Daily Devotional 10_20_2023
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28) There are three levels of how to live with material things: (1) you can steal to get them; (2) or you can work to get them; (3) or you can work to get in order to give. Too many professing Christians live on level two. We glorify work over against stealing and mooching, and feel we have acted virtuously if we have spurned stealing and mooching, and given ourselves to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. That’s not a bad thing. Work is better than stealing and mooching. But that’s not what the apostle calls us to. Almost all the forces of our culture urge us to live on level two: work to get. But…
Weekly Devotional 07_06_2023
Gal 2:20 CSB I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. He “died to the Law” because he was crucified with Christ; he was able “to live for God” because Christ lived in him. Basic to an understanding of this verse is the meaning of union with Christ. This doctrine explains that believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ and into the church, the body of all true believers. Having been thus united to Christ, believers share in His death, burial, and resurrection. This brought death to the Law. It also brought a change in regard to one’s self: and I no longer live. The self-righteous, self-centered Saul died. Further, death with Christ ended…
Weekly Devotional 31_5_2023
Rom 8:38-39 CSB For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul ransacks the universe for something that might conceivably separate us from God’s love, then dismisses the possibilities one by one— The outcome of Paul’s search is that he can find nothing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Weekly Devotional 24_05_2023
2Ch 16:9 CSB For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.” Even though God had chosen Israel as His elect nation, He has always been concerned about all His creation. Even though other nations as a whole have forgotten Him, worshiping various nature gods, there are evidently individuals in such nations whose hearts desire to know Him, and to these God will somehow reveal Himself. Act 10:35 CSB “but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Daily Devotional 7-19-2022
Psa 33:22 CSB May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you. God’s people demonstrate their faith in three ways. First, they wait in hope for deliverance from the Lord as their Help and Shield. Second, they rejoice in Him whom they trust. Third, they pray for His unfailing love to rest on them. So they are confident (hope) He will consummate His program of salvation.
Daily Devotional 7-18-2022
Gen 17:1 CSB When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. God’s promises to Abram grew more and more magnificent. As God Almighty, He was fully capable of accomplishing all His promises. God Almighty, El Saddai, when used of God, refers either to His ability to supply abundantly [“the Abundant One”] or to His majestic strength [“the Almighty One”].
Daily Devotional 07-17-2022
Gen 15:1 CSB After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. After Abram’s rescue of Lot and blessing from Melchizedek, the Lord formally made a covenant with Abram, thereby confirming the promise given earlier. God warned, however, that there would be a long period of enslavement. Before God made the covenant, He set aside Abram’s fear and doubt by a word of assurance: Do not be afraid. I am your Shield. When the Lord promised Abram that his reward would be great, the patriarch immediately asked what he would receive since he was childless. This shows his faith. Abram still had only one hope, the original promise God had given.
Daily Devotional 3-29-2022
1Ti 1:20 CSB Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme. Paul’s prescription for these two blasphemers was that they be handed over to Satan, a phrase which perhaps refers to excommunication from the congregation and abandonment to realms controlled by Satan. Paul viewed the congregation as a haven and protection for believers without which they would suffer painful disadvantage. Thus excommunication was designed to chasten the two apostates. Yet Paul’s motive was remedial, not punitive.
Daily Devotional 3-28-2022
1Co 5:11 CSB But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. What he called for was disciplinary action for anyone associated with the church, whether a brother or one in name only, who took part in the church while continuing a life of sin. The discipline demanded for such a one was exclusion from fellowship with other members. Certainly the prohibition extended to an exclusion from eating the communal meal, the Lord’s Supper. Other social contact might also have been excluded. It was unlikely, however, that the sanctioned individual was barred from all congregational meetings, for the church’s ministry might lead to his conviction and repentance.
Daily Devotional 3-27-2022
Hos 4:15 CSB Israel, if you act promiscuously, don’t let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath: As the LORD lives! Judah was now warned to avoid the sins of her sister Israel. The threefold warning (Do not go… do not go… do not swear) is a rhetorical device designed to accentuate Israel’s guilt. To associate oneself with Israel’s false, hypocritical worship would be contaminating. Even Bethel, the site of Jacob’s dream, had become “Beth Aven” (‘house of the wicked”) because of the religious practices conducted there. In the midst of this idolatrous, immoral worship the Israelites even had the audacity to employ the Lord’s name in oaths. The Law commanded Israel to swear by the Lord’s name. However, to make a semblance of devotion to the Lord while serving other gods was the grossest hypocrisy.