Devotional verses from Matthew's Gospel
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24
There are days coming in this world when false religion will be so pervasive, and so captivating, that even people who truly believe in Jesus as Savior, in their hearts, will be in danger of being deceived. Those most awful days of deception are in the future for this world, but I think all Christians can conceive that even today there are those who might be what we call weak Christians, and honest seekers, or even sometimes very dedicated knowledgeable believers in Christ, who for whatever reason might be deceived into believing false religion. The words of Jesus to his disciples in Gethsemane are an appropriate caution in this day: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
CRY FOR THE CHRISTIANS OF NIGERIA
Boko Haram, is an extremist Islamic faction in Nigeria. Just weeks ago, it is believed, they committed a church invasion, killing the two off-duty police guards at the door, locking the doors behind them as they entered the church, then shooting down the Christians inside. Who are the peaceful? Christians who are praying, or Boko Haram who are killing? Your neighbors spilled blood cries to you from the grave.
Precious little outrage, or even comment has come from the U.S. government. There ought to be a daily briefing statement on this and similar persecution given by the President, or the Secretary of State, or the host of diplomatic foreign service officers that represent this nation. At a minimum, the U.S.A. should be beating the drum hard for religious freedom, and peace among religious parties, much less continually excoriating the blood lust of the perpetrators.
There ought to be a joining of voices by Islamic clerics, the world over, to tell Boko Haram that Islam is a religion of peace. There ought to be powerful pronouncements endorsing freedom of religion. There ought to be loud denunciations of those who cloak themselves in Islam to commit murder in the name of religion. With goodwill to men, they should bind up the wounds of the Christian community of Nigeria. What an impressive peace-teaching image that would be. It would be seen on the newscast in most every nation on earth.
Christian people in America ought to be crying out to the LORD for the earthly deliverance of these Christians of Nigeria, and so many others around the world, who live under the threat of the gun. They should pray that followers of the various and many religions of our world would be free to worship as they choose wherever they are, doing no harm to others. Christians should advocate, and pray, that despite our differences, all religions would be able to agree that no person should ever be killed by another over religion.
People of goodwill, no matter their faith experience, should weep for the dying Christians of Nigeria. It could happen to you. With goodwill toward all humanity, let us together decry Boko Haram's inhumanity.
Friday, February 14, 2014
A devotional verse for clergy from the prophet Zechariah
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Malachi 2:6
God here commends the life of Levi, the son of Jacob who was the father of the priestly tribe in Israel. The priests of Malachi's day had gotten away from Levi's example. They were being called back to doing God's work in this blessed way. This verse is an easy application to modern day clergy as well; speak the truth of God through His Word, walk with God in your life, turn people from sin to righteousness.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Malachi 2:6
God here commends the life of Levi, the son of Jacob who was the father of the priestly tribe in Israel. The priests of Malachi's day had gotten away from Levi's example. They were being called back to doing God's work in this blessed way. This verse is an easy application to modern day clergy as well; speak the truth of God through His Word, walk with God in your life, turn people from sin to righteousness.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
A vision of the future from the prophet Zechariah
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10
The Scriptures are clear in both Old Testament and New, Messiah will come, and, the New Testament makes clear He will come again. When Jesus came His own people received him not, and Zechariah's vision tells us that when He, Jesus, Messiah, comes again His people will look at Him and will recognize Him who was pierced. I don't know if it will be the spear wound in His side or the nail prints, but His people will know Jesus is Messiah. After all the years they will mourn for Him. I don't know, but they might say something like, "Why didn't we recognize who He was the first time?" A question that all people of the world could ask as well.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10
The Scriptures are clear in both Old Testament and New, Messiah will come, and, the New Testament makes clear He will come again. When Jesus came His own people received him not, and Zechariah's vision tells us that when He, Jesus, Messiah, comes again His people will look at Him and will recognize Him who was pierced. I don't know if it will be the spear wound in His side or the nail prints, but His people will know Jesus is Messiah. After all the years they will mourn for Him. I don't know, but they might say something like, "Why didn't we recognize who He was the first time?" A question that all people of the world could ask as well.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
A wonderful devotional thought from the prophet Zechariah
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
Zechariah 10:6
This is a wonderful comforting statement for nations as a whole, and individuals. Judah had been under punishment because of bad choices and sinful life, but look at what God says about them "they shall be as though I had not cast them off." Nations that have fallen away from the way God wants them to live, and thus have hit the wall of hard times can be restored to God's "good graces." It's a matter of turning back to Him, and His ways. Individuals, too, can be restored to a blessed relationship with God by returning from their back sliding through obedience.
