Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 84:1-4  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  (2)  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  (3)  Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  (4)  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah." There has been an empty place within mankind from the time of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. Because of sin, we were separated from fellowship with God our Creator, our Heavenly Father. That separation left a void within us and humanity is constantly trying to find something to fill that empty place within us. Verse 2 begins with three words that describe this empty place: "My soul longeth...."  People go from place to place trying this, that,...

1 Corinthians 1:30-31     “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” In verse twenty-seven Paul begins a statement about God that ends in verse twenty-nine. God is the “him” that Paul is referencing again in verse thirty. We are in Christ  of  Him (God). The Greek word (ek) translated as “of,” according to Strong’s, denotes “origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds).” God is the origin of our being in Christ. He is the source of the action that places us in Christ. The Greek word (apo) translated as “of” in the phrase “who of God” has a different connotation. According to Strong’s, this usage denotes “off” or “away.” Strong’s further clarifies this to include separation, departure, and completion. This does not denote that Christ is separated from God as though there was division or cont...

Psalm 83:1-2  A Song or Psalm of Asaph.   "Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.  (2)  For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head." Psalm 83:18    "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." Both Psalm 82 and 83 are prayers for God to place His judgment on those who seek to destroy the people of God. There seems to be a theme throughout the Bible of individuals, or groups of individuals, who raise the question: "How long, O Lord?" When are you going to show yourself on behalf of those who are being persecuted? We live in a world today where there is still persecution of Christians. We might find ourselves asking that question also, "Lord, how long will this continue?" We hold the thoughts in our minds that the Psalmist expressed when he said, "Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not stil...

1  Corinthians 1:26     “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” We see our calling. The Greek word translated as “see” in this passage means, among other things, “to have (the power of) understanding” or “to know by experience” according to Thayer. It is a great blessing to understand that our calling is from God and not man. The longer we walk (know by experience) our calling, the more steadfast we become in our confidence that it is of God. In the world, we want people around us who are wise; men who are able to come up with good idea...

Psalm 81:1-3  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.   "Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.  (2)  Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.  (3)  Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day." I read through Psalm 80 and Psalm 81 this morning. I confess that I could not get a grip on the Scriptures as I read them. I have sat here struggling to get a message to share with you this morning and so far, nothing came to my heart and mind. I tried to come up with something out of my own thoughts and it came to a blank page in my mind. What was I to do? I just couldn't come up with a devotion that I felt gave a message of strength and encouragement. I thought about continuing to skip over the Psalms until something came to my mind. I thought about going to a familiar passage and going away from the Psalms this morning. Then I w...

1  Corinthians 1:22-25     “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” The Jews require a sign (Mar 8:11, Joh 6:30). Even though Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets, God’s chosen people under the law were blinded to it. They had determined for themselves that the Messiah would certainly come in a manner that would elevate the Jews above other men. This carpenter’s son did not fit their ideal of what Israel’s King should look like or do. The Greeks were wrapped up in hearing new things (Act 17:21). They greatly desired the wisdom of men. The doctrine that Paul came preaching intrigued them. However, the notion of a man who had been ki...

Psalm 79:9    "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." 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 will let each one that reads this come to their own conclusion as to our reason for asking God's help. I read verse 9 and I admit I have mixed feelings. I'm guilty of asking for help for my own benefit. "Help me Lord so that I....." The writer of this Psalm sees a higher and holier reason for asking for help. What was his reason? First of all, he was needing help "... For the glory of THY name." Lord, I want to glorify your holy name, but I need your help that I might lift up the precious name of Jesus. "Please deliver me and forgive me for thy name's sake." Help me, Lord, that I will not bring reproach upon your name. You see, his reque...

1  Corinthians 1:20-21     “Where   is   the wise? where   is   the scribe? where   is   the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Paul, in verse nineteen, has called attention to the word of God in the scriptures (Isa 29:14) that He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and negate the understanding of the prudent. He then calls on the church to examine this truth against their thoughts and actions. This is something we often fail to do today. When we hear men begin to speak with what seems to be great wisdom, we need to stop and consider where they are. It is not their physical location, but the mental, moral, and spiritual terrain we need to be aware of. We have a responsibility to consider this wisdom in the light of God’s teaching. If that wisdom is ...

Psalm 78:4     "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." I realize I used this passage yesterday, but my mind is drawn back to it this morning. I understand this had a primary purpose for the people of Israel in that the writer revisits the "wonderful works" that God did for the people of Israel in bringing them out of bondage. He refers to many miracles that were done in their great deliverance. Let's be reminded of some of the things he mentioned. In verse 13, "He divided the sea." In verse 14, "He led them with the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night." In verse 15, He "clave the rocks to provide rivers of water for the people." In spite of all His wonderful works, the people still doubted and murmured and complained while traveling. In verse 19, we see them questioning the ability of God: ...

Introduction   The Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome is, without question, his most sterling effort at setting forth the doctrines of God, especially the doctrine of justification by faith alone. As the apostle introduces himself and praises the saints of Rome, he proceeds to give them the reason for his writing. First, he thanks God through Christ “that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8); second, that he has a tremendous desire to come by the will of God to visit them personally, but he notes in verse 13 that his coming to them had been hindered in his desire to visit them; third, that he “might impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me” (vss. 11-12); lastly, and most importantly, the apostle emphasizes his desire to “preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also” (Romans 1:15).  This brings us to the focal point of th...

