Devotional Thoughts

Ephesians 5:21-33     "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  (22)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  (24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  (25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  (29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherish...

Matthew 7:7-11     " Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  These instructions are so simple that we may simply glance at the words and move on. Or we may think about things that we asked for and sought after that we never got. The source of the problem lies in verse eleven. Here, Jesus speaks of those He is addressing as being evil. Let us be reminded this morning of who this audience was (and is). Jesus was speaking to His disciples (Matthew 5:1). The word translated as “evil” carri...

Titus 3:1-8  (1) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, (2) to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. (3) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. (4) But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.  Tit...

Matthew 7:3-6     " And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." I remember as a child, I was once talking about some fault I had seen in someone else. Hearing my comments, my grandfather remarked to me, “Boy, you just remember that it is always easier to see the dirt on the other man’s coattail.” I never read today’s scriptures without thinking of that incident. My grandfather’s words were the country version of Jesus’s words in verse three. A mote is defined as a dry ...

Ephesians 5:17-21     "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  (18)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  (19)  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  (20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (21)  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." In today's verses we find two things that we are NOT to be. "Be not unwise... And be not drunk with wine." It is a lack of wisdom that leads to drunkenness. Strong drink says, "I will make you forget all your problems." When actually it is unwise to try to forget all our problems because they do not just disappear. Wisdom is required to solve the daily struggles in which we find ourselves. What is the true answer? We saw part of it yesterday in that we are to seek...

Matthew 7:1-2    " Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." The scriptures give us clear instruction concerning the things we should judge. In John 7:24 Jesus tells us to not judge by appearance, but to judge righteously. In Romans 14:13, Paul tells us that we should not judge one another anymore, but instead to judge that no man deters another in their efforts to walk with God. One thing this admonishment is not is a blank check for everybody to do as they please. What we cannot judge is the heart of others. While we may be able to tell by a person’s walk whether they are a disciple (follower) of Jesus, we do not have the ability to see or know the work that God is doing (or will do) the heart of another. We who are kept by the grace of God have a difficult time with the concept of how truly sinful we are by nature. Consider the very worst individual that...

Ephesians 5:7-10    "Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." These verses describe an exercise in self discipline. Paul speaks to us of what we were and what we are now by the working of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This seems to be the theme throughout the entire book of Ephesians. We were dead in trespasses and sin. Now we are alive in Christ Jesus. We were without God, having no hope. Now we have Christ Jesus who is our peace.  We were children of darkness. Now we are children of light.  So the Lord, through the Apostle Paul, is reminding us that we are to walk in that light showing the work of Christ in us. We are to "prove what is acceptable unto the Lord." How can we do that? I may sound like a broken record, but to me that i...

Matthew 6:24-25     " No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"  Matthew 6:31-34     " Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We often read verse twe...

Ephesians 5:1-2     "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  (2)  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." These verses present two thoughts to me this morning. The first one is the matter of the way we look, talk, and act as children of God.  We are to be followers of Jesus Christ. We are to "walk in love as Christ also hath loved." This may sound a bit judgmental, but as I go about town into various shops and stores, I see a group of people that look much alike. Their hair, tattoos, and piercings soon begin to fade together into one lump sum. It makes me wonder who set the stage for this "fashion" statement. If they want to look as individuals, why do they all look alike? We are to be imitators as we go from day to day, but there is One who is much higher than any earthly fashionista that we are to follow. His name is Jesus. We are to attempt...

Matthew 6:19-21     " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  There are many things that we have come to appreciate in this life. We value a nice home, a dependable car, the latest technology, and a stable job. We have certainly come to value our “down time.” We own boats and campers for weekends on the lake, or we hold season tickets so we can go and cheer on our favorite college or professional sports team. There is certainly nothing wrong with any of these things until they become the things that we treasure (hold precious and valuable). All these things can disappear from our lives in the blink of an eye. Our economy can fail to the point where we can no longer afford...

Ephesians 4:29-32    "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  (30)  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  (31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  (32)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." I will go straight to the point on this one. I wish all of us could pay closer attention to these four verses. There were two words that jumped out at me when I read these passages: corrupt and clamour. Although I use this Facebook media for my devotions, I find myself having to scroll past more and more of the posts because people hide behind their screens to express their corrupt clamouring communication. I know this is my opinion, but it's ho...

Matthew 6:16-18     " Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." There are many ways to look at fasting today. Some abstain from food on certain days of the week or at certain seasons of the year. Others fast intermittently, choosing a limited number of hours each day when they can eat. Still others consider it fasting when they give up only certain foods for a period of time. One thing is clear; fasting requires that we make sacrifice. The Apostle Paul instructed us that we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Jesus said to follow Him, we had to deny ourselves daily (Luke 9:23). F...

Ephesians 4:20-24     "But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man..." As I read these words just now, it hit me as hard as ever before that when we read the Bible, we are reading God's Word. I know I say that often, but it hit me in a different way this morning. As we are reading God's Word, we should be asking to "hear God's voice." Yes, if it is God's Word (and it is), then we should know that we are listening to the voice of ...

