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- May 30, 2020
- 3 min
It Can Be Done
Today’s Verse: And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? ~Judges 6:14 In third grade, I tried out for the 3rd-4th grade boys basketball team without knowing how to play basketball. I was very anxious and assumed I would be told that I didn’t qualify. “Coach Tony” took time that first day to give me an orientation on basketball basics and let me participate in the drills. His
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- May 29, 2020
- 3 min
God Our Captain
Today’s Verse: And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper. ~2 Chronicles 13:12 When we think about military rank, a general is generally considered the highest-ranking officer. However, the classification of captain was revered and respected as high ranking in the Bible as well. A captain held rank as a le
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- May 28, 2020
- 3 min
The Woman From Magdala
Today’s Verse: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. ~John 20:1 In the old days, people sometimes were identified by the city of their birth. Mary Magdalene is one of these people. Her last name means she was born in Magdala. Her first name, Mary, was a common name among women. Mary represents someone who was very devoted to our Lord. We see Mary highlighted as being
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- May 27, 2020
- 3 min
Finished!
Today’s Verse: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. ~John 19:30 The word “finish” implies completion. To an artist, it means a painting is done. For a runner, “finish” implies he has completed the race. For students who have worked on a project, “finish” means the project is done and ready for submission. All that needs to be done has been done. Nothing more needs to be added to what has been don
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- May 26, 2020
- 3 min
Let Us Not Sleep
Today’s Verse: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ~1 Thessalonians 5:6 As a kid, I looked forward to sleeping in late on Saturday mornings and when there was no school. It was a contest among the boys I grew up with as to who slept in the latest. As I got into sixth grade, I realized that I needed to be disciplined in my sleeping habits in order to make the most out of my days. Our passage this morning is an exhortation about how we shoul
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- May 25, 2020
- 3 min
According to His Ability
Today’s Verse: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: ~Acts 11:29 Americans gave almost $428 billion to charity in 2018. This group includes foundations and very wealthy individuals. When we look at giving to churches, the average Christian in America gives 2.5% of his income to his church. Only 10%-25% of regular attendees actually tithe 10%. These statistics are alarming and should cause all
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- May 24, 2020
- 3 min
Of Barak
Today’s Verse: And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak…. ~Hebrews 11:32a The true story of Barak is in Judges 4 and 5. He is mentioned in Hebrews 11 regarding his faith. However, his faith was limited. He was willing to exercise faith as long as Deborah accompanied him to the battle. The requirement of faith is that we trust God completely. The responsibility of faith is that we are obedient. The reward of faith is that God dilige
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- May 23, 2020
- 3 min
The Mission of Excellence
Today’s Verse: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. ~1 Thessalonians 4:1 Excellence is the highest standard of achievement and attainment. In the world of music, a virtuoso is such a musical expert that he is a standard of excellence. The best hospitals in medicine are referred to as “centers of excellence.” Corporations committed to
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- May 22, 2020
- 3 min
A Door of Hope
Today’s Verse: And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. ~Hosea 2:15 Hope is the anticipation that something that will benefit us will occur. It is the thread that we hang from that keeps encouraged. It is the glimmer of light that says everything will work out. God told Israel that there was a door of hope for th
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- May 21, 2020
- 3 min
After This
Today’s Verse: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ~Hebrews 9:27 The words “after this” are used 53 times in the Bible. In general, it refers to a post event: the event immediately following one that just occurred. It gives us the idea of what is next, what to expect, and what will happen. As Christians, we should always be forward looking. We can, often times, only focus on the now and neglect to think about the next. Let us consider thi
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- May 20, 2020
- 3 min
Birdie, Birdie in the Air
Today’s Verse: Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. ~Ecclesiastes 10:20 Have you ever heard the idiom “the walls have ears”? This means people can hear what you say. When you think something is held in secret or won’t be disclosed, the likelihood is that it is not. Our devotion this morning is a warning to us against saying something ou
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- May 19, 2020
- 3 min
No Roadblocks Allowed
Today’s Verse: Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? ~Acts 11:17 One of the most remarkable chapters in the Bible is Acts 10-11, when God sent Peter to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. This was a major paradigm shift in the expansion of the gospel. Until that time, the gospel was mainly being preached to a Jewish audience. With the gospel being preached to the Gentiles,
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- May 18, 2020
- 2 min
A Good Man
Today’s Verse: For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. ~Acts 11:24 The phrase “good man” is used thirteen times in the Bible. There are only two men who were specifically described by others as “a good man”: Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, and Barnabas. A good man has God’s favor on his life (Proverbs 12:2). A good man is selfless (Proverbs 14:14). Good men are a scarcity (Micah 7:2). A good man’s steps are ordered b
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- May 17, 2020
- 3 min
When You're About to Explode
Today’s Verse: For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. ~1 Thessalonians 3:5 Have you had times in your life when your emotions were so bottled up within you that you felt like you were going to explode from within? Paul speaks twice of being no longer able to forbear. This means he couldn’t bear holding inside what was building up. He was alone at Athens and very bur
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- May 16, 2020
- 3 min
Preaching Jesus
Today’s Verse: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) ~Acts 10:36 One of my favorite chapters of the Bible is Acts 10, which records how Peter, a Jew, was commissioned by God to go to a Gentile centurion named Cornelius. This incident opened the door for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. Cornelius needed God’s messenger to bring him, his family, and his friends a message that would be a major waterma
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- May 15, 2020
- 3 min
Grin and Bear It
Today’s Verse: If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. ~Ecclesiastes 10:4 One of the greatest challenges in life is what to do when another person becomes angry with you. It is even more challenging when that person is someone in authority to whom you are in subjection. If we have been on the receiving end of verbal chastening and threats, our fleshly tendency is to leave and find “new pasture to graze in.”
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- May 14, 2020
- 3 min
Working Wiser and Not Just Harder
Today’s Verse: If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. ~Ecclesiastes 10:10 We have an old English proverb that teaches us to “work smarter and not just harder.” An example of this is how we earn money. We know that having a secure job is essential to earning enough money to feed our families, pay our necessary bills, and save for the future. We refer to this as hard work. Smart work is learning
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- May 13, 2020
- 3 min
Jesus Christ Maketh Thee Whole
Today’s Verse: And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. ~Acts 9:34 When I read through the Book of Acts, my heart is greatly stirred in seeing how souls are saved, churches are started, and lives are changed. The dynamic that is the difference maker is simply the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter told Aeneas, “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.” When Jesus is allowed to work without any reservations o
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- May 12, 2020
- 3 min
Soul Deep
Today’s Verse: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. ~1 Thessalonians 2:8 A little girl asked her father if he would buy her a large cotton candy to eat at the county fair. The cotton candy was almost half the size of his daughter. He said to her: “I don’t know. It looks too big for you to eat.” She replied: “Don’t worry, Daddy. I’m bigger on the ins
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