Daily Devotional 3-7-2022
2Co 8:2 During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. These Christians had been going through a great trial of affliction. Ordinarily, people thus tested would seek to save their money to provide for their future. And especially so if they were not very prosperous, as was the case with the Macedonians. They did not have very much money at all. Yet their Christian joy was so overflowing that when the need of the saints in Jerusalem was presented to them, they reversed all ordinary behavior and gave in a most liberal manner. They were able to combine affliction, joy, poverty, and liberality.
Daily Devotional 3-6-2022
1Co 1:19 CSB For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. The fact that the gospel would be offensive to human wisdom was prophesied by Isaiah: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” As he often did, Paul illustrated his point by an example of Israel who, following humanly wise counsel, formed an alliance with Egypt as a defense against Assyria, when in fact only the miraculous intervention of God was able to save them. How true it is that God delights to accomplish His purposes in ways that seem foolish to men. How often He uses methods that the wise of this world would ridicule, yet they achieve the desired results with wonderful accuracy and efficiency. For example, man’s wisdom assures him that he can…
Daily Devotional 3-5-2022
Rom 15:13 CSB Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. So Paul closes this section with a gracious benediction, praying that the God who gives good hope through grace will fill the saints with all joy and peace as they believe on Him. Perhaps he is thinking especially of Gentile believers here, but the prayer is suitable for all. And it is true that those who abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit have no time to quarrel over nonessentials. Our common hope is a powerful unifying force in the Christian life.
Daily Devotional 3-2-2022
2Co 6:14-16 CSB Don’t become partners with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? (15) What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (16) And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Mention of the unequal yoke suggests: “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” The ox was a clean animal and the donkey unclean, and their step and pull are unequal. By way of contrast, when believers are yoked with the Lord Jesus, they find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This…
Daily Devotional 2-27-2022
Heb 5:13-14 CSB Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. It is unsatisfactory to remain a baby in spiritual matters. This is true because a spiritual infant, living on milk… is inexperienced with the teaching about righteousness. It is not so much that a spiritual “infant” lacks information – though at first he obviously does – but rather that he has not yet learned to put “the teaching about righteousness” to effective use. He lacks the skill which goes with maturity and which results in the ability to make appropriate moral choices. Such ability is exactly what is possessed by those who… have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. That kind of person can handle solid food. Once…
Daily Devotional 2-26-2022
1Co 10:11 CSB These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. God’s dealings with Israel were more than a matter of historical curiosity for Paul. They were examples and warnings for the Corinthians or people like us, the modern days’ Christians, that the God with whom they had to deal, who was bringing His interaction with people to a close in this fulfilment of the ages, was the same God who disciplined the Israelites with death and would do so again.
Daily Devotional 25-2-2022
Rom 15:4 CSB For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. This quotation from the Psalms reminds us that the OT Scriptures were written for our learning. While they were not written directly to us, they contain invaluable lessons for us. As we encounter problems, conflicts, tribulations, and troubles, the Scriptures teach us to be steadfast, and they impart comfort. Thus, instead of sinking under the waves, we are sustained by the hope that the Lord will see us through.
Daily Devotional 2-24-2022
Psa 132:15-18 CSB I will abundantly bless its food; I will satisfy its needy with bread. (16) I will clothe its priests with salvation, and its faithful people will shout for joy. (17) There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. (18) I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown he wears will be glorious.” Actually the Lord answers abundantly all that Solomon requests in this Psalm. There is the added promise of plentiful provisions and of bread for the poor. There is the promise that the priests will be clothed with salvation, not just with righteousness. There is the promise that the saints will shout aloud for joy. There is the promise that the enemies will be clothed with shame. The meaning of verse 17 is that in Jerusalem God will make a powerful King to come…
Daily Devotional 12-17-2021
Psa 37:9-11 CSB For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (10) A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there. (11) But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity. The day is coming when all the wrongs of earth will be righted. At that time the evildoers shall be cut off and the trusting saints will possess all the blessings He has promised. It will not be very long until the wicked vanish from the scene. If you look diligently for them in their usual hangouts your search will be in vain! In that day the meek shall inherit the earth and thoroughly enjoy its unprecedented prosperity. When will that day come? For the church it will begin when the Savior descends into…
Daily Devotional 12-16-2021
Psa 34:8-9 CSB Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! (9) You who are his holy ones, fear the LORD, for those who fear him lack nothing. Those who know the Savior long to share Him with others. Like the four lepers in Samaria, they say, “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we are silent and do not speak up”. And so the evangel rings out, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”