Who Will Be In Heaven?

March 22 & 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Who will be in heaven? People have a variety of answers to this question.

 

    Some want to believe that every person who is good here on Earth will arrive on Heaven’s shore. The Bible says that is not so. Read John 3. Some feel if they do good works and are helpful toward others they might get in. The Bible again says this will not happen. It is not by works. Read Ephesians 2. So who then, and how then do we get into heaven? This small verse in Acts 2:21 explains so much.

 

    It says, “whosoever shall “call on” the name of the Lord.” Not those who just believe in a Jesus will get in. Many people in the bible saw and believed in a man named Jesus but remained lost. It is not only believing it happened the way the Bible says it does, but we must also call on Jesus’ name. What does it mean then to call on? The Greek word is epikaleomai (pronounced ep-ee-kal-eh’-om-ahee if that matters to you.) It means to entitle; to invoke for aid, to worship, etc.: it also means to appeal to. It is more than just praying a prayer. It means believing in your heart what you are praying with your mouth. It is calling on Jesus because you have decided and are making an appeal to Him to entitle Him to be Lord of your life. (So much for the Greek Lesson today)

 

     The great news in this verse is that salvation is available to everyone. Anyone can become part of the elect of Christ by calling on Him. There is not one person ever who cannot be saved. It says “whosoever…” and that includes us all.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Even after salvation, we should continue to call on the Lord daily. Trusting in Jesus for all we need and daily yielding our all to Him. However, it all begins with that first call on Him for our salvation. 

 

Have you made that call?

 

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:  March 22, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Numbers 33-36 – Psalm 72
Proverbs 22 – Acts 1-2

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 9-11 – Luke 1:39-56

 

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 to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 23, 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

 

Teaching The Children

March 21, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 71:17
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Some people feel teaching young children about Jesus is in many cases a waste of time. You might ask, “Will a young child remember what I am teaching them anyway?” The answer to that is a resounding, “YES!” In fact, the younger the minds, the easier they are to teach. Studies have proven it. Even more convincing, the word of God declares it.

    How do we know that some people feel teaching the younger ones about the Bible is not important? They prove it. They believe School Activities are more important than Wednesday Bible Study. An extra hour of sleep on Sunday mornings is more vital than Sunday School. People never have to say a word. Their actions speak very loudly. Their lives display their belief that teaching my child of Jesus is not as important as my rest, my chores, my weekend, or some other activities.

    Some parents allow their children to CHOOSE whether to go to Church or not. Saying it is not right to force a child to go if they do not want to. Do you allow them to choose whether to go to school or not? No. Why, because you believe what they learn there will help them live a better life. Are you telling them then by this action, what they learn about God does not matter as much as reading, writing, and arithmetic? Still, which of those things lasts for eternity?

    Then some feel Sunday School is just for children. Really? When did you become an expert on God’s Word and need no other teaching about Jesus, or how to serve Him? If you understand the Bible so well, shouldn’t you help others understand by teaching or helping? People need you there, to love them, and support their young Christian walk with your mature walk. The Bible tells us to exhort one another…even in the early morning during Sunday School.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     The next time there is a Bible Study at your church, Satan will begin to tell you all the reasons you should not be there. Let me tell you one reason you should. God is there and He has a message just for you as we are all His children.

What do you think about Sunday School?

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:  March 21, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Numbers 31, 32 – Psalm 71:17-24
Proverbs 21 – John 20, 21

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 6-8 Luke 1:1-38

Is Your Word Your Bond?
March 20, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Numbers 30:2
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

    When I was young, I would hear the statement, “A Man’s Word Is His Bond.” You do not hear that statement so much anymore. Possibly the reason we do not hear it is because people do not practice it too often. Everything now seems to have to be written on paper, signed by an army, and backed by the government before we believe it to be true. Even people getting married today begin their marriage with a lack of trust in one another or their bond of marriage. Engaged couples create pre-marital contracts in case the marriage fails. What a sad way to begin a life together, which is supposed to be one of trust and a bond of two becoming one. Instead, the marriage begins with a statement of distrust in a written contract of how later to dissolve the relationship.

 

    Why is it important to God that our word is final, and a promise is to be carried out? Well, it goes back to Genesis where God stated that we are created in His image. You see, God wants us to be as much like Him as possible. One of the most wonderful characteristics is, “God Never Lies.” His Word is final, and His Word is true. Always.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

   

    As we begin to make promises today for the future, we should just stop and think for one moment, are we “SURE WE CAN DO WHAT WE SAY WE WILL DO?” This may seem easy, but keeping all of our, “off-the-cuff promises,” may present all of us with a task that is challenging from time to time. Every time we promise to pray for someone, do we? Or, if we tell God that if He answers a prayer, we will do something for Him. Then He does His part, and we do not. Making promises is easy. Keeping them is sometimes a challenge. However, to do so, to be an honest trustworthy person, makes us more like Christ. 

 

Is your word your bond?

 

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:  March 20, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Numbers 29, 30 – Psalm 71:1-16
Proverbs 20 – John 19

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 4-5 – Mark 16