Archive for the ‘Devotions’ Category

  • 28 Apr

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    WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF GOD

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    “We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.”
    Ezra 5:10, 11

    It was the time of the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity. The progress of building was obvious. The governor of the area and his companions inspected the work and reported their findings to Darius the king. Our Scripture is part of the letter the governor wrote to Darius, describing his visit with the Jews. The governor said, “We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were chief of them.” The governor attempted to get the names of the leaders of the Jews that he might pass this information on to the king. What did these Jews say when they were asked to give the names of their leaders? The reply of the builders was simple and profound, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.”

    What a classic response this is. WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF GOD. We all can learn a lesson from this, a lesson in humility and purpose. This speaks to a problem that is far too prevalent in God’s work today. Pride can enter into God’s service and His servants. We are not in the ministry to make a name for ourselves. That does not make it wrong if someone uses their name, or someone knows our name. But our purpose should never be to promote our name. Our objective is to promote the name of Jesus Christ and advance His work. When Paul wrote the church of Corinth, he rebuked them for their partisan spirit. They were divided over personalities. Some pledged allegiance to Paul, others to Peter, others to Apollos. God called this behavior “carnal” (I Corinthians 3:3-4). When these Jews were asked to give their names, their answer was, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.”

    This should be our attitude; WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF GOD. That is what we are, and that is what we should always be. We are servants. May God help us to be the faithful and humble servants that we should be. It is not important that our names be known, but it is extremely important that His name is known. Let us spend our lives serving Him and serving others.

  • 27 Apr

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    UNTO THE CHURCHES

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    “And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:”
    Galatians 1:2

    One of the greatest discoveries of the Christian life is learning of the importance and role of the Lord’s churches. Paul is writing this epistle as he did numerous others “unto the churches.” It is interesting that people, who claim to love the Bible and live by the Bible, and enjoy the teachings of these same epistles, discount the significance of the very institution to which God gave the revelation.

    There are reasons Paul wrote “unto the churches.” There is much to be pondered and appreciated in the simple statement, “unto the churches.” Why did Paul not write his epistles to individual Christians and post them in a public forum so that believers, independent of any congregation, could find and read them? The answer is simple. God’s plan, according to the Scripture, is to place His children in local congregations for accountability, growth, and service. Paul wrote to the churches because that is where true Christians should be, assembling and worshipping in the place of God’s leading.

    This is the pattern for New Testament spiritual teaching and growth. Jesus promised to meet with His churches when they assembled together. In the Book of Revelation, we see Jesus walking among the candlesticks, which are the churches, and giving His Word to the churches. The churches of the New Testament were independent, local, organized, autonomous, and assembling bodies of believers. Jesus loves His churches. The Bible says, “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). And in love, He speaks to the churches words of comfort and sometimes words of reproof.

    The great responsibility of getting the message of the Gospel to the world was given to His churches. The churches, through their membership and ministries, are to preach, disciple, train, and commission workers. As these churches see people come to Christ through their missionary activities, they in turn establish other indigenous churches, which are to do the same thing. God gifts each of us individually to serve and minister through our church. What a blessing it is to be a member of one of the Lord’s churches! God’s Spirit leads us and adds us to the body of Christ of His choosing, and uniquely uses us for His glory.

  • 26 Apr

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    IS THE LORD’S HAND WAXED SHORT?

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    “And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”
    Numbers 11:23

    The Israelites had just been complaining again, especially about their diet in the wilderness. They were remembering the cuisine of Egypt and were comparing it with the manna they were now being fed. In response, the Lord said that He would give them all the flesh they could eat for an entire month. Moses asked the Lord how this might be done. He told God that there were six hundred thousand footmen, not counting the rest. Moses did not see how they could all be fed. And thus, we come to our Scripture, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”

    What a great question to consider: “Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” Has His power diminished? He formed everything out of nothing. He rained down manna from Heaven and gave them water to drink out of the rock. He divided the Red Sea for them to pass through. Could He not feed them with meat for a month?

