ADDICTION JANUARY 1 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 16:13-24 Key Verse: I Corinthians 16:15- “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”
Key Words: addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints
The word addicted means “to be devoted to, to have turned oneself over to something body, soul, and spirit.” Today we live in a world of addictions...addiction to pornography, tobacco, alcohol, sex, sports, food, etc. What is needed today is an addiction to the ministry of God...to serving God.
A shepherd one night when the storm was fierce, counting his sheep that had gathered into the fold, found that two were missing. Going to the kennel where his shepherd dog was lying with her young, he pointed to the wilderness which was ever growing darker, and said, “Two sheep are missing, go.” She looked a moment at her little ones, then up into her master’s face, and hurried away into the night, and came back with one of the sheep that was lost. The storm had grown fiercer and the night darker, and the shepherd came again to his dog and pointing out, said once more, “One sheep is missing, go.” Looking down once more at her crying little ones and up into her master’s face with mute despair, she arose and hurried away. Hours passed by, and the shepherd heard a scratching at his hut door. Going forth he found the dog, and she had the sheep that was lost. Leaving the same at her master’s feet she staggered back to her little ones, and fell dead at the kennel door. When I read this story, I said, oh, the shame of it; here is a dumb brute, with never a thought of God, and never a hope of heaven, obedient to her master’s command when he speaks but a word, and we have permitted our Master with nailpierced hands, spear-thrust side, and thorn-crowned brow to plead and plead again, and we have refused to do His bidding. Let us catch one glimpse of His face anew, and go where He would send us. Let us commit ourselves this year to be addicted to God and the things of God.
What to do: ✞ We all have an addiction. It’s just that most of them are sinful. Commit yourself to God. Be addicted to Him.
ALIENS JANUARY 2 Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:14-24 Key Verse: Ephesians 4:18- “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
Key Words: being alienated
Being an alien means to be a foreigner, someone in a strange land. I have been to South America, Asia, Europe, and other foreign lands. I did not fit in. I didn’t speak the same language. I didn’t know my way around. I didn’t understand their laws or their financial system. While I didn’t mind being an alien, I will confess I was ready to get home. The Bible declares us as believers to be aliens. We are strangers in a foreign land. We don’t speak the same language. We aren’t used to the world system, their laws, or their love for money. We desire a better place...we desire home. There is a beautiful story of a couple who had given their lives to the Lord in doing the work of missions. After many years they came home by ship. Upon their arrival in New York harbor, they saw the massive crowd cheering with joy to see their loved ones. As they left the ship, they watched as other passengers were greeted with hugs and kisses and a cheerful “welcome home!” After several minutes the crowd cleared out and the couple stood all alone, no one to greet them or make them feel welcome. In discouragement the man said to his wife, “All those years of service and no one is here to welcome us back.” His wife looked at him, smiled, and said, “But, dear, we aren’t home yet.” In this world we are aliens, but praise be to God we aren’t home yet! But we will be one day!
What to do: ✞ Always remember, you aren’t home yet!
THE BELLY JANUARY 3 Bible Reading: Philippians 3:13-21 Key Verse: Philippians 3:19- “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
Key Words: whose God is their belly
The word belly refers to the stomach, but the spiritual application of the word belly means “the nature of man.” So Paul says in verse 19 that it is the very nature of man to mind earthly things. With that in mind, you read about Jonah who went down into the belly of the whale. It’s the very nature of man to go down, not up. According to John 7:38, when the Word of God lives within us, out of our belly or our nature will flow “living water.” • It’s not the nature of a duck to bark. • It’s not the nature of a dog to purr. • It’s not the nature of a cow to quack. • It’s not the nature of a cat to moo. • It’s not the nature of a snake to oink. • It’s not the nature of a pig to hiss. It’s not the nature of a lost man to do right. That only comes by having your belly filled with Jesus Christ; only then can you be totally satisfied and full.
What to do: ✞ Remember, your actions tell you what you are full of. ✞
THE CLOSET Bible Reading: Luke 12:1-12
JANUARY 4
Key Verse: Luke 12:3- “Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
Key Words: that which you have spoken in the ear in closets
The word closet means “a place of retirement.” While it can be a place for storage, its primary meaning means a place of solace, rest, a place to retire from the pressures of the world – a secret place.
You find the word closet or a form of the word three times in Scripture: once in
the Old Testament in Joel 2:16, in Matthew 6:6, and in our text in Luke 12:3. In Joel 2:16 the bride is ordered out of her secret place. There comes a time to come out from our secret place and go into the world to fight the Lord’s battles. In Matthew 6:6 we are to enter into our closet, shut the world out, and talk to God. In Luke 12:3 God sees us even in our secret place.
But the primary idea of a closet is a secret place of retirement where we go to
rest and spend time alone with God. Do you have that secret place of solace where you get alone with God? Some time back one of my grandchildren was unusually quiet. Normally that means trouble, so my wife and I began the search looking for a missing grandchild. To be honest with you, I confess to thinking, “Why am I looking for this grandchild when I am enjoying the peace and quiet of the moment?” Eventually we did find her in the front yard in a place surrounded by azaleas. In the center of these azaleas is a bare spot, just the right size to sit and be alone. My wife and I saw the grandchild enjoying the peace of being alone with her and her doll. You could tell that she was in a place of peace, and thoroughly enjoying the moment. That’s a closet. Do you have one where you and God can meet?
What to do: ✞ Remember, he who does not retire to his prayer closet will retreat in confusion.
CONCUPISCENCE JANUARY 5 Bible Reading: Romans 7:1-9 Key Verse: Romans 7:8- “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.”
