you, where do you go?  This is the question being asked by the writer? "How shall we escape" (flee from) our own guilt?  If we neglect the truth of God's sovereign grace, where can we flee for forgiveness and acceptance?  Are we thinking we can turn over a new leaf? Do we believe we can make amends and change the fact we are sinners before the righteous God? Let's say we can change ourselves...

Hebrews 2:1   "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." Anytime we see the word, "therefore," we should stop to look at previous verses to see why it's there for.  The books of the Bible were written as letters. Later, chapter and verse numbers were added for our convenience. I am thankful the divisions were added, but sometimes we lose the connection of what was written just previously. So for today's verse and today's "therefore", let us look back at the last verse of chapter one.  "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14) This verse is speaking of angels as being ministering spirits, or servants of the Lord. What do you think of when you vision an angel? If you are like most of us, we think of angelic beings robed in white with wings and they spend all their time just...

Hebrews 1:8    "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." We serve the risen Lord who is KING of kings and LORD of lords. He reigns and rules in His kingdom. We often hear these verses quoted.  "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11) Do we really stop to think about the meaning of these verses? What are we confessing when we bow to Him and confess Him to be Lord?  If I say it from my heart, then I am confessing Jesus Christ to be King of my life. I am confessing Him to be the authoritative Ruler of my life. His kingdom is now in force and full effect in my life. Each king has a scep...

1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us. While God’s nature is certainly beyond our full understanding, there are some aspects that we can grasp, because we are made in His image.  Having a mind and body as well as a spirit, we can relate to the Lord God for He is revealed in Three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These three know love as well as other aspects of what we commonly consider human emotions such as anger, sadness, happiness, etc.  However, if we are created in God’s image, then we gained the ability to express feelings due to our Creator’s work not our own.     When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, our understanding of God grew so much that many cannot accept it.  Indeed His ways have proven higher than our ways.  How could God be born?  Furthermore, who among us would give our only begotten child for sinful men?  Yet, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit miraculously for just this purpose. I suppose we may...

Hebrews 1:6    "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Christmas in July.... How often do we hear that? Today's passage of Scripture is fitting whether it be December, April, or July. "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And we know for certain that they do worship Him. They always have and they always will. Isaiah 6:3 describes angels as constantly singing, "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." That scene was described some 700 years before Jesus came into the world. Revelation 4:8 describes the same scene after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Christ. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." This is the ongoing purpose of the angels of heaven. They were created to praise and glorify the Lord. Our text speaks of one specific moment when the angels were cal...

Hebrews 1:3-4    "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  (4)  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." The writer is speaking of Jesus, the Son of God. He is the One Who has spoken to us in these last days. I think back to some of the very last words spoken by the prophet Malachi, who wrote the last book of the Old Testament. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." (Malachi 4:2)  The Sun of righteousness is indeed the very Son of God, Jesus the Christ. He is the very brightness of the glory of God. His brightness shone forth on the hillside the night He was born. "The glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." (Luke 2:9)  This...

Hebrews 1:1-2    "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" Except for the four hundred years between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God has always spoken to His people. He even spoke creation into existence. "Let there be light." He spoke to Adam: "The day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt die." He spoke to Cain: "the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10) He spoke to Noah in giving the instructions for building the ark. He spoke to Abraham when He called him out of the land of the Ur of Chaldees. He spoke to Moses: "I AM THAT I AM." Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to us by and through the prophets. He spoke to and through David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah...

John 21:15-17    "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 136:1)  Truly, God is good. Not only does His Word proclaim that, but each of our lives can boldly and loudly proclaim, "The LORD is good and His mercy endureth for ever." Peter certainly could, and did, proclaim th...

1 John 3:1 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. When John Newton penned the words to “Amazing Grace,” he wrote from experience.  Newton knew how wretched we are before God. We must be taught to fear God realize by God’s grace that our fears may be relieved by Christ.  Newton, the old minister and former slave ship captain, marvelled at the manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us and rightly so. The love of God is so staggering that we can (and indeed should) spend hours contemplating it.  It is amazing and mysterious. Not only are believers saved from their sins forever, they are adopted and made coheirs to the Kingdom of God with Christ.  How can this be? I do not know, but I rejoice in the thought. Despite my failures, despite my sins, God loves me beyond my understanding.  He may chastise me from time to time, but it is all ...

John 21:9-11   "As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (10) Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. (11) Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken." Peter and the other disciples had gone fishing, but caught nothing. Jesus gave them directions for success. They did as He told them and caught their net "full of great fishes." Then Jesus invited them to eat with Him. Jesus told them to bring their fishes, but when they arrived on the shore, He already had a fire with fish and bread laid thereon.  Where did the fish and bread come from?  I submit that Jesus does not need our help in any matter; yet, He allows us to participate as if it were by our ability. Even in catching fish, the disciples were the ones who cast the net, but Jesus was the one who provided....