1  Corinthians 1:18-19     “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” These verses of scripture are often read as though this were teaching how the preaching of the cross is different to the child of God than to those who are not God’s children. We often refer to those that are not God’s as being spiritually dead, and we consider this in terms of a loss of life. However, one who has not been quickened by God is not dead in those terms. If one is never quickened, then from a spiritual standpoint they are dead like a stone. It is not that they have lost life with God; they have never had life with God. Like a stone, these individuals do not accept or reject the word of God. I can line up stones of all shapes and sizes and declare the alphabet to them for hours. This is not foo...

Psalm 78:1-4  Maschil of Asaph.   "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  (2)  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  (3)  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  (4)  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth." God is saying to us, "Listen to me!"  Too often, God's Word is viewed as suggestions that we should follow if we want to get our way in life. "If you do this, God will do that." God's Word is not a suggestion; rather, it is the only way to find peace and joy through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is the word of assurance that is needed in a society that doesn't always mean what they say. There was a time when a man's word was hi...

1 Corinthians 1:14-17     “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” In our way of thinking today, Paul’s comment in verse 14 is almost shocking. We who have the privilege of administering baptism rejoice in seeing God’s children manifest the answer of a good conscience toward God (1Pe 3:21). Paul was making a point here that he was not keeping a tally of those he had baptized. This was important to Paul considering the division that existed in the church at Corinth at the time of Paul’s letter. Apparently there were some who were trying to give Paul and others credit for their conversion and being added to the church. He was making sure tha...

Psalm 77:20    "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." "We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."  Like sheep, we are prone to wandering off the beaten path. We see this or that and our desires are sometimes drawn away from that which is most important. But still the "rod and staff" of our wonderful Shepherd protects us and brings us back to the fold.    How are we led in "the paths of righteousness"? Is it not by the light from the lamp that shines and directs our paths? Isn't it by the Word of God? It is of the utmost importance that we, as God's people, maintain two things in our lives. We must stay in God's Word. If we begin to neglect reading the Bible, our lives will soon grow cold and stale. It is to our benefit that we have a daily routine of Bible reading. I call it a routine, but soon it becomes a part of us that we look forward to. The second thing that we must maintain is church a...

1 Corinthians 1:10-13     “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and   that   there be no divisions among you; but   that   ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them   which are of the house   of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Seeing that God has called us unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ (1Co 1:12), we should walk in  that  fellowship. This was apparently not the case with the Corinthians at the time of Paul’s writing, nor is it always the case with us today. Paul implored them by the authority and character (name) of Jesus Christ to be of...

Psalm 77:1-3  To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.   "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  (2)  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  (3)  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah." Psalm 77:9-12     "Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  (10)  And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  (11)  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  (12)  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." Do you ever have questions for God? We all do, don't we? Here's the tricky question: Have you ever questioned God?  My first response, and I'm sure your's also, is that I...

1 Corinthians 1:7-9     “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end,   that ye may be   blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God   is   faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” The evidence of Christ having been confirmed in the saints at Corinth (1Co 1:6), they were not lacking in any gift. This statement is still true today for every one of us in whom the evidence of Jesus is confirmed. Our Heavenly Father has seen to it that we do not fall short of that with which He endows His believing children. We fully expect (wait for) the manifestation (coming) of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do fully expect to see Him plainly when we no longer have this veil of flesh because of the great price He has paid for us. However, that is not the only time we should look for His appearing. Every time we pick up God’s word to ...

Psalm 76:1-3   To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.  "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  (2)  In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.  (3)  There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah." "In Judah is God known." Sometimes, we skip right over words without really stopping to think about the reason they are placed. For me, it is very important to have a good concordance. I use Strong's and Vine's concordances. There is much depth of understanding when we can stop to look at the original meaning of words. We know Judah is one of the tribes of Israel named according to one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Judah was the tribe from which our Lord was born; therefore we can find a great truth from this statement. The writer of Hebrews states, "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda." (Hebrews 7:14) The definition of the word, Judah, is praise. ...

1 Corinthians 1:4-6     “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:” As servants of the living God, it is good for us to be grateful to Him at all times on account of His saints. This is not for their sakes alone. We are to be thankful because of the that which has been given them; the grace of God. This grace does not come by our merit. It does not come because of our deep knowledge of the things of God. Remember that God told Paul He had “much people” in Corinth (Act 18:10) as an encouragement to Paul to not fear to preach the gospel to them. God’s grace comes because He has elected and sanctified a people through His son Jesus. The grace of God through Jesus Christ richly furnishes us in everything. When things are well with us, the grace of God causes us to be thankful to Him. If w...

Psalm 75:1  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.   "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare." "Thy wondrous works declare."  Have you ever heard someone say, "Well, where is God in all this?"  The thought of that question is saying, "God should not have allowed this (or that) to happen."  But who am I to say what God should, or should not, do? Yes, there are a lot of questions floating around this morning. This winter, we have been intrigued by the birds. Even when it was snowing, we could hear the birds even more loudly proclaiming the glorious works of God. Every Spring, the flowers and trees proclaim the glorious works of God when they begin to show the brilliant colors given to them.  My heart is filled with praise this morning as this verse of Scripture strikes and stirs my heart. Every Fall, the trees proclaim the wondrous works of God as ...