Key Words: all manner of concupiscence
The word concupiscence means “a longing for that which is forbidden.” Paul tells us in Colossians 3:5 to mortify (put to death) concupiscence. We are told in I Thessalonians 4:5 that concupiscence comes when we fail to sanctify ourselves to God. In our text Paul tells us that concupiscence comes in all forms of evil.
I read a story once about a well-to-do family. They had several maids and
servants: one servant for cleaning – one for cooking. They had one whose sole responsibility was to watch their one child. The mother heard the child crying one day and called out to the child’s private tutor, “Why is my son crying?” The maid responded, “He has found something that he wants, and I will not let him have it!” The mother then called back in a rather stern voice and said, “Let my son have what he wants!” For a moment there was silence, and then suddenly a loud painful scream. The mother went running to check on her son and found the maid kneeling beside him on the outside deck. The mother inquired, “What’s wrong with my son?” to which the maid responded, “You said to give him what he wanted. He wanted a wasp and he got it!” You can long for that which is forbidden. You may even get it; but like the prodigal son, Achan, David, and Adam and Eve, you’ll be sorry you did!
What to do: ✞ Remember that worldly desires are like a cancer. They’ll eat away at you and slowly kill you.
THE WOMAN AND THE ANGEL JANUARY 6 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 11:1-16 Key Verse: I Corinthians 11:10- “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
Key Words: because of the angels
Now, I readily admit that verse 10 is a difficult verse. Most commentators that
I read say so...that it is a difficult verse to understand, and thus a quiet departure to verse 11. As you read the entire portion of Scripture, you find Paul constantly giving a chain of command: God – Christ – man – woman – angels. You also find that it would be an insult to the man for a woman to leave her head uncovered. The covered head of a woman was a sign of her submission to authority, so she covered her head to show her submission to God, Christ, and man. But when it comes to the angels, she has power over her own head because she is higher than the angels. So the principle is that the covered head of the woman showed her submission to those who were over her.
Now, today we do not practice the covering of the head for the woman, but the
principle of submission for the woman is still in place. She is to submit to God and her husband, not with outward covering but with a meek and quiet heart. “Let it be the hidden man of the heart,” I Peter 3:4. Now, I know in this day of women’s rights that a devotional like this may not sit well for some; but it is still a Bible truth. Some years ago I was teaching a Sunday School class on the subject of Biblical submission. I asked one of the ladies to read Ephesians 5:22. She looked at me and said, “That verse is not in my Bible.” I thought she was kidding until she said for the third time, “That verse is not in my Bible.” So I promptly went and looked in her Bible, and sure enough, it was not there. She had cut the verse out of her Bible. That not only showed her disrespect for God’s Word, but it also was a reflection on her relationship both with God and her husband; and it revealed the “hidden man of the heart” as well. You could correctly say it revealed volumes about her spirit. It would do us all well to remember that man is better than the angels, but we are not better than God. Our life should reflect this through our actions and attitude.
What to do: ✞ Reflect God through your submissive spirit to Him.
A DECLARATION JANUARY 7 Bible Reading: Esther 10 and Job 13:17-28 Key Verse: Esther 10:2- “And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?”
Key Words: and the declaration
The word declaration means “to fully cover a subject, primarily in writing.” You find the word declaration on four occasions in God’s Word. The first time
is Esther 10. We hear a declaration has been written about Mordecai. Secondly in Job 13, we read about Job defining what he is experiencing going through the trials of life. Next, we find the word in Luke 1:1 where Dr. Luke covers Jesus’ life as the Son of God. Last of all, we read about a declaration in II Corinthians 8. It is here we read where Paul is reminding them of the promise to give to the church at
Jerusalem. He reminds them that they put the thoughts of their mind into a written declaration, but as of yet they had not fulfilled their declaration. Declarations are not a common thing we speak about; unless, of course, it is our own “Declaration of Independence.” Some time back I was talking with one of the students in our Christian school, and they were making some verbal promises. After they had finished with their exhortation, I asked them to put these promises into a written form of declaration. I asked that they sign it, which they did. Now, you may wonder why I required it in writing. Years of experience have taught me that you can change what you say but you can’t change a comment you have put in writing. It is forever a blessing or a curse. So the next time you or I make a declaration to God, maybe we should put it in writing, not because God will forget, but so we can remember.
What to do: ✞ Remember, God has given us His declaration. It is called the Bible. We would do well to claim it and live by it.
DETERMINATION JANUARY 8 Bible Reading: II Chronicles 2:1-10 Key Verse: II Chronicles 2:1- “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.”
Key Words: And Solomon determined to build an house
Determination is defined as having a fixed purpose. I define determination as setting our face like a flint to accomplish a goal. Solomon was determined to build God a house so he set out to accomplish what he was determined to do. If we are to be successful for God, it will take many things...determination is one of them. Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. “I get up when I fall down,” said Harvey. The 1992 Summer Olympics featured two tremendously poignant moments. American sprinter Gail Devers, the clear leader in the 100-meter hurdles, tripped over the last barrier. She agonizingly pulled herself to her knees and crawled the last five meters, finishing fifth – but finishing. Even more heart-rending was the 400-meter semifinal in which British runner Derek Redmond tore a hamstring and fell to the track. He struggled to his feet and
began to hobble, determined to complete the race. His father ran from the stands to help him off the track, but the athlete refused to quit. He leaned on his father, and the two limped to the finish line together, to deafening applause. People who are not determined are constantly looking for and using every excuse to quit and not complete their task. I challenge you today: be determined to find the course to which God has called you.
What to do: ✞ Remember, winners never quit and quitters never win.
