Devotionals
May 3, 2020
STRENGTH FROM SCRIPTURE
Sunday, May 03, 2020
My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word (Psalm 119:28).
May 2, 2020
EYES WIDE OPEN
Saturday, May 02, 2020
Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law (Psalm 119:18).
How wonderful are the Scriptures! In the ‘Gimel’ (G) section of Psalm 119 (vv.17-24), the psalmist celebrates the Word of God for the knowledge it provides in directing his life, and for the strength and comfort it gives him in times of difficulty and persecution. But the natural man cannot see such things. To him, Scripture is poetry, law, history, and legend. It takes the opening of one’s eyes to see the marvelous truths in God’s Word that transform a life.
April 30, 2020
THE TREASURED WORD
Friday, May 01, 2020
Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You (Psalms 119:11).
The heart of the ‘Beth’ (B) section of Psalm 119 is also one of the greatest testimonies to the power of God’s Word in a person’s life - that I may not sin against God! (Psalm 37:31) The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
Why do so many Christians, myself included, have such a difficult time with sin - sin of the head, the heart, the hand? Our attempts at curtailing sin often fail, not because we lack conviction, or desire, or genuine sincerity. It’s because we fail to appreciate and appropriate the power of God’s Word.
April 29, 2020
THE TREASURED WORD
Friday, May 01, 2020
Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You (Psalms 119:11).
April 29, 2020
THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD
Thursday, April 30, 2020
How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart (Psalm 119:1-2).
April 29, 2020
A PATTERN TO KEEP
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly (Job 1:4-5).
April 29, 2020
GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to hear from many who are concerned, anxious, feeling hopeless, and afraid. Quite a few I had talked with had the same question during our conversation. “Where is the Lord in all of this?”
Although initially this is a natural question we ponder, my response was “Where are you with the Lord in all of this?” I believe this pandemic is giving all of us an opportunity to re-evaluate our fellowship with the Lord, and for some their need of a personal relationship with the Lord. He hasn’t changed. He hasn’t moved. He is always there when called upon. His promises are firm and never fail. He is good. He is kind. In Him we are safe.
April 27, 2020
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
Monday, April 27, 2020
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1).
The English translation of this verse lacks the richness of the Hebrew text. For instance:
April 27, 2020
A WILLING SAVIOR
Sunday, April 26, 2020
What do you wish? (Matthew 20:21).
What do you want Me to do for you? (Mark 10:51).
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! (Luke 17:13).
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).
Each new day brings new opportunities for us to come before our Lord with words of praise, gratitude, intercessions, and personal requests. Does the Lord turn a deaf ear to us? On the contrary. He listens with an attentive ear.
April 27, 2020
THIS MUCH I KNOW
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in (1 Kings 3:7).
April 23, 2020
COMING FORTH AS PURE GOLD
Friday, April 24, 2020
He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10).
I don’t know if you’ve thought of old Job during this pandemic, but I have. He has been a source of inspiration to me for years, and not just through times of heartache and trials. It would do us all well to go back and re-read his story in Scripture. There are many lessons to learn from him, and many golden nuggets of truth we can mine from the depths of his experience in suffering.
April 22, 2020
IT’S A GOOD THING
Thursday, April 23, 2020
It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High (Psalm 92:1).
In the various events of creation, Moses repeated the words, it was good. The Hebrew word can have many meanings, but here it means to have within it the purpose for which it was created – without flaw or imperfection. Giving thanks to the Lord, and singing praise to Him is a good thing. It means we acknowledge before God that all He permits in our life is for His great purpose and our greater benefit.
April 22, 2020
DESIRING AND SEEKING
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early (Isaiah 26:9).
In Isaiah 24, the prophet sees the coming judgment of God upon the heavens and earth. In chapter 25 he sings a song of praise to the Lord for His judgments in bringing His enemies to ruin and His people to permanent restoration. In chapter 26 Isaiah sings a song of praise for God’s full and complete salvation. In that song of praise the prophet reveals the attitude and spirit he has had all throughout his ministry, but especially in light of the coming judgment of God.
April 22, 2020
PERFECT PEACE
Monday, April 20, 2020
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3).
In the Masoretic Text (the Old Testament Hebrew and Aramaic that is used by the Jewish community today) this verse is written, ‘“You keep the firmly-established mind in peace, peace; for his confidence rests on You.” The repetition of the word ‘peace’ denotes emphasis. Here it means undisturbed or complete peace, perfect peace. But what is peace?
Some define peace as ‘the absence of conflict’, which it is. Synonyms for peace include ‘calmness’, ‘tranquility’, ‘repose’, or ‘serenity’. But is that what the prophet Isaiah meant?
April 22, 2020
HUMBLED AND EXALTED
Sunday, April 19,2020
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt y ou at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).
These words are a powerful encouragement to Christians because they so parallel the experience of Jesus Christ Himself.
April 22, 2020
YOU CAN DO NOTHING
Saturday, April 18, 2020
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Nature is a parable of God. Maybe that’s why many of Jesus’ parables are taken from nature. In the parable of the vine and branches, the primary truth Jesus was making is that the Christian’s complete dependence upon God. When you really think about the parable though, some additional truths are revealed:
April 22, 2020
A DOUBLE BLESSING
Friday, April 17, 2020
“. . . and I will bless you . . . and so you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).
