October 2012

17 Oct Devotional Thought – Winning The War Within

“Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” 1 John 3:6 As a pastor I’m often asked the same question, just with different words.  The heart of the concern being raised is this, “Is is possible for a Christian to live in victory over sin?” Now, surely if we were to read and heed the songs that we’ve sung since childhood, the answer would be a hearty “yes!” We love to bellow out the words to that great hymn (no matter what arrangement your style of worship dictates), “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!” And we even sing with greater gusto when we come to that victorious verse, “He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free!”

08 Oct Devotional Thought – The Path to Greatness

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You'  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  John 22:15 "Do you love Me more than these?" Jesus was appealing to Peter's primary personality characteristic - his desire to be first. That was the root of his entire being. He was a very ambitious man. In fact, even in the way that he approached his Lord there had been a longing to be first, a hunger for superiority, a desire that he should be singled and pointed out - recognized above all of the other men.  He'd said it. "Command me to come to You on the water." It was his life's motto.

01 Oct Devotional Thought – The Location of Revelation

"...to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles..." Galatians 1:16 Paul is describing for us the processs of his personal salvation - the light of His Lord that he saw from heaven on the road to Damascus. In doing so he gives us a very unique insight regarding the location of that revelation. He tells us that it pleased God "to reveal His son in me."