But as for me, I watch in hope. Micah 7:7 Recently, while studying some of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the advent of the Messiah, I was reminded of an…

Concerning adversity, we are instructed in the Scriptures to encounter trials with joy.  For trials test, purify, and ultimately refine.   “Now for a little while you may have to suffer various…

Tribulation works endurance. Romans 5:3 Recently, a precious soul visited my office and commented on the present condition of our society, and the entire world, with the simple yet meaningful…

The testing of your faith develops endurance.  James 1:2 Hardships are a guarantee in this life.  Most of us know this all too well.  Yet, despite the difficulties we face, our call…

In your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks. Ephesians 5:19-20 He never knew when the door would swing open leading to his execution.  Falsely accused.  Beaten.  Disserted by so called friends.  Separated from…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 28:30 What an amazing invitation!     Today, I offer two considerations from this well-known verse.  (I…

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 How can faith become more than something spoken?  How can faith become…

How is your faith?  I am sure for most people this is an unexpected question, for we rarely consider the health of our faith.  But let’s go there for a moment: “how…

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His loving kindness is everlasting.   Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; make known His…

Today, I am moved by the call each of us has as God’s children to truly live in thankfulness.  The following are truths from God’s Word that realign our hearts toward…

  Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. . . the foundations of the prison were shaken. Acts 16:25-26 The New Testament chronicles three missionary journeys by…

Offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. Hebrews 13:15 There is power in our acknowledgement that above all else God is worthy of our worship and praise.  And this power…

That we may receive grace and mercy. Hebrews 4:16 Pray.  Pray earnestly and pray often.   Prayer represents the sacred conversation between you and your Heavenly Father made possible because God sent…

For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 Paul proclaimed with personal conviction that all in his…

The theology behind our prayers Come before your God in the name of Christ and open your heart to Him in prayer.  He is waiting, for He is the one who…

Call to me. Jeremiah 33:3 Today, I encourage you in your desire for God’s presence.   Truly desire to come before God daily.  Hunger for quiet moments with Him.  Do not become satisfied…

So, the question continues:  in the midst of a crisis of faith, when God seems distant or even absent, how can one hold tight to the reality of our faith?  Within a message from…

In the midst of a crisis, when God seems distant or even absent, how can you hold tight to the reality of faith? Within a message from Lamentations there are three simple…

Where is God in the midst of our crisis?   Lamentations 3:21-23  21 Yet this I call to mind    and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,    for his compassions…

The Lord will rescue. Psalm 34:22 Kevin McKay drove the school bus along gridlocked, dark roads as pockets of fire burned all around. Nearly two dozen elementary school children were on board with…

You have left your first love.   Revelation 2:4 In the New Testament, we are told of an entire congregational community (the church at Ephesus) that fell to the danger of…

The joy of My salvation. Psalm 51:12 Do you remember these humble and penitent words of David, “God, return to me the joy of my salvation”?  I have discovered that one’s…

Rooted and built up. Colossians 2:7 What can horticulture and architecture teach us about our faith?  Be one who is rooted!  Be one who is built up! These are intentional metaphors our Lord gave through…

The builder of the house has more honor than the house. Hebrews 3:3 The writer of Hebrews has demonstrated in previous verses the superiority of Christ over angels, and over…

Blessed are you. Matthew 5:11. The blessed life.  Is this the same as a successful life? A good life? A prosperous life?   A brief look at Facebook and Twitter reveals how…

I will rejoice in doing them good. Jeremiah 32:41 Blessings from God’s perspective!  Have you even considered this?   The prophet Jeremiah led God’s people to entertain this wonderful thought, that God enjoys blessing…

Every spiritual blessing in the heavens. Ephesians 1:3 With great familiarity for many, this verse should result in the follower of Jesus shouting “amen” to the amazing reality of spiritual…

Sing to the Lord a new song. Psalm 96:1 I heard someone playing a Christmas song yesterday.  Wow, Christmas!  We are not that close, are we?  I’m counting 71 days away.  (I suppose for…

