Devotional Thoughts

Mark 2:1-2    "And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.  (2)  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them." I admit there are times I revert back to my childhood and to the times of which I have heard my father speak. I remember as a boy when churches would have their annual revival meetings. The building would be packed with people. Any other activity took second place to the activity of worship. I even remember times when the Lord blessed so much that the meeting would be extended an extra week. The people were afraid to interrupt the movement of the Holy Spirit in the worship services. I remember people openly rejoicing. I remember conversions taking place in the lives of people. They were sweet times of worship that occurred. In today's passage, we find such a meeting taking place in ...

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. – 1 John 2:6 Abide  is not a word most of us use daily, but the idea of  abiding love  or referring to our homes as an  abode  are not so uncommon. When we abide, we live in a certain place or in a certain way. You may have heard the phrase “abide by the law” or “law-abiding citizen” used to describe one’s willingness to live obediently. This is the sense that we must apply to our Christian walk. We should abide in Him. Living in a way that acknowledges the presence of Christ requires love and devotion not simply to an ideal but the Savior Himself. The Apostle Paul said we are to be living sacrifices. What is the sacrifice? Our will. When we submit to the Lord, we must abide under His gracious will and not our own. As you move forward, do so hand in hand with the Lord. He is the Way.

Mark 1:40-42    "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  (41)  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.  (42)  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." Today's verses show a very compassionate Jesus interacting with one who had lived a life of loneliness due to his physical condition. This leper was consigned to a life where he had to constantly warn others. He had to wear a veil over his face so others could not see the condition of his skin. If others came close to him as he walked along the street, he was commanded to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" I often wonder how long had it been since he had been touched by another human being. His disease was so terrible that there was no hope of him being healed. But Jesus! Ah, there is the d...

Mark 1:35   "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." We understand that the primary reason for Jesus leaving heaven was to accomplish redemption for His people. As the angel declared unto Joseph concerning Mary giving birth: "She shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." This is such a beautiful and grand truth upon which we can base our eternal security. Jesus came to save sinners. On the cross, He declared His work to be finished. We are redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Though that was the primary reason, His life is full of examples by which we would do well to follow. Today's verse is one such example. Jesus rose up early to pray. Before the day fully began, Jesus spent time with the Father. He separated Himself into a solitary place where there were no distractions. He entered into a time of pe...

Mark 1:23-26    "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,  (24)  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.  (25)  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.  (26)  And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him." As Jesus and His disciples began their public ministry, He would go into the synagogue and there begin to teach. The people were astonished at Him because of the authority with which He taught. They were accustomed to hearing men speak the doctrine of men that had been substituted for the doctrine of God. Now, this One came on the scene and they knew immediately there was something about Him that commanded their attention. Not only did His voice command the attention of humans, but unclean spirits and demons paid atten...

These are times of challenge, times of caution and precaution, and times of sheltering in place and appropriate social distance.  We are in a time of suffering.  Suffering leads to change.  Suffering restricts us from certain actions.  And suffering creates opportunities for other actions.  All of our lives have changed dramatically. 1 Peter is a book that deals with suffering.  God’s people were suffering tremendously as they were persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ.  The recipients of 1 Peter were experiencing unjust suffering.  In other words, they were not suffering due to some willful error or sin on their part.  They were suffering because they lived in a world cursed by sin.  All suffering in one-way or another is the effect of living in a world that is affected by sin.  When sin entered the world by one man, Adam, things changed dramatically and suffering entered the human existence.  That world, o...