DEVOTIONS

Before, Or After

 DECEMBER 26, 2023
 Daily Reading – Zechariah 1-3 / Revelation 18

 GOD’S WORD:

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        As a child growing up, I lived at home with my mom, dad, and my sister. Even back then I was smart enough not to pick on my mom and dad. So, that left my little sister as the target of my practical jokes and childish tortures. When I was caught, (which was often,) I would receive some sort of punishment, and then was sent to my room to reflect on what I had done and the punishment. After a while, I was called in front of my parents and sister and told, “tell your sister you are sorry, or go back to your room.” If I said it with a snotty voice, my parents would say, “tell her you are sorry again, and mean it!” Before the punishment was to be over, I had to say I was sorry. At times, I would say the words to be done with the punishment.

        Today there is a question in some churches of whether we must repent before, or after salvation. Repentance means to turn from facing one way, do an about face, and turn to face another. In Zech. 1:3 God says, “…Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” So, what did God expect them to turn from? Zech. 1:4 explains this when it says, “…Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings:…” Before, God would turn toward them, they needed to repent, turn away from their sin. They had to be sorry for their sin, and prove it by repenting, turning. P.S. God knows if we are telling the truth or not.

         

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Why would we expect, or ask God to leave us in our sinfulness? He sent Jesus to free us from that sin filled life, not condone it. What a blessing to know, that when we repent, turn from sin to our Saviour, He does forgive completely, and washes our sin away.

Have you been cleansed?

Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
¹⁰  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Busy, Often Too Busy

 DECEMBER 25, 2023
 Daily Reading – Haggai / Revelation 17

 GOD’S WORD:

Haggai 1:5-6 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Work, work, work, day after day, and it seems to get you nowhere. In today’s industrial mindset it seems that your family’s wellbeing is the last thing considered in the corporate bottom line. Most feel if you do not want to do the job, leave; others are in line to take your place, and probably for less pay. So we work extra to keep our jobs. Yet, many work long hours because of the desire to have more. More of what we really do not need, just want. More of what the neighbor has that appears to make them happy, but often does not. It is the misguided notion, “I deserve better.” At some point we must ask, better than what? Better than who? How much better does it have to get? Better than the rest of the world? In America, we are for the most part financially better off now. Better than the neighbors? When you do get more than your neighbors, you will likely move, to find new neighbors to compete with. When is enough, enough?

       The people of Israel had been given enough. Yet, in their drive for more they had neglected God, and the House of God. Not because they hated God. Not because they did not want God’s house to be built. They just got too busy with self to think about God. Without realizing it, they had become their own gods. But, with some reminding from the Lord, it says in Haggai 1:14, their hearts were stirred for the work of the Lord, and they did so. We must never get too busy for God.

         

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        To provide a safe haven of love and security at home, we must always place God in the center of our life. In Haggai 1:5, the Lord said; “Consider your ways.” Maybe we should all do the same thing. Do we neglect God? He never neglects us.

Have we considered our ways?

All With One Voice

 DECEMBER 23 & 24, 2023
 DECEMBER 23 – Daily Reading – Zephaniah / Revelation 16
 DECEMBER 24 – NO READING

 GOD’S WORD:

Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Today, almost everywhere in the world, we live in multicultural communities. In the city I live in, (Holland, Mi.) there are several different nationalities. Many speak English and/or Spanish around here. We also have some Vietnamese, German, Korean, Japanese, and more. Since Holland was founded as a Dutch community, we still have many families with close ties to people in the Netherlands. While growing up, I had a friend in school who had moved here in about fourth grade from there. He spoke a little English, as it had been taught in school in the Netherlands. His mom, however, spoke little to no English. I could barely understand a thing she would say, and she could not understand me either. When I would say something, she would look at her son Robert and say, “Wat zei hij?” Which means, “what did he say?” I could only hope he told her the truth.

        God caused this language confusion because of man’s disobedience. Way back in Genesis, after the flood, God said that people should move around the planet to populate the world. Instead, they all just stayed in one place. So, at the tower of Babel, He confused peoples’ language so they would obey His command and move. However, here in Zephaniah we are told that in the end, God will give us all one language again. “A pure language.” No one knows what that might be. What we do know, is that we will all, with one voice call upon the Lord.

