DEVOTIONS

Truth Be Known
December 15, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 15:14
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     When I was a little boy, my mother would tell me, “Don’t tell lies, because you will have to tell another lie to cover the first lie, and then yet another to cover that one. You will end up telling so many lies, you will not remember the original lie you told. Then, when you get caught in your lies, no one will believe you or like you.”

 

     Those might not have been her exact words, but they are close enough. She could have just as easily quoted the commandments written in Exodus twenty, which says we are not supposed to lie. However, my mom knew there was more than just one reason written in the pages of God’s Word for telling the truth. She knew God’s Word was the truth.

 

     She was simply taking Proverbs 15:14-15 and putting them into her own words. “The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness,” and “all the days of the afflicted are evil.” A lie told will have to be covered with more lies. A lie is an untrue story, the imagination of a sinful heart. It is the opposite of the truth and becomes foolishness. Every day that follows the lie becomes another twenty-four hours of trying to remember the lie and living or exaggerating its folly.

 

     By exact contrast, the heart of those who understand that God is all about the truth will seek the wisdom and knowledge only God can give. Then, a clear conscience, not trying to remember lies, will bring about days of joy and contentment. It will be a continual feast of enjoying the Word of God and living by its principles. The truth really does set you free.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

      Seek the truth. Tell the truth. Live the truth. Obey the truth. And let the Truth of God, His Son, dwell in you.

 

Think about it. Just how important is the truth to you?

 

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: December 15, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Ezra 7-10 / Psalm 132-134
Proverbs 15 / 2, 3 John

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 7-9  /  Revelation 4-5

 

God Builds People
December 13 & 14, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     As you read today’s verse, it is easy to forget all that went into the words, “was finished.” The Lord’s house was finished. Yet, as we look at what is complete, we ought to also remember the toil that went into those words.

 

     The first people who returned to build this temple did so about twenty-three years before this day. The foundation had been laid around twenty years before. The building was started in 538 BC and finished around March of 515 BC. The actual construction time was about four and a half years. The people who worked on this place had suffered ridicule and persecution during their time of construction. This verse seems too simple for all the work that had been done over such a long period.

 

     Yet, we dare not forget that this is often what God wants His people to realize. That the simplicity of God sometimes takes the efforts of man. Then, when it is finished, we look back and see God’s hand at work through it all.

 

     All the years of this construction, traveling and planning, pleading, withstanding ridicule, and persecution had once again brought these people to a place where they were prepared to worship God. The time may have seemed long to man, but God knew it was just the right amount of time. You see, while the people were simply building a building for God, God was doing the hard work of building a people for Himself. Sometimes building people takes a long, long time.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    It may seem at times that God does not answer our requests or acknowledge our plans at the time we ask for them. Remember, everything we do must be done according to God’s time. Furthermore, His timing is always right.

 

Over the years, what has God used in your life while building you?

 

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: December 13, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Ezra 5, 6 / Psalm 131
Proverbs 13-14 / 1 John 1-5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 4-6  /  Revelation 3

 

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: December  14, 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

 

It Is No Secret!
December 12, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Here in the first decade of the 21st century, we have seen and heard of books and so-called theologians who have made claims that there is a code in the Bible. They say that somehow in the Torah, the Hebrew version of the Old Testament, if you skip three letters and pick up the next one, you will come up with hidden biblical messages. They also claim the people who wrote those books put a code in there with hidden messages.

 

     There are a few problems with this philosophy. One, The Torah was not written in English. It was written primarily in Hebrew. So, how do these people claim to find a code from an English translation of the Bible? Second, which English version of the scripture do you need to use to get the right code? If you use NIV or NAS, you will have different words. Third, if you will use the King James Bible, you will find in 2 Peter 1:20 it says that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” In other words, it says, “There are NO CODES.” The other versions say it was not by man’s interpretation. This could mean about the same, however, it leaves out the fact that there is no secrecy to the word of God.

 

     Not only was it not man’s interpretation, but it was also not private. God intended for all men everywhere to know the truth. If these folks who write these books would spend as much time obeying the written Word of God as they do trying to sell books and finding some hidden meaning, this world would be a much better place.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Therefore, I guess if you like to spend a lot of time reading things that are just not so, grab one of those code books, get a cup of hot chocolate, and read a good fiction book. However, if you really want a blessing, grab a good old King James Bible and read the Real Word Of God.

 

Why do you think people are trying to find some
secret message in the pages of God’s Word?

 

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:  December 12, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Ezra 3, 4 / Psalm 130
Proverbs 12 / 2 Peter

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Amos 1-3  /  Revelation 2