The Annual County Fair
August 21, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     As a young boy, I would go to the County Fair whenever it came to town. I would ride all the rides, play some of the games, and just have a great time. I remember while walking down the fairway, people who operated the booths would be yelling out, “Hey, try your luck for fifty cents” or “Twenty-five cents to see the multi-headed alligator.” Always yelling something crazy, trying to get you to come and see what they had.

 

     Sometimes, as a preacher, I feel like those carnival workers. Yelling at the top of my lungs, “Come see Christ, see what He’s done for you.” Doing my best to tell people, “For free, you can receive salvation, your admission price has been paid in full.” Nevertheless, it often seems to no avail as people wander by. Some will laugh, some just will not listen, while others do not believe that it is true. They wander out of the way of understanding and remain in the congregation of the dead.

 

     I hope you do not think for one second that I am trying to cheapen the church to the likes of a carnival, or the gospel message to a carny’s cry. I am merely trying to illustrate the frustration of preachers who want so badly for people to hear of the free salvation offered by Christ. The disappointment and concern they feel for the unsaved while watching people walk past in life and reject God’s message. As our verse said, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    The rejection of the gospel is not surprising, just heartbreaking. Remember, Jesus said long ago, that they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Him. So, keep telling people as long as they walk by. Occasionally, someone will listen, understand, and accept the truth of God’s love through His Son Jesus and be saved.

 

Did you have a chance to tell anyone yesterday about Jesus?
Will you tell someone today if you get the opportunity?

 

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:  August 21, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 19-21 / Psalm 46
Proverbs 21 / Luke 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 80-85  /  Rom. 13

 

Law And Grace

August 18, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 10:25, 26
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Loopholes, excuses, escapes, and trying to find a way out of things seem to consume the minds of many people. They spend all their time trying to find a way around the rules instead of obeying them and then using that extra time for enjoyment, learning, rest, and making things better for themselves and those around them. What a waste of talent and time.

 

     The verses today speak of a person called a lawyer, which means a student of the Mosaic Law, also known as a scribe. He is asking what it is I can do to inherit eternal life. For the average person, this would be a very good question. They may have never had the opportunity to read or hear God’s Word and find out the answer to this question before. However, the lawyer, as he was called, had already studied the law. He already knew the correct answer. Nevertheless, he asked the question anyway. Why? It was an attempt to get Jesus to trip up and fail in His answer. Jesus answered him with another question, “How do YOU read the law?”

 

     Today, many people have thrown out the law, saying, “We are living in a day of grace.” That is only partially true. By teaching only grace, we are teaching that the Law of God has no effect. However, the New Testament says the law shows us we are sinners and brings us to the cross. In Galatians 3:24, 25, Paul called the law our “schoolmaster.” Once we have Jesus in our hearts, we do not need a schoolmaster, as we have the law living in us. Our desire then is to be obedient to God’s Word. The law is still needed today to shine a light on sin. Jesus did not dismiss the law. He asked, “How do YOU read it?” He might have asked us the same question today. How do YOU read it? Or have you read it?

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     We must continue to see the law as a tool God has given and the boundaries He has set. Praise God, we are saved by grace through faith and are no longer under the law but under grace. Yet not being under the law does not dismiss the law. Thank God for it, as it still convicts man’s heart of sin.

 

How do you reconcile God’s Law and God’s Grace?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are 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: August 18, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Isaiah 11-13 / Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 18 / Luke 10

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 69-72  /  Rom. 10

 

What Do You Thirst For?

August 16 & 17, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     People in America drink many different types of drinks. Coffee and pop seem to be among the favorites. I believe that is partially because of the caffeine. However, soda pop is also chosen by many because of its sweet taste. People love the sensations that come with the taste of things. We like the taste of things that are sweet, tart, sour, or bitter, all different kinds of flavors. Ask a kid if he would rather have an ice cube or a Popsicle. He will choose the   Popsicle every time. Why? Well, it is what his brain says he WANTS. It is part of that self-satisfaction drive we all seem to have.

 

     However, things change a bit when you really get thirsty. I am not talking of the “I could use a drink” kind of thirst. I am talking about the “I have been working all day in the sun without anything to drink” thirst. It is that my mouth is dry, and I need a drink badly thirst. The kind of thirst that makes you feel as if you have been in a desert for a few days. Now what do you want? Do you want some thick, syrupy, fruity drinks? No, my friend, you want WATER! Why? It is not because it is what you want, but because your body is telling you it is what you desperately NEED.

 

     That is the kind of thirst you need when you come to God. Not a passing type of thirst, saying, “Oh, God looks good, I think I will try Him for a while.” You need a thirst for God that says, “God, I need you. I will give my life to have you as you gave your life to have me. Use me as you see fit, as I realize you are the one and only LIVING GOD.” Now that is a thirsty soul. You do not need God to be just what you want; you need Him to be everything you require in life.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Take a moment today to drink from the fountain of real life. Jesus is that Spring of Living Water that never runs dry.

 

What Do You Thirst For?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are 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:  August 16, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 6-10 / Psalm 42-43
Proverbs 16 / Luke 8

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 65-68  /  Rom. 9

 

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

 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  August 17, 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