Devotional

Sin Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore, he was called Edom.)  Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:24-34…

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22 STORY In 1946, a California lawyer…

Suffering Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed, we call blessed those who showed…

Compassion Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of…

Faith The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:21-22 STORY John Henry Newman was born in London in the year 1801. At the age of fifteen he was converted, and became an earnest student of the Bible and church doctrine. This led him to becoming…

Perseverance When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 STORY In September 2017 People magazine published a sad story that carried with it a very inspiring message. Courtney Waldon, living in Tallapoosa, Georgia, was sitting next to a backyard fire pit when she told her husband, Mitch, as they were celebrating their two-month wedding anniversary, that she was cold. She turned away to check…

Holiness And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35:8 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans 6:22 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 17:14 STORY The Roman Catholic…

Assurance Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 (NRSV) STORY Augustus Toplady was born in England in 1740. Toplady had an interest in religion during his younger years. At the age of 15, while attending a Methodist revival in an Irish barn, he was, in his own words, “brought nigh to God.” It was at this point that he determined to go into ministry. In 1762, while Toplady was walking along the gorge in Burrington Combe, in North Somerset, England, there was a terrible storm. It was among the rocks in the…

  Joy As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11 STORY Bobby McFerrin is best known to us for his iconic 1988 feel-good hit song Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Since then, he has received ten Grammy Awards. McFerrin’s love of music came from his childhood. Whenever he…

Faith And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36 STORY July 18, 1965. Struck by a missile, a jet plane piloted by Jeremiah Denton came crashing to the ground in a ball of flames, setting the stage for seven and a half years of captivity in Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, better known as the Hanoi Hilton. There, along with seven hundred other Navy and Air Force airmen, he suffered isolation, malnutrition, disease, and torture. Denton, like the others, endured the…