Daily Devotion – Moments That Matter

  June 15, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Chron. 8-9 / John 18:1-18

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Chronicles 9:1 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I have a few things in storage that belonged to my parents. When my mother passed away my sister and I went through all her belongings and kept a few things of our parents that each of us wanted. It was amazing to see some of the things my mom had kept over the years. Being an adopted child, who later in life found her birth mother, she had things from both her adopted family, and her birth mother’s family. Sometimes, when going through her old pictures, I did not know which family was which. She also had notes written to her simply signed, mom. I did not know which mom had written them. She knew, but she took that information with her when she passed.

        While reading 1 Chronicles 9:1, you must admit, keeping all those records, for all those years, was outright amazing. It may be difficult to read the first eight chapters of this book, but you do realize, not everyone’s name who ever lived is written in these few chapters. (I heard a collective sigh and amen right there.) Yet, it is amazing these records survived all those years. Someone maintained them when the kingdoms divided. Then each of these kingdoms, taken at two different times, to two different regions, also preserved the records. Amazing? Actually, God did that. Ps. 12:6a & 7 says, “The words of the LORD are pure…” “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.“ 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        God’s Word is accurate. We can rely on not just the genealogies being correct, but every single word written in the Bible as true. To have the literal Word of God preserved and in our hands is, “Outright Amazing.”

Do we cherish this Bible like we ought to?

  June 14, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Chron. 6-7 / John 17

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Chronicles 6:31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Oh, how I love music. I like a lot of different types of music. When I was younger, I had the opportunity to go to Stratford Canada to the annual Shakespeare Festival. I heard some wonderful Opra singing there. I have gone to hear a few very popular Country singers at the local County Fairs. I went to my granddaughter’s sixth grade school music presentation and, I might be a little biased, but I think she sounded best in that chorus of about 100 children. (I was only sitting about a football field’s length away, so you know I could pick her out.) However, the music that stirs my soul most since I accepted Christ as Saviour, are Christian songs and hymns.

 

        All through scripture we find places where God has ordained music to be a part of our lives. Even in today’s reading of 1 Chronicles 6 we see how David put certain people over the ministry of music in the House of the Lord. Some of the names mentioned in this chapter are men who also wrote portions of the book called Psalms, which is a book of songs. Men such as Asaph wrote Psalm 73-83. Heman penned Psalm 88, and Ethan authored Psalm 89. Music is a huge part of our Christian life. Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 both speak of believers singing to ourselves and one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with grace, and making melody in our heart. The right types of Godly music is an ordained arrangement sent from heaven above. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        I normally sign things with my life verse. Hebrews 2:12 “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” This is a repeat of Ps. 22:22. Christian friend, lift up your voice and sing.

Does Godly music move you?

 

 

  June 13, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Chron. 3-5 / John 16:16-33

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Chronicles 5:17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        If you were to walk into my office on most any given day you will find a pile of papers here, another pile of assorted materials there, here a pile there a pile. You might think to yourself, what a mess. (Quite honestly, I see it that way too at times.) However, for the most part, I know what is in each pile. The one pile is research for sermons I am working on, another is materials for retreats and outing I schedule each year, and so on. I know it must look like chaos to most, but it is my organized chaos, and it works for me.

        When we think of the children of Israel broken into two groups, the northern tribes called Israel, and southern tribes called Judah, finding a way to recall all the heritage and genealogy may seem somewhat like organized chaos as well. However, way before these people knew they were going to compile this information, God knew. Jotham, King of Judah had a very long reign compared to many others. God kept them from wars and troubles during this time and it was a great time to take an account of all the people of Judah. Similarly, Jeroboam, King of Israel, as a controlling dictator, would want to know who was in his camp. Neither of these men knew at the time that God was using them to keep accurate records. Records of history that would be used later as verification of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords birthright to the throne. However, in the midst of this organized chaos, God had orderly accounting of every detail. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        When life seems out of sorts and it feels like no one cares, remember, God keeps great records and knows every detail of your life. Matt. 10:30 says, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” God is monitoring the details. 

Does knowing God cares bring you comfort?

  June 12, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Chron. 1-2 / John 16:1-15

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Chronicles 1:1-4 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Today, DNA testing is a big thing. People buy DNA test kits for themselves, for family members, and for friends as gifts. Some tests are bought by friends and neighbors to see if they might be related. Occasionally these results are uneventful for people who have a good idea of their family history. However, many times the results are kind of surprising. Finding out that you are not of the nationality you thought you were. These tests have led to people finding long lost siblings who were adopted as youth to different families. The tests have been used by legal authorities to track down and arrest criminals who have been hiding in plain sight. Some tests have even led to medical findings in a family’s history that have saved people’s lives. Clearly, these tests have been helpful. Here is a question for you today. Without those tests, or the aid of an Internet site, how far back could you accurately track your family’s history?

 

        Long before any of these DNA tests, or ancestry tracking sights were available, family heritage and blood lines were important to the children of Israel. They kept meticulous records. It was important for land distribution when they came back home after their captivity. It was important in tracing the ancestry of Christ, as His birth fulfilled the prophecy of being of the family of David, of Judah, of Abraham, and of Adam. Before “Ancestry.com,” there was “Ancestry.God.” 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        God’s Word is true, and traceable. It is one thing to make a claim, quite another to back it up. The archaeological, historical, and ancestral accuracy astounds some people. However, when you tell the truth, it should not be surprising when it proves to be true.

Does it surprise you?

 

 

 June 10 & 11, 2023
 June 10 – Daily Reading – 2 Kings 25 / John 15 
 June 11 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 25:26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        “Do your own thing.” “Be your own person.” “Live how you want to live.” This is often the cry of the young that often believe freedom is living by no rules but their own. Sadly however, in the process they mess up their own life and often the lives of others who follow them. Eventually finding out that we all must live by some rules. A train can go anywhere it likes if it stays on the tracks. Once it takes a dirt road, it and its passengers are in trouble. God set up guidelines for us to follow to enjoy life as He designed and desires for us. When we go our own way, there is an internal turmoil which causes confusion.

 

        The Children of Israel cried to God for deliverance from Egypt. God sent Moses to lead them out. On the journey to the Promised Land, they rebelled against God. When they did, God chastened them and left them to wander forty years in the desert. However, God showed Himself to them in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. When they came to the rivers that hindered them, God opened a way to cross on dry ground. When they came to armies mightier than them, God fought for them and delivered them. Yet, when they were given the land that God had promised, they began to forget God. There was an internal turmoil among the tribes. Then, evil kings led them away from God and they were taken off the land. Where did they end up? Back in Egypt where they began. Internal turmoil causes confusion. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Prov. 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Christ did not come to bring death. John 10:10 says, “…I am come that they might have life, and that… more abundantly.” 

 

What will you choose?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        If we will follow, God will always lead us back to Himself. In Him we can place Inescapable Trust as seen in:

  ● Influencing Tomorrows
  ● Inevitable Truth
  ● Invincible Testament
  ● Inviting Trouble
  ● Intended Treasures
  ● Internal Turmoil

        We know that God never makes mistakes. He is always right. He has the future in His hands. In Him there is an Inescapable Trust we can all rest in.

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

June 12, 2023	1 Chron. 1-2	John 16:1-15
June 13, 2023	1 Chron. 3-5	John 16:16-33
June 14, 2023	1 Chron. 6-7	John 17
June 15, 2023	1 Chron. 8-9	John 18:1-18
June 16, 2023	1 Chron. 10-11	John 18:19-40
June 17, 2023	1 Chron. 12-14	John 19:1-30
June 18, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Inescapable Trust