DEVOTIONS

Blessings And Pleasing

 DECEMBER 28, 2023
 Daily Reading – Zechariah 7-10 / Revelation 20

 GOD’S WORD:

Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        When trying to think of what we as Christians would like to do in the future, pleasing God must be right up there at the top of every list. For the child of God, there is a clear understanding that pleasing God and enjoying a blessed life always go hand in hand. I once read, “if you want to really enjoy your life, find the will of God and just do it.” To investigate the future and not see God there would actually be looking backwards.

        So, what can we do in the upcoming months that might be pleasing to God? Looking at today’s text, and remembering, we serve a God who never changes, here are things He told Israel to do as they rebuilt their lives with Him. First, be honest. Just quit living a bunch of lies. If someone asks you a question you do not want to answer, politely decline. Do not make up a lie to make them feel better. Speak the truth in an atmosphere of love and peace. That is the next thing God adds. When telling the truth, use common sense. Does telling a friend you think their dog is ugly help anything? NO. Who knows, you might be wrong. Maybe it is a cute dog, and you have a poor taste in canines. Think about what you say, tell the truth, but with love. Also, do not waste time trying to get even, or making others look bad so you look good. You always look bad doing so. Finally, keep your word. Do not make promises you cannot or will not keep. He ends by saying He hates these things. Making God angry never ends well.

         

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Why does God hate these things? Because they violate His love for man, and disrespect Him and His will. When planning your tomorrows, keep in mind what pleases God. Honest, peace loving, trustworthy people. Blessings and pleasing God both go hand in hand.

Are we pleasing to God?

Built Strong To Last

 DECEMBER 27, 2023
 Daily Reading – Zechariah 4-6 / Revelation 19

 GOD’S WORD:

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        What is the strongest thing in the world? If looking at man, you might say a champion weightlifter or heavyweight boxer. In nature, you may think of hurricanes, volcanoes, or tornadoes. Structurally, steel beams, or cement may have filled your mind’s eye. What we can see by just a few illustrations, to each of us, strength may appear in diverse ways. To one, it is muscle, to some it is devastation, and yet to another, it is construction. While each is correct, let us imagine another type of strength. What strength, or invisible bond holds together your family, marriage, your life, and home? Many think the answer is the love you have for the ones at home. You are right. Others believe it is the time and devotion you give to others. Again, you are right. Yet, some credit the labor contributed to support the lifestyle your family enjoys. And you would be right as well.

        It takes love, devotion, and good old-fashioned hard work to make a place you can call home. Still, the strongest part of every home needs to be the Spirit of God indwelling you. He makes your love stronger and deeper than you could ever imagine. He is the controller of all time and gives you a new sense of devotion to others you would never muster up on your own. Also, He can take just a little earned at a workplace and multiply it to fill your home with all you will ever need. The strongest thing in the entire world, is a heart devoted to God.

         

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        How will you get though the next day of your life? If God was able to whisper in your ear, He might just say, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” That is a life, built to last.

Will you tell God, Thank you Lord,
for your Holy Spirit, today?

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