December 26thJude 1; Revelation 1:1-2:29.  “Hold Up the Light”I am intrigued by the messages to the seven churches (Rev. 2-3).  Each message has similar parts.  Each message begins with an expression similar to “I know all your works.”  Each message also begins with an introduction describing the Lord Jesus, yet in ways as are fitting to the message.  Each message also offers a promise to “everyon...  Read More

December 25th1 John 4:7-5:21; 2 John 1; 3 John 1.  “What Kind of Love”God’s love for us could never be displayed greater than by what we remember at Christmas; God sending His Son.This morning I was reading about another new world religion.  It is called the Temple of Love.  The followers believe all religions and peoples can unite under just the auspice of love.  First John 4:8 intentionally read...  Read More

This week is Christmas and we remember the birth of a special child, Jesus Christ.  In our passage this week we will focus on the children of God.  We will look at what it means to be a child of God and how it affects our life now and 10,000 years from now.  You have much to celebrate as you come to the end of the Bible and this year’s commitment you made to walk through it.  And as we think of the end, the last few day’s readings will center on the end of time.  Child of God, may you be encouraged by this week’s passages.  Read More

December 24th1 John 1:1-4:6.  “A Child of Who?”We are enthralled by famous people.  We cherish their autographs, mementos, pictures, books, and even their children.  It’s something special to be the son or daughter of so-and-so.  Imagine being a foster child who is one day adopted by someone famous.  It would instantly make you famous.It is an unfortunate thing but the children of God run the risk...  Read More

December 23rd1 Peter 5:12-14; 2 Peter 1:1-3:18.  “Living by Faith”“We may have as much of God as we will.  Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want.  If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor.”     – Alexander MacLarenHave you ever found yourself ...  Read More

December 22nd1 Peter 2:4-5:11.  “Suffering”“I have given them your word.  And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not.  I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” – Jesus (John 17:14-15)For the first-century disciples, like Peter, suffering for the faith was a constant reality.  It did not bother Peter that Jes...  Read More

December 21stHebrews 13:1-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2:3.  “Holiness”In the forests of Northern Europe and Asia lives a little animal called the ermine, known for his snow-white fur in winter.  He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it.Hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine.  They don’t set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is u...  Read More

December 20thHebrews 11:1-12:29.  “Fear Not”For a long time, I read Hebrews 12:1-2 with fear.  I had always assumed that the “cloud of witnesses” were there to judge us as believers as to whether or not we are living up to their standard.  I was living a Christian life, constantly looking over my shoulder and concerned if I was doing it right all of the time.Then one day, someone pointed out that ...  Read More

December 19thHebrews 8:1-10:39.  “Tattooed”“Your body is the one thing you have ultimate control over.  Tattoos are a way of committing to something permanent and stable, of recording who and what you are right now” – Anne Velliquette, academic researcher commenting on the popularity of tattoos.It may surprise some of you to hear that I have a tattoo.  You may be even more surprised when I say tha...  Read More

December 18thHebrews 4:14-7:28.  “Listening”“You are young only once, but you can stay immature indefinitely” – Ogden NashHebrews 5:11-14 describes those Christians who are really not living the word in their daily lives.  Actually, according to the author of Hebrews, not only were they not living it, they were not even listening to it (Hebrews 5:11).  This reminds me of the times when I give my c...  Read More

For those of you who have been reading this devotional through the entire year, the end is almost in sight.  It has been a joy to journey though the scriptures with you and to help you discover the riches that the Word of God has for you.  My prayer is that your experience of reading through the entire Bible this year has been an exciting opportunity that has changed your life.  When you turn the calendar to January, I hope that you will now Live the Word.  James 1:22 says, “And remember, it (the word of God) is a message to obey, not just listen to.  If you don’t obey you are only fooling yourself.”  So, our theme this week, and I hope for the rest of your life, is to Live the Word.  Read More

December 17th2 Timothy 4:19-22; Hebrews 1:1-4:13.  “Living and Active”“The word, as indicated by the words ‘living and active,’ must not be thought of as a static speech-act.  Rather, it is a dynamic power that has the ability to effect change, both in the created order and in individual lives” – George H. GuthrieSo, what does it mean to “live the Word?”  A big part of the meaning has to do with o...  Read More

December 16th2 Timothy 2:1-4:18.  “Sending Forward the Spoken Word”         Every time I read Second Timothy I can’t help but be reminded that these were Paul’s last words.  I can’t imagine how young Timothy must have read them over and over.  As Paul sat alone in the cold Roman prison waiting his execution, he knew they were his final words (4:6).  It’s wonderful to read Paul’s conclusion; “I hav...  Read More

December 15th1 Timothy 6:11-21; 2 Timothy 1:1-18; Titus 1-3.  “Promote Right Teaching”         The spoken word is powerful, yet to be most powerful it must ring true.  It is vital that we speak and teach truth and only truth.  The first portion of Titus 2 emphasizes the importance of promoting right teaching.  “This is the content of our faith.  Believers must be grounded in the truths of the Bibl...  Read More