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
Zechariah 10:6
This is a wonderful comforting statement for nations as a whole, and individuals. Judah had been under punishment because of bad choices and sinful life, but look at what God says about them "they shall be as though I had not cast them off." Nations that have fallen away from the way God wants them to live, and thus have hit the wall of hard times can be restored to God's "good graces." It's a matter of turning back to Him, and His ways. Individuals, too, can be restored to a blessed relationship with God by returning from their back sliding through obedience.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
A devotional thought from the prophet Zechariah
Should you not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Zechariah 7:7
We who believe the Bible understand what God was saying. Speaking to His ancient people, who had fallen away from His plans for them, God says you should have listened to what I spoke through the prophets who came to you in the past. We recognize that God has spoken to us in the words that He inspired through the many writers of Scripture. We should hear what those writers have spoken to us in the word - hear meaning actually recognize the word which has been revealed in the Bible and live by it!
Should you not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Zechariah 7:7
We who believe the Bible understand what God was saying. Speaking to His ancient people, who had fallen away from His plans for them, God says you should have listened to what I spoke through the prophets who came to you in the past. We recognize that God has spoken to us in the words that He inspired through the many writers of Scripture. We should hear what those writers have spoken to us in the word - hear meaning actually recognize the word which has been revealed in the Bible and live by it!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
A verse from the prophet Zechariah
A matter of life we should all remember
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?
Zechariah 1:5
Put that next to James 4:13-15:
Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Christian faith exceeds death. Rejoice in 1 Thessalonians 4:16;
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
A matter of life we should all remember
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?
Zechariah 1:5
Put that next to James 4:13-15:
Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Christian faith exceeds death. Rejoice in 1 Thessalonians 4:16;
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Thursday, February 6, 2014
A devotional thought from the prophet Zephaniah
Have you seen those commercials on television about protecting your money by buying gold and silver, heaping up riches, as it were, so that they can protect you in difficult times? Not a bad strategy from the human perspective, but it didn't work for some people of ancient times. Listen to what Zephaniah prophesied to one such group:
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Zephaniah 1:18
If God blesses you temporally be glad, and use it well for the good of your family, and other good things, but do not trust in the uncertain riches, trust in God, revealed to us in His holy Word and come to us in His Son Jesus.
Have you seen those commercials on television about protecting your money by buying gold and silver, heaping up riches, as it were, so that they can protect you in difficult times? Not a bad strategy from the human perspective, but it didn't work for some people of ancient times. Listen to what Zephaniah prophesied to one such group:
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Zephaniah 1:18
If God blesses you temporally be glad, and use it well for the good of your family, and other good things, but do not trust in the uncertain riches, trust in God, revealed to us in His holy Word and come to us in His Son Jesus.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
A devotional thought from the prophet Nahum
Nahum begins his prophecy with the phrase "The burden of Nineveh." When an Old Testament prophet used the term "burden" he was talking about a message from God concerning some city or nation that was "heavy"because it contained the wrath of God, and was hard for the prophet to declare no matter what nation was being spoken of.
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Nahum 1:2
About 100 years after Jonah's ministry had saved Nineveh from destruction, that wicked city, once repentant, had returned to the vomit of its own wickedness, and that's when Nahum prophesied her destruction. In this prophecy he describes in detail the awful results of ancient warfare that will afflict Nineveh when the judgment falls. Though the historical records are sketchy they confirm Nahum's prophecy, and, of course, even without the ancient secular records we know that it happened as described because Nahum was inspired to speak God's word. Why should Nineveh have been judged by God? Nahum declares the reason in the last phrase of the book, "for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?" (Nahum 3:19b).
Ought not modern nations take note?
Nahum begins his prophecy with the phrase "The burden of Nineveh." When an Old Testament prophet used the term "burden" he was talking about a message from God concerning some city or nation that was "heavy"because it contained the wrath of God, and was hard for the prophet to declare no matter what nation was being spoken of.
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Nahum 1:2
About 100 years after Jonah's ministry had saved Nineveh from destruction, that wicked city, once repentant, had returned to the vomit of its own wickedness, and that's when Nahum prophesied her destruction. In this prophecy he describes in detail the awful results of ancient warfare that will afflict Nineveh when the judgment falls. Though the historical records are sketchy they confirm Nahum's prophecy, and, of course, even without the ancient secular records we know that it happened as described because Nahum was inspired to speak God's word. Why should Nineveh have been judged by God? Nahum declares the reason in the last phrase of the book, "for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?" (Nahum 3:19b).
Ought not modern nations take note?
Monday, February 3, 2014
A devotional thought from the prophet Micah.
One of the most famous passages in the entire Old Testament.
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:7,8
That kind of faith living makes one a good family member, neighbor, business associate, and friend, and probably much much more.
One of the most famous passages in the entire Old Testament.
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:7,8
That kind of faith living makes one a good family member, neighbor, business associate, and friend, and probably much much more.
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