Daily Devotional

February 23, 2021

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

Most of us have heard warnings about the danger of putting gasoline or other flammable fluids on a fire to get it going, but how many of us have done it? If caution was used, perhaps nothing bad happened and no harm was done. If we were successful, we likely tried it again, possibly using just a...

February 22, 2021

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Matthew 3:1-3)

As children, my brother and I looked forward to the days we could play “jungle” along the creek...

February 21, 2021

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Another baby is about to arrive! I love giving baby gifts, and I try to make certain that the gift I select is perfect for each special baby. To help me ...

February 20, 2021

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17)

When I was in high school in Nigeria, our school — in fact, the whole town — experienced a severe water shortage. The water table was low because there had been a shortage of...

February 19, 2021

“For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed.” (Joshua 24:17)

Much of this chapter concerns the time Joshua gathered together the leaders of Israel and reminded them of the...

February 18, 2021

“Cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.” (Joshua 23:8)

Today, while walking along the edge of a bluff, we spotted an old, storm-battered tree just hanging on to the side of the bank — barely attached, but still hanging on! Half of its support had given way as the ground had crumbled beneath it, exposing sturdy thick roots still clinging tenaciously to the remaining soil.

How important it is, when the storms...

February 17, 2021

“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)

When I first entered the job market, I had to make a decision between a job with...

February 16, 2021

“There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

There was a time in my life when I needed the blessing of the Lord in a very tangible way. Although I was working long hours, the money was going to pay for rent, and there was not a lot left over for essentials such as food. My teenage daughter questioned...

February 15, 2021

“And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.” (Joshua 19:47)

I recently read a book about a young woman whose top priority in life is to make a difference...

February 14, 2021

“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?” (Joshua 18:3)

An acquaintance of mine and his wife were flying with an airline company which was having a promotional campaign. On every flight, a seat number was picked. Whoever was in that seat was the lucky person to win a flight for two to any...