Devotional Thoughts

Romans 8:22-25    “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only   they,   but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption,   to wit,   the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not,   then   do we with patience wait for   it. ” In verse twenty-one, Paul speaks of the creature (original formation – see Strong’s) being delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. It is obvious (we know) that the whole creation groans and labors in pain together. We see the effects of sin every day in ourselves and the world around us. It is apparent in the hatred in men’s hearts, the holier than thou attitude all around us, the rampant greed t...

Psalm 79:13    "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations." I am trying to focus on the subject of Thanksgiving, or giving thanks unto the Lord. I know I am skipping around in the Scriptures while searching for verses to think about. At some point, we will come back to this 79th Psalm, but today I want to think about the context of this 13th verse. While reading through this Psalm, I see that the writer refers to their enemies as heathens and the fact that they had intruded into places that to that point had been reserved for the Lord's people. Things like this do not happen overnight. Satan is very patient in his tactics to try to overcome. Sometimes, he draws people away over a period of generations while other times he has been able to do it in one single generation. However long it requires, Satan is willing to wait until he thinks the time is right to jump into action. As I read this Psa...

Romans 8:18-21     “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time   are   not worthy   to be compared   with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected   the same   in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Sometimes, when we are in the midst of trouble, it seems that trouble is all we can see. Our sufferings loom so large before us that we begin to feel that our only reason for being is to suffer in one way or another. Our tribulations drown out the joy and peace in our lives. When we find ourselves in this condition we need to stop and reckon. The Greek word translated as “reckon” means “to take an inventory” according to Strong’s...

Romans 8:15-17     “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with   him,   that we may be also glorified together.” Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God (Romans 8:14). As a result of this truth, we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear. The Greek word translated as “not” in this instance is “the absolutely negative adverb” according to Strong’s dictionary. We absolutely have not taken hold of (received) the spirit of bondage again to fear. Again, Strong’s is absolutely clear that the word translated as received here does NOT mean “to have something offered.” While all mortal descriptions are flimsy when speaking of the things of God, ...

Psalm 136:1    "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." These words are repeated seven times in the book of the Psalms. The number, 7, is the complete number which tells me that God's mercy is perfect. His mercy is the characteristic that activates all other actions toward us. Seven times we are told that His mercy never fails. Jeremiah writes in the book of Lamentations that His mercies are new every morning. His compassion fails not. "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:23) We are entering the week that is set aside as a time of giving Thanks unto the Lord. I know some have been listing things they are thankful for since the beginning of the month, but especially this week, I want to take time every day to give thanks unto the Lord. Yes, I know every day is a day to give thanks, but can we give a concerted effort this week to express His goodness and mercy and how much it means to us? I...

Psalm 100:4-5    "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Today, I pray as families are gathered together that we will stop to enter into the gates of our Lord with thanksgiving. As we seek to go farther, may our hearts be filled with praise as we enter into the beauty of His courts that are adorned with mercy and grace and are better than gold or silver. May God accept our praise and gratitude.

Romans 8:12-14    “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” In verse eleven, Paul tells us that the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in us. Not only does that Spirit dwell in us, but it quickens these mortal bodies. The scripture plainly tells us that in the final resurrection this mortal will put on immortality. Our mortal bodies are changed to immortal; it is not just the quickening of these mortal bodies. The present indwelling of the Spirit quickens these mortal bodies that we live in here. We are quickened (given vitality) to live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a spiritual house of God built up of lively (quickened) stones. We are sure of the resurrection because we know who the resurrection is...

Psalm 42:3-5    "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?  (4)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.  (5)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." "Where is thy God?"  How many times have we heard that question? Where is God when all this is happening? Why didn't God prevent such a catastrophe? If God is so full of love, why did He allow this to happen? The question takes on many forms and we hear it quite often. I try not to allow my mind to dwell on these things because there is no answer that we can give that will satisfy those who are looking to criticize God. David had been placed in a position where people were asking him this...

Romans 8:9-11     “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ   be   in you, the body   is   dead because of sin; but the Spirit   is   life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Sometimes we need to be reminded of who the audience is for these writings. Paul addresses this particular work to those who are “beloved of God, called to be saints (Romans 1:7).” The Holy Scripture was written to the children of God about the things of God that affect them. God’s word will only have meaning to those who have the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in the eighth verse that if we are living according to the flesh we cannot please God. Once the Spi...

Psalm 42:1-2    To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.   "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" I'll tell you my age now. I'm thinking of a hot summer day and I have been playing outside. I was hot, sweaty, and thirsty. Where was I going to get a drink of water? Ahh... Yes, there it is - the water hose !!  Nothing was better than turning on the water, letting it run for a moment, and then drinking from that hose like there was nothing else!  There is such a wonderful feeling when your thirst is quenched by cold water. Soft drinks, tea, and energy  drinks may offer a momentary satisfaction, but ONLY water can satisfy that deep thirst. Likewise, there is a thirst inside every one of us that needs to be quenched. Large corporations spend trillions of dollars every year trying to persuade the publ...

