Devotional Thoughts

1 Corinthians 6:4-6     “If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.” While there are many reasons why people do not join the church, one common complaint is because they have seen congregations divided and virtually at war with each other. They have made their disputes public and shared them with any who would listen. Sometimes the issue was a question of spiritual significance, but more often it was a matter of jealousy or of some matter of daily living, or worse yet, an imaginary slight of some sort. The overarching tone of Paul’s instruction here is that the church should handle disputes among brethren quietly and with patience. These are not matters to be broadcast to unbelievers be...

Psalm 98:1-3    "O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.  (2)  The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.  (3)  He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Who is under consideration when the Psalmist wrote, "his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." I'm not certain that the writer completely understood the depth of this great truth. He may have been speaking of the various victories in life that he had experienced. Maybe he was thinking of Moses bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt or David's victory over Goliath. He may have been thinking about a particular time in his own life when he was able to overcome a struggle and experienced victory. But you and I have been blessed to see more...