Devotionals
A daily word of encouragement, exhortation and edification, drawn from the Scriptures.
How quickly we forget
Today's blog is a story that I heard at a pastors conference years ago. I think you will get the "gist" of the point the teacher was making. As The Father sent Jesus, we too are sent on a mission to seek the lost. On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur,...
How then shall we live?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being,...
Are you ready?
Matt 24.44-51 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord...
Knocked down, but not out
Acts 14.19-22 And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the...
Seeing the grace of God
Acts 11.22,23 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose...
Praying, Walking in Wisdom, and Proclaiming the Gospel
In this next section of Paul’s letter to the Colossian and Laodicean believers, we find the marching orders to continue to pray and proclaim the gospel. Praying, walking in wisdom, and proclaiming the truth about Jesus are vital parts of continuing to follow Jesus....
Motives and the Sovereignty of God
The Bible clearly reveals that God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. God knows what we do, why we do it, and for whom we are doing it. Unfortunately, our fallen human nature is often guilty of doing the right things for the wrong reasons. The prophet...
Overwhelmed, or overcomers?
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.Join me in entering this sacred heavenly scene this morning. It is near the...
Working out what God is working in
We learn in our journey through Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi that there was an undercurrent of selfishness which manifested itself in attitudes of vainglory and strife. To address that problem, Paul reminded them of the humility of Jesus Christ and how...
Be ready
Our Scriptures this morning are from Romans 1:15 -17, and they are the basis of the theme of “God-centered, gospel-based righteousness” that is developed in the rest of this epistle. Paul was in a constant state of readiness to share the gospel of Jesus Christ because...
The Righteousness of God
Deut 9. 4 "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before...
The Peril of Self Rule
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. The 400-year period of the Judges was marked by this radical individualism. They rejected the standard of God's word and accepted the individual standard of...
Blessed Filling
Every human being is born with an appetite that longs to be filled. Whether it be an appetite for food, or for pleasure, or a curiosity for knowing what makes things operate the way they do, we all possess this appetite. But where do we find satisfaction and...
God's commands for our good
Deut 10.12 "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his...
Hearing, Watching and Waiting
Prov 8.34 "Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." The blessed person is the person who hears, watches, and waits. Hears, watches and waits for Who? The Lord. These words do not portray a passive Christian...
Thirsting for God
Psalms 63:1 (A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.) "O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"Your soul is the seat of the appetites, seat...
Sacrifices of Righteousness
Psalms 4:5 "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."We know that Jesus Christ alone in the righteousness of the saints. Nothing can be added or diminished from His perfect sacrifice, and imputed righteousness. However, once a person...
The most well known verse in Scripture
John 3.16 is one of the most well known verses in all of Scripture. It has been called the gospel in a nutshell. I am once again passing on to you an unnamed article that I found as I was searching for insight on this beautiful passage. I pray that you will be blessed...
The promise from He Who sits upon the throne
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the...
5 things God cannot do
My blog this morning is very short, but I pray you will find it both profitable and helpful in your walk with Jesus Christ. I am going to list the 5 things with Scripture references for you to look up. Ready? God cannot fail - Joshua 21.45 God cannot lie - Numbers...
Pride
Proverbs 27.6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 17.17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 1 Peter 5.8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,...
The fitness craze and the last days
"But refuse profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Timothy 4.7,8 The context...
The God of Wondrous things
Psalm 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. Our passage this morning tells us that our God only does wondrous things. The Hebrew word translated wondrous can be translated, marvelous, wonderful, surpassing,...
Hope in God
Psa 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.The Psalmist here is not having a good day. He is found having a conversation with himself....
The cost of idolatry
Isa 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.Would you note this morning that serving God or serving self will be costly. The question is not if I will serve...
Investor or Consumer?
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.We live in a day and age of...
Sanctified Desires
Psalms 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.Webster defines the word desire this way. An emotion or...
Anticipating the Second Coming
Matthew 24:32-34 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This...
His Name is as ointment poured forth
I found this unnamed article on the Internet a few weeks ago and thought it would be a blessing to you precious saints. Have a wonderful, upward view of Jesus in every situation today. Pastor Ray JESUS IS OUR EVERYTHING 1. To the Artist - He is the One Altogether...
Kept by God
In the epistle of 1st John we find the comforting promise that God keeps those who belong to Him (1 John 5:18). One of the most reassuring truths that God reveals to His children in Scripture is the fact that He Himself promises to keep us from falling and to usher us...
Astonishing!
Jeremiah 2:12,13 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken -- me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can...
About Me
I am the Lead Pastor of Koinonia Fellowship, a husband, father and grandfather. I also serve on the worship team as one of the drummers.