THE EARTHY Bible Reading: I Corinthians 15:45-58
JANUARY 9
Key Verse: I Corinthians 15:47- “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”
Key Words: The first man is of the earth, earthy
Earthy – now that’s a word we don’t use everyday. I would venture to say we
seldom, if ever, use this word. The word, when understood correctly, is not a compliment. It means dirty, rubbish, heap of trash. Man in his normal state without Jesus Christ as Savior is dirty, rubbish, a heap of trash. While we get upset at the lost for the filthy language and lifestyle, they are simply doing what comes naturally for them because they are earthy. My wife and I visited New York City some time back. There were many sights and sounds, and to be honest, we did have an enjoyable time seeing the city together. I do remember on one occasion seeing a homeless man digging through the trash. He found an old partial cup of coffee, and to our amazement, sat down on the sidewalk and began to sip away as if he had just bought a fresh cup of Starbucks coffee. After finishing his coffee, he then found a partial cigarette, borrowed a light from a passerby, and puffed away for a few seconds, and then walked away into an alley. He was dirty, defiled, and lived his life as a dirty, defiled man. But the homeless man is simply a picture of all natural men who are addicted to this earth...with its pornography, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and immorality. They may be clean on the outside but they are earthy on the inside. The only way that we can change is through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the
blood of the Lamb? If not, why not today and then you can cry out, as did Paul, in I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What to do: ✞ Make your choice today to accept the heavenly lifestyle rather than the earthy.
EXECUTE OR EXECUTION Bible Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
JANUARY 10
Key Verse: Exodus 12:12- “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.”
Key Words: I will execute judgment
The word execute can be broken down as follows: exe - a suffix meaning “a plan or a manner”; cute – meaning “dainty or beautiful.” So the word means to carry out a plan of beauty or a plan to make beautiful. There are two specific types of execute. There is the act of executing a business transaction, and there is executing or carrying out a judgment. In our text we find God executing an act of judgment in order that His people could be free. Now while the atheist, agnostic, and skeptic asks: How could a loving God do such an act? I answer with two quick thoughts: God warned them; and secondly, God always watches out for His people. If someone were persecuting your children, what would you do? I doubt if any of us would sit back and say, “As a person of love, I can’t in any way harm those who are harming my children!” That’s nonsense. We would respond quickly and forcefully. We would execute judgment harshly. When judgment is not executed, injustice prevails. Some years ago in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a homeless man was caught shoplifting in a local grocery store. The store decided to prosecute the homeless man. The media picked up the story and began to run it on the news through the printed, radio, and television media. The media took the side of the homeless man and, as a result, the people protested against the grocery store. The judge, under tremendous pressure,
found in favor of the homeless man – to the delight of the media and people of the city. The next day the paper’s headlines read, “Righteous Judgment – Homeless Man is Freed!” Now the story doesn’t end there. Many homeless people picked up on the story and how one of their own was freed. Within the next week over two dozen homeless people were arrested for shoplifting. Why? Because the execution of judgment was not carried out. They became ugly in a hurry, rather than “beautiful.” Strangely enough, the execution of judgment produces order and beauty.
What to do: ✞ All that we do, even in our execution of discipline, must be done in love.
FASHION JANUARY 11 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 7:20-31 Key Verse: I Corinthians 7:31- “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”
Key Words: for the fashion of this world passeth away
The word fashion means “to mold externally, to desire to be like.” I marvel that so many today fashion themselves after the world. The interesting thing about I Corinthians 7 is that divorce was rampant. The idea is that those in the church were divorcing because it was the fashion of the world to divorce. But it’s not just divorce that we fashion ourselves after. It’s our dress, our pleasures, and our desires, all of which are fashioned by this world. Some years ago, there was a creepy crawler oven set (which is still made today). You could take the mold of a spider, roach, snake, etc. and put the plastic mix in to the mold of one of the creepy crawlers, put it into the oven for ten minutes, then let it cool for around thirty minutes, and when you removed your creepy crawler, you would have a spitting image of that particular creepy crawler. That’s a good picture of that word fashion – to be made exactly into the image of. The problem with fashion is that it changes continually. Eventually all worldly fashion fades away, but aren’t you glad that we can know that Jesus Christ will
always be the same? So let’s fashion our lives – internally, externally – after the fashion set for us by Jesus. Amen!
What to do: ✞ Remember, today’s worldly fashion is tomorrow’s joke. Don’t believe it? Two words will change your mind: leisure suits!
YOUR ESTATE JANUARY 12 Bible Reading: Jude verses 1-10 Key Verse: Jude 6- “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Key Words: And the angels which kept not their first estate
The word estate primarily means a piece of property and all that goes along with it -- those possessions that are attached or go with that property. Have you ever read a sign that says “Estate Sale?” They probably do not mean the house is for sale but all the possessions in the house are for sale. It’s interesting that we read in Colossians 4:8, “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.” The context of Colossians 4:8 is that Onesimus was a servant of Philemon, and had taken some of his possessions which may have left Philemon in somewhat of a tight place financially. In Romans 12:16 we are told to “...condescend to men of low estate.” So let me ask you: What is the value of your heavenly estate? We are told in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The rich farmer in Luke 12 knew a lot about possessions, things, estate, but Jesus called him a fool. James Parker writes about a fool when he says a fool is opposite of the wise. Fool means the short-term self-indulgence which marks out the person who doesn’t
think about long-term priorities and goals but lives on a day-to-day basis asking what is the most fun thing to do now. All this raises the question: Is your earthly estate worth more than your heavenly estate?
What to do: Re-evaluate your values and goals in life. Write down the top ten things in your life and then compare them to the Scriptures.
