Weekly Devo

  “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  (Titus 2:14 NKJV)               You have been blessed. No, do not do it. You did it, didn’t you? You looked around or thought of others and said, “But they have more . . .” Forget that worldly concept of blessings. Blessings are more than material things. They can be love, warmth, friendship, hugs, and more. See, you have been blessed. Others need those blessings too. If you do not give to them, then who will? “The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away” (Dorothy Day). Christ understood that, showed it to us, and taught us that. Giving is extremely important.

   (Matthew 13:45-46) The pearl of great price presents some valuable lessons. We need to be seeking what is valuable. We need to be willing to pay for it when we find it. Obviously, we are not talking about earthly riches. The Kingdom is the most valuable thing on earth. We need to wake up and realize that all the shiny pretty little things around us are but tin cans compared to eternal life with God. We need to be willing to give up these earthly trinkets. Pearls and treasure peak our interest. Even those images in these parables do not do justice to what awaits God’s children. Will you sell it all for it? You need to.

                                                   (Matthew 13:33) We often think that life is full of these enormous events with monstrous changes. The reality is that it’s the little things. Things like making your bed when you wake up or whether you ignored a phone call. Most of the time people are not in a bad mood over an event but a series of events. Just think about it. You wake up, but you’re out of tooth paste. Then you can’t find your socks. The car is low on fuel. Then there is a wreck on the way to work. You missed your morning meeting. By the end of the day with events like this you’re livid. We understand it in that context. Why do we struggle to understand it spiritually. It only takes one “little” sin to cause us to fall from grace. It’s not the day we wake up and come back that it all happened, it’s been happening. The same is true to grow in...

Mark 4:30-32 It’s a small faith we have when we become God’s children. That wee little faith can tackle long-standing governments, topple armies, change nations, and bring the world to its knees. It does this because it’s not supposed to stay small. Oh, no! This faith is to grow in the hearts of men to the point it’s the largest thing around. That is for each soul that obeys the gospel.       We are talking about each soul in the kingdom that has the faith to stand against Goliath, Pharaoh, build arks, and die on crosses. That is an incredible thought. It’s breathtaking to think that kind of faith resides in every soul that worships on the first day of the week. Do you have that faith?                                

  A young boy went to sea to find a new world and a new life at an incredibly young age. He wanted to leave the awful life he had behind. He traveled to far off wonderous places and saw things that are only in myths. He was always at the mercy of the seas and the currents that drive them. One day he came about to a port he had not been to before. He left the ship to enjoy the sights and life of the locals as was his custom. This time he fell in love with the place. This little quant sea town was just so pleasant. After years being at sea he felt it was time to leave his sea legs behind. He found a little cottage that overlooked the port town and made him a home. One day he was taking a walk and managed to stroll by the town cemetery. Something caught his eye. It was an old gravestone, but it had a very funny name engraved on it. The man was very perplexed because it was his last name. Under close inspection he realized the truth. It was his family that lay there. Without realizing ...

Romans 13:4; Acts 23:12-24         Don’t be afraid to call on your government for protection. It is there to take care of those who do good. We may call on this God ordained authority to aid us in our time of danger and threat. It is there to protect the good from evil and punish evil. Don’t be afraid to use your governmental rights to protect you and your family. Do not forsake those freedoms. The use of that liberty may further the gospel while it protects you from the evils of the world.                                                                  

John 3:14-17 The part of the Godhead, Christ, had a special purpose. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He was God in human form and now is God the Son in the transfigured form. He bound Himself in the limits of the flesh to be the sacrifice for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11). His mission was to be our sin sacrifice that we may have salvation by His blood (Revelation 1:5). I am glad He accomplished this mission, aren’t you?