John 21:4-6    "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.  (5)  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  (6)  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." The message given to the disciples was to go to Galilee and wait. Jesus would meet them there for their final instructions. While they were waiting, Peter decided to do some fishing. "Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee." (John 21:3)  In these words, I see a responsibility toward others. Jesus did not tell them to go fishing. I don't read that He told them not to go fishing. But He did tell them to wait. Why do I say the word "responsibility"?  All the others were followers as soon as Peter said, I'm going fishing. ...

John 20:30-31    "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." John 21:25    "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."  1 John 5:13    "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."   Aren't you thankful for God's mercy in leaving us this beautifully written record of the life and works of our Lord Jesus?  Today I combine a few different verses concerning the written Word of God.  Can you imagine what this world would be like if ...

John 20:24-26    "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  (25)  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  (26)  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." He wanted to experience this glory for himself. He could not be absolute in his belief until he also saw. We see Jesus in His mercy and compassion coming the second time to the disciples. But this time, He came specifically for Thomas. What were the first words He spoke?  "P...

1 John 4:10 – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Do you love God?  I hope so. This is the greatest commandment of all.  However, our efforts to love God do not define or set the standard of love for others.  This is a good thing for we often fail in our efforts to love God properly. However, He is never lax in loving us. This is the amazing thing.  God’s love for His children is unconditional.  While His felt presence may wax and wain due to our sins, God’s love is constant and faithful no matter how badly we may disappoint Him.   No less than the Son of God, Jesus, was given to settle the matter of love once and for all time.  His propitiation or atonement for sins upon the cross was final, and God needs no other. Justice has been met.  Love wins truly. Herein is love.  God loved us when we were unlovable and did the unthinkable to show it.  Love was shown m...

John 20:22-23    "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  (23)  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." "He breathed on them, and saith, Receive ye the Holy Ghost."  This was not regeneration for them. They were already children of God.  I sometimes tend to forget these disciples were just men. They were human like you and me. But in this passage there is a power given to them that would be very necessary in the days to come.  Fifty days after Christ's resurrection would come the day of Pentecost. We know what took place there, but let me just give a quick reminder.  "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they ...

John 20:20    "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord." Today, I join an Old Testament verse with this passage from John.  "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6) Jesus came to the room where the disciples had huddled together. They were still in fear for their lives.  Jesus came and stood in their midst, speaking peace into their hearts. Then He showed them His hands and side. They clearly saw the wounds from the nails and the wide open wound from the sword that had pierced Him. "Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."   Words seem to fail me as I sit here thinking about this scene.  I think back to earlier that day when Jesus spoke Mary's name. Instantly she went from fear and confusion to complete peace. Her heart went from ...

John 20:19    "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."   Many things take place in this time when Jesus came to ten of the disciples. We will see that Thomas was not in this room at the time Jesus first appeared to the disciples. We will take one at a time to see what Jesus did for His disciples. The first thing Jesus did was to speak peace into their hearts. He had told them on more than one occasion that He would rise from the dead; yet, to see Him now must have been somewhat of a shock to them. In John chapter 6, we see the account of Jesus walking on the water. Here is how John describes that sighting of Jesus as He approached them. "So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. ...

John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments. While we often associate love with feelings and relationships, this is not enough.  If our love is only as deep as our emotions, then tomorrow it may die. Such love is not worthy of Christ.  He gave His precious life for us. It is the least we can do to endeavor to obey His commandments. This is the essence of love, it is a living devotion to your beloved. Christ said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Because they were given out of love for us, Jesus’ commandments are not grievous.  All of Christ’s words were given to improve our condition. Even the harsh words of Christ were honed to cut away our pride and self-righteousness before our Holy Father in Heaven. May the Lord bless you to have an obedient heart and a love for His commandments.  His words are life.

John 20:15-16    "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." Mary went to the tomb expecting to see Jesus' body.  The stone was rolled away. The body was not there. What happened? Where had they taken Him?  Peter and John came, looked in, affirmed the tomb to be empty, and then went home. As Mary was looking into the tomb, it seems she was hoping the body of Jesus would somehow reappear. When she looked back into the tomb, she saw two angels sitting. "And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." (John 20:13) When she turned back around, she saw Jesus but thought Him to be a garde...

John 20:1   "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to use their own individual abilities in wording the Bible. And it seems the Holy Spirit enabled each man to share his views and the things which captivated his individual attention. Most of the other writers gave great detail in how the stone was rolled away by the angel. One writer stressed the angel sitting on top of the stone after he rolled it away. Some gave attention to the conversation between the angel and the women. Some mentioned there were more than one who came to the tomb that morning. John was moved by the events that took place with this one woman, Mary Magdalene. He seemed to appreciate the fact that she came to Peter and to him with the news that Jesus' body was no longer in the grave. As I read this one verse of Scripture, I am reminded the Bible is...