April - 2020

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The Root of the Matter

Apr 30, 2020
3 min

The Root of the Matter

Today’s Verse: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ~Colossians 2:7 Someone has said that many times, how we start determines how we finish or our result. The church at Colossae had become stunted in their spiritual progress due to false teachers who were seducing them concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul successfully dealt with the false teachers and their doctrine, he then went to the root

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Lazarus, Come Forth

Apr 29, 2020
3 min

Lazarus, Come Forth

Today’s Verse: And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. ~John 11:43 The family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus was very close to our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we get to John 12, we see Martha and Mary interacting much with Jesus, and Lazarus is quietly in the background. Lazarus was the baby brother who was in the shadow of his two older sisters. Lazarus was possibly shy, introverted, and wanting to avoid the spotlight. Lazarus was a good man,

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Clap Your Hands

Apr 28, 2020
2 min

Clap Your Hands

Today’s Verse: O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. ~Psalm 47:1 Clapping our hands is typically done after a performance. It is an expression of applause and appreciation of something we enjoyed and felt was well done. We clap our hands in acknowledgement of someone being bestowed an honor. We clap our hands at the end of a masterful concerto or an orchestra performance. The Bible gives us three settings where clapping is appropriate and

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With or Without?

Apr 27, 2020
3 min

With or Without?

Today’s Verse: That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; ~Philippians 1:10 As a kid, whenever I bought a hot dog from a vendor, they would ask, “With or without?” This meant: do you want your hot dog with mustard and condiments, or just plain? I like my burgers and dogs “loaded,” so I always said, “With.” However, there never failed to be a time, when other people were with me, that at least one said, “Wi

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Praying Without Ceasing

Apr 26, 2020
3 min

Praying Without Ceasing

Today’s Verse: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ~Colossians 1:9 There are things we do every day that we take for granted: things that we do that are without ceasing. We breathe without ceasing. Our heart beats without ceasing. We blink our eyes without ceasing. We think without ceasing. Some of us probably talk withou

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Help When It's Needed

Apr 25, 2020
3 min

Help When It's Needed

Today’s Verse: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~Psalm 46:1 Have you ever cried out, “Help”? If you have, you need assistance immediately. When help is needed, we are overcome with fear, anxiety, and morbid thoughts. There are times in life when the help we need is not available and we do not know what to do. This morning, we have a scriptural guarantee of help when it is needed. We see an unmovable shelter. “God is our refuge.” Have you ever tr

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Never Say No to The King

Apr 24, 2020
3 min

Never Say No to The King

Today’s Verse: And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? ~2 Samuel 19:34 Have you ever turned down an offer from a king? Our devotion this morning centers on a believer who walked away from an opportunity of a lifetime. It teaches us about the tragic mistake of having such a negative view of yourself that you talk yourself out of the possibility of receiving a blessing. This morning, let us see how Barzillai s

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What's Written on Your Face?

Apr 23, 2020
3 min

What's Written on Your Face?

Today’s Verse: And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. ~Acts 6:15 “Written on your face” is an idiom that means your facial expression tells the person looking at you what is concerning to you at the moment. It is a message you convey by your facial expression. Our faces can speak a thousand words. We are told that the council of Pharisees saw Stephen’s face as it had been the face of an angel. I don’t thin

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How Not to Stumble

Apr 22, 2020
3 min

How Not to Stumble

Today’s Verse: Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. ~John 11:9 There have been many mornings when I have been up when it is still very dark outside. Thinking I know my surroundings well, I will make my way downstairs, then to the kitchen to brew my morning coffee. On some occasions, I have stumbled on an object on the floor or on a chair leg because I tried to find my way

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Fast and Furious

Apr 21, 2020
3 min

Fast and Furious

Today’s Verse: And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. ~2 Samuel 2:18 I tend to like to do things fast. I like to walk fast, think fast, and get things out of the way as soon as I can. Being fast can be an asset, but it also can be a liability. Sometimes, we can talk too fast, and that doesn’t help the ones listening to us. Sometimes, we can be moving so quickly that we miss important details. B

