Today's Verse: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ~Matthew 5:8   A few years ago, I started to notice more floater activity in my right eye. I made an appointment with an ophthalmologist for a thorough eye exam and to make sure I did not have a detached retina or any other vision impairments. Thankfully, everything checked out well. Our vision and ability to see are important to us in everything we do. We want good visual acuity. We want to know that we ca

Today's Verse: But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. ~Matthew 9:22   It is a joy and privilege to make hospital visits and pray with my members who are hospitalized. However, I feel at a loss and so inadequate for members who struggle with ailments for which medicine can’t seem to give immediate healing or relief. Our devotion this morning centers on

Today's Verse: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ~1 John 3:2   As a pastor, I have the privilege of visiting many people during a week’s time. I encourage members to introduce me to other family members. Sometimes after a visit, my wife comments on how family members either look alike or do not look alike. Those who look alike are easier

Today's Verse: And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. ~Acts 6:8   One of the great Christians in the New Testament is Stephen. Acts 6-7 places a holy spotlight on Stephen and the impact he had on many lives. Stephen’s name in the Greek is “stephanos,” which refers to a crown. It was a wreath woven together in the shape of a crown and was awarded to the winner of an Olympic race. This morning, let us be inspired by Stephen’s life

Today's Verse: And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:8   Today is Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, it is associated with love and romance. The highest word for "love" is the Greek word "agape." Agape refers to the love of God. When we use it in the context of loving people, it implies loving people as God loves them. The word “charity” that the King James translators used for agape love had a much

Today's Verse: And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. ~Matthew 8:26   A hurricane is a major storm that is categorized into levels 1 to 5. A storm is classified as a hurricane when the winds reach 74 miles per hour or more. The highest category of a hurricane is level 5, where winds are more than 157 miles per hour. We are told that Jesus and the disciples experienced a gr

Today's Verse: And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ~Jude 14   This morning, we are examining the life of Enoch. He is the seventh descendant from Adam. He was an exception among the men of his day. His name means “dedicated.” He is a man who inspires us to live above the world.    We see Enoch and his walk.  “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and be

Today's Verse: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ~Acts 4:20   When a person is subpoenaed to the witness stand, he is expected to give an account to the best of his memory of what he heard and saw. The information he gives is critical to the arguments for or against a case being tried. He is not to make up his story but to testify accurately. Our devotion this morning centers on this statement made by Peter and John: “For we cannot but speak th

Today's Verse: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. ~Acts 4:13  Several years ago, I had the privilege of preaching the gospel to 10,000 unsaved people over two days. My heart was overwhelmed in awe at such an opportunity. As Christians, we read through the book of Acts, and we wonder if the days of great evangelism are still po

Today's Verse: And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. ~Acts 3:11   A fun team sport that we play in groups is “tug of war.” Two sides of people hold opposite ends of a rope and pull. The side that wins is the one that pulls the hardest. Before the contest begins, team members on both sides are reminded by their team captain to hold tight, dig their heels in, and

Today's Verse: When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ~Matthew 8:10   How great is your faith in the Lord? Can you recall a situation in your life where you had to exercise great faith in God? This morning, we see a man of authority who did just that. What this man did was the exception, and not the rule. Let us see this morning the exercise of great faith.    We see the app

Today's Verse: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. ~Acts 14:22   It goes without saying that life can be tough. Over the course of time, we will face tough situations, tough people, tough decisions, and tough setbacks. There is an old cliché that says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” However, I have found that many people, including Christ

Today's Verse: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~1 John 1:9   Many times after someone receives Christ as Savior, they are concerned about what happens when they sin. They are concerned if they will lose their salvation. They are concerned about how to deal with sin after they are saved. So, this morning, let us consider the sin question after we’re saved.    We see the impact of our covering. 

Today's Verse: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.  ~1 Corinthians 15:34 Have you ever fallen asleep on public transportation and then awakened to the fact that you missed the stop where you were supposed to get off? Falling asleep at the wrong place and time can be embarrassing. Paul gives a stern admonition to us about falling asleep spiritually when we need to be awake.    We see the alarm.  “Awake to rig

Today's Verse: These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. ~Acts 1:14 We live in a time where there is great division and a lack of unity. There are divided opinions about how the government should run, how money should be spent, and how to protect our country. Among Christians, there is division about how to worship God, the priority of the church, whether God has predetermined who goes

Today's Verse: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. ~Matthew 6:6   Are you good at keeping secrets? A secret is privileged information that is to be kept between two parties: the one who shares the secret and the one receiving the secret. Jesus gives us an important dynamic about prayer that is perhaps overlooked by most Christ

Today's Verse: Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ~1 John 2:18   What does the phrase “the last time” bring to your mind? Paul, Peter, and John all wrote that we are in the last time. The phrase refers to the closing days of this world before Jesus comes for every true believer and, following that, a time of terrible judgment and the wrath of God

Today's Verse: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ~Matthew 5:39  The Apostle Paul describes the age we live in as “perilous times.” This description conveys the idea of dangers and perils along the way. Most men I know try to be cautious and aware of their circumstances because of unexpected dangers. However, what do you do when you have been offended by another person? Most people I know

Today's Verse: Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. ~Acts 1:11   Years ago, I took a missions trip to an upper interior area of China. This area was once a part of the rule of Genghis Khan, the Mongolian conqueror. My team and I met at a house church there that was very friendly and inquisitive of us. After 3-4 days of pr

Today's Verse: Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ~2 Timothy 4:11   Who is the best Christian you know? Who do you look up to who lives out his life as a hands-down supreme model of a Christian? This morning, we are examining the testimony of a man named Luke. He wrote a gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts. Little is said about him, but what we are given about him inspires us to follow his shining