DEVOTIONS

God Builds People
December 13 & 14, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     As you read today’s verse, it is easy to forget all that went into the words, “was finished.” The Lord’s house was finished. Yet, as we look at what is complete, we ought to also remember the toil that went into those words.

 

     The first people who returned to build this temple did so about twenty-three years before this day. The foundation had been laid around twenty years before. The building was started in 538 BC and finished around March of 515 BC. The actual construction time was about four and a half years. The people who worked on this place had suffered ridicule and persecution during their time of construction. This verse seems too simple for all the work that had been done over such a long period.

 

     Yet, we dare not forget that this is often what God wants His people to realize. That the simplicity of God sometimes takes the efforts of man. Then, when it is finished, we look back and see God’s hand at work through it all.

 

     All the years of this construction, traveling and planning, pleading, withstanding ridicule, and persecution had once again brought these people to a place where they were prepared to worship God. The time may have seemed long to man, but God knew it was just the right amount of time. You see, while the people were simply building a building for God, God was doing the hard work of building a people for Himself. Sometimes building people takes a long, long time.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    It may seem at times that God does not answer our requests or acknowledge our plans at the time we ask for them. Remember, everything we do must be done according to God’s time. Furthermore, His timing is always right.

 

Over the years, what has God used in your life while building you?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: December 13, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Ezra 5, 6 / Psalm 131
Proverbs 13-14 / 1 John 1-5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 4-6  /  Revelation 3

 

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

 

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then, when you get home, re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

 

GOD TALKING TO ME: December  14, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

 

It Is No Secret!
December 12, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Here in the first decade of the 21st century, we have seen and heard of books and so-called theologians who have made claims that there is a code in the Bible. They say that somehow in the Torah, the Hebrew version of the Old Testament, if you skip three letters and pick up the next one, you will come up with hidden biblical messages. They also claim the people who wrote those books put a code in there with hidden messages.

 

     There are a few problems with this philosophy. One, The Torah was not written in English. It was written primarily in Hebrew. So, how do these people claim to find a code from an English translation of the Bible? Second, which English version of the scripture do you need to use to get the right code? If you use NIV or NAS, you will have different words. Third, if you will use the King James Bible, you will find in 2 Peter 1:20 it says that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” In other words, it says, “There are NO CODES.” The other versions say it was not by man’s interpretation. This could mean about the same, however, it leaves out the fact that there is no secrecy to the word of God.

 

     Not only was it not man’s interpretation, but it was also not private. God intended for all men everywhere to know the truth. If these folks who write these books would spend as much time obeying the written Word of God as they do trying to sell books and finding some hidden meaning, this world would be a much better place.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Therefore, I guess if you like to spend a lot of time reading things that are just not so, grab one of those code books, get a cup of hot chocolate, and read a good fiction book. However, if you really want a blessing, grab a good old King James Bible and read the Real Word Of God.

 

Why do you think people are trying to find some
secret message in the pages of God’s Word?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  December 12, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Ezra 3, 4 / Psalm 130
Proverbs 12 / 2 Peter

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 1-3  /  Revelation 2

 

Up The Right Tree?
December 11, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

      Family Trees take on many shapes and designs. Some of them look more like family bushes than trees. However, have you ever given much thought to whether your family tree is an eternal tree, or is it a tree that will wither and die? You see, the life of a tree is not dependent upon how many branches and leaves are on the tree. The life of the tree depends on the root system and the nutrients that are obtained from those roots.

 

      If you want a family tree that will stand the test of time, you need to have the right roots. If your roots are planted in shallow ground, such as things that only matter today, then when the winds and storms of life blow, your family tree will not be very stable. But then again, if your tree is well rooted in God’s Word, something that will last for eternity, your family tree will live on and survive.

 

      How can you make this happen? Well, first, you need to be rooted well yourself. You must know Jesus as your Saviour. Then, as our text today says, “he that winneth souls is wise.” Share with your family the gifts and grace of God.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     If you starve a tree, give it no water and no light, it will die. Jesus said that He was the water that would never run dry and the light of the world. If you feed your family tree with the right water and the right light, it will grow and flourish into a beautiful, eternal tree.

 

How strong is your family tree?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: December 11, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Ezra 1, 2 / Psalm 129
Proverbs 11 / 1 Peter 3-5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Joel  /  Revelation 1