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" HE DID IT! "

 For our study this week go to Genesis 3: 8 - 13

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Ever since Adam and Eve's disobedience, humans have begun their relationship with God through fear, thanks to their guilty conscience. Adam and Eve didn't really comprehend why God instructed them not to eat the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, so they followed their own reasoning. One of the notions that came to Eve was that the fruit was supposed to make her wise. Sure enough.

Where before eating the fruit Adam and Eve stood naked before God without fear, they now hid from him in terror. When God confronted them, remarkably they did not lie. Not so remarkably, they shifted the blame. The man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the serpent. When God issued his punishments, he started with the serpent and worked back to man.

Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because they began to doubt that God loved them. They began to think to fear that God was trying to hold something back from them, something good. So they doubted God's goodness, and they doubted his love. They soon acted according to their fear first in eating, then in hiding, and finally in passing the blame. Fear has dominated the hearts of human beings ever since.

We fear God, and we fear that God does not love us. But God has always been dominated by love. When we love God, we want to obey him even when we don't understand. God wants us to overcome our fears. He wants us to move beyond them to love him and to love one another.

We encourage you to visit with us this Sunday in one of our services 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Be sure to listen to our Radio program every Sunday at 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.

" THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION "

 For this week study let's look at Matthew 16: 15 - 17  " But you, He asked them, who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!" And Jesus responded, Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven." { HCSB }.

The late Robert W. Funk, an American New testament scholar, founded the infamous Jesus Seminar in 1985. Its sole purpose was to skeptically evaluate Jesus' purported words and deeds as they are recorded in the four Gospels. In other words, the Jesus Seminar tackled the question of Jesus' true identity.

Peter didn't need to hear the opinions of others skeptical or believing to know who Jesus was because God had already shown him.

The disciples had heard rumors and conjectures about their Master, and they weren't afraid to tell him that some thought he was John the Baptist resurrected, while others thought he was Elijah or another prophet returned to earth. But one day, Jesus asked them the question that would shape their lives for all eternity: " Who do you say I am?"

There was probably a moment of uncomfortable silence as the disciples wracked their brains to figure out how to answer Jesus. It's also not surprising that Peter, the one most willing to say what the others only thought, finally spoke up. Out of his mouth came the most blessed declaration of all time: " You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

All twelve apostles were part of a culture and a people who had waited centuries for their promised Deliverer. Peter, a simple fisherman with no  formal training or education, knew that Jesus was that man and much, much more. Peter correctly answered the most important question ever asked. Who do you say Jesus is.

How you answer the question of who Jesus is will shape your entire being. It's not just the question of the historic Jesus who lived two thousand years ago and gave his followers some great teachings. It's the question of whether you know that Jesus is your Messiah and the Son of the living God.

If you live in the area we invite you to visit with us this Sunday in one of our services 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Be sure to listen to our Radio program every Sunday morning at 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.

"BEAUTY" LIKE GOD

Psalms 90: 17 says, " And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. " { NKJV }.

This emotion-laden song on the fleeting existence of man is attributed to Moses, " the man of God." This beautiful poem perhaps contains a few of his thoughts regarding the " days of our lives " in which he urges us to " gain a heart of wisdom." The closing verse is exceptional with its prayer that the " beauty " of the Lord will rest upon us, and that He will " establish the work of our hands."

There are many things that are " beautiful ": both calm and stormy seas, high mountains covered with the last snow of winter, blossoms, green pastures & grazing sheep, a major orchestra playing Haydn or Mozart, a poem of love and sorrow, a prayer sung by monks in an old, candle-lit monastery, the painting of Rembrandt and Rubens, tears of gratitude and remembrance, the rays of the sun shining on a woman's hair, to be touched by the wisdom that this psalm is praying about, and by God's unfailing mercy that satisfies us every morning.

All of this is very specific and personal, but nevertheless a poor reflection of the " beauty " of the Lord. This " beauty " is as mysterious as the " splendor " of the Lord that filled the temple of Solomon and is characteristic of the radiance of the " countenance of the Lord " that Moses, like all of us, so much wanted to see. It is the knowledge that God exists, and the expectation of an experience that is yet to happen. It is like looking at the reflection of the moon in a pool of clear water. The image is so close, and yet it remains a mere mirage of something far away.