        

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        I sat in tears, as a congregation of several thousand, mostly Pastors, sang, “How Great Thou Art.” It was like nothing I had ever heard. Now imagine all of heaven with one voice in one language singing the praises of our God. I get chill bumps thinking of it.

Can you imagine the Joy?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Oh, friend, how joyful it will be to gather Around The Throne of the Lord. Over and again, we read of The Day of The Lord in:

  ●Another Chance
  ● Arise, Depart
  ● Age Old Question
  ● Anger Of The Lord
  ● Answer Me, Please
  ● All With One Voice

        After the Day of The Lord, He said He would make all things new. Then, we who are His own will gather Around The Throne to praise with one voice. Amen.

       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.

December 25, 2023	Haggai	Revelation 17
December 26, 2023	Zechariah 1-3	Revelation 18
December 27, 2023	Zechariah 4-6	Revelation 19
December 28, 2023	Zechariah 7-10	Revelation 20
December 29, 2023	Zechariah 11-14	Revelation 21
December 30, 2023	Malachi	Revelation 22
December 31, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Around The Throne

Answer Me, Please

 DECEMBER 22, 2023
 Daily Reading – Habakkuk / Revelation 14-15

 GOD’S WORD:

Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Yak yak yak, blah, blah, blah. Some people will never shut up. There is not one moment of silence in their life. Would that drive you crazy? What would drive you even crazier is complete silence. It may seem like a blessing at first, but after a while, silence is actually deafening. Couples do it. An argument comes up, one or both get angry, and the silent treatment begins. After a while, little notes start popping up in the house. Neither wants to be the one to give in. The, “I want it my way” attitude kicks in. That is not love. Love is giving and kind. The silent treatment can be a tool, or it can be a weapon.

        In today’s verse Habakkuk faced the silent treatment of God. First, he states the obvious. God cannot be around sin. It is like shining a light into a closet trying to see the darkness. It cannot be done. So, Habakkuk asks, if you cannot look at sin, how do you watch all this wickedness, but never say or do anything? You see, God has a different schedule than we do. Yes, He would punish those who were punishing Israel. Yet, He also needed to remain silent for now, to allow Israel to realize the consequences for their sin. This was probably as hard on God as it was on Habakkuk. Keeping silent with someone you love is hard to do. God’s love only let that silence continue so long, then He spoke up in the next chapter. Silence is a great communicator. However, it must be regulated by love. God prefers to answer us, than to be silent.

        

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Silence is not really golden. However, with very few words you can make a day go from gloomy, to dreamy. You do not have to say a lot. A simple, sincere, “I Love You” will most often do just fine. Have you spoken aloud to God today?

Have you told God that you love Him?

Anger Of The Lord

 DECEMBER 21, 2023
 Daily Reading – Nahum / Revelation 12-13

 GOD’S WORD:

Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I occasionally like to watch the old western movies. They are for the most part, pretty predictable. There is a loudmouthed bad guy, trying to do terrible things. There is the sheriff in town, who attempts to be the sole enforcer of the law. He may have a deputy, but always needs more help. Then there is the hero. This person is often quiet, and peaceful by nature. Not a showoff. Not a bragger. Not too scary. That is, until they run into the bad guy, who in some way pushes their buttons. Then this quiet, peaceful, hero displays his underlying strengths and abilities. He suddenly becomes “Supercowboy,” and rides in to save the day. After that, when all is safe again, he slips back into the background until he is needed again. You just have to love those heroes. They are strong, wise, and able to do great things, yet they never show off or brag. They do not have too.

        God is my greatest Superhero. He is strong, wise, and able to do the greatest things. Yet, today’s verse says; “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:…” I am so glad He does not get angry easily. If He did, you and I would be in great trouble. He never dismisses sin, or wickedness. However, He is patient with us, providing a remedy for that sin through His Son Jesus. Which everyone would do well to avail themselves of before they must face the anger of the Lord.

         

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        When we make Him Lord of our life, the same chapter that warns of His anger, also tells us in Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” He really is always the Hero in all this.

Does God know you trust Him?