Morning Devotional February 28, 2025

 

Luke 13:3

^“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 27, 2025

 

Psalm 39:3-5

^“3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

⁴ Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

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.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 25, 2025

 

Matthew 7:12

^“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 24, 2025

 

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

“1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

² For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

⁵ For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

⁶ But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

⁷ Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

⁹ And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹ Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

¹² But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 23, 2025

 

Deuteronomy 6:24-25

“24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.”

 

Do you love the Lord? Then follow His commandments. They are not options, but commandments. From Genesis to Malichi we see the stories of what can happen when God’s people rebel against their Heavenly Father. How the rebellion started out as a little leave, then how it leavened the whole lump. And for some odd reason God’s people today think we are exempt from God’s chastisement.

Famous last words: “I’m faithful enough to not fall for that.” Or “I can go there or do that or watch this or listen to that and it will never draw me away from the Lord.”

Remember the old children’s song?

 

O Be Careful Little Ears, What You Hear

O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

 

Praise the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 22, 2025

 

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

^“16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

¹⁷ I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 21, 2025

 

Proverbs 9:10-11

^“10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

¹¹ For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 19, 2025

 

1 Thessalonians 5:21

^“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

 

How do we “prove all things”? By the Word of God.

What is “that which is good.”? The truth of God’s Word.

What does it mean to “hold fast”? Grab it, hold on to it, never let it go.

In a world where we are told there are no absolutes there is one thing that is never changing. The Word of God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Follow Him and only Him.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 18, 2025

 

Proverbs 18:1

“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 17, 2025

 

Matthew 18:15-20

“15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

 

 

I am a firm believer that most of the problems in the Lord's Churches today stem from internal issues. Whether it is a false teacher who has crept in and begins teaching false doctrine a little at a time at first. Or it is the members who seem to prefer to follow the world rather than follow Christ. But I believe one of, if not the worst, things that can happen to a church is when the brethren begin to gossip and talk about each other without caring to understand the others situation or to know the truth of the matter at hand.

In the verses above our Lord is teaching Peter, James and John. The leaders of the first church. Jesus is teaching them on matters that will concern the churches to come.

In this passage Jesus addresses the matter of the offended brother. Notice in verse 17 is concerning the brethren who are members of the same church. He is not discussing the brethren of His Kingdom, but rather, His churches.

So, if a brother, who is a member of the same church we are a member of, offends us in some way, Jesus tells us we are to go to them in private or “alone”. We are to discuss the offense with them alone. We are not to spread the news to every one of the members and certainly not to the public in general. But, no, only to the one who has offended us.

It may not be an apology at first. It may be just the two getting their side out in the open and their concerns known to the other. But it should lead to an apology from both to each other in the end. Jesus tells us “if he will hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” I have found that the best way to gain the respect of someone is to be open and honest with them. Whether we can work out our difference or not, respect goes a long way. If we love the Lord like we claim we will show compassion on our brethren even when offended.

The problem is when we go to others first. Most of the times those others have no idea who to believe and would rather not be involved. But then there are those who seem to thrive on a good juicy story and will continue to spread the tale, changing it to suit their own ideas. And then there are those who will just sit back and listen and become offended themselves, not knowing the whole matter, but willing to believe what they have been told by only one party.

The Lord warns of these very things. It is only after we have approached our brother, and he has not heard us that we take this up with others in the church. And even then, we, along with the others are to go to him in the same manner.

But notice the order of things. First, we go to them ourselves, without telling anyone else and try to resolve the matter without anyone else needing to know. If that fails, then second we take one or two more back with us as witnesses and these one or two are to be fellow members of the same church. If this fails, then we bring it before the church. Bringing it before the church is to be a last resort. When all other means have failed, then and only then are we to bring the matter before the church. It is only then that if he refuses to hear the church that the church has the authority to discipline a member. And that would only be if the matter could not be resolved.

Gossip and refusing to hear another’s side of the story are very serious matters when it comes to the Lord's people and to the Lord's churches. We are warned of these things all through God's Word. Yet, we as God's people, will follow the ways of the world or our own ideas even in this.

Offending a brother is a very serious matter. But refusing to go to the one who has offended us and talking over the matter with them in private is just as wrong as the original offense. As God's children we are to love one another as Christ loves us. Even more so when we are members of the same church. Communication is key when it comes to our love for our brethren. So many times the lack of or the breakdown of communication between two people has caused unnecessary grief and mistrust.

We need to remember the next two verses: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

O child of God, have you a conflict with one of your brethren? Have you been willing to go to the one and try to settle the matter? Or are you waiting on them? Remember Jesus said we are to go tell him his fault. He did not tell us to wait for them. Follow the example Jesus gave. Not just in this but in all things. How much more of a witness of Christ would we be if we simply followed His teachings and loved our brethren more than we love ourselves?

 

Please understand, many times when I write these devotionals, I am looking at myself as I write, as is the case with this one. Also, remember it is me who the Lord preaches these to first. It is not always easy write what He gives sometimes. But He always brings a blessing no matter how hard the lesson.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 16, 2025

 1 Kings 18:21

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

 

Riding the fence between the truth and false doctrine is a dangerous place to be. We cannot serve two different masters. Eventually, we will take a stand and rise to the truth, or we will fall for the evils in the depths of false doctrine. The grass may look greener on the other side but often looks can be deceiving.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 15, 2025

 

2 Timothy 2:1-5

“1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

³ Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

⁴ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

⁵ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 14, 2025

 

Luke 6:20-26

^“20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²¹ Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

²² Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

²³ Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

²⁴ But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

²⁵ Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

²⁶ Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 13, 2025

 

Proverbs 10:18

“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 12, 2025

 

Titus 3:10-11

^“10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

¹¹ Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

 

“HER'ETIC, noun

1. A person under any religion, but particularly the christian, who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy. In strictness, among christians, a person who holds and avows religious opinions contrary to the doctrines of Scripture, the only rule of faith and practice.

2. Any one who maintains erroneous opinions.”

 

 

“ADMONI'TION, noun

Gentle reproof; counseling against a fault; instruction in duties; caution; direction. Titus 3:10. 1 Corinthians 10:11. In church discipline, public or private reproof to reclaim an offender; a step preliminary to excommunication.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 10, 2025

 

Proverbs 20:19

^“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 9, 2025

 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

“7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 8, 2025

 

John 6:27

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 7, 2025

 

Proverbs 3:27-35

^“27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 6, 2025

 

Titus 1:10-16

^“10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

¹¹ Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

¹² One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

¹³ This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

¹⁴ Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

¹⁵ Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 5, 2025

 

1 John 4:1-6

“1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 4, 2025

 

Matthew 6:5-15

^“5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 3, 2025

 

Psalm 4:5

^” Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.”

It’s kinda difficult to put your trust in the Lord when your life is void of righteousness.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 2, 2025

 

Isaiah 26:3-4

^“3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

⁴ Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional February 1st, 2025

Proverbs 12:14-23

^“14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

¹⁶ A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

¹⁷ He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

¹⁸ There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

¹⁹ The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

²¹ There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

²² Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

²³ A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!