Today’s Verse: As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. ~Joshua 11:15 Today is the last day of this year. Every year feels like it goes by faster and faster. This is due to the fact that we are busier, more committed, and more engaged in opportunities and responsibilities than in the past. We are multi-tasking more things, even to the point where we think busyness is a

Today’s Verse: Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. ~Genesis 49:13 Zebulun is one of the smaller and lesser-known of Jacob’s sons and of the tribes of Israel. He is the sixth son of Leah. Only one verse describes Jacob’s parting words and blessing upon this son. Zebulun represents a good testimony and a solid future. He represents for us a son who did not cause his father much trouble or hearta

Today’s Verse: O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. ~Genesis 49:6 Jacob lived a ripe and good life. God blessed him with 147 years of life. At one point, he described his years as being few and full of sorrow. However, he ended his life in peace and thankfulness. Before he left this life, he gathered his sons together and made some fr

Today’s Verse: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; ~Genesis 49:4a A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ~James 1:8 I enjoy looking at the ocean water from the shoreline. When the water is placid, it tends to be calm and predictable, and it appears safe. However, ocean water moves about according to the tides. Ocean water can be safe-looking at one moment, and then, it can become turbulent and treacherous. Jacob described his eldest son, Reuben, as being as uns

Today’s Verse: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ~2 Timothy 4:7 The Apostle Paul was in the Mamertine Prison when he wrote 2 Timothy. He knows that his execution is very soon. He gives his protégé in the faith, Timothy, strong and encouraging words for him to remain faithful and fruitful in the work of the ministry. As Paul closes this touching letter, he wants Timothy to see that he was determined to finish his journey strong. Paul

Today’s Verse: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee.... ~Genesis 45:10-11a Most immigrants come to the United States as the land of opportunity. They envision a life where success is possible with hard work and seizing upon opportunities. In our devotion this morning, Joseph is making possible the oppo

Today’s Verse: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ~Luke 2:11 Birthdays are very special days. We celebrate the blessing of another year and of life. They are days that we treasure. They are days where family and friends express their love and respect for us. Each year that passes is more significant and special. Birthdays of certain presidents are celebrated as holidays. However, the most significant birthday in all of hist

Today’s Verse: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ~Luke 2:7 Mary’s nine months of maternity would culminate in the most important and most miraculous birth: the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ! Mary would endure all of the normality of this maternity but with greater anticipation than any other mother had ever had. Each day as the Fetus in her womb grew and move

Today’s Verse: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. ~Luke 1:38 When we think about Christmas and the incarnation of Christ, Mary was given a very monumental role. Mary had the distinct privilege of bringing the Lord Jesus into this world by means of human birth. However, this would not be an ordinary birth. It would be a virgin birth. This morning, we want to see how each of us can have “a Mary C

Today’s Verse: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ~Philippians 2:8 In mathematics, we use certain terms to describe calculated results. For multiplication, two numbers multiplied together gives us a product. For division, two numbers divided together give us a quotient. When there is a subtraction of one number from another number, the result is called the difference. When there is an addition,

Today’s Verse: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ~Luke 2:25 We are blessed to have the Holy Scriptures for the full and accurate account of the birth of the Lord Jesus. There are the fulfilled prophecies. There is the announcement of the angel Gabriel of the virgin birth to Mary and Joseph. Then, there are people who have seemingly less

Today’s Verse: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. ~Micah 5:2 I’ve grown up in the city all of my life. I am used to large masses of people, public transportation, traffic on our freeways, multiple shopping centers, restaurants galore, major sports teams, top educational institutions, leading medic

Today’s Verse: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ~Genesis 49:10 Our text this morning points us to the advent and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. It is an important verse relative to Bible prophecy and Jesus' first coming. It is often an overlooked and forgotten verse. Nevertheless, it describes for us a powerful statement regarding Jesus' arrival

Today’s Verse: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ~Romans 5:9 Have you ever described the virtue of a product, tool, appliance, or benefit and then, in your excitement, say, “But there is much more”? The term “much more” implies that there is a plethora more of goodness, resource, or power than what we understand or imagine. “Much more” is a wonderful, expressive term that is used in Romans 5 to describe the riches of s

Today’s Verse: And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. ~Acts 8:31 A guiding light is someone who is a powerful influence and inspiration in the life of another person. Many fathers and mothers are considered a guiding light in the spiritual and moral development of their children. Teachers are considered as significant guiding lights in the lives of students. Many of us can point to one or more peo

Today’s Verse: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ~Joshua 1:5 Joshua had lived in the shadow of Moses for forty years. I believe that he was content being in the role of a servant and soldier. After forty years, Moses died and went to be with the Lord. Joshua’s role was changed from servant to superintendent. He was now the leader of more than two m

Today’s Verse: But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. ~Acts 9:22 When we think of the term “inner strength,” we immediately think of the incredible fortitude and ability to achieve a deed that might have required more people or when someone accomplishes a great come-from-behind finish. This morning, we want to consider how the Apostle Paul “increased the more in strength” and the impact that

Today’s Verse: Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. ~Psalm 141:2 Have you ever been in a room or setting where a woman who was wearing a very fragrant and sweet-smelling perfume entered in? It is amazing how the scent of the perfume overtakes the atmosphere and brings a heightened sense of freshness and sweetness to the entire atmosphere. It affects the mood of the room even to the point where there is a c

Today’s Verse: And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp. ~Leviticus 9:11 One of our more modern-day sayings that we use is the phrase “flesh it out.” This basically means to make something fuller; to give substance to something so that it might be more complete. In the Christian life, we engage in a daily battle between our flesh and the Spirit. The flesh represents our carnal, selfish, and sinful desires, ambitions, and appetite. The work of the flesh i

Today’s Verse: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ~Matthew 5:8 A comprehensive physical examination of the body will also entail a heart check. This is when an EKG will be done to determine the health condition of the heart. Everyone wants to hear from the doctor that he has a heart that is healthy. This morning, we are looking at a verse that emphasizes the importance of a heart check. The heart speaks of the inner person, the real you. It’s important tha