Morning Devotions Archive

Minister by Faith, Not by Sight

November 29, 2016

Visible results cannot serve as the basis for our confidence in ministry, for they are often deceptive or delayed. Our confidence in ministry can only come from faith in the power and promises of God.

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Scattered Like Seed

November 22, 2016

 “Dispersion,” scattering, is a bittersweet theme. On the one hand, the Creator authorized his animate creatures and humanity, their rulers, to “fill the earth”—very good. 

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Time and Chance

November 17, 2016

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes cautions us not to be overly optimistic about wisdom and its power.  Even though wisdom works well, time and chance can spoil the benefits of wisdom and a little bit of folly can destroy wisdom’s power.

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“Let the Children Come to Me”

November 15, 2016

Jesus teaches us important truths about how we must enter the kingdom of God, truths that his disciples had failed to grasp.

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The Steadfastness of Job

November 10, 2016

This devotion will suggest that “steadfastness” or “perseverance” is the right notion for James 5:11, not “the patience” of Job. Furthermore, this suggests that James is referring to Canonical Job in its unity, not just the first part of Job.

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Church Growth Is Word Growth

November 8, 2016

The Lord gives to his church “mercy servants,” whose deeds of compassion complement the gospel witness of his “Word servants.”

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My Peace

November 1, 2016

The peace of God in His Son, Jesus Christ, surpasses understanding, says Paul in Philippians 4. 

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Spirit-filled Servants

October 25, 2016

The seven servants were qualified to care for widows’ material needs because Christ’s church discerned that they were “full of the Spirit and wisdom.”  

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The Wisdom Gateway to the Psalter

October 20, 2016

Psalms 1 and 2 form a two-paneled door which opens on the riches of the Christian life illustrated in the Psalter. The only way into the truly happy life is through the door of wisdom, which is through Christ who is himself the Way and the Life. 

 

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Blessed to Preach the Gospel to the Nations

October 18, 2016

 We often think of the struggles of ministry.  The Apostle Paul certainly had many. But we in ministry can be greatly encouraged by Eph 3:7 where Paul uses the word “grace” to describe the “blessing” that was given to him to preach the gospel to the nations.

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God’s Righteous Wisdom

October 13, 2016

In Job 38 Yahweh accepts Job's challenge to justify himself on condition that Job can prove that he has standing to bring suit against Almighty God. 

 

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Differentiating “Diakoniai”

October 11, 2016

The apostles’ response to the need of Greek-speaking widows in the Jerusalem church shows two truths that define how ministry must be done in Christ’s church.

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Sufficiency and Satisfaction

October 6, 2016

How much is enough?  In this prayer, we are reminded that we should not be seeking abundance or lack, but sufficiency.  Sufficiency prevents us from being prideful or greedy, but allows us to find satisfaction in God alone. 

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Christ Our King

October 4, 2016

 The risen and enthroned Lord Jesus is the king over all of his creation; He is the sovereign who rules and reigns over all.  

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Fleeing Seduction, Finding Satisfaction

September 29, 2016

The father seeks to fortify his son against the power of seduction by vividly portraying the consequences of sexual sins, especially adultery, and the joys of proper sexuality with one's wife.

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The Invitation to a Royal Wedding

September 27, 2016

The Reformed know that the Psalms teach the Faith and we delight in them.  

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Diversity and Division

September 20, 2016

Not only does the Lord love to lavish his grace to multitudes of people, to see them multiply to become a countless choir to sing his praise (as we saw in the first meditation on Acts 6:1-7); but he also delights in diversity—different kinds of people, speaking different languages and practicing different customs. 

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