God's beauty is near, and yet it shines from a thousand different dimensions. Unlike a mere reflection of the moon that we can never grasp, God is fully with us through Christ. The beauty of His Spirit covers us like the warm quilt and bonnet of a very small baby, sleeping under the watchful eye of her mother. It means protection. It means Presence.

2011 Devotions

" WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN "

For our study this week let's look at 1 John 3: 1 - 2 says, " Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ( KJV ).
John wants to protect against faintheartedness by giving each of us this reassurance God loves us. He repeats this and wants to deeply impress it on our hearts. He also reassures us that we are called children of God. It's difficult to recognize that we are children of God because we are still in these bodies and we experience troubles from the world and from ourselves. We don't yet feel like children of God because we are still in these bodies. But we shouldn't let that lead us astray, because " what we will be has not yet been made known."
John tells us about the hidden Son of God, Previously Christ revealed himself in the shadows, but he didn't reveal himself completely. God could not conceal himself any more than he does now. Nevertheless, God doesn't withdraw himself from us. But the world, the sinful nature, and the devil obscure our vision so that we don't see God. The world is one layer, the sinful nature the second, and the devil the third. we must break through all these layers with faith, which comes from the Word of God. This is how we are children of God not by physically seeing God, but by believing in God.
Faith in the Word promises great things to us about what we will become. Yet as long as we are in the world, our sinful nature entices us and the devil seduces us. It isn't yet clear to us what our future happiness will be, nor will it become clear. " No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." ( 1 Corinthians 2: 9 ).

 

" A RISEN KING ! "

Matthew 28: 5 - 6 says, " And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. " ( KJV ).

Every year, people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps and stand at an outdoor crucifix. There they remember that the Lord Jesus died. A tourist noticed that a little trail led off from the shrine of the cross. He made his way down the trail, and, to his surprise, he found another shrine overgrown with brush. This shrine symbolized the empty tomb. Unfortunately, it had been neglected. Reflecting on the experience, the tourist said it reminded him of many Christians who stop at the cross and never proceed to the empty tomb.

If we make our final stop at the cross, we miss the core of Christianity. Without the resurrection, our faith is dead. Because Christ rose from the dead, our past is forgiven and our future is secure. The empty tomb represents victory for every Christian.

Especially at Easter, we need to take time to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection. For the Christian, the resurrection is a cause for great celebration!

" MERCY FOR EVERY SLAVE "

Matthew 18: 33 says, " And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? " ( ESV ).

The mother of a little boy named John taught him to pray and filled his mind with Scripture. But when John was about 7, his mother died, and John's life became a disaster. At age 11 he joined his evil sea captain father and got involved with the African slave trade.

Eventually, a close brush with death brought John the remembrance of his mother's teachings. He repented, felt called to preach, and began writing hymns. In fact, John Newton wrote the beloved hymn " Amazing Grace," which is his life's testimony.

John never forgot God's goodness to him. Shortly before his death he said, " My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: I am a great sinner, and God is a great Savior." Knowing the boundless, infinite grace of God makes forgiving others 490 times seem much less daunting, doesn't it? We can do it. We must do it.

“ HIS NAME IS JESUS “

Matthew 1: 24 – 25 says, “ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (ESV).

Joseph tanked his reputation. He swapped his tsadig diploma for a pregnant fiancée and an illegitimate son and made the big decision of discipleship. He placed God’s plan ahead of his own.

Rather than make a name for himself, he made a home for Christ. And because he sis, a great reward came his way. “ He called His name Jesus.”

Queue up the millions who have spoken the name of Jesus, and look at the person selected to stand at the front of the line. Joseph. Of all the saints, sinners, prodigals, and preachers who have spoken the name, Joseph, a blue-collar, small-town construction worker said it first. He cradled the wrinkle-faced prince of heaven and with an audience of angels and pigs, whispered, “ Jesus…You’ll be called Jesus.

"WARMTH OF WONDER"

Matthew 1: 18 says, " Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ( ESV )

Through the ages, and still today, long debates have raged about the so-called " virgin birth." Matthew simply said, She was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit," and Joseph was not very happy when he discovered this. He was within his right to quietly end the engagement, which was stringently binding at the time.