I will sing. Psalm 144:9 From the Psalms to the book of Revelations, the call to present a new song to God becomes a fundamental expression of a heart that…

These men had been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13 Peter and John were brought into custody by the temple authorities, the priest, and the Sadducees.  They were obtained for proclaiming the truth…

If you ask. John 14:14 Take a moment to thank God for answered prayer.  Thank Him that although we do not always understand His timing, He is nonetheless fully attentive to our petitions…

BLESS OTHERS!! Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  I Peter 3:9…

Now unto Him Who is able. Ephesians 3:20 We are reminded by the Apostle Paul that it is “unto Him”, Christ Jesus our Lord, who has the power to do…

The Compass Proverbs 3:1, “My son, do not forget my teaching.” I remember being underwater around 40 to 50 feet.  My instructor was completing another portion of my advanced certification for…

Keep me as the apple of your eye. Psalm 17:8 He has you. He truly does.  This request of the Psalmist has been fulfilled for all who are truly His.  Take a…

Christ will be exalted in my life. Philippians 1:20 Warren Wiersbe observed of our calling to magnify Christ, “The stars are much bigger than the telescope, and yet the telescope…

“Do not withhold good.” Proverbs 3:27 Be ready for every good work.  Stay in a spirit of generosity. Do not overlook those right in front of you who are in need…

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 “What shall we say to these things?”  The Apostle Paul –…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 28:30 What an amazing invitation! And, what a wonderfully personal and relevant concern the very…

Life constantly changes. God’s Word remains constant. At times we simply need to let go.  “Forget the former things;  do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)  Often times we need to hold…

Truths from Philippians, Chapter 1 that will encourage you today:  “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with…

John 1:47-50 Follow the narrative of the conversation between Jesus and Nathaniel:  47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”…

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon…

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. John 1:37 As described in the Gospels, there were those who followed John the Baptist as his disciples (and…

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” John 1:35 At times, there can be…

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles . . .   I Peter 2:11-12 The Bible refers to followers of Christ as foreigners in this world.  Christians living in the diaspora of the late first…

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light….

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. I Peter 2:5 The Bible references those who belong to Jesus as living stones.  As our very nature is spiritual, we…

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. I Peter 2:2-3 Let’s be…

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 1 Peter 2:1   The Epistle of I Peter addressed the Christians of the diaspora who suffered under Nero’s…

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might. Psalm 21:13 From the context of Psalm 21, this concluding verse expresses a genuine desire to see God exalted…

But encourage one another daily! Hebrews 3:13 Community among believers represents a significant essential.   And most Christians understand this truth.  Most within the church understand that unity among the saints becomes a…

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 Look intently into the above verse.  Jesus preached the…

And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:17 As a child of God, you…

Romans 8:12-17 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if…

He has shown you, O man, what is good.  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) To act justly and to love mercy and to…

He has shown you, O man, what is good.     And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy     and to walk humblywith your God. Micah 6:8 He has…

But the greatest of these is love – Part ThreeI Corinthians 13:13(Part One – Sept. 10; Part Two – Sept. 12) What amazing promises.  Love protects all things.  Love believes all things,…

But the greatest of these is love – Part Two I Corinthians 13:13 LOVE does not behave rudely (unbecoming), does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no…

Making the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:16 I stood there that day, motionless, trying to make sense of what had just been reported.  I quickly turned to the other people…

But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13 Perhaps now more than ever before in our lifetime, the world stands in great need of love over hate.  So as Christ…

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 As “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” John the Baptist proclaimed the sufficiency of the Christ.  He made straight the…

Do not chase your preferences.  Follow the Truth.  The Truth of Jesus will always satisfy you more than the fulfillment of any personal whims or desires of this life.     This is what…

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 “This is my worship.  This is my offering.  In every moment I withhold nothing.”    I had just…

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Joshua 24:15 But no human being can tame the tongue.  James 3:8 A preschooler was attempting to remember a verse…