FETTERS Bible Reading: II Chronicles 33:10-17
JANUARY 13
Key Verse: II Chronicles 33:11- “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”
Key Words: and bound him with fetters
Fetters in the Bible are symbolic of being bound. In our text Manasseh and Israel are bound in sin. In Mark 5 the maniac of the Gadarenes was a mad man bound in sin.
Some years ago while visiting with my parents in South Alabama, my brother and I decided to go over to Mobile Bay to do some fishing. The sheephead were biting and neither of us could resist. So early one morning with rod and reel, bait and tackle in hand, we headed out on our fishing expedition. Upon arriving at the bay, I noticed that from where I was going to park, it was quite a distance from where we would be fishing. I also noticed that others had driven their vehicles down to the bay. My brother also informed me that Dad would drive all the way down to the water as well – so off we went. When we came upon a large sand trap, I looked at my brother and inquired again, “Are you sure Dad drove all the way down to the bay?” “Absolutely!” he said. So I put the car in first gear and pushed on the accelerator and off we went. About half-way through the sand trap, my car became stuck and would not budge. Looking at my brother, I said, “Dad drove all the way down to the bay?” “Yes,” he again replied, but then added, “He goes around the sand trap.” It took us hours to get the car out. We were bound. So it is with the fetters of sin: it binds you, traps you, and keeps you from moving forward for God’s glory.
I challenge you to stay away from “the sin which doth so easily beset” you or
you’ll find yourself bound with fetters.
What to do: ✞ Walk in the Spirit and you’ll not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
THE GATES JANUARY 14 Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 12:1-16
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 12:12- “And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.”
Key Words: that is within your gates
Gate means an entrance and exit, but symbolically gate represents things. For
example, in Psalm 118:19 we find the “gates of righteousness.” There are the “gates of death” found in Job 38:17. In the old city of Jerusalem you find the “fish gate,” a place where the fishermen would gather. The “sheep gate” – you guessed it – where the sheep and shepherds gather. There are the “gates of prison,” the “gates of the palace,” and the “gates of the temple.” But the gates are symbolic of where you are at this present moment in your life. As I think about gates, I think about where I stand in life...at what gate am I today...the gate of anger, depression, diligence, Godliness? I met a man once who lived his life at the gates of excellence. I smile thinking of what happened when I had my oil changed recently. I knelt down and watched as the mechanic took a section off underneath my truck that I’d never seen taken off before, though I had had the oil changed by other mechanics. I asked, “Hey, what are you doin’ down there?” He looked at me and said “You the owner?” I said, “Yup!” He said, “Well, this ought to be taken off and cleaned every eight to ten thousand miles. When he finally got it off, it was gunky-looking underneath. He took a rag and he wiped it all off. Then he put this shield back on underneath where nobody would ever see what he had done. And I said, “You always wipe all that off underneath there?” He said, “Yup!” I said, “Nobody’ll ever
see it.” “I do”...excellence in his work. And guess where I’m going next time to have my oil changed and a lube job done? So at what gate are you in your life? I hope and pray it’s a gate where God gets the glory from your life.
What to do: ✞ The narrow gate is the best gate (Matthew 7:14).
HARDNESS Bible Reading: Mark 3:1-12
JANUARY 15
Key Verse: Mark 3:5- “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”
Key Words: hardness of their hearts
The word hardness is used six times in the New Testament. Five of the six times it refers to the heart. The word hardness is often defined incorrectly. We define the word as being “as a rock, can’t break through.” The word literally carries the idea of no feelings ... unfeelingness. So a hard heart is a heart which has lost its sensitivity for God and the things of God. It’s when one can hear a message from God’s Word and never be affected by it. It’s when we hear the Word of God and apply it to everyone other than ourselves. A backslidden heart fights against God’s Word. A hard heart sees no reason to fight since it doesn’t affect them one way or the other. A few years ago I had a relative who had to have the arteries of their heart cleaned out. It seems as though time and improper eating habits had hardened the arteries. As a result the blood flow was cut off to the heart. This in turn caused other conditions to appear such as low oxygen, dizziness, chest pain, etc. So it is when our heart is hardened by time and improper Spiritual feeding habits. It affects how we breathe, our attitude, and causes us to be a pain to others.
So let me encourage you to guard against a hard heart by keeping a clean relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word.
What to do: ✞ Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.
YOUR GARMENT
JANUARY 16
Bible Reading: Zechariah 3 Key Verse: Zechariah 3:3- “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.”
Key Words: clothed with filthy garments
Your garments reveal outwardly what you are inwardly. For example, the priests wore priestly garments because they were priests
(Exodus 35:19). The people wore sackcloth because they were mourning (II Kings 19:1).
In our part of the country, you see a lot of people and I do mean a lot of people
wearing Alabama football shirts and hats. If they are not wearing Crimson Tide garb, rest assured the old blue and orange of Auburn can be seen. People wear outwardly what they are inwardly. Their clothes, whether it is crimson and white, or blue and orange, reveal who they cheer for inwardly. In our text Joshua (not the Joshua who replaced Moses, but the High Priest Joshua) had been accused by Satan of wearing dirty garments. As you read the text you see God forgives Joshua for being dirty, just as God forgives us. But don’t you imagine after God had forgiven Joshua that the first thing he did was get on some clean garments? Now, I wonder what our garments are telling others about us.
Dirty garments can reveal several things about us. • They may reveal we are unclean inwardly. • They may reveal our lack of concern for purity. • They may reveal that we have been in a battle.
When I was in Viet Nam, soldiers returning from the front lines of battle had on
dirty uniforms while those who were on the back lines or in the office kept their garments clean; so dirty garments can be a positive, but in all likelihood, garments simply reveal what we are inwardly. So now what are your garments telling others about you?
