Today’s Verse: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ~Ephesians 3:1 Would you listen to the words of a prisoner? When we think of a prisoner, we might tend to think of a criminal who has been incarcerated. We might question the credibility of the prisoner and disregard what he says or be very skeptical. However, we hear the words this morning of “Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” He is not a prisoner for breaking the law, but for the advance

Today’s Verse: But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; ~Philippians 1:12 Our devotion this morning centers on how God uses what appears to be difficulties and turns them into blessings. One noted preacher, J.H. Jowett, calls Philippians 1:12-14 “The Fortune of Misfortune.” If we are not careful, we might overlook opportunities that God gives us in obstacles. This morning, let

Today’s Verse: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ~1 Timothy 1:18 The Bible pictures us as soldiers in an ongoing war against Satan, the flesh, and the devil. It is a spiritual war that is ongoing. We are called to be good soldiers in the grace of our Lord. Paul encouraged Timothy to “war a good warfare.” We must be ready to fight. We must fight with the idea that w

Today’s Verse: Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? ~Philemon 1:16 The epistle to Philemon is one of the most touching letters that Paul wrote. It teaches us how God works in marvelous ways through a willing servant in touching lives. It teaches us about the doctrine of imputation and how our sins were placed on the account of our Lord Jesus Christ. It teaches us about t

Today’s Verse: I think myself happy…. ~Acts 26:2a Economist Jeffrey D. Sachs is quoted as saying, “We are in an era of rising tensions and negative emotions.” Worry, sadness, and anger among adolescents and adults has been gradually increasing. The average American ranks his happiness at 6.9 out of a scale of ten. People realize that possessions, position, and popularity are not guarantees for happiness. Spurgeon said, “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that

Today’s Verse: And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. ~Acts 20:9 Falling out of a window is a scary thing. Serious injury or death is very likely. Most situations of someone falling out of a window would be considered accidental but avoidable. This morning, we see a young man named Eutychus, who fell out of a

Today’s Verse: And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. ~Colossians 4:17 Warren Bennis was considered one of the foremost experts on leadership. He made a powerful statement that differentiates a leader from a manager: “Managers do things right; leaders do the right things.” Doing the right things includes getting things done. It does not matter how grand a plan you have, how great your product or service is, o

Today’s Verse: Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ~Philemon 1:9 The book of Philemon is just one chapter. It is named after a Christian man who was a very close friend of the Apostle Paul. His name means “one who kisses” or “affectionate.” Philemon loved the Lord, his family, the members of his church, and the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote this letter as an appeal to Philemon about something that

Today’s Verse: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. ~Acts 16:25 Acts 16 is the record of the start of Paul’s second missionary endeavor. The significance of the events that occurred during the second missionary endeavor contributed greatly to the church as we know it today. The gospel made a great impact among the Gentiles, model churches were established, and six of Paul’s epistles were written for us. Perhaps the on

Today’s Verse: Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: ~Acts 16:1 Who are your favorite Bible characters? Timothy, or Timotheus, is one of our beloved men of the Bible. He is referred to as “son Timothy,” “brother Timothy,” “Timotheus my workfellow,” “minister of God,” servant of God, and faithful. His name means “honoring God.” Let u

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 John Mark is prominent to most Christians as the writer of the gospel that bears his surname, Mark. He also stands out to us as a failure who made a comeback. We sometimes think that if we fail, there is no second chance. However, just like Mark, everyone can come back from failure and be used again by God. We see the recruitment. “And Barnabas

Today’s Verse: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ~1 Timothy 1:18 Paul wrote 1 Timothy to assist and instruct a young pastor in his oversight and leadership in the church. Timothy had to deal with numerous issues that were touchy and difficult. He needed courage and wisdom in dealing with these issues correctly and decisively. Paul was helping his young protégé in t

Today’s Verse: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ~Colossians 1:9 There are things we do every day that we take for granted: things that we do that are without ceasing. We breathe without ceasing. Our heart beats without ceasing. We blink our eyes without ceasing. We think without ceasing. Some of us probably talk withou

Today’s Verse: For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. ~Philippians 2:20 You are probably familiar with the phrase “great minds think alike.” It is a complimentary statement that means two or more people think in terms of the same accomplishment or action. Without discussing anything, they are alike in their thought process. Paul was concerned about having the right person represent him at Philippi. The only man who was likeminded to him was Timo

Today’s Verse: And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. ~Acts 28:5 All of us have different levels of pain tolerance. I remember, when I was in elementary school, the fear of getting a shot at the doctor’s office. The kind nurse would prepare for it by saying that it would be fast and I might just feel it a little bit. What a relief when, after I got the shot, I could say, “That didn’t hurt.” As a Christian, the world is watching us to see what hurts us. Th

Today’s Verse: But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. ~Philippians 2:22 Yesterday, we looked at John Mark and his mentoring by Peter. This morning, we are looking at Paul and his mentoring of Timothy. The principle of spiritual mentoring is given to us in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” We s

Today’s Verse: And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. ~Acts 23:10 Do you sometimes feel like you have so many things competing for your attention or time that you almost feel like you are being pulled apart? If you have had this experience, it is a very uncomfortable and stressful feeli

Today’s Verse: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. ~Acts 16:25-26 “Breakout” is a term that is used in many descriptive ways. It is used to describe something unexpected that occurs, like the breakout of a rash. In the stock market, it describes a

Today’s Verse: Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. ~Acts 14:20 Roy Riegels played for the University of California at Berkeley football team from 1927 to 1929. Cal played against Georgia Tech in the New Year’s Day Rose Bowl. Roy will be remembered as the player who picked up a fumble but unknowingly ran the ball back to his team’s goal line. The Cal quarterback, Benny Lom, ch

Today’s Verse: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ~Acts 13:2 Missions is the church sending laborers into the fields that are white unto harvest. It is the church taking the gospel message to communities, local and abroad, and bringing the multitudes that are lost in sin to Christ. Henry Martyn said, “The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him,