Daily Devotion – Moments That Matter

  May 30, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Kings 1-3 / John 9:24-41

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        When everything is said and done, what is it that you really want out of life? Homes are nice, but they break down and are in constant need of repair. Cars, boats, and motor toys are fun, but they too need lots of attention. Sooner or later a newer model will come along and catch our attention. I heard one person say, when asked what they wanted for a birthday gift, “Well money always seems to work really well!” As true as that is, even that statement proves that money cannot purchase any items that completely satisfy us. People seem to chase their tales in the daily grind trying to find the next thing that will make them happy. At some point we should stop and ask, what is it that we are actually seeking out of life? Might the best thing we possess be a Godly heritage to pass on to those we love?

 

        Elisha has followed after Elijah to his last days. He has watched, listened, and learned all he can from this man of God. Now Elijah turns to Elisha and says, “…Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” So, after all this time, what does Elisha ask for? Material things Elijah might leave behind? No. He asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spiritual heritage. The bible says, “… I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” Elijah must have been so proud to know at that moment, the work God had begun in him would be carried on through his spiritual son Elisha. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        When we reach the end of this life, our best gift to the next generation is our faith and love for God. That is what will see them through the trials of life when we are long gone.

 

What better gift could you leave for your loved ones than a true faith and trust in your God?

 

 

  May 29, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Kings 22 / John 9:1-23

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I recently read a humorous story about a man who was at an auction. On the auction block was one of the most beautiful Parrots the man had ever seen. He had not come with the idea of buying anything, yet when the bidding started at one hundred dollars, He could not resist. Suddenly from somewhere toward the front he heard “two hundred!” The auctioneer said, “I have two hundred do I hear three.” So, the man raised his paddle and said, “three.” Almost as suddenly as he had bid, someone yelled, “four hundred.” This went on for some time. His pride and competitive spirit would not allow him to stop. Finally, he won the bid for one thousand dollars. At the end of the auction, he went to pay for the bird and take him home. As he was writing the check he said, “I sure hope this bird can talk after all that.” “OH, he can talk alright,” said the auctioneer, “who do you think was bidding against you?” You know parrots only repeat what they have heard someone else say. When it comes to God’s Word, we might learn something from the parrot.

 

        Micaiah the prophet was asked to agree with other prophets in what he would say to the king. Micaiah said, “…what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” What God’s Word says today may not be popular with society and their desires of life. However, it is still the truth and still what God said. Does anyone want a cracker? 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We need to share the truth; however, the Bible says, we need to do it in love. Sometimes the truth can be harsh and hard to hear. Still, if someone knows we are telling them the truth because we care for them, it is easier to hear.

 

Will you show people you care, before you share?

 

 

 May 27 & 28, 2023
 May 27 – Daily Reading – 1 Kings 20-21 / John 8:31-59
 May 28 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Kings 20:28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Where Is God? This is a question we hear often when there is a tragedy in someone’s life. People ask this question when tornadoes have moved in and leave nothing but devastation through an area. Some have asked where God has been when hurricanes have hit a shoreline and destroyed lives and homes. People will often ask a Pastor where is God after the sudden unexplained death of a loved one. When someone takes weapons into a school or crowded area and randomly takes the lives of innocent people, we hear, where is God in all this? At times it is hard to see God in the midst of natural disasters or the sinful outbursts of man. Yet, in the aftermath, if you will look around, you will see this loving God picking up the pieces of broken lives and putting them back together again. There is a biblical name for God and Christ that will answer this question. IMMANUEL. Which means, “God with us.”

 

        In today’s reading of 1 Kings 20 we find the Syrian army not understanding the presence of God. They thought that He was a territorial God like their false imagined gods. They had hoped that this God was only with man on the mountain, and not in the valley. How soon they found out that the one true God is not a god of mud, but a God of Man. The God of Man is not confined to one place, nor is He only there in certain situations. He is the God of Man always. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Just remember, the God of the mountain top experiences in life, is also the God who walks with, and through the valleys of your life. He is the God you can count on when nature and man prove to be unreliable. He is always there.