As a civilized man, he did not want to cause problems for Mary. All credit to him. And all credit to Mary who had to tell him about her pregnancy, an embarrassment for her where he was concerned. He thought exactly what people have thought through the centuries and still think today: that she tried to deceive him with an improbable yarn.

Once again it is the strange way God works: that even the intimate news of His Son's forthcoming birth creates suspicion and possible disgrace for those concerned. It is as though, time and again, the Lord puts a piece of mystery into the jigsaw puzzle, which emphasizes that he works with perceptions that differ from ours. In fact, that he (with all do respect) likes to cross out what we expect to see as " acceptable behavior ". He overturns all values. He even prepares glory for Himself out of a situation of disbelief and possible disgrace. And even today, many of us do not understand a thing about it.

After a dream, Joseph accepted that God was miraculously at work. Nothing is explained any further. Why do people want to use their " level-headed " reasoning as a smokescreen for an unwillingness to replenish themselves in their faith in God's immense and overwhelming eternal mystery?

Even the little thistle is a mystic miracle of " little wings and a system ", writes Sheila Cussons. After all, every visible and invisible reality is surrounded by billions of eternal possibilities. To deny this is to completely miss the excitement of the eternal here and now. To acknowledge this is to surround yourself with God.

Please visit our web site for more information on our church. www.gracebaptistchurch.com

Article submitted by Rev. Dan Newton

Pastor of Grace Baptist Church   

QUIET COMMITMENT

For our study this week we will use Ruth 1: 16, “ BUT RUTH REPLIED: DO NOT PERSUADE ME TO LEAVE YOU OR GO BACK AND NOT FOLLOW YOU. FOR WHEREVER YOU GO, I WILL GO, AND WHEREVER YOU LIVE, I WILL LIVE; YOUR PEOPLE WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND YOUR GOD MY GOD.” ( HCSB )

Like Ruth of the Old Testament, women of steadfast loyalty and faith have been key to America’s strength. One such woman was Ruth Bell Graham  wife of America’s beloved twentieth-century spiritual leader Dr. Billy Graham. Throughout their life together Dr. Graham often emphasized how vital his wife was to his own success, noting that “ MY WORK THROUGH THE YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT HER ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.”

For her own part, Mrs. Graham’s quiet commitment to her God and to her family reflected the determination of her biblical namesake to follow the God of Israel. Mrs. Graham once explained, “ I MUST FAITHFULLY, PATIENTLY, LOVINGLY, AND HAPPILY DO MY PART THEN QUIETLY WAIT FOR GOD TO DO HIS.” That same faithfulness was what led the widowed and desolate Ruth to become the wife of Boaz and a member of the line of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Father in heaven, thank You for the many godly women who have played such an important role in the shaping of America. I pray for every mother and daughter to exemplify Christ in their daily living, at home and in public, just as Ruth of the Old Testament.

GOD’ S PROMISE: “ The Lord your God, He is God, the faithful who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments “                    ( Deuteronomy 7: 9 ).

“THE LOSS OF VIRTUE"

For our study this week we will look at Joshua 7: 12, “ Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. ( ESV )

Samuel Adams, the great American patriot accused by King George III of being “ the chief rabble rouser “ of American independence, wrote the following in a letter to James Warren, the president of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, in 1779:

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. How necessary then is it for those who are determined to transmit the blessings of liberty as a fair inheritance to posterity, to associate on public principles im, what then? In Joshua 7, God’s people turned their backs on God and did not obey Him. Only when we are in God’s perfect will, only when we hve forsaken sin, will we have the privilege of His presence with us.

"LIBERTY, A GIFT FROM GOD"

For our study this week we will read Malachi 2:10, " Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? [ KJV].

Founding Father and one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton [January 11, 1755 - July 12, 1804] wrote this concerning the nature of liberty:

The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms, and false reasonings is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these, you could never entertain a thought that all men are not, by nature, entitled to a parity of privileges. You would be convinced that natural liberty is a gift of the beneficent Creator to the whole human race; and that civil liberty is founded in that and cannot be wrested from any people, without the most manifest violation of justice.