What to do: ✞ Let God cleanse you inwardly through His blood and Word, and your garments will stay clean.
A HANDBREADTH JANUARY 17 Bible Reading: Psalm 39 Key Verse: Psalm 39:5- “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”
Key Words: my days as an handbreadth
A handbreadth is the breadth of the hand or the width of the hand. The psalmist says that our life is like an handbreadth. Compared to all the vastness of the universe, an handbreadth pales in comparison. James 1:10 compares life to the flowers of the grass...here today, gone tomorrow. James 4:14 compares life to a vapour...so quickly gone.
Experts estimate that if a normal cassette tape is played about 100 times a year, sound quality will deteriorate somewhat after about 10 years; but the tape itself will play on. A lightning bolt lasts 45 to 55 microseconds.
The average running shoe worn by the average runner on an average surface will last 350 to 500 miles. A hard pencil can write up to 30,000 words or draw a line more than 30 miles long. Most ball-point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long.
Leather combat boots have a wartime life-span of six months, a peacetime life-
span of eight months. (The army walks during war and peace.) The projected life-span of a baby born in the U.S. today is 71 years, nearly double what it was at the end of the 18th century. The longest authenticated life-span of a human being is 113 years, 214 days.
Studies show married people live longer than those who remain single. A group of subatomic particles known as unstable hadrons exists for only one
one-hundred-sextillionth of a second (10 to the negative 23 second) – less time that it takes light to travel a single inch. A 100-watt incandescent bulb will last about 750 hours; a 25-watt bulb, 2,500 hours. The number of times a light bulb is turned on and off has little to do with its life-span. A one-dollar bill lasts approximately 18 months in circulation.
Practice footballs used by professionals last two to three days – a playing life of perhaps five hours. Home teams are required to provide 24 new balls each game and these last only about six minutes of playing time. So it is with us – our lives are so short. May I close by reminding you that life is short, and only what’s done for Christ will last?
What to do: ✞ Invest your life in others. It’s really the only thing that is lasting.
INIQUITY JANUARY 18 Bible Reading: Exodus 34:1-9 Key Verse: Exodus 34:7- “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Key Words: visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
The word iniquity means “moral wrongness.” Injustice is treating people unjustly and wrong. We do reap what we sow; if not on us personally, on our children.
Iniquity is not a matter of genetics; it is a matter of Biblical truth. We do reap what we sow. At the recent meeting of the Congress of Criminal Anthropology at Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Legrain, physician-in-chief of the asylum of Ville-Evrard, gave the results of his investigations, which extended over a period of years and showed how sin, like disease, is transmitted from drunken father to appetite-enslaved son; how in such soil the seeds of crime and madness develop and ripen in the last generation into sterile idiocy and the extinction of the race. First Generation: He traced the course of four generations of drinkers in two hundred fifteen families. One hundred and sixty-eight families showed unmistakable symptoms of degeneracy; sixty-three cases of mild insanity; eighty-eight were mentally unsound; forty-five at times dangerously insane; many of the children were weaklings and died at an early age, six out of eight in one case, ten of sixteen in another. These six latter who remained, were all feeble-minded and had epileptic fits and a prey to evil instincts. Thirty-nine families found convulsions; epilepsy in fifty-two; hysteria in sixteen; meningitis in five. One hundred eight families out of the two hundred fifteen counted one out of every two individuals victims of periodical alcoholic delirium; one hundred six families of the two hundred fifteen, insanity had developed. Second Generation: Ninety-eight observations gave the following. Fifty-four families had one or more members who were imbeciles or idiots; in twenty-three families there were those who were morally irresponsible, untimely births, extraordinary mortality or hereditary diseases caused the children to die in appalling numbers. At this stage fathers and mothers had become common drunkards with but eight exceptions. In forty-two families he found chronic cases of convulsions, and epilepsy in forty. In twenty-three families insanity exists. Third Generation: Seven observations, or families, gave him a total of seventeen children. All were mentally unsound and physically stunted; two were insane, four subject to convulsions, two had epilepsy, two hysteria, one meningitis, and three scrofula. Summing up the eight hundred fourteen cases found in the two hundred fifteen families, he found 42.2% are alcoholics, 60.9% are degenerates, 13.9% morally irresponsible, 22.7% have convulsions, 19% are incurably insane; one hundred seventy-four disappeared from this world before or almost before having drawn their first breath; ninety-three cases of tuberculosis, which brings the total of those who died from hereditary alcoholism up to one-third.
There is no fifth generation, for the last line is a microcephalous idiot. Thus Moses was right, as proven by science, when he said, “God visits the iniquities of the parents unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him.” There is no fifth. So one can truly say the price of iniquity is high.
What to do: ✞ What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. So make sure your blood line is right.
RECEIVING INSTRUCTION JANUARY 19 Bible Reading: II Timothy 3 Key Verse: II Timothy 3:16- “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Key Words: for instruction in righteousness
As we read verse 16 we see that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, which simply means it is God-breathed and it is profitable for doctrine (that’s teaching us what is right), for reproof (that’s teaching us what is not right), for correction (that’s teaching us how to get right), and for instruction (that’s teaching us how to stay right). That’s what instruction is: it is teaching people how to stay right with their peers, with their parents, and with God. We should never be upset when someone gives us instruction. They are telling us how to get it right! My dad was a big outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish. As a result of my dad’s influence, I learned to love the outdoors as well. I remember when I carried my 22 rifle out to shoot it for the first time. My dad gave the following instruction. First, keep your gun locked on safety at all times, until you are ready to shoot. Secondly, always point your gun toward the ground when walking. Third, make sure you know what you are aiming at before pointing the gun in any direction. Fourth, do not point at anything you do not intend to shoot. Fifth, when firing the gun make sure your aim is correct and that you pull the trigger like a tube of toothpaste...slowly and gently.