    We should ask ourselves this probing question: “Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” Is He not able to provide for us? We know that He fed them with a great abundance of meat. We should know that He can supply our needs as well. There is nothing that God cannot do. He is able to provide for us materially, as we look to Him and trust Him in faith. He is able to supply our emotional needs as well, giving us peace and rest in the midst of the storms of life. He gives us songs in the night and helps us rejoice in our afflictions. He is certainly capable and willing to meet our every spiritual need. He has provided for our every sin to be forgiven. There is no sinner too vile to be saved. His arm is not short that it cannot save.

    He wants us to look to Him in faith and trust Him in prayer. We are too apt to look to the world or to men to supply our needs, when God delights in showing Himself strong when we rely upon Him completely. God said to Moses, “thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” We can trust God’s Word. If He said that He will do it, then we can believe it. We can claim His promises with confidence that His hand is not waxed short.

  • 25 Apr

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    PERFECTING HOLINESS

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    “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
    II Corinthians 7:1

    Our Scripture deals with the subject of holiness, a topic that seems to be overlooked by much of this generation of professing believers, but it is certainly emphasized in the Word of God. The previous chapter introduces the larger context and admonishes us to “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” and then to “come out from among them, and be ye separate” (II Corinthians 6:14, 17). God’s people are called to be a separated people. This context is all devoted to the matter of personal holiness.

    Our text begins with the words, “Having therefore these promises.” The promises that Paul is referring to are also found in II Corinthians 6 and speak of God’s receiving us, His being our Father, and our being His sons and daughters. What precious words these are! God promises a special relationship with those who follow His instruction concerning holiness and Biblical separation. There is a nearness of fellowship experienced by Christians who are willing to separate from those things and those persons that He commands us to distance ourselves from.

    God’s promise should provide the incentive we need to remove things from our lives that displease Him and cleave to the things He approves of. We are called upon to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” The life of the sincere Christian is a continual purging and purifying. The phrase “cleanse ourselves” makes it clear that it is our responsibility to take the initiative in the matter of separation.

    The ultimate goal is holiness. “Perfecting holiness in the fear of God” is the language used. Perfecting means “to further complete.” Holiness is a process that should continue throughout our entire lives. We will never be perfectly holy until we get to Heaven. In the meantime, we are to be separating ourselves more from the things that are not God’s best, and increasingly separating ourselves unto the Lord. We are to be a peculiar people. We are God’s own children. He is our Father. This world is not our home. His goal for our lives is to make us more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and less like our unconverted selves. It is our privilege and responsibility to cooperate with Him in this process.

  • 24 Apr

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    PREACHING THAT PROFITS

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    “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it,
    according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.”

    Ezra 6:14

    Like anything that is worthwhile, the rebuilding of the temple faced opposition. In an amazing demonstration of God’s sovereign power, Cyrus the king of Persia commissioned the work to begin. When the adversaries of Judah heard that the construction had begun, they sought ways to hinder the work. These enemies were
    eventually successful in getting the work to stop. What was it that revived the work of building? It was the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah that motivated the workers to continue. Our text gives us this record, “the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.”

    What a testimony to the power and influence of preaching! It was the proclamation of truth that inspired the workers to return to the work and finish the project. Thank God for the way He uses the simple, truthful, and powerful preaching of the Bible. Preaching should stir us to understanding, to commitment, and to action. The idea that preaching should have no noticeable affect on our belief or behavior is foreign to the Scriptures. As a matter of fact, we are warned not to be hearers only, but doers of God’s Word. The purpose of preaching is not to entertain or pacify, but rather to rally our hearts to obedience and service.

    How is preaching changing our lives? How is it changing our conduct? We need PREACHING THAT PROFITS. We need preaching that stirs us to repentance and challenges us to obedience. The people of Judah had been discouraged and defeated. Their adversaries were intent on hindering their work. When one method of interference did not succeed, the enemies came with another. We all face similar setbacks in the work of God. At times, you may have wondered if it is worth it to keep striving for the work to go forward. What can help us to stay focused and not lose our focus in times of difficulty? Remain faithful to the preaching services, and let God’s Word stir us to faith and action.

