Would You Like To Live Forever?

February 10, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days…” This is a phrase that everyone should be interested in. The word “fear” means to have a reverence and respect for the Lord. Our verse today says if we do so, it will prolong our days. How can this be? The answer is really quite simple.

    By obeying the things that God has outlined in His Word, we will live a happier and more productive life. Even science today has said that happier people live longer lives than unhappy people do. Some people look at the Bible passages such as the Ten Commandments as lists of “you cannot do this or that.” When truthfully, it is the voice of God saying, “I love you enough to tell you, if you do this or that it will harm you.”

    On most products we purchase today, if there is something in that item that might harm us, we find warning labels. If we use the product according to its intended purpose and read and heed the warnings given on misuse of that product, things normally will go much better. None of us really want things in our lives that will harm us. Therefore, God has written out a warning label for life. If only we would read it and heed it, life would go much better.    

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Another truth we find buried in the logic of this phrase is that those who reverence and respect the Lord also know Christ as Saviour, and therefore have everlasting life. Talk about prolonging your days. What could be longer than forever? The wicked, or those who are lost in sin, will die a second death. The word death refers to a complete separation. This second death for the lost will be an eternal separation away from Christ, which also includes eternal torment. We should thank God as believers for prolonging our days today, and forever. Today, just live as if you are thankful.

 

Will you face a second death?

 

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 10, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Exodus 26-28 – Psalm 36 & 37:1-22
Proverbs 10 – Luke 1-2

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Exodus 34-35 Matthew 25:1-30

 

What’s On Your GOD SHELF?

February 8 & 9, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Exodus 23:32-33
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

    Here in the United States of America, the vast majority of the people who live here put on the front of worshiping only one God. Almost anyone you might talk with would say, “I have no idols or false gods which I worship.” Really?

 

    I heard a young preacher deliver a message to his youth group entitled “God Shelf.” The basic idea was this. You have one shelf in your life. On this shelf, you may only have one item at a time. Whatever is most important to you right now goes on this shelf. If the one true God is there, you are in good shape. However, what if a job becomes more important to you than God does? A job is only one possibility. It could be that a girlfriend, spouse, position, fame, or whatever has become more important than God is right now. Then you must take God down off the God shelf and place that item in its place. Only one item can be there on the God shelf at a time.

 

    Can you see the problem? It seems that we live our lives often wanting to rotate God on and off this shelf. Truly, only the one true God of the Bible who created everything, should be on our God shelf. After all, it is named after Him!   

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    The young Pastor hit it on the head when he preached on this “God Shelf.” Let me ask you, what has possibly taken the place of God on your God Shelf today? Whatever it is, don’t you think it is time to remove it and place God back in His rightful position in your life?

 

What is on your “God Shelf” today?\

 

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 8, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Exodus 23-25 – Psalm 35:17-28 
Proverbs 8-9 – Mark 16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Exodus 31-33 Matthew 24:27-51

 

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 9, 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

Hail To The KING!

February 7, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Mark 15:18
And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    I remember as a young boy growing up in Holland, MI., we had an event every year in May called, “Tulip Time Festival.” Every year the City of Holland has had one of the largest parades in the United States. One year when I was very small, the President of the United States of America was in the parade. I had never met him and still have not met a living President to this day. Nevertheless, when he came by everyone was waving, saluting, and cheering. Therefore, I did the same thing. Why? I do not know, but I knew I needed to somehow show him some respect. After all, he was the President of the United States which I live in.

 

    In today’s passage of scripture, the soldiers were trying to mock Jesus by saluting him. Trying to make fun of Him. However, little did they realize that He was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He deserved far more than a simple salute. They did not realize that what they were doing was saluting the Saviour for all. You see, a “Saviour for ALL” would include them. If they had given Him their heart along with their salute, oh how it would have changed their lives for all eternity.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     Jesus deserves so much more today than our simple salute. I heard a well-known Pastor share one time how he would get up in the morning and say, “Private Adrian is reporting for duty, LORD.” I have never forgotten those simple, but profound words. Would you repeat them with me today and mean them? “Private (YOUR NAME) is reporting for duty, LORD.” 

 

Are you going to show up for duty today?

 

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 7, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Exodus 21, 22 – Psalm 35:1-16
Proverbs 7 – Mark 15

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Exodus 29-30 – Matthew 24:1-26

 

Add A Little Light
February 6, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 6:23
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Imagine being alone and driving down a country road at night when suddenly, you have a flat tire. You stop at the side of the dark road, open the lighted trunk, and get out the spare tire and the jack. However, when you get to the flat tire, it is so dark you can barely see. You fumble around trying to get the jack under the car and the lug nuts off. You know exactly where everything is, but it seems different in the dark. Then someone stops and asks if he or she might help, and they shine a light on what you are doing. What was taking forever in the dark seemed to be a breeze with just a little help from the light.

    Our life as a Christian can be that way. We know what we are supposed to do and so we just keep stumbling along in this dark world making it, but it is a struggle. However, if we will spend time in God’s Word it will be a lamp, a light, and a guide to our way of life. Does it make all the things we have to do in this life vanish away? No. However, working in the light makes having to do them a whole lot easier to face.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     Today, spend some time in God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  You will still need to go through your day. However, the light of God’s Word can make it seem so much more enjoyable.

Can you remember a time when you
worked in the darkness and it was difficult?

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 6, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Exodus 19, 20 – Psalm 34
Proverbs 6 – Mark 14

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Exodus 27-28 – Matthew 23:23-39

Whose Prayer Is Answered?

February 3, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    WOW! What a powerful verse. In addition, what a misunderstood verse this has been. Too many preachers and teachers today take this verse out of context and tell people if you just believe hard enough you can have anything. However, what if I as a Christian, believe with all my heart that you would squander any wealth God might give you? It is my true belief that wealth would cause you to take your eyes off God and instead trust in the wealth. Therefore, really believing this I pray and ask God to withhold wealth from you for your own good. You, on the other hand, as a Christian believe just the opposite. Therefore, you pray and ask God to bless you so you can use the wealth for His honor and glory. Which prayer will be answered? We both believe and pray for what we think is good for you.

 

    To understand this you need to read a couple of verses before today’s verse. Mark 11:22 Jesus begins this conversation by saying, “Have faith in God.” Jesus is trying to help us understand that we need to believe in God and desire what He desires. Even if it looks impossible, you can believe what He has said. Believe your sins have been forgiven when you trust in Jesus and His blood for salvation. Believe Jesus is faithful to carry out everything He says. Believe your soul’s destiny is heaven as He has said. Believe what God believes.

 

    So, in the scenario we laid out whose prayer would have been answered? That is easy. It is the prayer that God knows will glorify Him. He always does what’s right.

 

  CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    The foundation for answered prayer is salvation. The ultimate will of God is that none should perish, and all should come to repentance. If you believe what God says about this and trust in His Son Jesus for salvation, you can and will be saved. Believe those promises about your soul from God and you shall have them. It all begins with faith in God.

 

How do you try to pray according to the will of God?

 

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 3, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Exodus 12-14 – Psalm 30-31
Proverbs 3 – Mark 10-11

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Exodus 20-22 – Matthew 21:23-46