I have never posted a devotion this long in any of my writings, but if you are interested in the Christian history of our nation, I hope this information will be helpful. So, grab a cup of coffee and a couple of donuts and let’s dig in. From my earliest childhood memories, my favorite patriotic…
As a young minister, I bought commentaries and resources to help prepare myself as best I could for the call God had placed in my life. Early on, I came across the writings of Charles Spurgeon. I often wondered why Jesus began the beatitudes with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” I think Spurgeon gave…
~ Part 2 ~ In our day of a prosperity-laden Gospel, some say this could not possibly be speaking about money. How could a person who is poor possibly be blessed? I read where one commentary said that Luke omitted part of what Jesus said, and Matthew clarified it. The story in Mark chapter 10…
~ Part 1 ~ Mount Of Beatitudes Luke 6:20, “Blessed be the poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It’s interesting to me that both Matthew and Luke began with the same thought: “Blessed are the poor in spirit;…
~ Introduction ~ In a famous Shakespearean play, Hamlet said, “To be, or not to be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles.” The struggles of life are very real, and each day, we…
Peter was, I think, the Apostle that we can all most easily relate to. There were times when he seemed to have it all together, and there were times when his mouth wasn’t big enough to hold the foot he just stuck in it. Peter could get it right one moment and wrong the next.…
I have casually mentioned the soldier at the cross in several of my sermons, but I have never stopped to think in detail about what the day Jesus was crucified was like for him. He saw enough that Matthew 27:54 records him saying, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” While some of what I’m…
Zacchaeus is mentioned three times in the Bible, all in Luke chapter 19. We know from the Bible that he was short in stature, the chief among the Publicans, and he was rich. For most people, he is best remembered for climbing a sycamore tree and his determination to see Jesus. Have you ever wondered…
A few weeks ago, I wrote a devotional where I touched briefly on the woman caught in the act of adultery, as recorded in John chapter 8. Jesus knew the Scribes and Pharisees were trying to trap Him. Not only had they twisted the scripture to suit their trap, but they failed to bring the…
When most people think about the point of no return, they tend to think about it from a negative perspective. For example, Romans 1:28 says some sinful acts cause God to give people over to a reprobate mind. I shudder when I think about that. Or Hosea 4:17, where the Bible says, “Ephriam is joined…