  • 23 Apr

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    THERE STOOD BY THE CROSS OF JESUS

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    “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”
    John 19:25

    There has been no darker day in human history than the one described in our text. The Son of God, Emmanuel, Jesus our Savior is suspended between earth and Heaven, as the crucified Lamb of Glory. The powers of darkness are having their day as they do everything possible to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ. The noonday sky grows black as the Light of the World is dying on the cross. While Jesus looks down from Golgotha, what does He see in the way of supporters? “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

    Standing by the cross of Jesus was His mother, so near as to hear Him speak. She watched her Son in such agony and saw Him endure such insult and rejection. She herself was exposed to great danger in the midst of this hateful mob. And yet, she “stood by the cross of Jesus.” No doubt she needed to be near Him because He was her Son, but she also needed to be near Him because He was her Savior. Here we find loyalty in its highest form. Nothing could pull these women from the side of their Savior and Friend.

    Where were all of the disciples at this time? Where were those who boasted loud of their faithfulness and promised that nothing could sever them from the side of Jesus? As the Scripture said, all the disciples forsook Him and fled, except John. They ran when the tide of popularity turned against them. They scattered when their King was crowned with thorns and ran when the crowds cried, “Crucify Him!” Yet, “there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.”

    It might be a somber thing to ask, but perhaps we should consider it. “What would it take for us to abandon Jesus?” Would we remain true to Him no matter what may come? Where would we have been standing on that day of great agony? This scene brings to mind the times we, too, have failed to be loyal to Christ and those who stand with Him. Let it encourage us to be true to our Lord. It is wonderful when family and friends are with us, supporting the Savior’s cause. But it is quite different when those standing with us are far fewer in number. Whatever life brings, may we be found “by the cross of Jesus.”

  • 22 Apr

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    THE PURPOSE OF PRESSURE

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    “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.”
    Exodus 1:11, 12

    Why does God allow pressure and difficulty to come to His children? We can be sure that He has a purpose, and one of these purposes is seen in our Scripture. The children of Israel lived in Egypt for centuries. Long after the death of Joseph and Pharaoh, a new king came into power that was concerned about the number and might of the Israelites. In an effort designed to slow the growth of the Israelite nation and subdue this people, “they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.” To bring these people safely under his control, the king would use force. However, the plan of the king of Egypt resulted in just the opposite. Instead of weakening the Israelites, it strengthened them: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.”

    Resistance and pressure can actually be a catalyst that produces character. We see the same affect in the New Testament with the persecution of the churches. Rather than destroy the churches, opposition scattered them, only multiplying their message and influence. When the church at Jerusalem was threatened and beaten, they prayed for help and boldness and grew more determined than ever to carry out the Great Commission.

    All of us are going to face pressure and trials during our lives. It may come in the form of persecution, resistance, false accusations, disappointments, betrayal, or any of many other types of opposition. What will that pressure do? Why would God allow it? He uses pressure to make us stronger. He uses difficulty to build character in our lives.

    When we study the history of Baptists throughout the centuries, we see that they were almost always a persecuted people. Every imaginable religious group has hated them. They even faced intense persecution in the early days of our nation. However, these pressures have not succeeded in stamping out the presence of these faithful witnesses. True Christians have historically responded to difficulty with faith and determination. It could be said that pressure is often the thing that actually proves the sincerity of true believers.

  • 21 Apr

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    OUR PRAYER IS HIS DELIGHT

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    “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
    Proverbs 15:8

    Is every sacrifice acceptable to God? No, the “sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.” We can readily think of multitudes of empty rituals and false religions that offer sacrifices that are not pleasing to God. What about those terrorists who slaughter in the name of their religion? Can God be pleased with such? Or, what about those through the centuries who have burned alive those who believed in Scriptural baptism? Are these executioners pleasing to God? We ought to think of those religious hypocrites who insisted on the crucifixion of our Savior. We know that their religious sacrifices were “an abomination to the LORD.” What about the growing numbers of deceived cult members who deny the deity of Christ yet sacrifice greatly for their false doctrine? God is not pleased with the “sacrifice of the wicked.”

    What is it that brings delight to the Lord? We are reminded here, “the prayer of the upright is his delight.” God is delighted in the prayerful communication of those who walk uprightly before Him. The “upright” are those who have trusted in the blood of Calvary’s Lamb as the payment for sin and are seeking to walk in obedience to His Word. God delights to hear our voices lifted up in prayer. The great God of the universe takes special pleasure in fellowship with His children. This fact ought to compel us to make time to commune with Him.