Would it shock you to know that I received that instruction, and I did so for
three reasons? 1. I knew that my dad knew best. 2. I knew that my dad was watching out for my best interest and the safety of all. 3. I knew I would never go wrong following those instructions.
I’ve never gone wrong since instruction teaches us how to stay right. God’s Word is His instructions on how to stay right. Follow them and you’ll
never go wrong.
What to do: ✞ Ask God to give you a humble spirit so you will receive instruction; if not, you’ll never go right.
LYING Bible Reading: Jeremiah 7:1-16
JANUARY 20
Key Verse: Jeremiah 7:4- “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.”
Key Words: Trust ye not in lying words
Have you given any consideration as to the reason people lie? I know people lie because they are sinners, but what reason or excuse do people use for lying? • • • • •
Adam & Eve lied because they believed a lie told to them by Satan. People often repeat lies of others because they believe their lies. Abraham lied because of fear. Jacob lied because he wanted the family birthright. Peter lied out of fear of being identified with Christ. Ananias and Sapphira lied because they wanted to keep their possessions.
In our text the people of Israel were lying through the lives they lived. Yep, they went to the temple and acted all spiritual; yet in their actions they were oppressing the fatherless, widows, strangers, and the innocent.
So if you narrow the list down, you can say we lie for three reasons. 1. We lie for personal gain. 2. We lie out of fear. 3. We lie because we want others to think highly of us.
I’m afraid there are many who are like the little fellow whose mother asked him “What is a lie”. The little fellow thought for second, then said, “A lie is an abomination to the Lord, but to us humans it’s a very present help in a time of need.” I challenge you today to be truthful because it’s the truth that makes you free.
What to do: ✞ The next time you think a lie will help, remember it was a lie that ... 1. Caused Adam & Eve to be cast out of the Garden of Eden, 2. Got Abraham in trouble with the Pharoah, 3. Got Jacob in trouble with Leah, Rachel, Laban, and Esau, 4. Caused Peter to be confronted by Christ, 5. Caused Ananias & Sapphira to literally drop dead. ✞ Now is a lie worth all this?
MEDDLING JANUARY 21 Bible Reading: II Kings 14:1-14 Key Verse: II Kings 14:10- “Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?”
Key Words: why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt
The word meddle means “stir up, to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong.” In our text Amaziah, King of Judah, challenged Jehoash, King of Israel, with no apparent cause or provocation. Amaziah just decided to meddle in the affairs of Jehoash. Amaziah had led Judah in a battle with Edom, had smitten them, and now was meddling in the affairs of Israel. He was sticking his nose in business not belonging to him.
Meddling will lead to quarreling which will lead to strife. It reminds me of two
ladies in a train coach who were arguing about the window. One claimed she would die of heatstroke unless it was opened. The other insisted she would die of pneumonia if it wasn’t kept closed. The ladies called the conductor who was at a loss to solve the problem. It was then that the stranger sitting with them in the coach spoke up. “First, open the window. That will kill one. Then close it. That will kill the other. Then we’ll have peace.” You know when someone is meddling by the war that follows.
What to do: ✞ Remember the words of Solomon in Proverbs 20:3b, “...but every fool will be meddling.”
THE MORNING JANUARY 22 Bible Reading: Malachi 4 Key Verse: Malachi 4:2- “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
Key Words: Sun of righteousness
The word morning is mentioned 265 times in God’s Word and never in a
negative way. The morning from God’s perspective is always seen as positive. Now, I realize there are many who are not “morning people.” The purpose of this devotion is not to lecture you, but to show you from a Biblical perspective how God sees the morning. • God brought manna from heaven to His people in the morning. • Jesus was called the “bright and morning star.” (The eastern star can be seen clearly early in the morning. It stands out above all other stars.) • Abraham rose early in the morning (Genesis 21:14; 22:3). • Isaac rose early in the morning (Genesis 26:31). • Jacob rose early in the morning (Genesis 28:18). • Jesus was resurrected early in the morning (Luke 24:1). • They worshipped early in the morning (Acts 5:21).
There is an old saying that the “early bird gets the worm.” Some time back my wife and I were spending a couple of days at Orange Beach. We had a room overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Since I am an early riser anyway, I would take my Bible and hot drink (coffee) out on the patio and watch the sun begin to rise over the Mexican Gulf. What a sight to behold!! One could truly see the beauty of God’s creation as the new day dawned. This sight could only be seen in the early morning. As I watched the sun rise, my heart filled with the presence of God’s glory. To have missed this would have been my loss. There is much to be said for the early morning hours. I challenge you to rise early and spend time with God and see His glory through the rising of the “Sun.” What to do: ✞ Spend the first of your day with God, and it will help the rest of your day to be filled with the “Sun of righteousness.”
OFFENDED JANUARY 23 Bible Reading: Psalm 119:161-176 Key Verse: Psalm 119:165- “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
Key Words: nothing shall offend them
The word offend means “to cause to stumble.” When we love God’s Word, we
are protected from things that can cause us to be offended. Every time I hear someone say they are hurt, or offended, or they stumble spiritually, I realize the love for God’s Word is missing in their lives. Some time back my wife and I were visiting with a couple who had visited the church. After talking about their salvation and being assured they were born again, I asked them if they had any questions about the church. The man looked at me and said, “I could never join your church because there is a family there who has done us wrong; they have offended us.” Now, I didn’t inquire of the details as to how they had been offended, but we did say to them, “I’m so sorry that you don’t love God’s Word.” You should have seen the look on their faces. It was a look between shock
and anger when he said, “But we do love God’s Word!” I simply quoted Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” No, they never did join the church, but it did give them something to consider. Today, if someone has offended you...shame on them for doing so; but if you are offended...shame on you for not loving God’s Word the way you should.
