Morning Devotional December 30, 2016

Jeremiah 24:5-7

“Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”

Let us concentrate on the words “for their good” this morning. At this time in history, many of the people of Judah have been captured by Babylon and forced to move to the land of the Chaldeans. But notice, God says “Whom I have sent out of this place.” So, God has caused this captivity. God has purposely caused this great affliction on His people. But why? He simply says “for their good.”

Is not this a great example of God's love for His children? Through all the times Israel has run from God and followed after false gods and turned their backs on the God of their salvation, He still loves them. And though, as a parent punishes their child for their wrongs, so does God chastise His children for theirs. Why? “For their good.”

In these three short verses we see the word “I” used nine times. Always referring to God. Also notice “I will” is used six times to describe what God will do for His people. Notice it is not their will but His.

So many times we forget that it is God who commands and we go. Or it is God who draws us to Him not us drawing Him to us. Or it is God who seeks us not us seeking Him.

It is only by His will that our trials and tribulations are for our good. What a glorious Heavenly Father we have!!! O the love He shows us by teaching us through the many trials we go through in this life. O how our afflictions and persecutions strengthen our faith in Him and what a teaching of patience we get at the hand of our Great God!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 25, 2016

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

As the “Christian” world claims to celebrate the birth of our Savior today by following a Roman holy day, let's not forget who we serve. It has always amazed me how that so many of our brothers and sisters will make a stand for the truths of God's Word all through the year but will follow after the biggest lie being told today. Besides the fact that Christmas has it roots in paganism. It has become the most glutenous and greed filled time of the year. What a shame to turn our backs on our Lord and Savior and follow a holy day that has been built on so many lies. What a shame that God's own people would turn their backs on His very Word.

The fact that we are never commanded in His Word to observe the birth of our Savior is mild compared to the idolatry and lies that permeate this day. We are told we should be kind to one another this time of year. Yet we see so many filled with hatred when we go shopping or just driving sown the street. Many will use this time of year to claim the name of Christ but as soon as the day is over they forget His very name.

O child of God, I beg you, follow God's Word always!!! Stray not from His teachings and commandments. Be ye separate from the world. Love not the world nor the things of the world.

Over and over we are commanded to separate ourselves from the world. Yes we are in the world. But we do not belong to this world. We are children of God!!! We have another home. Not of this world. Not made with hands. And with this being the case then we should act like children of God. Not children of the world.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 17, 2016

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

It is that time of year again when the vast majority of those who claim Christ as Savior will claim to observe His birth. Yet year after year we see so many drawing further and further away from the true Christ. The Son of God. Immanuel. The one who was and is God with us.

We see what is called Christianity falling deeper and deeper after the world's false religion. We see so called churches worshiping idols and false holy days. We see those who make a stand for the truths of God's Word the rest of the year all of a sudden fall for some of the most rank paganism and false doctrines ever devised by satan himself.

Please understand. If you are a child of God and you observe these holy days, I am not doubting your salvation. I too have my own faults. But to purposely deny the Word of God over and over every year is a very serious matter we need to all consider and flee from.

I challenge you all to study God's Word. What did God say on these matters? Are we instructed to observe our Savior's birth? Are we commanded to follow the world or to follow God? Are these things pleasing to our Heavenly Father?

As you prepare for the upcoming holidays think on these things. Pray God will show you the truth through His Word.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 12, 2016

Romans 9:20

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

We live in a day and time where many question God and things of God. Even those of us who claim the name of Christ question whether certain things in God's Word are truth or not. But God, in His Word, very simply tells us to trust Him. And in all reality what choice do we have but to trust Him? As our Creator and our Heavenly Father He gives us no choice. We are commanded over and over in His Word that if we love Him we will follow His commandments. Yet, in our sinful earthly bodies we rebel against even the simplest commands from our God. O what a shame we are!!! O how we deserve eternal death and hell!!! But God, loves us still. Even in our rebellion, He loves us. O what a God we serve!!! O what a Savior!!! Praise Him continuously for His undeserving love toward us!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 10, 2016

John 14:22-31

“22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”

O what a question!!! “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” A question that prideful man is still refusing the Lord's answer even today. And Jesus laid out an answer long but simple. An answer anyone could understand but O so many have refused to admit it as the true answer. In short? The answer? He will not manifest Himself unto those who are not His. Those who are not His chosen people will never know Him or His everlasting love. Only those who love Him and follow His commandments.

O what a glorious thought to know that we are His chosen people!!! His elect !!! Chosen by God, the creator of all things!!! The Father of our Lord and Savior!!! One in the same with the Son and the Holy Spirit!!! O what love our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us a wicked and wretched people!!! Before time began He loved us. Even knowing what sins we would commit before we committed them. O Hallowed be thy name!!!

And O what a Savior!!! O what love hath no man but this that He would lay down His life for His friends!!!

And O what a Great Comforter He has sent us. His own Holy Spirit to dwell within us while we travel this pilgrim land. To give us comfort and peace and joy while we fight the battles of this life and to reassure us that through Him our Heavenly Father walks with us and when needed carries us.

Praise God for His ever loving kindness and mercy on us an O so sinful people!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 6, 2016

Jonah 2:10

“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

I am sure we have all read the story of Jonah. Where God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh but instead Jonah decided to disobey God and go to Tarsus. How in Jonah's rebellion God sent a great fish that would swallow Jonah and take him to the bottom of the sea and Jonah would spend three days and three nights in the fish's belly.

All this because Jonah did not want to follow the plan God had for him. Yet, our God, being Sovereign, had Jonah do just as He planned. But not before the Lord had the fish vomit Jonah out on to dry land.

Have you ever been vomited upon dry land? Not literally but figuratively. We know the literal story of Jonah. But is this not an example of how our Lord does us when we rebel and try to run from what He has planned for us. He takes us to the depths of the sea. Inside the most disgusting, most depressing place we could imagine. And when He has us ready and willing and begging to give into His will and plan that He has set forth for us, just like being vomited out of a fish's belly, sometimes the end of our rebellion is filled with us being disgusted with our-self for not following our Lord.

O but when He has cleaned us off and put us on the road to where He wants us, what joy fills our hearts!!! What a glorious Lord and Savior we belong to!!! What joy to know that even in our rebellion that He loves us enough to chastise us then clean us off and use us to His glory!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!