Today’s Verse: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ~John 21:15 A lady in Spain made the news when she chose a unique way to test her husband’s love. With the help of a friend, she manipulated her own kidnapping and sent a ransom notice to her husband. When the police discovered that the kidnapping was a hoax, they

Today’s Verse: And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. ~1 Kings 19:21 We live in a time when commitment is based on the idea of, “What can I get out of something?” instead of, “What am I willing to give up?” Commitment is missing in employment, marriage, friendships, church membership

Today’s Verse: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~Matthew 6:14-15 All of us know that the starting and keeping of relationships is a give-and-take on the part of everyone in the process. The more we get to know people, the more we see their faults and weaknesses. As we interact and work together, it is expected that all of us will not

Today’s Verse: Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: ~Hebrews 3:7-8 There is an English idiom that says, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” This means that getting used to the same thing can result in it becoming something that we lose interest in or enjoyment of. When I was in 3rd grade until 5th grade of elementary school, I made my own bag lunch every day.

Today’s Verse: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ~John 13:35 The goal of every Christian life is that we testify of our commitment as disciples to our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the task of the Great Commission. We are to go and teach all nations. The Greek word for "teach" is where we get our word "disciple" from. Jesus repeatedly taught His disciples about the importance of being vital disciples. We are to be committed as d

Today’s Verse: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. ~Psalm 60:12 Our devotion this morning takes us to Psalm 60. David was facing one of the most difficult challenges in his life. On one hand, he was facing two boisterous men who led the Syrian army against him, and on the other hand, he was facing the challenge of a large number of Edomites who wanted to fight with him as well. Even though he had won numerous battles before, thes

Today’s Verse: And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. ~Numbers 13:30 I like to be around people who are filled with faith and a positive attitude. There is an incredible stimulation of energy and desire that is produced by people who can see what others cannot see and accomplish what others are not willing to accomplish. This morning, we are challenged by the faith of Caleb at a very crit

Today’s Verse: Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. ~2 Kings 4:7 A debt is a financial or moral obligation that we owe to someone else. It is an obligation that demands a repayment. Every debt is a liability that requires a plan for repayment. The Bible teaches that a borrower is a servant to the lender in Proverbs 22:7b. This morning, we want to consider the importance of paying of

Today’s Verse: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. ~1 Samuel 3:19 Samuel is one of the great men of the Bible. He was both a prophet and a priest. His life spanned the end of the judges to the times of the kings. He was privileged to have anointed the first two kings of Israel. Samuel is noted as a great intercessor in Jeremiah 15:1. His very name means “asked of God.” He was an answer to his mother’s prayers. However,

Today’s Verse: And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. ~Exodus 21:5-6 Do you enjoy serving? Are you someone who desires to help others? Do you possess a volunteer spirit that is quick to respond to needs of the church

Today’s Verse: And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. ~2 Samuel 2:19 Whenever I purchase something, I look to see where it was made. Where it was made can sometimes determine the quality and durability of the product. Asahel’s name means “God-made” or “made by God.” Though he is lesser known, his life is a lesson on courage, conviction, and continuation. Let’s examine the kind of man Asahel was. We se

Today’s Verse: Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. ~Proverbs 30:7-9 Contentment is a complete satisfaction with your circumstances and possessions. It is an inner sense of arrival that the extremes of deprivation and

Today’s Verse: And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. ~2 Samuel 23:18 Of the many things said about David, the listing of the mighty men that he had is an inspiration to our faith. There are precious insights from the lives of Benaiah, Eleazar, Asahel, and Shammah. This morning, we want to look at the life of a man named Abishai and see how he i

Today’s Verse: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. ~Psalm 73:26 Do you ever find yourself at a place in life where you feel like bad triumphs more over good? Do you ever get frustrated with things going on in the world? Do you feel like the wicked prosper and God allows them to get away with their evil deeds? When the answer is yes to these questions, do you find yourself complaining a lot more and being discontented wi

Today’s Verse: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. ~John 11:44 John 11 is a powerful chapter in Scripture. Within this chapter, the doctrine of the resurrection is declared and demonstrated by Jesus in the life of Lazarus. It is also a chapter that teaches us about the power of a transformed life. This power is the only means by which a victorious

Today’s Verse: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; ~Philippians 2:15 Many families take time annually to do a family portrait. By doing so, they are preserving rich memories of their family. People who look at family portraits look carefully for resemblances or non-resemblances between the children and the parents. Where there is a resemblance, the co

Today’s Verse: Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. ~Genesis 40:23 Are you someone who is forgetful? Do you forget where you put your keys? Do you forget your username and password for login purposes? I think that most forgetfulness is not malicious but due to distraction, information overload, or lack of concentration. Joseph was in prison for a crime that he was unjustly accused of. An opportunity came about where he could possibly be released. He t

Today’s Verse: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. ~Psalm 34:19 The Bible is a book of comfort. The first goal of the Word of God is demonstrated without any discussion that God is the Most High God and there is none like Him. The second goal is to show man that he is a fallen sinner and that God, in His marvelous grace and love, has provided the free gift of salvation to every man through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Wit

Today’s Verse: Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. ~Proverbs 14:4 Solomon enjoyed using examples from agriculture, farming, and the animal world as metaphors in his writings. In our passage this morning, he speaks of the strength of the ox. Oxen were a symbol of service. Oxen were used for plowing or as a means of transportation. Oxen were used in sacrifices and food. Oxen were an important part of the local economy in Solomon

Today’s Verse: And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. ~2 Chronicles 14:11 The term "strong confidence" refers to a firm and resolute faith in God. Our devotion this morning centers on a king who had strong confidence in the Lord.