What to do: ✞ The key to being un-offended is by loving God’s Word.
IT CAME TO PASS Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-9
JANUARY 24
Key Verse: Joshua 1:1- “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,”
Key Words: It came to pass
Everything we face in life comes and goes. Some things stick around for a long time, others for a very brief time; but we should all remember these four words: it came to pass. These happenings which come and go will do one of two things to you. First, they should leave you a better person; if not, they will leave you a bitter person. It just depends on your attitude and relationship with God. After William Carey was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could produce the Scriptures in the local dialect. He had also prepared dictionaries and grammars for the use of his successors. One day while Carey was away, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many Bibles, and the precious manuscripts, dictionaries and grammars. When he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do
the work over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements.
What to do: ✞ Remember, things happen – both good and bad – and they will both pass. The question is: will they leave you better or bitter?
RENT IN TWO
JANUARY 25
Bible Reading: Joshua 7:1-9 Key Verse: Joshua 7:6- “And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.”
Key Words: And Joshua rent his clothes
When is the last time you heard a message on the topic of rent. Now, this is
not the rent like paying for an apartment or house. The word means to rip or tear apart. In the Bible it’s a show of grief, primarily over sin. Strangely enough, grief can make us strong believers. In her book, First We Quit Our Jobs, Marilyn J. Abraham writes, “We signed up for a hike with a ranger, who told us a remarkable thing, when a tree’s life is threatened, stressed by the elements of fire, drought, or other calamity, it twists beneath its bark to reinforce and make itself stronger. On the surface, this new inner strength may not be visible, for the bark often continues to give the same vertical appearance. Only when the exterior is stripped away, or when the tree is felled, are its inner struggles revealed.” God can use our grief to strengthen us in ways that are not visible to the world. In order for grief to be a blessing, we must acknowledge that God is in control and that God will always, always do right. If not, grief will not make you better, but bitter.
What to do: ✞ Evaluate why you are going through the grief, and be willing to grieve – not because of what you are going through but why you are going through it.
RESTORED JANUARY 26 Bible Reading: Galatians 6:1-10 and Psalm 23 Key Verse: Galatians 6:1- “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Psalm 23:3- “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Key Words: Galatians 6:1, “Restore such an one” Psalm 23:3, “He restoreth my soul”
In Galatians 6:1 we are to restore the fellow believer who has been “overtaken in a fault,” while in Psalm 23 God is the Good Shepherd that restores my soul. The word restore is a medical term and it means “to take a joint which is out of socket and put it back in place.” I’ve got a grandchild who has a problem with her arm constantly coming out of its socket. It’s a painful experience for her and to hear her weep will break your heart. The only thing that relieves the pain is for the arm to be placed back – restored to its proper location. Surprisingly, the relief is instant. Doctors do tell us that she will outgrow this problem in time...which leads me to several conclusions. • • •
The person who needs to be restored is living in pain. For those who love the person who needs to be restored, they also are enduring emotional pain. The answer for constantly having the need to be restored is spiritual growth – maturity – outgrowing the constant jumping out of socket.
Today, do you know that God, the Great Restorer, can and will put you back in “place” if you will allow Him? It’s your choice: pain or restoration. Which will it be? What to do: ✞ Restore those who have been found at fault. Let God restore your soul.
SUNDAYS JANUARY 27 Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:23-31 Key Verse: Hebrews 10:25- “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Key Words: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
Sunday is the primary day set aside for the assembling together of the church for the purpose of preaching, fellowship, and encouraging one another. Now granted, we should be willing to do these things on a daily basis (Acts 2:41-47); but Sunday is our primary day of assembling together, because Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week (John 20:1). It is the only day ever referred to as the Lord’s day, in regard to the church. In Revelation1:10a John said, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day.” Sunday is set aside for a day of worship, praise, and rejoicing in and for the things of God – not a day of rest, that is the Sabbath or Saturday. It is not beach day, it is the Lord’s day. It is not called mountain day, it is the Lord’s day. It’s not family reunion day, it is the Lord’s day. It is not recreation day, but the Lord’s day. It’s not family day, but the Lord’s day. The word day means 24 hours. So it is not just the Lord’s day from 10:00 A.M. to noon, or 11:00 A.M. to noon. It’s all day. We are told in I Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Two observations from this verse: #1, the first day of the week is Sunday; and #2, how can you give on the first day of the week if you’re not there? In Acts 20:7 we read, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” Now, we’ve only touched the hem of the garment in regard to Sunday and our assembling together. A thorough study of God’s Word is very revealing about God’s desire for us on that day. I trust you will make the assembling of yourselves a priority for you and your family on the Lord’s day.
What to do: ✞ Be faithful to all the services of your church.
SLEEPING IN CHURCH JANUARY 28 Bible Reading: Acts 20:1-12 Key Verse: Acts 20:9- “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”
Key Words: being fallen asleep
I really do feel sorry for Eutychus. It was bad enough that he fell asleep in church while Paul was preaching; he even fell out of the window to his death three stories below. Dr. Luke included the incident for the world to read. Think of it, the only time Eutychus got his name in the Bible, he was sleeping in church. Now, Eutychus is not the only one to fall asleep in church. I have watched couples nod off in magnificent rhythm. I mean perfect timing. Why, there are our spiritual church sleepers – they fall asleep, wake up long enough to say “amen” and then doze back off into never-never land. Then there was the lady who had the strangest wheeze and smile while she was snoring. It reminded me of a chattering chimpanzee. Why do people fall asleep in church? • Training: That’s right, we were trained as small children to stretch out on the pew beside our parents and sleep away. Habits are hard to break. • Physical Factors: Medicine we are on. • Indifference: Some people would rather sleep than be fed God’s Word. • Boredom: Let’s face it; some messages can be boring.
