From: August 3, 2024
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Romans 16:17 ESV).
The apostle Paul gave two instructions concerning those who cause divisions and upset people’s faith: First, watch out for them. Literally, keep an eye out for them. And second, stay away from them. Avoid such people. Paul knew that such people did not serve Christ. For Christ calls us to unity in Him.
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 was that we would be one as He and the Father are one. He said that the world would know us by our love for each other. Yet when we have divisions and contrary teachings among us, we are becoming like the world. So keep your eyes peeled for those who would divide and upset our unity. Stay clear of them.
PRAYER: Father, help us to stay at the table and reconcile any disunity within the fellowship. We want to see the prayer of Christ fulfilled among believers. Give us wisdom to keep an eye out for those who cause division and to know when to correct them and when to avoid them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 3, 2023
“While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was written by Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:14 NLT).
Under the direction of King Josiah, the Levites were repairing the Temple when they found the Book of the Law. Hilkiah the priest was the one who found it. Apparently, it had been hidden in the Temple to avoid destruction by some of the wicked kings that ruled before. As a result, knowledge of the Word had been lost in the land. Josiah tore his clothes in repentance when he heard it read and revival swept the land. The revival had a lasting effect, so that in all the days of King Josiah they did not depart from following the Lord God.
How could a nation like Israel, which was built on God’s Word, lose it? And having lost it, how could they forget it? How many generations does it take to lose and forget God’s Word? Simple. One generation. One generation that wasn’t taught God’s Word is all it takes for an entire nation to go off course.
Thankfully though, it only takes one generation to rediscover God’s Word for revival to break out in the land, so that people repent of their sin and follow the Lord.
Much of what we see going wrong in our nation today might be explained by the disappearance of God’s Word. Sure, every household has a copy of it, perhaps several, but that doesn’t mean they’ve heard it. That doesn’t mean they’ve been taught it to understand it. What would happen if the people of our nation rediscovered God’s Word?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we ask You to strengthen us to put out Your Word in every way that we can. We want to see revival in our land. We know that revival begins with the hearing of Your Word. Lead us to speak Your Word boldly to this generation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 3, 2022
DID PAUL GO TO SPAIN?
What we know from Scripture is that Paul did indeed visit Rome, carried there to appear before Caesar under Roman guard. According to the final verses in Acts (Acts 28:30-31), Paul was held under house arrest in Rome for two years awaiting trial, yet had great freedom to preach and teach about Jesus while there. But Scripture is silent on what happened next.
From the writings of early church fathers such as Clement, who wrote around 95 AD, Paul was apparently released after two years in Rome and was able to journey to Spain before being brought back to Rome and being beheaded by Nero around the year 67 AD. While there is little certainty about whether Paul was able to carry the gospel to Spain, the fact that Clement’s writings are only 30 years afterwards lends credence to the possibility.
I like to think that the Lord allowed Paul to take one more journey to a place where the gospel had not yet been heard before completing his earthly journey. At any rate, I am moved by the passion the Spirit had given Paul to obey the Great Commission and to make disciples of all nations.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are moved by the passion You gave Paul to take the gospel to the nations. Strengthen us not to become weary in doing the good work, but to persevere with the zeal of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 3, 2016
Do you know someone who is constantly telling you secrets about someone else? Or someone who slanders another? Do not associate with such people. For if they talk badly about others to you, they will talk badly about you to others. And if they share the secrets of others with you, they will reveal your secrets to others. Telling such a person a secret is the same as broadcasting it to everyone. A gossip is to be warned, and if they persist, avoided.
From: August 3, 2015
Josiah became king when he was eight years old. His father and his grandfather before him were wicked and idolatrous kings, but he decided to seek the Lord. He made his decision to follow God while “he was still young,” and the Lord blessed him and the Kingdom of Judah all the days of his life. Like Josiah, my father died when I was eight. In my grief and despair I sought the Lord and He saved me. I walked the aisle in a church in Wayne, Michigan that we attended while staying for a time with my mother’s sister. I went forward at the church’s special children’s service and received Christ as Savior and Lord. Some might think that a child aged eight is too young. But like Josiah, I have also known God’s blessing on my life and that of my family. Seek the Lord while you are still young and encourage your children and grandchildren to do the same.
From: August 3, 2014
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand. I’m going to second service today to hear my son preach and to to publicly praise the Lord! God is good!