Today's Devotional

When in doubt of direction, hikers almost always consult a compass. If followed correctly it can lead them safely to their destination. If ignored, hikers can be lost forever. As Christians, the Bible is our compass. Just as it would be foolish to ignore a standard compass, it is foolish to ignore the heavenly one. The Bible is always true and will never lead us astray. When in doubt, follow the heavenly compass, whose needle always points true.

Think on These Things...

Thank God not only for what He has done, but for what He will do.

Today's Devotional

Sometimes prospective Christians are driven away by the idea of self-sacrifice. They are frightened by the idea of denying themselves, and are so lost. This is a false idea. Jesus asks us to give up worldly possessions for a robe of righteousness and eternal life. He also promises that what we give up down here, we will receive manifold more in the present time and in the world to come. This is not self-sacrifice; this is a wonderful gift and opportunity shown to us by Christ. We should take advantage of this, and exchange our worthless riches for life everlasting.
Luke 18:29,30 -  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Today's Devotional

We live to glorify God. Never should praise or honor be directed toward us. His mercy, glory, and truth are forever worthy of our honor and praise. God is worthy, and He alone, of our praise.

Psalm 115:1 - Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

Today's Devotional

John 8:7 - So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Those that accused the woman were sinful. They could not place themselves in the position of the righteous judge because they were not righteous. Only He that is without sin can cast stones. Since we are not sinless, that leaves us, yet again, under qualified to judge. The next time you recognize judgmental thoughts, remember: He that is without sin, cast the first stone. 

Today's Devotional

Psalm 86:11 - Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Little children want to do things by themselves. Even if they need help they are determined they can do it “by themselves”. Too often we are like these small children. We want to blaze our own trail “without help”.  In doing this, we stray from the Lord and His plans for us. In our haste to be independent, we leave the Lord’s plans behind.  If you've blazed a trail without the Lord, go back to where you last saw Him, and ask Him to teach you His ways. 

Today's Deovtional

We are quick to judge. We judge based on looks, intelligence, and means. We have no right to do so because we do not understand the standard. The only true way to judge is by understanding the heart and Christ is the only one who can see and understand the heart. Quite simply, because we don’t know we can’t judge. Christ is the righteous judge and all judgment should be left to Him. We are under qualified to judge anyone. Leave the judging to Christ and instead, love your brethren.

Today's Devotional

Many times we do something for others expecting payment in return. The motivation for countless kind deeds can be deemed selfish. Christ does and did not engage in such behavior. When He died to save us, He did so unselfishly. Christ loved us too much to watch us futilely suffer and die here on earth. He deemed our lives more valuable than His. This everlasting love is why we have a chance at heaven. Though we can never repay this love, we can take advantage of it. His salvation and His love are available, free for the asking. It is up to us to ask. 

Today's Deovtional

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.    

Our God cannot be compared to any other. Unlike false gods, He requires nothing of us; rather He would that we would take from Him. He is like a Father, in that, He wishes only for us to prosper and therein will He be glorified. His only requirement of us is that we allow Him to help us prosper. He wants us to take from Him until our cup is full and overflowing; until we beg the gates of heaven to close for we have no more room to receive it. If we serve a God, zealous to give, why then are we not as zealous to receive?

Malachi 4:8 - …prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Today's Devotional

Exodus 12:7 - And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses…

Just as the blood on their doorposts saved Israel from the Angel of Death, that same blood will save you and me. Though this blood cannot be placed on our literal doorposts, it can be placed on the doorposts of our hearts. Death and evil cannot harm us if we are covered with the blood of Jesus.  Jesus died to make this powerful blood free for the asking. Let us take advantage of His offer, and ask the Lord for His blood to cover, save, and protect us today.

Exodus 12:13 - And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Think on These Things...

“The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians—when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.”
- Sheldon Vanauken

Think on These Things...

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On the eve of God's Sabbath, forget not His faithfulness and the beauty of His nature.

Notice

From now on, I will only be posting devotionals 3-4 times a week. I would like to refine my research and writing process and make my devotionals more comprehensive.

Today's Devotional

Why pray for those you do not know?  This question came to me one day, ironically, while I was praying. Immediately my question was answered by Scripture and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

            We are engaged in an epic battle; a battle of good against evil, right against wrong. Each and every person is engaged in this battle, this fight. The devil is throwing temptations and trials at every available opportunity. Each prayer is a defense to help in this fight. Each whisper toward heaven can buoy a spirit in a way we will never understand. So pray; pray for those you do know and those you don’t. Every prayer counts.

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Today's Devotional

As humans we are quick to judge. We judge people based on looks, intelligence, and means. We have no right to judge because we do not understand the standard. The only true way to judge is by understanding the heart and Christ is the only one who can see and understand the heart. Because we don’t know we can’t judge. Christ is the righteous judge and all judgment should be left to Him. We are under qualified to judge anyone. Leave the judging to Christ and love your brethren.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Today's Devotional

Psalm 94:14 - For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

            In America, we have developed a culture that puts more value on possessions than on people.  Individuals are used and discarded like trash, and friends are seen as a means to an end. This is not how things were intended. Christ left us an example that contradicts our very actions. We are his people. He treats us not as we do others, casting us away and using us, but loves us and sacrifices for us. He will not forsake us, as we do Him, for we are the Lord’s inheritance. He has promised that He will never leave or forsake us.  We are His and He is ours.

Romans 11:1- “…Hath God cast away his people? God forbid…”

1 Samuel 12:22 - For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.