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: 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 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: She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ~Proverbs 31:26   Are you someone whom others would say is kind? I believe most of us respond well to those who exercise kindness to us. I believe most of us try to practice kindness in our interactions with others. Alexander Maclaren said, “Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.” This morning, let us consider what Solomon calls “the

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: I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. ~Psalm 119:63   I thank the Lord for my preacher friends who love the Lord, win souls to Christ, and have strong Biblical values. We enjoy each other’s fellowship and rejoice in speaking of what God wants to do through our lives. In our devotion this morning, the psalmist makes a statement about his friends in life. He sets for us the criteria for bosom buddies.    We see the camar

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: 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: He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; ~Deuteronomy 32:13   Our devotion this morning speaks of the nation of Israel riding on high places. We have adapted the phrase “riding high” from this. It is a way of saying someone is enjoying the crest of success, feeling a sense of confidence and happiness, and savoring the fact that h

Today's Verse: There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. ~Proverbs 30:29-31 What do your traits say about you? A trait is an attribute or characteristic. It is something about you that defines and identifies you. Solomon uses some familiar animal analogies to describe people who are champions. These trait

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: Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High . ~Psalm 56:2   David was way over his head in problems. Psalm 56 was written during the Absalom Rebellion. Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel and took over the nation. David and his most loyal men escaped to avoid a conflict. David was in fear and was hurt that Ahithophel, his counselor, joined ranks with Absalom. He was hurt when Shimei came forth to cu

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: Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. ~Isaiah 52:2   It is amazing how dusty things around the house can get if we do not regularly vacuum, sweep, and dust. Books that we have placed on the bookshelf can collect dust. I have had more than one occasion of carrying books I’ve taken from off of the bookshelf that have made my clothes very dusty. Well, when you get dust o

Today's Verse: And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. ~2 Chronicles 23:1   When it comes to sharing information, it’s important to be “in the know.” This means you are privy to insider information about something that is beneficial to you. Jehoiada

Today's Verse: And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. ~2 Chronicles 23:19   Back in the 1990s, healthcare costs were spiraling out of control. It was not unusual for employers to see their costs for health insurance increase by 30% or more for several years. The insurance industry developed health maintenance organization products that would curb the increase in costs by requiring primary care ph

Today's Verse: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ~Matthew 4:1   In football, a tackle is the act of taking down the one in possession of the ball. When he is tackled, he is prevented from going any further with the ball. The one making the tackle has demonstrated superiority in stopping the ball from entering the end zone and preventing a score. In essence, it is the takedown of your opponent. This morning, let us see the take