April 15, 2020
SINGING A NEW SONG
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise from the end of the earth! (Isaiah 42:10).
I miss the singing of God’s people in God’s house on Sunday! Sometimes in Sunday worship I simply stand in silence and listen to the voices of my church family as they sing from their heart their joy in the Lord. As glorious as this is to me, I know it can never compare to the songs we will sing in glory when we will one day gather around the throne of God with shouts of hallelujah to the King of kings, and Lord of lords – but it’s close. I’ll even rejoice when Dub finally gets that bucket he can carry a tune in! “What a day, glorious day that will be.”
April 15, 2020
CONSIDER THIS . . .
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
“. . . fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).
April 15, 2020
AWARE, ABLE, AND AVAILABLE
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to t he weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:28-31).
April 15, 2020
LEARNING THE HARD WAY
Monday, April 13, 2020
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
April 15, 2020
PEACE BE WITH YOU!
Sunday, April 12, 2020
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared (Luke 24: 1).
Reading through this familiar passage in preparation for today, Resurrection Day, I lingered on this one verse. We can imagine the emptiness felt by the women making their way to the place where Jesus had been buried. Their world shattered and turned upside down, they now came to put the final touches on the burial process. Jesus had given them hope during His life and ministry, and now they were withdrawn once again into what must have felt like a hopeless existence. Living the reality but forgetting the words of Jesus. Much like us.
April 15, 2020
WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT 'GOOD FRIDAY'?
Friday, April 10, 2020
April 7, 2020
LIVING MEMORIALS
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
". . . wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her (Matthew 26:13).
April 7, 2020
HOW'S YOUR LOVE LIFE?
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem" (Matthew 23:37).
April 6, 2020
FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME
Monday, April 06, 2020
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name" (John 12:27-28).
April 6, 2020
ALL THINGS FOR OUR GOOD?
Saturday, April 04, 2020
I know most, if not all of us, are glued to the daily news wondering how bad the pandemic is going to get, how many people will become infected, how many will die, what the long term effects will be on the economy, and how long will the crisis last until life gets back to normal. Nancy and I were discussing the other day if life will ever get back to normal for a lot of people in this country.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
April 6, 2020
OUR LORD REJOICING OVER US
Friday, April 03, 2020
This current pandemic has afforded me some time to think about things and seek the Lord for wisdom and discernment regarding what He wants me to learn from all that’s going on. At one point my thoughts had me considering my age now as opposed to a younger Dave. I thought if this pandemic had struck in my 20’s or 30’s it would have been devastating to face such deep uncertainty. Then I laughed because at my age now I just want my feet to be warm and wear comfortable shoes!
April 1, 2020
SUFFERING THE HEEBIE JEEBIES
Thursday, April 02, 2020
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
March 30, 2020
WAITING FOR THE LORD’S RETURN
Monday, March 30, 2020
Read Luke 12:1-59
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them (Luke 12:37).
March 30, 2020
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Read Luke 9:1-62
“. . . who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20).
There are a number of great texts to study and contemplate in Luke 9.
• Sending out of the disciples to do their first evangelistic ministry (vv.1-6).
• King Herod Antipas’ anxiety over Jesus that led him to seek Jesus out (vv.7-9).
• Jesus feeding the 5,000+ (vv.10-17).
• Jesus announcing His impending death (vv.21-22),
• The cost of discipleship (vv.23-27).
• The transfiguration of Jesus (vv.28-36).
• Healing the demon possessed boy (vv.37-42).
• Jesus announcing His impending death a second time (vv.43-45).
March 30, 2020
WHAT MANNER OF FAITH HAVE YOU?
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Read Luke 7:1-50
"I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Luke 7:9).
The 7th chapter of Luke is a study in contrasts. 7:1-10 is the story of a Roman centurion whose servant was dying. He sent Jewish leaders to asked Jesus to come to the centurions house and heal the servant. The servant was healed without the benefit of Jesus even seeing him.
7:11-17 is the story of a poor widow whose son had died. When Jesus encountered them they were in a funeral procession on its way to bury the dead man. The woman asked nothing of Jesus, but Jesus took pity on her and raised her son to life again.
March 26, 2020
TAKING CARE OF HIS BUSINESS
Friday, March 27, 2020
Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38)
I know you're getting lots of info about the virus crisis, but Outreach doesn't have to stop because we are confined to our homes. When Jesus said that the fields were white to harvest (John 4:35), His next words were to pray the Lord of the harvest. . . (Matthew 9:38).
March 25, 2020
DRAWING CLOSER TO EACH OTHER
Thursday, March 26, 2020
This past Saturday morning I had the most fulfilling time simply going through our church directory and connecting with fellow members. Although our conversations were not deep and lengthy, they were a momentary connection during this time of social distancing. We really have an opportunity as a fellowship to use this pandemic as a way to draw closer together and come out of it stronger than ever.
May I encourage you to make time to check in on each other and in some cases introduce yourself as a fellow church member and pray for each other. As we navigate through the days ahead let’s remember our Lord will make the way for us.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
March 25, 2020
ALLOWING SIN INTO OUR TENT
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
March 24, 2020
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:17-20).