1 Peter 1:12 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 20, 2019 “…things which angels desire to look into.” Today’s verse is somewhat haunting to me. Heaven is ablaze with the excitement of redemption, and angels are wondering about a gospel that they can never experience. Yet, on earth we can take it so lightly. The gospel is celebrated in Heaven, and needed on earth. Who else is better at telling the story…Keep Reading

Habakkuk 1-3 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 20, 2019 “LIVING BY FAITH Habakkuk struggled with God’s using a wicked nation to work his divine purpose. God revealed that when they had served his purpose, they would be punished. The dialogue ends with the words “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20). God would judge Judah; God would judge Babylon; God will…Keep Reading

Hebrews 8:12 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 19, 2019 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” The Bristol race is over and a caravan has been leaving because there are other races to run. Some people are left with the task of cleaning up tons of trash that has been left behind at the track and in the campgrounds; it will take a few days….Keep Reading

2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 19, 2019 “A POINT OF NO RETURN” Our readings today are the historical accounts of the same events we have seen in Jeremiah—the refusal of God’s people to repent, the weak and ineffective leaders, the siege of Jerusalem, and its fall. A passage from 2 Chronicles 36:11-16 shows the depth of the nation’s degradation. “Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when…Keep Reading

Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74, 79 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 18, 2019 “WHEN GOD’S MERCY RUNS OUT” God had warned them, but they chose to listen to the false prophets who promised peace. King Nebuchadnezzar began a siege against Jerusalem, which lasted about 18 months. God had said that the nation which would not willingly submit to Babylon would be conquered, resulting in death by the sword, by famine, and by…Keep Reading

Jeremiah 35-37 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 17, 2019 “NOT ALL TRADITIONS ARE BAD” The events in chapters 35-36 took place several years prior to the siege of Jerusalem. The purpose was to contrast the faithfulness of the Rechabites to the instructions of their ancestor with the unfaithfulness of Israel to God: “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of…Keep Reading

Luke 9:57 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 17, 2019 “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” With the plane accident at our airport this week, and all the attention that it has received, we are reminded of a great truth: It doesn’t matter if we are rich and famous, or poor and…Keep Reading

Jeremiah 30-31 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 15, 2019 “THE NEW COVENANT” God had promised that after 70 years in bondage, he would restore Judah to the land (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Chapters 30 and 31 describe in poetic terms the redemption of God’s people. The historical account is recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Jeremiah speaks of a coming new covenant: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when…Keep Reading

1 Corinthians 9:26 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 15, 2019 “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.” I once knew pastor who was a boxer before he was a preacher. Although his conversion was truly life changing he never lost his instinct to throw a punch. There was one man who attributed his salvation to that preacher’s boxing skills….Keep Reading

1 Peter 2:9 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 14, 2019 “But you are…a peculiar people…” Why is it so easy to think of people who are exceptionally happy in their faith as the ones who are a little off? I was in line at the post office, and ahead of me was a strange but delightful lady who was dressed to match a box of crayons. She was behind two men…Keep Reading

Jeremiah 26-29 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, August 14, 2019 “BLOOMING WHERE WE ARE PLANTED” God instructed Jeremiah to make a wooden yoke and wear it around his neck to symbolize God’s will that not only Judah, but surrounding nations submit to the yoke of Babylon. God had the right to require this of the nations because he created the world and all that is in it and gave kingdoms to whomever…Keep Reading

2 Corinthians 4:18 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 13, 2019 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Why Lord, did you choose it to be this way? I can’t see you today, but I know that you are near. Neither can I feel you though you are holding me close. Our…Keep Reading