Daily Devotional

August 23, 2019

“And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions . . . And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:45-46,49)

When we hear on...

August 22, 2019

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

While looking through a coloring book of Nativity scenes one Christmas, I was struck by the contrast in the lives of the people God chose to receive the announcement of the birth of His Son. 

On one page were the shepherds dressed in plain robes, sleeping in a field next...

August 21, 2019

“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.” (Luke 1:76)

A Google search for the phrase “great men” brings up over a billion results. Glancing through the first few websites listed, you will find articles concerning great men of history, great men of peace, great men based on wealth, and great men of intellect and achievement. You can...

August 20, 2019

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

“You probably will not be able to have any children,” the doctor said after doing some testing. This report came to my future husband and me not long before our marriage. In the years following our wedding, the doctor’s diagnosis proved to be correct — there were no children. Sometimes it seemed as if we were riding an emotional rollercoaster as we went through times of hope and times...

August 19, 2019

“And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?” (1 Kings 22:16)

Walking back to my room from college classes one day years ago, the song that popped into my heart at the sight of the beautiful sunshine was “Heavenly Sunlight.” For a few seconds I let the song linger, enjoying the melody; but then the words...

August 18, 2019

“And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.” (1 Kings 21:4)

My two-year-old granddaughter is a typically happy, enthusiastic child — most of the time. Occasionally, however, when things are not going her...

August 17, 2019

“And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” (1 Kings 20:28)

One night, not long after starting work on a new shift, I began...

August 16, 2019

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after...

August 15, 2019

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Life is full of choices, and some of them are life-defining. A man in our church testifies, “Bad habits bound me. I smoked four or five packs of cigarettes a day. Bitterness, blasphemy, and hatred were...

August 14, 2019

“And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” (1 Kings 17:8-9) 

Our pastor and his wife are very adventuresome. One evening soon after they moved to our town, they set out on an excursion and failed to return home in time for a planned birthday celebration. This caused their four teenaged...