A Very Present Help … by Wade Thompson
Today’s Reading – Psalms 46 – 50 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 1 – 3; Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “0625 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “You Can’t Take It With You.”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
In the United States 2.39 Million people have contracted the Coronavirus and out of that 123,000 have died. Our nation has been struggling with civil unrest, disease, protests, riots, unemployment, wars, rumors of wars. In our churches we have had the battles of revamping livestreams, constitutional rights, the national health crisis, falling numbers, falling offerings and much more. In this time of chaos the world and Christians are looking for the light of hope that they need to keep going. The Bible says God is our refuge, our safe place, a very present help in time of trouble. That phrase “present help” is very encouraging because right now where we are in this current time He is with us. No matter what 2020 throws at us we have the Lord.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
As Christians, we are called to be separate and by being separate we are a light on a hill that shines out to the lost world, and it cannot be hid. We need to be doing right, we need to be daily in God’s Word, always in prayer, attending church, and be walking in the Spirit. A lighthouse with a broken light cannot safely lead anyone into the harbor. The light needs maintenance, it needs to be cleaned, it needs a lighthouse keeper present. We are guiding the lost world from the turbulent rough sea into the safe harbor of God’s love; but some of us are seemingly just as lost as the world.
In this crazy world we are living in we need to remember that God is in control of everything. Verse ten reads, “Be still, and know that I am God.” We need to just stop, pause, take a deep breath and know He is God and that He is going to take care of everything. Nothing ever is going to take God by surprise; we are safe in His refuge. We just need to be still and trust Him.
Posted in Devotions by Wade Thompson with 2 comments.
The Choice is Yours … by Mr. Wade Thompson
Today’s Reading – 1 Samuel 28 – 31 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers read – Matthew 13 – 14; Proverbs 7; Psalms 31 – 35)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32 (Fast)
Read the “0407 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.” (1 Samuel 28:4-5)
We’re living in a crazy time, people are losing their jobs, people are getting sick; no one is allowed to leave home, and it seems like the world is spiraling into chaos. Here in 1 Samuel we see two characters, Saul and David, and both are faced with difficult situations, but both men react very differently. In chapter 28 we see the armies of the Philistines making warfare against Israel.
Saul, knowing he is in a tight place and knowing he needs the Lord unfortunately turns to the wrong person. Saul seeks for a witch to bring back the spirit of the great Prophet Samuel.
Saul stooped down to the world’s level, trying to get an answer from God. Saul knew the ways of the Lord but chose to walk wickedly. In this time that we are in we cannot compromise what we know and what we believe in order to try and get the answers that we should be getting from God’s Word. God expects us to live holy and righteousness lives even in tough times when we don’t know what to do. Tough times are not an excuse to live wrong.
David was also faced with a difficult situation in chapter 30. David and his mighty men returned from battle to find their home city completely destroyed, burnt with fire, and all their wives and children were taken captive. The whole camp was in great distress and even spoke of stoning David. Not only did David lose his wives, family, and everything he owned; but now his own men are talking about killing him. David did not use this time to run from God or have a pity party. In verse 6, we see that he encouraged himself in the Lord and sought counsel from the priest. After doing what God told him to do he recovered everything he had lost and achieved a mighty victory. We need to remember as we go through this “virus crisis” that God is always going to be there for us. He will show us what to do, and we have nothing to be afraid of.
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3)
In this tough time, we need to encourage ourselves in the Lord. As we go through these strange and scary days we have to decide whether we are going to do our own thing and try to get God’s blessing in our own way, like Saul; or, are we going to encourage ourselves in the Lord and get godly counsel, and do things God’s way. It’s a choice we will have to make every day.
Posted in Devotions by Wade Thompson with 5 comments.
Biblical Separation by Wade Thompson
Today’s Passage – Leviticus 22 – 23 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – John 15 – 16; Proverbs 11; Psalms 56 – 60
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read the “0211 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from today’s reading – “Take Time to Remember.“
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 22:1-2)
We live in a society where sin is glorified and godliness is looked down on. Sin is everywhere; it’s on our phones, it’s on the billboard on our way to work, it’s in the music we listen to, and it’s on our TV’s that we watch with our family. In such a sin-filled atmosphere we see Christians all around us falling to the Devil, and it’s just so discouraging. As Christians we are a called out assembly and we are supposed to be transformed reflection of the image of God:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
The Lord is very strong on this principle of separation, and we see that in Rev 3:16:
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
God wants us either all in or all out, no in between. We are fighting the Devil (Ephesians 6:11) and we need to be ready to withstand his attacks. This is important to remember if we are to live a holy, godly life. We should want to be as close to God as we can get, and sin separates us from Him:
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
We need to draw nigh to God, and he will get closer to us (James 4:8).
1. If you are in sin, remember God is faithful and just to forgive you (1 John 1:9).
2. There is no temptation that we cannot bear when we have God’s help (1 Corinthians 10:13).
3. We are commanded in the Bible to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; Romans 12:2).
4. We are a chosen people, called OUT of darkness (1 Peter 2:9).
Let us go against the flow and resist the trend of the world and how it influences the church and let us live separated lives that please God. Let us not profane God’s holy name. He is the Lord.
Posted in Devotions by Wade Thompson with 2 comments.