Trusting God Goes Beyond Believing God  Psalm 91:2   I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  Life is not predictable. There are ups and downs along the way. Many of us want to trust God. When times are good, it can feel easier. But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. God’s unchanging character can give us a firm foundation when things feel unsteady and uncertain.  Life can be going along smoothly for a season. Your job is satisfying. Your friends and family are enjoyable. Your goals, finances, health and outlook seem bright. Then, all of a sudden, life throws a curveball. Someone you know gets sick. You lose your job. A friend or family member betrays you. The things you felt secure in all of a sudden feel shaky and uncertain.  How do you trust that God is good in these circumstances? How do you trust Him when you do not understand what is happening? When you cannot see a reso...

Matthew 6:9-13     " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." This is one of the best known and 0ften repeated prayers in the Bible. Many of us committed it to memory as children. This prayer is widely known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” If we look closely, we will see that this is not the Lord’s prayer, but a model for how WE should pray. This prayer begins with an acknowledgement of our relationship with God. We are extremely blessed that it is God’s will that we should have such a closeness with Him. Through the work of Jesus Christ and the revelation from the Holy Spirit, we understand that He has chosen us (John 15:16...

Ephesians 4:17-20     "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ..." We see Paul (by the inspiration of God) is now changing gears in that to this point, he has written about doctrine and the preaching of the Gospel. Now he turns to the application of the Word of God in our lives. He speaks to the Ephesians, and to us, that "ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." It is easy sometimes to read right over a word and think that you know what it means when in reality it goes much deeper than a surface meaning. Pa...

Matthew 6:5-8     " And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."  In yesterday’s lesson, we were instructed to do good deeds in a manner that gives honor to God. Today, we see that we are to pray in that same manner. Just like doing good deeds, praying in a manner that we think will impress others is not truly prayer. It becomes self-serving and hypocrit...

Ephesians 4:11-16     "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  (16)  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself ...

Matthew 6:1-4     " Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."   Let me begin by reminding us all that Jesus is still addressing His disciples. This is still within His discourse that we call the Sermon on the Mount. He lays out what true blessings look like. He gives us a spiritual aspect to the keeping of the law. He gives us instruction on how, as His disciples, our behavior and attitude should differ from others. Here we are instructed to pay attention to the manne...

Ephesians 4:7-10     "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  (8)  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  (9)  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  (10)  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" "He led captivity captive." We were held in the clutches of sin and could not free ourselves. Let me quote the Apostle Paul in the Roman letter. "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:5-6)  We saw in Ephesians 2, those beautiful words "But God..." N...

Matthew 5:46-48     " For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As we consider these verses of scripture this morning, one thing stood out to me in a way that it had not before. When Jesus asked the question, “what do ye more than others?” there is an implied expectation of those who are His disciples. Remember that He is still addressing His disciples from the mount. The implication is that we should do more (love better) than those who do not follow Him. The publicans of Jesus’s day were tax collectors. In that day, being a tax collector was a license to steal. You had to collect whatever the government required, and then you could extort an extra amount to put in your pocket. These men were despised by the public. However, there was ...

Ephesians 4:1-3     "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  (2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  (3)  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Walk worthy. How many times do we think about those two words? The first three chapters speak of God's grace and mercy that has been bestowed upon us. We are reminded of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in applying that blood of redemption to our lives. In Chapter 3, we are reminded that we are part of the family of God. As I typed those words just now, I could hear our father saying to me, "Remember who you are." He was telling me that my actions reflect, not only on me, but all my family. Remember who you belong to. God, our Heavenly Father, says to us, "Walk worthy of ...

Matthew 5:43-45     " Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."   Some of the things we have heard said seem to make good sense to the natural mind. It seems perfectly logical to love those that are close to us (either spatially or in feeling). We often go through life without giving much thought to people in other states or on other continents. We can easily develop a strong and active dislike for those who we perceive as having wronged us in some way. The thing that is not so easy for us is to love those that are enemies. They may stand against us physically, morally, social...

Introduction   This article will begin a brief series of messages from the letter of Philemon. If you need some help finding Philemon, that may be because it is a short book. It is the shortest work from the Apostle Paul that we have in Scripture. Philemon is situated between Titus and Hebrews. It may be easiest for you to start in Revelation and begin turning back toward the middle. It is easy to flip past Philemon. There are no chapter divisions, and there are only twenty-five verses. Most of you could read the whole thing in just few minutes. There are some Greek names that are not so easy to pronounce, but otherwise this letter is rather simple and straight forward.  This book of Philemon is a personal epistle. Philemon is a personal letter from the Apostle Paul. We must understand that this letter is addressing us through a specific, narrow appeal.  If you have read Philemon, or heard messages from this letter, you may recall that it centers around a run away slave b...