So much for the diagnosis, what about the remedy? •
• • •
The Service: Must be conducive to worship – good music and a few good, hearty “amen’s” every now and then help congregation involvement. Physical Preparation: Get a good night’s rest on Saturday night; get up on Sunday morning in time to get ready without a lot of helter, skelter. Spiritual Preparation: Take time to have prayer for the service before coming to church. The Speaker: Should be alert and ready, have his message wellprepared. We are not in the entertainment business but each message should be interesting.
So, go to church Sunday and stay awake! Your soul depends on it. What to do: ✞ Get plenty of rest on Saturday night, and be ready to hear the Word on Sunday.
ROBBERY JANUARY 29 Bible Reading: Malachi 3:1-12 Key Verse: Malachi 3:8- “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”
Key Words: Wherein have we robbed thee?
The Word of God teaches that we are to be givers. The tithe is not a gift; it is a command. Other giving is a gift and a real test of our love. My almost 40 years in the ministry has taught me that in most cases people don’t give more due to special needs, they simply re-designate what they give. For example, we recently had a special mission project. The needs of the project were met but our faith promise offering giving went down. People didn’t give more; they simply shifted their giving around. We call that “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Not long ago, I read the following that illustrates this point so clearly. “Anxious to get home after a week long business trip in California, I waited for my flight in the crowded boarding area. Suddenly the public address system glared, ‘Flight 100 to Dallas will be delayed 20 minutes due to maintenance problems.’ All of the passengers groaned. “Twenty-five minutes later another announcement came, ‘The Dallas flight needs an oil filter. As soon as one is located, we will be on our way.’ Another collective groan filled the boarding area, now packed with people waiting for a second flight. “After 15 minutes, the PA system crackled, ‘We have installed the filter for the Dallas aircraft and will soon be boarding.’ Before the cheers subsided, there was another announcement, ‘Flight 220 to Seattle will be delayed. Your aircraft needs an oil filter.’” Robbing Peter to pay Paul!!!
I trust you don’t rob Peter to pay Paul. What to do: ✞ Remember, your tithe is commanded. Your offerings are a demonstration of your love.
THE WILDERNESS JANUARY 30 Bible Reading: Acts 7:1-50 Key Verse: Acts 7:44- “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.”
Key Words: tabernacle of witness in the wilderness
You find the word wilderness on a few different occasions in Acts 7. • • • • •
Acts 7:30 “wilderness of Mount Sinai” Acts 7:36 “and in the wilderness forty years” Acts 7:38 “in the church in the wilderness” Acts 7:42 “by the space of forty years in the wilderness” Acts 7:44 “tabernacle of witness in the wilderness”
The word wilderness means a barren place, a place of desolation. It is also a place of desperation. No doubt that’s where Israel was in the wilderness – in a desperate place. We can see how America and the world as a whole is also in a wilderness wandering in a place of spiritual desperation. But for unknown reasons, we fail to see our own friends, neighbors, and even our family as being in a spiritual wilderness of desperation. J. Wilbur Chapman in his notes on Modern-Day Proverbs tells the following story. “In the city of Albany a number of years ago, early in the morning, a certain family was startled by the cry of fire. They were taking their breakfast in a basement dining room, and the fire came so rapidly upon them that they were instantly driven into the street. For some reason outside the dining room windows strong bars had been placed. Looking through these bars the father of the household noticed one piece of furniture which he desired to save, and calling to one of his boys, made his way back to the dining room. The father going along, and the son going after with
the large piece of furniture, got it as far as the door where it could not be moved either one way or the other. The flames were too hot for the man to stand and he was obliged to leave his boy in the room as a prisoner. Going outside and looking through the iron bars he saw that there was but a moment for action, and as if by superhuman effort he took hold of the iron bars and pulled upon them until casement, above and below, gave way, and the boy was saved. We can understand such desperate effort in case of this danger, but when the Bible says our loved ones without Christ are lost, we cannot understand how it could be that scores of parents, whom we know, should never have spoken to their children of their danger, nor made an effort to lead them to Christ.”
What to do: ✞ Witness to your family before it’s too late
DIGGING WELLS JANUARY 31 Bible Reading: Genesis 26:18 - 35 Key Verse: Genesis 26:18-19,32- “18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 32And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.”
Key Words: digged…wells
A newspaper dated June 13, 1862, made the following report. “The army of Mississippi has taken a position near Tupelo, about fifty miles south of Corinth. It is stated that this is the first point at which a sufficient supply of water could be obtained. About one hundred wells have already been dug and more are being dug daily.” Well-digging was also done in the days of Abraham and Isaac; ever since Hagar, in the wilderness of Beersheba, saw a well of water and filled her bottle (Genesis 21:19); ever since Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away (Genesis 21:25). Wells have not always been the same size.
Wells have not always been the same depth. Wells have not always been the same age. Wells have not always been dug the same way.
But water, H20, has always been the same. It is refreshing for one’s thirst and
it’s comforting for those who need comfort on those hot summer days, but spiritual water is even more refreshing to the soul. John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” If you’ve never had this spiritual water, we would be more than happy to show you where it can be found. If we can be of assistance to you, please feel free to call on any of us.
What to do: ✞ If you want the water of God’s Word, you must be willing to dig into God’s Word.
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse