Everyone Is Loved The SAME By God

February 28, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Leviticus 24:22
Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    As our children were growing up, we would often say, “That is not fair, you never made him, or you never made her do that,” referring to a brother or sister. They were always watching to see if we treated them in the same ways as we treated the others. I guess to them at the time, fairness seemed to be a measure of our love toward them. Sometimes, it was simply a measure of their maturity that would allow us to treat one child a little differently from the other, not a measure of our love at all.

 

    Occasionally you will hear people refer to the Bible as a Jewish Book, not written for everyone. However, we find an interesting verse in the heart of a book in the Bible where God was telling the children of Israel to prepare for their journey. In today’s verse, God said, “Ye shall have one manner of law,” for everyone. The same law was to be for the Jews and Gentiles alike. Remember the law does not save anyone; it brings him or her to the knowledge that he or she needs a Saviour. God said I want everyone to know I love him or her in the same way. This truth of God’s universal love is not found only in the New Testament where the church begins, but in the Old Testament as well. Right in the middle of everything, God says to the Israelites, I love everyone the same.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     When reading your bible, do not skip over any parts thinking that somehow, they do not apply to you. All of God’s Word defines who God is so we can worship Him better. Nevertheless, know this, buried in the heart of what you might consider a passage not for you; God has something he wants to say, JUST TO YOU. “I LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME.” Read the whole book. Not all of the book may have been written about you, but it was all written for you.

 

Let’s be honest, What parts of the Bible
do you tend to try and skim over?

 

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:  February 28, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 23, 24 – Psalm 53
Proverbs 30, 31 – Luke 21

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Numbers 3-4 – Mark 6:30-56

 

Broken Or Destroyed?
February 27, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 20:17-18
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    An old Jewish proverb says, “If the stone falls on the pot, alas for the pot; if the pot falls on the stone, alas for the pot.” It would seem that either way the pot is to be broken and of no use.

 

    In our verses, we read of two ways in which the stone, which is a symbol of Jesus, might be used. If we choose to humble ourselves, fall on this stone, and become broken, God, the Master Potter can pick up those pieces and make something better and new out of them. However, if we wait until the stone falls on us, we are then ground to powder. The powder is mingled with the dirt below and becomes of no use. When the wind blows, the powder is blown here and there, never to be of any use to anyone.

 

    I guess it comes down to our free will. We have the freedom to come and fall on the stone, Jesus, and to be broken and then used by Him for His honor and glory. On the other hand, we have the free will to wait and do nothing. In the end, the stone will then crush the sin and the vessels that contain it. Either way, you will eventually come in contact with this stone. I once heard that if you fall on a boulder, you will form to the image of that boulder. However, if that same bolder falls on you, you are destroyed.   

 

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     Choices are often hard to make. However, this one seems easy. If you have never fallen on the mercy of God, I might invite you to do so now. If you have, it is time to praise God for what He is making of you. You are becoming a vessel worthy of Him that He can use. Once broken pieces, now molded together by the Master’s touch.

 

What broken pieces has God taken
in your life and used for His glory?

 

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:  February 27, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 21, 22 – Psalm 52
Proverbs 28, 29 – Luke 20

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Numbers 1-2 – Mark 6:1-29

 

Being All That You Can Be!

February 24, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 49:6-7
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Wouldn’t it be nice to be rich and famous? Ok, maybe just rich. This seems to be the one goal of every American, young, and old. When you ask our youth today about what they would like to do with their life when they get out of school, you often get an answer like “I want to be this or that because they make lots of money!”

 

    Now please, do not misunderstand what I am trying to say. I am not against Christians earning a good living, and even becoming wealthy. That is if God would see that they were going to be a good steward of His blessings of wealth in their lives. I do not find in Scripture that being wealthy is a sin. The problem occurs when the pursuit of this wealth, or things becomes our life goal and this ambition then overshadows everything else we do. When this happens, we have put another god before the one true God. That new god is wealth or possessions.

