DAILY DEVOTION, April 23, 2022

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).

When we receive a gift we are usually able to describe it. We may accept a gift of clothing or jewelry and we can define to others what we have received. It is different with the gift of God.

We do know a few things about God’s gift to us. We know our sins are forgiven. We know we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. We know we have access to God through prayer, etc. There is much we do know about how God has gifted us. The Greek word translated “indescribable” could also be translated as “inexpressible.” The idea is that God has blessings in store for His people that cannot be put into words. Our minds are incapable of understanding the good things God has prepared for His people. Heaven will be so grand we lack the vocabulary to describe it. The only response we can make to God is “Thank You, God! I do not know exactly what You have prepared for me but I am looking forwar4d to it with great anticipation.”

Father, we stand in awe before Your great love for us. You have prepared a future for us so grand that we lack the words to describe it. Thank You, Thank You, in Jesus’ name, amen.
  

John 16:33 NLT: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

DAILY DEVOTION, April 22, 2022

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

We know that in the building trade, the foundation is extremely important. A glorious superstructure is of no value if it rests upon a weak foundation. Soon it will come crashing down. Our basement in Decatur had a leaky foundation. When it rained, we had a basement swimming pool! We had to spend several thousand dollars to correct the problem.

What is the foundation for the Christian life? It is not the organized church. If you rely excessively on the church, your faith will collapse. The church has its purpose, but it is not the foundation. Likewise, other Christians are not the foundation of the church. People, even Christian people, can disappoint you. I have known more than one situation where a person abandoned the faith because certain Christians had hurt their feelings. We are thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ, but they are not the foundation. 

Paul states that there is but one foundation for our Christian life and that is Jesus Himself. When we learn to rely on Him, we can overlook the failings we see in the church or in other Christians. He is a sure and solid foundation. If you seek some other foundation, it will fail you. Those who rest in Jesus will never fail.

Father, I thank You that I am safe and secure as I rest upon Jesus. He is the only firm foundation for my faith. I pray for the grace to rely on Him until my life ends. Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, April 21, 2022

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7).

We recently completed a study on the Holy Spirit in our Wednesday Bible Study. One point was clear. Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit, and He manifests Himself in our lives (gives gifts). Therefore, there is no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit. Every true believer has received some spiritual gift or gifts. Paul is clear in our text. “Each one” includes you. It includes me.

The purpose of the spiritual gift(s) is to bless others. We receive gifts to be used for the common good. This verse should cause us to ask, “What am I doing to build up the church? What am I doing to bless the lives of others?” Are you the exception to the rule? Are you a Christian who has no spiritual gift and is doing nothing for the common good? Is that possible? What do you think?

Father, I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. May each of us be open to how You want to use us in the church to bless others. May Jesus Christ be honored and glorified in our church as we use our gifts in His service. Amen.

Psalm 118:24 ESV.

 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

DAILY DEVOTION, April 20, 2022

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Yesterday we saw that man cannot come to know God simply through the use of human intelligence. We also saw that the universe itself screams at us that there must be a grand Creator. But what is this Creator like? How can I come to know Him? God has chosen to reveal Himself to the human race, especially through the person and work of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. It is through faith in Him that we come to know God personally.

Paul now states that it pleases God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. Yes, preaching seems like foolishness to an unbelieving world. But God calls preachers to proclaim the name of Jesus. Those who hear the message preached and believe it are saved. My job is to tell you about Jesus. Those who hear and believe receive salvation. It doesn’t sound very reasonable, but it works.

Father, I thank You that I have listened to preachers of Jesus over the years and when I finally believed salvation became mine. Your plan to redeem lost souls seems strange, even foolish, but whenever Jesus is preached, believing souls enter the Kingdom of God. Thank You, in His name, Amen.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

DAILY DEVOTION, April 19, 2022

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).

If you have a very high IQ and are a member of Mensa, all your wisdom will never lead you to God. Human intelligence is helpful in many ways, but it will never lead to a discovery of God. God is hidden from the minds of men. So how can we find God? The primary answer is that He must reveal Himself. He is so high above us that He is inaccessible apart from revelation.

And, God has revealed Himself. He can be known by looking at His creation. Wherever we find complexity, we assume a creator. My little cell phone is a magnificent instrument. I would never dream that it came about by accident or that it evolved. I assume it was created by human intelligence. Something far more complex than a cell phone is a human being. I look at a human being and immediately think there must be a Creator. Creation screams at us that God is behind it all. While the human mind can never discover God, our minds compel us to assume a great Creator. Part 2 of this verse will be our subject tomorrow.

Father, I see Your hand everywhere present in the things You have created. The heavens declare the glory of God. Open my eyes that I may see Your beauty and power in the glorious universe everywhere around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.