I thank my God for you. Philippians 1:3 Has someone been a blessing to you recently?  Then, tell them.  Make your words of appreciation a meaningful gift.     When the beloved Apostle Paul…

Glad with the joy of Your presence. Psalm 21:6 There exists a great need for people of faith to learn to walk forward in the reality of God’s presence.  A life…

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Proverbs 24:16 I realize there are times you stumble, falter in your faith,…

Be our strength every morning. Isaiah 33:2 Daily strength.  Mercies that are new every morning. God’s ever-present help in the time of need.  These statements are actual facts that both sustain…

4 Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people…

For you have need of endurance. Hebrews 10:36 (A continuation from the previous devotion of August 29) Enduring faith!  We need a life of faith that endures, and not a superficial…

For you have need of endurance. Hebrews 10:36 A recent television documentary pointed out that the cheetah survives on the African plains by running down its prey. The big cat…

We have quoted the Lord’s Prayer often.  And, in His model prayer for us (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus offered a statement of commitment to honor God’s Holy name.   This model prayer, when interpreted through…

Mark 2:10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”  Pieces of the roof began to flake away almost in a…

Blessed are the pure in heart. Matthew 5:8 Jesus always spoke to matters of the heart. And there are many verses in the Bible that address this topic.  So, what exactly is…

But rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:2) There should exist in the heart of every follower of Jesus a desire for the cessation of sin and the…

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. Colossians 1:21 A Common Contradiction. Have you considered this truth: you were once alienated from God…

Without faith it is impossible to please God.   Hebrews 11:6 Struggles. Have you ever felt that pleasing God seemed just a bit out of reach?  The Apostle Paul would emphatically answer…

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. I Peter 1:2 Grace and peace.  This represents from the epistolary writings of the New Testament a very familiar greeting and blessing from pastor to…

Our God is faithful. He is faithful. He hears. He sees. He knows. He is faithful indeed. He is faithful in our moments of despair. He is faithful when there…

One who is proven is . . . nothing of self!  I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20 A life that is proven does not come…

The proven genuineness of your faith. I Peter 1:7 I would like to tell you the story of “one who is proven.”  This one stands when all else shifts and crumbles, for…

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 Wow, what realism from the very words of our Lord!  For many, this would be an appropriate theme for recent months: each…

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High priest. Hebrews 3:1 Identity loss: In 2017, research indicated that the…

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 I arrived home one evening a bit more depleted than usual.  A non-stop day full of hospital visits, two committee meetings,…

Do not let your hearts be troubled. John 14:1 How do you respond to discouragement?  To bad news?  To adversity?  Within the thirteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, we have record of the…

How happy are those who live according to God’s Word. Psalm 119:1 Enter the conversation of Lucy and Linus, courtesy of cartoonist, Charles Shultz.  Linus and Lucy stand looking out the…

Love must be without hypocrisy. Romans 12:9 Christian love demonstrates honest and sincere love – a love without pretense.  This prescribes for every follower of Jesus a love that is not…

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” I Peter 2:24 This…

Romans 5:3-4 Most people desire to be at their best.  Most people would never intentionally settle for mediocrity, but many do. For, becoming more than we are at the moment (growing,…

The Bible instructs us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Romans 12:2 instructs, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your…

But you will receive power. Acts 1:8 On any occasion when I witness the surge and strength of a storm, I first and foremost pray for safety.  But I also find…

(For those who have inquired, A repost of Sarah Joy’s story from July 28 can be found in the “Today’s Read” section of this website.) For whoever wants to save…

I am going out to fish. John 21:3 When facing uncertainties, there are three very common mistakes easily made by most. First, there is panic.  The human inclination is to depend…

Be kind and compassionate to one another. Ephesians 4:31 When civility is lost, what does the church do?  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines civility as a polite act or expression.  And the loss…

For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Proverbs 23:7 A God honoring attitude does not develop because one attempts to smile harder.  A right attitude does not…

And they immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20 Adjustments.  They are vital.  When God calls, we must adjust any part of our lives that conflicts with that calling.  Some adjustments…