Romans 8:5-8    “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” It should be fairly apparent, and yet this seems to be an idea that we struggle with. When we are concerned about natural things (job, rank, power, etc.), our thoughts are going to be on the carnal. This is not to say that we should not be determined to do our very best in life. However, it does tell us where our focus concerning these things should be.   If we aim to be the very best employee, it should be with the view that this honors God. As ministers, we desire to be recognized as faithful servants. Seeking this recognition so that men might honor us is carnal (of the flesh). Des...

Psalm 41:13    "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." There can be no doubt that we live in a busy world. Sometimes it seems the "busy"ness has crowded out a lot of things that matter most of all. We don't seem to have time to just sit and talk. When was the last time you sat on the porch and watched the world go by? When was the last time you were in a conversation without someone reaching for their phone? We have allowed things to take the place of true fellowship with one another. If you are wondering where I am going with all this, then join the crowd. I'm not sure myself. I may be taking this time to just allow myself to ramble for a few moments. But somewhere in all the thoughts that are swirling in my brain, I hear the still soft voice of the Holy Spirit asking, "When was the last time you just sat and had fellowship with me?"  Ouch!  That hurt! When was the last time that I sat in stillness...

Joel 2:21-27   (21) Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. (22) Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. (23) Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (24) And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. (25) And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (26) And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. (27) And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that ...

Romans 7:22-25     “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Only a sinner who has tasted that the Lord is gracious can have fellowship with Paul’s statement in verse 22. I delight (rejoice within myself – see Strong’s) in the law of God, not carnally but spiritually. My flesh is still sinful, but the man of God within me loves the spiritual law of God. However, to delight in the law of God after the inward man also reveals (causes us to see) the depravity of the carnal nature. There is a law in our members (in our flesh) that fights against the understanding of the inward man. No liberty exists i...

Psalm 40:16    "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified." Do you ever feel like something is missing? Oftentimes in our travels, we get in the car and say, "I feel like I'm forgetting something." Thankfully, there is always a Walmart or a Dollar General Store close enough that if we do forget, then we can easily replace most things. But as we are traveling, our minds are seeking to remember what it is we have forgotten. David tells us in today's verse, "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee." In these words is the promise that when we seek for the Lord, He will be found. We read in Jeremiah 29:13, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Just prior to these words, the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah in verse 10, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, though...

Romans 7:18-21     "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but   how   to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” It is often difficult for us to admit that we do not have any good in and of ourselves that we can claim. Simply put, sin is condemned in the flesh (Romans 8:3) and that is certainly not “good”. At the same time, to be able to see (know) that nothing good dwells in our flesh is a blessing. We only come to this knowledge after God has begun a work in us. God’s grace enlightens us to the truth that no good thing dwells within our flesh. Only then do we discover that there is a will in us to want to do good. Even though the determination (will...

Psalm 40:5    "Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away now. Today's thoughts will be an exercise of giving thanks unto the Lord. We sing the song, Count Your Blessings: When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. My first thought is that it is impossible to count our blessings. David acknowledged that in this verse by saying, "... if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." That is the absolute truth; yet, we should have a heart that is filled with gratitude every single day. The works of the Lord  are wonderful and they are numerous. His thoughts tow...

Romans 7:14-17     “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that   it is   good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Paul has described in this chapter how the law makes sin apparent in us. He has gone to great lengths to instruct us that the problem is not the law: the law is good. The problem is carnal man: carnal man is not good. While we should be thankful that we are no longer bound under the law, we need to remember that the law was given by God for our good. In keeping with this line of thought, Paul tells us that the law is spiritual. The scripture tells us that God is a Spirit, and if we worship Him it must be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). It stands to reason that if God is a Spirit and He gave us the law, then the law ...

Psalm 40:1-3    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.   "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  (3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." Yesterday we talked about the need for repentance and the fact that God grants us the desire and ability to repent. When I was young, my mother would tell me to sit and think about what I had done. Those moments were the most miserable times, but it gave me time to realize I was wrong and needed to apologize and try to do better.  In today's passages, we see David had repented and now he was waiting for the joy of the Lord to return. "I waited patiently."  Now, just how hard is that to do? But it is in those waiting times, that we are to think back on t...

Romans 7:10-13     “And the commandment, which   was ordained   to life, I found   to be   unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew   me.  Wherefore the law   is   holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” God’s law was given for us to live by. It was set apart for that very purpose. The very first commandment that God gave to Adam was in order that Adam might live. Like Adam, when we transgress against God’s law, we find the pronouncement of death waiting for us. The Greek word translated as “commandment” carries with it the idea of a “prescription.” The basic definition of prescription is something that is to be carried out according to a specific set of rules. When we thin...