    Could it be possible that God would be delighted in something we do? There is no doubt. He enjoys our time of prayer with Him. He wants us to love Him and spend time with Him. He wants us to need Him and include Him in our plans and decisions. He wants us to thank Him for His guidance and blessing in our lives, recognizing Him as the Giver of every good gift. He is pleased when we praise Him for His greatness and remember His attributes. It delights Him when we look to Him for our strength and wisdom. He is pleased when we come to Him and confess our failings, claiming the cleansing that can only come from Him. He wants us to ask Him to do things and provide things that would be in accordance with His will. He is pleased when we resign ourselves to His care, trusting completely in His love.

  • 20 Apr

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    EVERY MAN

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    “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
    II Corinthians 9:7

    In some respects, the specifics of God’s will for each of our lives is going to differ. But in other ways, He wants the same thing for each of us. Our text begins with the words, “Every man.” There are certain things that God would have true in every one of us. This passage of Scripture is part of a larger context that gives great instruction on the subject of “grace giving.” Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church explains in detail how each of us is to trust the Lord to guide us as we give. For “every man,” this is a decision to be involved in giving, as stated, “so let him give.”

    Certainly God enables some people to give more than others, but He wants all of us to be involved in giving to His work. If He so desired, God could finance all of His work without our participation, but He has chosen to use us. One of the reasons He uses us as He does is for our benefit. It is good for us to be givers. It is not to our advantage to be selfish or stingy.

    Also, this should be a spiritual decision for every man because our giving should be “as he purposeth in his heart.” We should seek the Lord about it and let Him guide us in our hearts as we purpose to give. Grace giving is not giving what we think we can afford, or comparing our giving to that of others. It is a matter that we trust God to lead us in. Then God would have “every man” give willingly, “not grudgingly, or of necessity.” If a person gives something because he feels forced to, it will not be the offering of love that God desires. He wants our giving to be from a heart that is willing. In addition, He wants “every man” to be a “cheerful giver.” Giving should bring great joy to the heart of the giver. It is an expression of love.

    God wants to include “every man” in His great work. There is something for all of us to do. In our churches, God wants us to be involved in serving and giving. He wants to use each of us individually for the overall good. What a difference it would make if every church member were doing his part! Every person could be praying, serving, giving, witnessing, and loving. This is God’s design. There should be no freeloaders in the Lord’s army. “Every man” has a contribution to make.

  • 19 Apr

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    INSINCERE REPENTANCE

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    “And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.”
    Jeremiah 3:10

    In the verses prior to this, the Lord is comparing the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel with that of Judah. He called Israel to repent, to turn to Him, and yet she did not hearken to Him. Our text tells us “Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly.” Judah’s repentance was incomplete. The word “feignedly” means “with falsehood, a sham, or deceitful.” Judah’s repentance was not sincere, but only hypocrisy. It was a show, a display, but not a reflection of what was truly in her heart. She did not turn to the Lord “with her whole heart.”

    We might call this INSINCERE REPENTANCE. The nation of Judah exhibited only half-hearted repentance and did not turn to the Lord completely, only partially. They still wanted their sin. Their hearts were still in love with the idolatry and spiritual adultery that had plagued them. They were not fully persuaded as to the wickedness of their sin and the worthiness of the Lord for their complete obedience. INSINCERE REPENTANCE means that a person is not fully convinced about his decision. He is not completely devoted to God, and he does not fully abhor his sin. Therefore, his repentance is not complete. This person is double-minded or undecided.

    In order for our repentance to be sincere and acceptable, we must genuinely want to forsake our sin and turn to the Lord. A person who still wants his sin more than he wants fellowship with God is not repentant. Repentance includes a change in one’s mind. That change of mind is both toward sin and toward God. He can say the right words and even appear to be repentant externally, but still it is not settled in his heart. A show of reformation is sometimes confused with repentance, but time will reveal the difference. It may look like repentance, but God sees the heart. He knows the difference.

    Repentance does not mean that we have turned from every sin and will never sin again. This would be sinless perfection, which is a state at which we will never completely arrive in this life. INSINCERE REPENTANCE is hypocrisy. It is trying to be one thing before others that is not true in our hearts. God is looking for those who are sincere and whole-hearted in their worship as well as their service.

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