Devotional

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) Devotion In 1874, William Mitchell Ramsey was appointed as the professor of classical art and archaeology at Oxford University. His earlier education centered on the Tübingen School of biblical interpretation. This academic approach to the scriptures maintained that the Book of Acts was composed in the second century, and therefore was not a reliable account of the missionary journeys of Paul as recorded by Luke. Maintaining that Acts was a second century composition, Ramsey considered…

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.…

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be associated with them, for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take…

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 STORY Joseph Scriven had wealth, education, a devoted family, and a pleasant life in his native country of Ireland. He was born in Ireland in 1819. After receiving a university degree from Trinity College in London, he enrolled in a military college to prepare for an army career. However, poor health forced him to give up that ambition. Joseph then quickly established himself as a teacher, fell in love, and made plans to settle in his hometown. Then…

“Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ Zechariah 7:9-10 STORY The Shoes of the Fisherman, is a novel by Australian writer Morris West, that was published in 1963. The author’s admiration and commitment to Catholicism provided the central theme for nearly all of his thirty novels. The novel begins with the death of the pope and the arrangements for a conclave to elect…

You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” John 3:7 STORY Tom Monaghan needed money if he was going to study architecture at the University of Michigan and one day follow in the footsteps of his idol Frank Llyod Wright. Borrowing $900 from his brother, he bought DomiNick’s pizza shop in nearby Ypsilanti, followed by the purchase of a second store in Mount Pleasant. In order to save money for “sign making” he dropped the “ick” from DomiNick and added an “o.” Thus began, in 1960, the second largest pizza franchise in the world – Domino’s…

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus…

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the…

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:5-8 Cecilia Gentili, who died on February 6, 2024, was a former sex worker who suffered drug addiction and was jailed at Rikers Island, before becoming an advocate for sex workers, as well as a representative for the, gay, lesbian, and transgender…

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 Several years ago, I watched the program Weeds, that was aired on Showtime. It was in the third season when, in one weekly installment, religion became a prominent topic. The depiction of religion was that of snake handlers, as the following scenes showed: A grade school class is taught the evils of abortion by being shown a shocking photograph; A Jewish boy is sought out for conversion; A teenage girl was snubbed because she confessed to being a homosexual;…