PATRIOT'S PRAYER: I praise and worship You Father, for giving me the liberties that I enjoy every day. May I never take for granted that you give us our freedom only by Your grace.

GOD'S PROMISE: We have been set free in Christ. Galatians 4: 7 promises, we are no longer slaves, but heirs of God.

TO LIVE IS CHRIST

Our scripture for this week is Philippians 1: 21, " FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN." (KJV)

Paul's letter to believers in Philippi is a note of thanks for their help during his time of need. He also lovingly urged the members of the church there to center their actions and thoughts on the pursuit of the person and power of Christ. Paul's central point was simple: only in Christ are real unity and genuine joy possible. With Christ as our model of humility and service, we believers can enjoy a oneness of purpose, attitude, goal, and labor. Paul then reminded the Philippians that their ultimate citizenship is in heaven.

The words of Adlhai Stevenson (1900-1965), who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 to 1965, remind us of the privilege of being an American citizen: " WHEN AN AMERICAN SAYS THAT HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY, HE MEANS NOT ONLY THAT HE LOVES THE NEW ENGLAND HILLS, THE PRAIRIES GLISTENING IN THE SUN, THE WIDE AND RISING PLAINS, THE GREAT MOUNTAINS, AND THE SEA. HE MEANS THAT HE LOVES AN INNER AIR, AN INNER LIGHT IN WHICH FREEDOM LIVES AND IN WHICH A MAN CAN DRAW THE BREATH OF SELF-RESPECT."

PATROIT'S PRAYER: I thank You for the unspeakable joy I have discovered in the Christian life, joy that can supersede circumstances. Help me this day to encourage people in my life to look to You to find hope for tomorrow even in most difficult times.

GOD'S PROMISE: Psalm 84:11 is the promise that "no good thing will (the Lord) withhold from those who walk uprightly."

"REVIVAL FIRES"

Jonah 3: 5 says, " So the people of Nineveh believed God." ( NKJV ).

A chaplain in the Confederate Army, William W. Bennett published a first-hand account of the spiritual renewal that swept through every corps, division, brigade, and regiment in General lee's Army of Northern Virginia: Up to January 1865, it was estimated that nearly 150,000 soldiers had been converted during the process of the war, and it was believed that fully one-third of all the soldiers in the field were praying men and members of some branch of the Christian church.

A PATROIT'S PRAYER: What amazing good came out of the tragedy of the Civil War! Use me today as an instrument of Your saving power, Jesus, whether people are dealing with tragedy or the everyday. I want my life and church to be an open book to those who are searching for You. Let people see Jesus in me and my church and our words may be Spirit led.

GOD'S PROMISE: David told the Lord, " I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You " ( Psalm 51: 13 ). He trusted in God's promise that if we tell people about His ways, they will be converted. We can tell the people to.

"WORDS OF TRUTH"

For this week devotion let's look at Jeremiah 17: 13 which says, " O Lord, the hope of Israel , all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. ( KJV ).

The Sea of Galilee like life itself is known for unexpected storms. Winds gusts, waves crash, and fishermen fear for their well-being. Likewise, settling a new land, establishing a new nation, and experimenting with a new form of government meant unexpected storms for American colonists.

No matter the place or the course, storms of life happen, and we do well to have an anchor to keep from drifting off course or even capsizing. The founders of the Sate of Rhode Island knew that well. On the state seal appears a picture of an anchor. Above it, this motto: IN GOD WE HOPE

A PATRIOT'S PRAYER: You are my anchor, Jesus. Sometimes I feel like I am on a roll a coaster sea, being tossed to and fro and having no real sense of direction. But i know that You are there with me, You have me in Your hand, and that You are guiding me safely to shore. Thank You, Jesus, that I can hope in you.

BIBLE PROMISE: Psalm 133: 18 is one of God's many promises that gives us hope: " behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy."

"A VITAL CONNECTION"

For our weekly devotion please read Deuteronomy 20: 4, which says, " The Lord your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. ( NKJV ).

As Franklin D, Roosevelt's 1939 State of the Union underscores, until recent years America's leaders understood the vital connection between religion and democracy. With Hitler on the move in Europe, president Roosevelt said this: Storms from abroad directly challenge three institutions indispensable to Americans, now as always. The first is religion. it is the source of the other two democracy and international good faith.