 

Can the world see God in you, even in the bad times?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Every step in life taken with the Lord brings us closer to Him. Even mistakes in life will develop Godly Maturity if we learn from them, as seen in:

 

  ● Given Even More
  ● Guiding Their Memories
  ● God Still Matters
  ● Guaranteed A Meal
  ● Guarded And Mistaken
  ● God With Man

        What a blessing to know that just as a parent leads a child, our Heavenly Father is leading us into Godly Maturity.

       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.

May 29, 2023	1 Kings 22	John 9:1-23
May 30, 2023	2 Kings 1-3	John 9:24-41
May 31, 2023	2 Kings 4-5	John 10:1-21
June 1, 2023	2 Kings 6-8	John 10:22-42
June 2, 2023	2 Kings 9-10	John 11:1-37
June 3, 2023	2 Kings 11-13	John 11:38-57
June 4, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Godly Maturity

 

  May 26, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Kings 18-19 / John 8:1-30

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Ok, now what do I do? Yup, we have all been there. A decision must be made, yet we are just not sure what to do. Many times, our problem in deciding something has a lot to do with the people that our decision may affect. If we do this, these people will be happy, but some others may not. If we go the other way, just the opposite is true. What should I do? It is in these situations we find that many people will decide to guard their opinion and say nothing at all. One big problem with that is, then both sides see you as indecisive and wishy washy. What to do?

 

        Elijah has just given the children of Israel this same ultimatum. Follow God or follow Baal. If they choose to follow the God of Elijah, then many of their friends and neighbors will be mad. They may not get an invitation to the next neighborhood barbecue. However, if they choose Baal, well then if Elijah’s God is real, they might become the next item barbecued. What to do, what to do. So, they did what many people still do today when faced with a tough decision. They do nothing. Our verse today says; “…And the people answered him not a word.” They were not willing to stand up for God. Later, when God proves himself to everyone with fire from heaven, we find them on their faces before God in 1 Kings 18:39 crying out; “…The LORD, he is God.” Why, well everyone was doing it, and they were scared. When given a choice they followed the crowd. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Standing up for Christ may not always be easy. Guarding what we say may seem right. However, when we do, no one hears of our wonderful Saviour’s willingness to save. We live a guarded, but mistaken life.

 

What will you do?
Stand Up, stand out, or stand mute?

 

 

  May 25, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Kings 15-17 / John 7:37-53

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Kings 17:14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Most people in the United States do not truly know what it is like to be starving. Some have occasionally been hungry, but few are starving. Through the generosity of many people and organizations, there are Food Banks, Rescue Missions, and Soup Kitchens in almost every major city in the US. Truth be told, most people in this great land toss out more food in a week, than some in third world countries eat in a year. Most of us cannot imagine not having some idea of how to get food from somewhere in the next few days. However, what if that were not the case? What if you had no prospect of any food, from anyone, anywhere, and you only had one sandwich left? Then a person walks up and says, “if you will give me part of your sandwich, I guarantee that you will not run out of bread and lunch meat for a long time.” What would you do? 

 

        This is the situation the widow woman in 1 Kings 17 found herself in. Even worse, it was not only her last meal, but her son’s last meal as well. However, the man who walked up did not make the guarantee of a meal on his own. He said to her, “…thus saith the Lord God of Israel.” This woman really thought she and her son were about to die. For her there was no hope, until the God of hope stepped in. She did not place her trust in Elijah, as much as she placed her trust in the God of Elijah and Israel. God’s guarantees are rock solid. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We too had no hope of escaping this world alive until the God of all hope stepped in. He is our Bread of Life. I once heard said that sharing the gospel is like one beggar, telling another beggar, where they had found bread.

 

Will you tell a hungry world about the Bread of Life?