DAILY DEVOTION, April 2, 2022

I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless (Isaiah 13:11).

I trust you remember the story of the publican (tax-collector) and the Pharisee. Publicans were low caste Israelites who collected taxes from other Israelites for the Romans. They were hated by the people. It seemed on this particular day a Pharisee—Pharisees were religious rulers who judged Israel—and a publican both went into the temple at the same time to pray. One went in the front door and the other one went in the back door.

The Pharisee self-righteously thanked God that he was not like that sinner, the publican. Whereas, the publican, we are told, “would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his chest, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner’” (Luke 18:13). He prayed to God; the Pharisee did not.

The publican didn’t say, “God, be merciful to me, one of many sinners,” but “God, be merciful unto me, the sinner.” In his mind, he was the only one. And we read that the publican—not the Pharisee—went down to his house justified.

No one will receive salvation from God until he realizes he is a sinner, needing His grace. There is no place for arrogance in the Kingdom of God.

(A devotion from D. James Kennedy Ministry)

Father, deliver me from pride. I have noting to boast about before you. Like the tax collector I need mercy. I thank you that You have provided mercy through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, in whose name I pray, amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, April 1, 2022

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin with his lips   (Job 2:9-10).

Poor Mrs. Job! Who can blame her outburst? They lost their children, their wealth, and Job’s health. She seemed to have the idea that as faithful believers in God, no evil would befall them. She is angry with God. We hope she got over it.

Job has a different idea. Is he hurt by what has happened to him? Yes, he is. Does he understand why all this evil has befallen him? No, he does not. He is suffering along with his wife but with a different attitude. Yes, God had blessed them with children, wealth, and health. Job realized that all his blessings came from God. He has lost everything, but he still has a relationship with God. That is enough.

When adversity strikes, we often have no good explanation for why God would allow such suffering. I am writing this a few days after the tragic death of my friend and missionary, Lynn Cazier. Why didn’t God spare him? I have no answer. Job’s point is a simple one. If you have God, you have all you need. He may bless you or allow tragedy to strike for reasons we do not understand. Whatever happens, God is enough. Job trusted God. Lynn believed in Jesus, His Savior. That is enough.

Father, I thank You for all the blessings You have poured into my life. Blessings come, and blessings go. Help me to see that if I have a relationship with You through Jesus Christ, that is enough. If I hold on to Jesus, my Savior, I have everything I need. In His blessed name, I pray, Amen. 

Marie’s daily verse: 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT

DAILY DEVOTION, March 31, 2022

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:44).

I have lived through several wrong predictions regarding the return of Jesus. But, of course, such predictions are always wrong because Jesus said no one knows the time of His return (Matthew 24:36). So in the above verse, Jesus says He will come at an hour you do not expect. Aren’t those who tell us that Jesus is coming at a specific date being arrogant? Those who say, “We are living in the last days. The second coming will occur soon,” apparently do not believe the above verse. If the time of Jesus’ coming is unknown and will occur at an unexpected time, we can’t know if it will happen today or 500 years from now.

We know He will return. He said so, and we believe Him. The practical side of being uncertain is we are to be always ready. He could come today, or tomorrow, or many years into the future. Therefore, be prepared. It will happen. Live as a faithful disciple of Jesus every day. Father, I do believe Jesus will come to wrap up this earthly life. I certainly don’t know the details of what will happen when He comes, and I do not know the time of His coming. So, help me to be faithful to Him daily. In His name, I pray, A

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV : However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

DAILY DEVOTION, March 30, 2022

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Back in my college days, when my outlook was very secular, I recall being in discussions about life. Who am I, what happens at death, and so forth? We didn’t really know the answers. We rejected the biblical worldview. We thought of the Bible as ancient opinions about life, a musty old book having little to do with modern life.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, everything changed. That musty old book contained all the answers to life’s big questions. Who am I? God says I am a child of God, now, not later. What does the future hold? There is much we do not know, but John says we do know we shall be like Jesus. I am not sure how that will play out, but it sounds wonderful! And we shall see Jesus in all His glory. It doesn’t get any better than that. So, let’s keep trusting Jesus, live now as God’s children, and anticipate a glorious future.

Thank You, Father, for receiving me as Your child. What a blessing it is to be in the family of God. I know I don’t deserve it. I owe it all to Jesus. I want to live my life as a child of God, anticipating an unbelievable future. Thank You for loving me. I pray trusting in Jesus, Amen. 

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DAILY DEVOTION, March 29, 2022

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (Hebrews 2:1). 

This is one of several warning passages in the Book of Hebrews. Jesus and His apostles brought to the world the only way of salvation. They also taught many things that are a part of the Christian life. The author tells us to give “earnest heed” to what we read about and hear relative to the Christian life. We are admonished to pay careful attention to the truth revealed in Jesus.

Drifting away is a nautical term. A boat that is not securely anchored may drift. If we become lazy in our following Jesus, we will start to drift. If we drift away from Christ’s teaching, we become weak and useless Christians. If we allow the drifting to continue unabated, we may drift away from Him entirely. Neither option is good. If Jesus is the Son of God, Lord, and Savior of the world, He deserves our utmost attention. This means reading and understanding the Bible AND applying our faith to everyday situations. Those who pay close attention to the Christian faith reap benefits. Those who allow themselves to drift will pay the price for their carelessness.

Father, I thank You for the church where I can learn more about Jesus. I thank You for the Bible, which spells out in detail Your holy will. If I begin to drift, I ask You to do whatever is necessary to get me back on track. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Bible study Wednesday at 2:30. Tom will continue the study on church leadership. 

This Sunday’s sermon will continue our study in the book of Romans. Our focus will be on Chapter 6 where Paul speaks on the theme “Dead to Sin.” Since we don’t seem to be entirely dead to sin, what did Paul mean? 

May you all have a most blessed week in following Jesus!

Pastor Bowman