Today’s Verse: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12 Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses. He wrote this psalm in the later years of his life as he was looking back in retrospect on one hand and looking ahead prospectively on the other. Moses is praying about the days of his life (vv. 9, 12, 14, 15). It is a prayer that reminds us of the providence of God and our continuous need of being in submission to Him through all our days. We s

Today’s Verse: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ~Colossians 2:10 The word complete implies everything you need has been provided. The word as used in Colossians 2:10 means fulfilled; filled to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim. Another way of expressing being complete is by saying, “I am liberally supplied.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is perfectly God: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the

Today’s Verse: And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. ~1 Kings 1:52 Wisdom is acquired by learning from our experiences: our own and others’. When we make mistakes or sin, we should learn from these situations and not set ourselves up for a repeat mistake. This morning, let us see how one of David’s sons, Adonijah, made a repeat mistake that was very costl

Today’s Verse: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. ~Genesis 35:3 Jacob made a costly mistake in moving down to Shechem. From the moment he pitched his tent there, one mishap after another happened. The final blow was when Simeon and Levi took swords and killed all the incapacitated men of Shechem. Jacob told his sons, “Ye have troubled me to make me

Today’s Verse: And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ~Mark 1:35 Are you a morning person? Morning people thrive on being up early. They tend to be greatly energized after a good night’s sleep and ready to make great accomplishments during the first few hours of the day. Morning people will attest that they are more productive and successful. Morning people also enjoy the quiet solitude of tha

Today’s Verse: And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ~Mark 1:40 Leprosy is a slow, corrupting disease that affects every part of the body. During Jesus’ day, it was a fatal and infectious disease. An infected person was excommunicated from family and society, and he would spend the remainder of his life either as a loner or part of a leper colony. It was a hopeless life if you cont

Today’s Verse: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Acts 15:26 What do you consider to be hazardous work? Being a firefighter can be hazardous work. Being a scientist who works with chemicals and radioactive material is hazardous work. Working on an oil rig in the ocean is hazardous. There are many hazardous types of work. James said in Acts 15:26 that serving the Lord Jesus Christ is hazardous. That might frighten us at first glance, but

Today’s Verse: Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. ~Esther 2:15 One of the fundamentals of growing up is waiting for our turn. When we are at an amusement park, we must wait for our turn to take our ri

Today’s Verse: And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. ~Mark 1:20 Those who oversee successful, growing businesses know that making good business decisions is key to ongoing success. A good business decision results in good employees, profitability, greater market share, greater loyalty, and increased brand acceptance. This morning, we see two businessmen who were given a business choice that

Today’s Verse: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ~Hebrews 9:22 Hebrews 9 is a monumental chapter of Scripture that teaches us about the vital requirement of the shed blood of an innocent victim for the sinner. It gives authentication of the requirement and acceptance of the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for every sinner. This morning, we consider the thought: “without the blood.” We see the antecedent.

Today’s Verse: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ~ Colossians 1:18 Sometimes, in the busyness of everything that we do, we forget Who Jesus really is. As a preacher, I preach and talk about Jesus. When I sit in a service where there is another preacher, I listen to messages about Jesus. When we serve, we know that we are serving Jesus. When we pray, we are praying th

Today’s Verse: But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. ~Philippians 4:18 The word sacrifice implies the life of a victim being offered. It is a word that is used 29 times in the New Testament, and the majority of its usage is by the Apostle Paul. Paul understood the concept and cost involved with a sacrifice. All of us have a subjective i

Today’s Verse: ...But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many.... ~Daniel 11:32b-33a Daniel 11 is a dual prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanes and the coming Antichrist, also known as the Beast. Antiochus was a very powerful and wicked man. He caused much havoc with the Jews and their temple, and he desecrated their sacrifices. He is a picture of the Antichrist, who corrupts, confounds, and

Today’s Verse: How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! ~Psalm 84:1 Psalm 84 is a psalm that speaks about the writer’s love for God’s house. His opening statement is “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!” In this psalm, we are challenged to rise to a high level of adoration, appreciation, and love for the house of God. On this Lord’s Day, may it be our claim that “I love my church!” We see the craving. "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts

Today’s Verse: And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. ~Isaiah 32:2 When I was in the fourth grade, some of my friends got me to try out for the boys’ basketball team. One of my best memories of learning how to play basketball was “Coach Tony.” Coach Tony took time to help each boy develop in his skills. He worked us hard, but he always had an encourag

Today’s Verse: And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. ~Philippians 4:3 The yoke in the Bible spoke of a wooden harness that tied two oxen together for plowing. This was called an equal yoke. This implied two of the same kind doing the same thing, going in the same direction, and accomplishing the same task. Paul uses the term “yo

Today’s Verse: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. ~Mark 1:3 The ministry of John the Baptist brought a close to the Old Testament and was the bridge opening up the New Testament. John was a very illustrious and, even, somewhat peculiar personality. He was a burning and shining light who pointed the people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark speaks of him as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” We see the prep

Today’s Verse: Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ~1 Thessalonians 4:18 One of the most meaningful ways we express our love and concern for other people is through the gift of flowers. White lilies are given at funerals and memorial services to show our empathy and sorrow for a grieving person’s loss. Sometimes purple hyacinth is given for the same reason. One flower, however, symbolically speaks of our remembrance and consolation with a grieving or hurting perso

Today’s Verse: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ~Acts 14:3 My father was in the meat and grocery business for most of his adult life. I remember, in 1968, when he took his entire life savings to buy a meat and grocery store in a very tough part of the city. Over 25 years, he built a successful family-owned business. There were many challenging t

Today’s Verse: But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. ~Acts 13:51 Some experiences in life can be very stressful and, even, traumatizing. These events can cause us to become bitter and lose focus, and they can make us think that it is best to withdraw and retreat. This morning, we see two men who exemplify incredible resilience. They are like a rubber band when it is stretched to its maximum: they bounced back into form and continued to