Pastor Brad’s Notebook

09 Apr Devotional Thought – Easter’s Glory

"concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 1:3-4 In many ways, that first Easter day was an altogether new Christmas day, because it was on that morning that Jesus had His second birth. This second birth of Christ was even more glorious and full of grandeur than His first. His first birth certainly had its disadvantages. However, in spite of what some might think, they were not disadvantages of a lowly manger or smelly stable. Rather, they were the disadvantages of His royal lineage. Those bands of swaddling clothes that wrapped His infant body were not the proof of His poverty. They were the glory of His ancestors since the royal line of David was separated from humanity's main line. However, when Christ came out of that tomb on the first Easter morning He changed His lineage, broke the line of David and identified Himself with the lowliest. His second life didn't stem from Bethlehem, but from the common dust of every city - the city of the dead.

04 Apr Devotional Thought – The Disability of Divine Love

"He saved others, Himself He cannot save." Matthew 27:42 There is a distinct difference, I believe, between inability and incapacity.  Incapacity suggests the absence of power, while inability may actually be derived from the very presence of that power.  Thus, there are two things that may cause a man to say, "I cannot" - too little life and too much life.

02 Apr Devotional Thought – The Sacrifice Of Self

"He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities." Isaiah 53:11 Never before had God seen a soul's travail. Sure, He had received countless offerings of the body as down through the ages sacrificial fires had blazed, torturing their involuntary victims. But, never before had there been the surrender of the human will, the travail of the human soul. Thus the heart of the Heavenly Father was never satisfied until there came One who was willing to delight in doing His will. But when Jesus came all other sacrifices ceased. He came giving nothing but Himself - His very soul. From Bethlehem's manger He poured out His soul unto death. From daybreak to mid-day He climbed the heights of Calvary. One by one He gave up the stages of His being. He surrendered His childhood in subjection, turned over His youth to toil, and delivered His manhood by walking down the Dolorosa. This was the travail of His soul.

28 Mar Devotional Thought – How To Be Holy

"Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth." Hosea 6:3 To "know the Lord" is indeed an audacious aim for a finite soul. Yet, I find that my soul is satisfied with nothing less. Night and day I beat at the walls of my prison. I struggle with the mystery that surrounds my being. I long for the only Light that can make sense of the darkness. I would surely be content just to touch the hem of the Master's garment as He passes by. However, to "know Him," to really "know Him" is no doubt the greatest gift of life everlasting.

26 Mar Devotional Thought – Faith For An Unknown Road

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8 The writer of Hebrews tells us of Abraham's divine call to go forward and found a new nation. In doing so, he teaches us that is a great mistake for us to think that faith is only necessary for heavenly, or spiritual, things. In fact, I find that I can't take a single step without faith in God's plan for my daily life.