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Thinking Alike

Apr 20, 2020
3 min

Thinking Alike

Today’s Verse: For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. ~Philippians 2:20 You are probably familiar with the phrase “great minds think alike.” It is a complimentary statement that means two or more people think in terms of the same accomplishment or action. Without discussing anything, they are alike in their thought process. Paul was concerned about having the right person represent him at Philippi. The only man who was likeminded to him was Timo

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The Golden Touch

Apr 19, 2020
3 min

The Golden Touch

Today’s Verse: And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. ~Genesis 39:3 The golden touch is taken from a fable about a king who was incredibly rich. Whatever he touched turned to gold. It is a now a term that describes someone who is successful at anything he touches. He is able to start successful businesses. He is successful in making good investment decisions. Whatever he touches turns to gold. As we read t

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Hard Thoughts

Apr 18, 2020
3 min

Hard Thoughts

Today’s Verse: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ~Matthew 6:25 Our nation and economy are struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic. Several people I know are not working due to their companies being shut down; unemployment is at a high; and there is the daily concern of when this will “all go away.” I spoke w

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Walk the Talk

Apr 17, 2020
3 min

Walk the Talk

Today’s Verse: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ~Ephesians 4:1 In the first century, most of the travel that people did was by foot, or by walking. They did not have the advanced transportation capabilities as we have. It was not unusual for a man to walk 4-8 hours per day or up to 30 miles if he walked an entire day to get to a different location. Walking is good for your health. Walking is the mo

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Stand

Apr 16, 2020
3 min

Stand

Today’s Verse: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ~Ephesians 6:13 In life, we are called upon to make important decisions. We are identified by the decisions we make. This identification tells others what we believe and what is important to us. We call this “taking a stand.” Paul tells us that we are in a spiritual conflict: a real war that is spiritual. The sight of war, sounds of

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Marathon Man

Apr 15, 2020
3 min

Marathon Man

Today’s Verse: As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. ~Joshua 14:11 People who run marathons are a rare breed. They are a special minority of athletes who train and live their lives to participate in a grueling running event of 26.2 miles. According to Wikipedia, the marathon got its name from the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran from the battlefiel

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Opened Eyes

Apr 14, 2020
3 min

Opened Eyes

Today’s Verse: Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? ~John 9:10 Has anyone ever sarcastically said to you, “Open your eyes”? It is a way of calling our attention to something that is right in our view, but we did not see it. It is also a way of referring to someone seeing the truth of a matter. This morning, we see a vital lesson about the importance of having opened eyes. We see the impairment. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from hi

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A Handbreadth

Apr 13, 2020
3 min

A Handbreadth

Today’s Verse: 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. ~Psalm 39:5 A handbreadth is a term of measurement. It is the measurement across the widest area where the fingers join the palm. It is a short measurement. David was saying that the days of his life were very short. Imagine opening your hand and blowing upon it. This is a very sobering illustration of the sho

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A Thing Incredible

Apr 12, 2020
3 min

A Thing Incredible

Today’s Verse: Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? ~Acts 26:8 Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the greatest of miracles because Jesus, Who was dead, raised Himself from the dead. Paul called it “a thing incredible.” The word “incredible” means something beyond belief or, even, unbelievable. It was incredible, but it really happened. It is incredible because it is true. It is in

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The Garden Tomb

Apr 11, 2020
3 min

The Garden Tomb

Today’s Verse: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. ~John 19:41 The idea of a garden brings to mind green grass, beautiful flowers, overhanging trees, and a peaceful setting. The Garden of Eden was, perhaps, the most beautiful garden setting ever on Earth. We are told of a garden setting close to where Jesus was crucified. In the setting of that garden was a cave that was owned by a man

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