Devotionals

26 Oct Devotional Thought – When We Need His Armor The Most

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:13  This seems to be a very odd ending to such a blatant battle cry. Normally the soldier is told to gear up, get ready, for the battle by putting on his armor, but here he's told to gear up to do nothing more than stay back in the camp. This seems to be a very strange statement. One would naturally consider the hard part of the Christian life to be the day of battle, the hour of the conflict. Paul, however, takes a different view. He see the difficult day, the time of testing to be that which comes after the fight has ended.

19 Oct Devotional Thought – The Sabbath’s Blessing

"Thus says the LORD: "Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day..." Jeremiah 17:21 Have you ever stopped to really consider why God forbade the Jews to work on the Sabbath? You might think it to be some sort of a punishment - an act of penance that was just a part of their ritualistic religion. However, I think it was for just the opposite reason. I don't think that this command was intended to associate the seventh day with a dead ritual. Rather, I believe that it was designed to connect the Sabbath with the brightness of God's presence and the rest of His pleasure. That's why the Lord said that they were to "bear no burden on the Sabbath day." This command wasn't meant to be a punishment. It was intended to be a privilege - a sort of sacred holiday for His special people.

17 Oct Devotional Thought – Why God Hides His Face

"He covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it." Job 26:9 What a startling statement. God Himself hides His sovereignty. Now, I can understand why God would hide His beauty, because any picture is made up of both light strokes and dark strokes. It even makes sense that He would hide His plans and purposes because in our finite, ignorant minds we might not understand the benefit found in them. But what sense is to be found in the hiding of His sovereignty?

10 Oct Devotional Thought – Blessed By Missed Oportunities

"Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield!" Isaiah 21:5 "Anoint the shield!" As I study the Bible I find that a shield is a very special and unique piece of the armor of God. It's not a strength for catastrophe, it is that thing which keeps catastrophe from falling on me. The power of my arm may enable me to bear, but it is my shield which enables me to escape having to bear. My power is that which lifts me to my feet when the blow falls, but my shield keeps the blow from falling on me. My power supports what is already, but it is my shield that defends against what would have been. 

03 Oct Devotional Thought – The Spirit As Herald To Holiness

"And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Romans 8:10 The true test of whether a person is in Christ, Paul says, is not found in the body, but the Spirit. He tells us that after Christ comes into a person's life, the body may for a while remain dead. In other words, the body's bad habits from the past may not immediately die. However, even in the middle of what would seem to be the cold remains of winter there will already be a harbinger of Spring. The body may still be dead, but the Spirit will be alive.

28 Sep Devotional Thought – The Lord’s Use Of Adversity

"What profit is it that we...have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts?" Malachi 3:14 What profit is there in walking mournfully? None. The only thing that truly profits a man is joy. You see, the advantage to sorrow's fire is not found in the things that are consumed, but rather in those things that it cannot consume. So, the best and most beneficial use of adversity is for it to reveal the one thing that it cannot take way - my joy.