December 14th1 Timothy 3:1-6:10.  “False Teaching is a Waste of Time”         The Apostle Paul gives young Timothy a great deal of instruction concerning false teaching.  Most often when we hear the term “false teaching” we think of descriptions such as “those who are teaching wrong doctrine” (1:3), “those who deny truth” (6:3), or “teachings that come from demons” (4:1).  However, Paul actually s...  Read More

December 13thJames 4:1-5:20; 1 Timothy 1:1-2:15.  “Prayer Spoken”         A young minister, learning that a woman from Boston who was visiting in town had been taken ill, stopped in to cheer her up.  “I’d like to say a brief prayer for your recovery,” he suggested.  The woman responded, “That won’t be necessary, young man, I’m being prayed for in Boston.”         James has addressed a variety of t...  Read More

December 12thJames 1:1-3:18.  “Speak Wisely”         In just these three chapters James has written volumes of material to consider pertinent to this week’s theme—the power of the spoken word.  Yet he has also addressed the quandaries lying therein.  He has informed us that “those who control their tongue can also control themselves in every other way,” but then, “no one can tame the tongue” (3:2,...  Read More

December 11thPhilippians 2:12-4:23.  “Shining Brightly”         The past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who are far more intent on pointing out what is wrong rather than looking for what is right.  In this passage Paul essentially informs us that this is normal.  He tells us that people will see what is wrong with your life before they see what is right.  So, he informs...  Read More

         This week’s passage focuses our attention on instruction, teaching and the power of the spoken word.  The tongue has the power of life and death (Prov. 18:21).  People have risen or fallen because of their spoken word.  People have won or lost, have conquered or been defeated in life, have prospered or stagnated depending on their spoken word.  People have achieved great things or nothing in life because of the spoken word.  We will learn the importance of discerning truth in what we hear and in making sure it is what we speak.  Read More

December 10thPhilippians 1:1-2:11; Philemon 1.  “Messages and Motives”         “Whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice” (Philip. 1:18).          The Apostle Paul declared his imprisonment was a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel.  With pure motives he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.  However, others prea...  Read More

December 9th Colossians 1:24-4:18. “Marriage” Recently I took some Jr. High students to a retreat. Our speaker was a single youth pastor from Washington named James. During one of the breaks in between sessions, James and I were talking about life and ministry and the subject of marriage came up. James mentioned that he feels that God uses marriage for the purpose of sanctification in our life. I agreed with his statement, and still do. Marriage has brought about significant spiritual growth in my life, and not just that, I believe that my wife Kristi is a gift from God and is part of His providential care for me. I can’t begin to count the times I have benefited from her insight and wisdom. As a pastor, most people see me as an organized, thoughtful, and put-together individual. However, the reality is that without Kristi in my life, I am disorganized, thoughtless and basically a complete train wreck. May you grow to see, as I have, that sometimes God’s care for you is expressed by the relationships that He brings into your life. Thank you, Kristi. I Love you. – David C.  Read More

December 8th Ephesians 5:15-6:23; Colossians 1:1-23. “Armor of God” The truth that God providentially cares for His people does not guarantee that God will supernaturally intervene in our lives when trouble hits. It also doesn’t mean that God will violate our own free will just to protect us in a given situation. We have to own some responsibility for our lives and our actions. Often times I think that God’s providence is a combination of appropriate actions taken by a sovereign God, and the utilization of resources made available to us by that same God. This is where the illustration of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17) comes into play. God, in His divine providence, has given spiritual resources for us in spiritual battles. It is inappropriate and actually quite arrogant for Christians to assume that God’s providence means an easy life without having to prepare for spiritual battle. May you see God’s invitation to put on spiritual armor as one way in which He cares for you.  Read More

December 7th Ephesians 3:1-5:14. “Strength in Numbers” A while back, I was watching a documentary with my father-in-law on life in the ocean. A fascinating program, it was amazing to see how the schools of fish would swim circles in groups as tightly as possible to defend themselves against predators. On their own, these fish have no defense against these predators, but as a group they can survive with minimal casualties. As I think about this phenomenon in nature, I see a clear connection with how the church functions as an instrument of God’s care for the believer. On our own, Christians can become lost, confused and vulnerable to spiritual attack. However, God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us the community of faith, His Church, for our spiritual protection. He gives us pastors and teachers who instruct us in the truth of God’s Word; elders who care for us and watch over us; and ministries which afford us the opportunity to serve and meet people’s needs. May you come to see your involvement in a church, not as a burden, but as a means for God to care for your needs.  Read More

December 6th Acts 28:1-31; Ephesians 1:1-2:22. “Greatness of Christ” As I sit in my office and write, I am reminded that it is Veteran’s Day and I am supposed to be appreciating the sacrifices made by American soldiers and the freedoms I enjoy as a result. Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all that very much, but what bothers me are those individuals who are trusting in their citizenship as Americans more than the providential care of the God who created them and loves them. Paul declared that Christ “is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come” (Ephesians 1:21). Wow History has shown us that kingdoms and nations come and go. What would happen to your faith if the United States of America no longer existed? Would all hope for the gospel and our salvation be lost? Absolutely not Christ is far greater than any one nation. May you remember that, “The grass withers, and the flowers fall away. But the Word of the Lord will last forever” (1 Peter 1:24b-25a). God’s providence will always be there.  Read More