 

    I would love to hear a young person someday say, “I want to be this or that because I know this is what God has gifted me to do, and I am sure it will bring glory to Him.” In addition, when asked, “What about the money?” They might reply with, “That’s up to God.”

  

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    You see, if you are a Christian, it is really up to God anyway. You will never be completely successful until you yield it all to Him. You can run and dabble and play in the world. Nevertheless, if you are a child of God, real success only comes after real yielding to Him. Let me borrow a well-known slogan for a second. “Be All That You Can Be.” Then if you will allow it, let me add this, “And all that God intended for you to be.”

 

When considering your ambitions in life,
do you take God’s ambitions for you into consideration?

 

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:  February 24, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Leviticus 15, 16 – Psalm 49
Proverbs 23-24 – Luke 15 – 17

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Genesis 1-2  /  Matthew 1

 

Making The Angels Rejoice…

February 22 & 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Most everyone knows someone who has passed away. We may also know that today they are in heaven by their life and faith in God here on earth. Some people have asked me when a person dies, do they go straight to heaven, or do they stay in the grave until the rapture? I know there are tons of verses in the Bible to prove the fact that people who are in Christ go to heaven. I believe today’s verse is one of those verses.

 

    Look at today’s verse closely. The verse does not say angels rejoice; it says there’s joy in their presence. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I believe the angels are hopping, skipping, and rejoicing when a soul is won. However, angels do not understand what we as people understand. Angels cannot know the grace, mercy, and love of God directed only to you and me as forgiven creatures made in His image.

 

    So, if it is not the angles rejoicing, then who must it be? As Jesus blots the sins of a daughter out of the book, I believe the Lord turns to a loving mother and says dear lady, she will be here soon, and that mother rejoices. As a dad, who tried hard to teach his wayward son right from wrong, sees Jesus apply the blood to his son’s sin, Jesus says faithful father, it will not be long now, and you will see him again. That dad is shouting all over heaven. As they begin to rejoice, others who now enjoy a perfect love for one another rejoice with them. The angels present to witness the joy and love they have, and they too join in the celebration. Yes, I believe there is rejoicing by all the saints in heaven who passed on before, “in the presence of the angels.”

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    However, until He calls us home it is our responsibility to share the gospel with the entire world. Remember, everyone we meet is someone’s son or someone’s daughter. You may be the cause of great joy in the presence of the angels in heaven when you tell someone about Christ. We must do our part to make heaven ring with joy today.

 

Who comes to mind that yo might need to tell?

 

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:  February 22, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 12-14 – Psalm 47-48
Proverbs 22 – Luke 14

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Leviticus 20- 22 – Mark 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 to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 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

 

BE STILL!

February 21, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     In church as a young boy, I had a bad habit of fidgeting. I would squirm back and forth all over the pew. I would lean forward and rest my head on the pew in front of me, lean back as if I were going to sleep. Then I would lean to one side and then to the other. I was just constantly moving until I would about drive my Dad crazy. He would often lean over and say, “Would you please sit still for a while?” I would try for a while, but it seemed so hard.

 

    In Psalms 46:10, God is asking us to do more than just be quiet or quit fidgeting for a while. He says, “BE STILL.” It means paying very close attention and listening with your whole heart. God is trying to get us to stop all the busy stirrings of this life for a moment. To be still, look around, and really concentrate on the magnitude of God.

 

    He goes on to say that if we will be still, we will begin to see that He is exalted in everything around us. He declares that He will even be exalted by those who say He does not exist. You might wonder, “How does that happen?” Well, when someone claims that they do not believe in our God, they immediately give credibility to the fact of that same God. Without God, they would have nothing against which to object. BE STILL and see the wonder of what God is doing.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

   As we move along through this day, we should try to find time to BE STILL. Just look around at all the blessings God has given to us. BE STILL and behold the wonder of Him all around us. BE STILL, and understand all God is doing in us. BE STILL, and God will be exalted.
BE STILL.

 

In today’s fast-paced world, do you find it hard to stop and BE STILL?

 

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:  February 21, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 10-11 – Psalm 46
Proverbs 21 – Luke 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Leviticus 18-19 – Mark 2