Religion, by teaching man his relationship to God, gives the individual a sense of his own dignity and teaches him to respect himself by respecting his neighbors.

Democracy, the practice of self-government, is a covenant among free men to respect the rights and liberties of their fellows

International good faith, a sister of democracy, springs from the will of civilized nations of men to respect the rights and liberties of other nations of men.

There comes a times in the affairs of men when they must prepare to defend, not their homes alone, but the tenets of faith and humanity on which their churches, their governments, and their very civilization are founded. the defense of religion, of democracy, and of good faith among nations is all the same fight. To save one we must now make up our minds to save all.

A PATRIOT'S PRAYER: Father, may I always defend the faith today and every day.

BIBLE PROMISE: " Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Sone of Man " ( Luke 21: 36 ).

"GOD'S CO-WORKER"

For this week devotion we take the scripture from Acts 17: 28, " For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ' For we are also His offspring.'" [ HCSB ]

Agricultural chemist George Washington Carver [1864-1943] discovered three hundred uses for peanuts more uses for soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes. Read his thoughts about God:

As a very small boy exploring the almost virgin woods of the old Carver place, I had the impression someone had just been there ahead of me. Things were so orderly, so clean, so harmoniously beautiful. A few years later in this same woods...I was practically overwhelmed with the sense of some Great presence. Not only had someone been there. Someone was there.

Yeats later when I read Scriptures, " In Him we live and move and have our being," I knew what the writer meant. never since have I been without been without this consciousness of the Creator speaking to me...The our-of-doors has been to me more and more a great cathedral in which God could be continuously spoken to and heard from.

Man, who needed a purpose, a mission, to keep him alive, had one. He could be...God's co-worker...My purpose alone must be God's purpose to increase the welfare and happiness of His people. Why, the, should we who believe in Christ be so surprised at what God can do with a willing man in a laboratory?

PATRIOT'S PRAYER: Lord, show me the specific purpose that You have for me today.

BIBLE'S PROMISE: " The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it " [ Gen. 2: 15 } this assignment is the promise of a purposeful life.

"THE GOD WHO MADE THE PEANUT"

For this weeks devotion we need to read Daniel 2: 28: "But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." (HCSB).

Chemist George Washington Carver (1864-1943) gained international fame in the field of agriculture due to his research into crops like peanuts, soy-beans, pecans, and sweet potatoes that could be alternatives to soil-depleting cotton. He wanted poor farmers to grow soil-enriching crops so they would be able to provide food for their family as well as marketable products, thereby improving their quality of life.

In 1921 (when it was unusual for an African-American to be called as an expert ), Mr. Carver spoke in favor of a peanut tariff before the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of representatives. After he detailed the potential uses of the peanut and other new crops o improve the economy of the South, the Chairman of the Committee had a question:

" Dr. Carver, how did you learn all of these things?" Dr. Carver answered: " From an old book." " What book?" Carver replied, " The Bible." The senator inquired, " Does the Bible tell about peanuts?" " No sir," Dr. Carver replied, " but it tells about the God who made the peanut. I asked God to show me what to do with the peanut, and he did."

PATRIOT'S PRAYER: Most wonderful God, help me this week to be guided by your precious hand. Only you know those things that are a mystery to me. Please reveal to me what You would have me know so I can serve You in a great way today.

BIBLE PROMISE: Daniel 2: 22 says, " He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him."

"INVESTING IN ETERNITY"

Our scripture for this weeks devotion is 1 Peter 1: 25, " But the word of the Lord endures forever." [ NKJV ].

Elias Boudinot Jr. [1740-1821] was an American lawyer and statesman from Elizabeth, New jersey. An energetic patriot, he was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1784, serving as its president from 1784 to 1783. He then served three terms in Congress and ten years as Director of the Mint. Mr. Boudinot supported many civic and educational causes during his life, including serving as one of Princeton's trustees for nearly half a century.

Boudinot was elected president of the American Bible Society at its founding in 1816. In accepting the office, he wrote that this was " the greatest honor " that could have been conferred upon him " this side of the grave." He had an unwavering faith that God had called the men of the society to the work of making Bibles available in America. His $ 10,000.00 gift, at a time when an annual salary of $ 400.00 was considered good, essentially enabled the formation and organization of the American Bible Society, which still sponsors the work of Bible translation and distribution around the world.

PATRIOT'S PRAYER: Help me, Father, to remember as Elias Boudinot did that the most significant work I can do on this earth is work I do for You.

BIBLE PROMISE: In 1 Samuel 2: 30, God says, " Those who honor Me I will honor," and we honor Him by being committed to living by His principles each day and by giving our time, talents, and treasures to His kingdom work.

"TRUE HISTORY OR CONSUMMATE FRAUD?"

1 Corinthians 15: 17 says, " And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!" [ NKJV }.

Listen to the confident declaration of American statesman Daniel Webster [1782-1852 ]:

The Gospel is either true history, or it is a consummate fraud; it is either a reality or an imposition. Christ was what He professed to be, or He was an imposter. There is no other alternative. His spotless life in His earnest enforcement of the truth His suffering in its defense, forbid us to suppose that He was suffering an illusion of a heated brain. Every act of His pure and holy life shows that He was the author of truth, the advocate of truth, the earnest defender of truth, and the uncompromising sufferer for truth. Now, considering the purity of His doctrines, the simplicity of His life, and the sublimity of His death, is it possible that He would have died for an illusion? In all His preaching the Savior made no popular appeals. His discourses were always directed to the individual. Christ and His apostles sought to impress upon every man the conviction that he must stand or fall alone he must live for himself, and die for himself, and give up hi account to the omniscient God as though he were the only dependent creature in the universe. The Gospel leaves the individual sinner alone with himself and his God.

PARIOT'S PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for sinners, myself among them.

BIBLE PROMISE: In Isaiah 9: 6, God promised to send His son: " His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." promise fulfilled!

"PATRIOTISM DEFINES" 

2 Samuel 20: 2 says, " So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king." {NKJV}/

Noah Webster's An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828: patriotism, n. Love of one's country; the passion which aims to serve one's country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.

 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Eleventh Edition, copyright 2004: patriotism, n. Love for or devotion to one's country.

Note how the definitions have changed. With its objective actions, Noah Webster's patriotism is very different from the vague, subjective patriotism of one who only feels love for his country. True patriotism is not just an emotional feeling; it is action.

Webster's original definition starts with a love for country, but moves to specific actions: service to country, defense of country, protection of the rights of country, maintenance of the laws and institutions of country, and preservation of religion and morality in public and private life. This kind of patriotism puts the needs of the country above personal or partisan desires, as well as above the favor of foreign nations. It would be well if the president and congress to remember this as they serve the people of this great nation.

PATRIOT'S PRAYER: I love my country, Lord, and I ask You to protect us from harm. Be with those men and women in the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. Guard us all in Your Name.

BIBLE PROMISE: " The Lord commanded us to observe all these statuses, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is this day "    { Deuteronomy 6: 24 }

"PRAYING FOR OUR NATION"

The scripture text for our weekly devotion is taken from 2 Chronicles 7: 14, " If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." ( NKJV )

From our nation's earliest days, God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7 that He will hear the cry of a humbled people has motivated America's leaders to call the citizens of America to prayer. In 1775, as it began the process of forming a new nation, the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer. At critical junctions during the Civil War, President Lincoln called for the nation to fast and pray. In 1952 President Truman signed a bill establishing an annual National Day of Prayer.

2 Chronicles helps establish a model of national spiritual renewal. 2 Chronicles recounts how a succession of righteous kings in Judah led to reforms that brought the people back to true faith in God. Second Chronicles 16: 9 assures us that God will " show Himself strong " toward those who place their trust in Him.

PATRIOT'S PRAYER should be: Lord, I am very aware of our nation's need to repent and return to You. I am also very much aware that such repentance must begin in every heart, including mine. Today I ask You to reveal to me the sins hidden in my heart and accept my plea for forgiveness.

BIBLE PROMISE: God promises that " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " ( 1 John 1: 9 ). ( NKJV ).

Be sure to see other archived devotions by clicking on the below button.

2010 DEVOTIONS