Devotional

Read Exodus 20:22-26 An alter of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. Exodus 20:24 (NKJV)  After being given the Ten Commandments on Sinai, God instructed the people to build an altar of sacrifice. Before Christ came to earth, the sacrificial system bridged the gap between heaven and earth. The priest would intercede on behalf of the people and transfer the sins to the animal….

Read Genesis 9:13-17 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:13, 17 (NKJV) Today, after two hours of heavy rainfall, the sky shone with a beautiful promise from God, the rainbow. It was so awe-inspiring and beautiful that everyone, myself included, went outside to admire and take pictures of it. When asked which color was my favorite, I…

Read Philemon 1:1-25 No longer as a slave but more than a slave-a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. Philemon 1:16 (NKJV)  It should not be a surprise that during the rule of Rome, the early Christian church dealt with the issue of slavery. The apostle Paul addresses the case of a runaway slave who became a believer of Christ and was returning to his Master, Philemon. In Acts of the Apostles, E. G. White speaks of the Apostle Paul’s time in Rome and interactions with Onesimus:…

BITTER WATER SWEET Read Exodus 15:22-27 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. Exodus 15:25 (NKJV)  This week’s children’s lesson discussed the Israelites’ first experiences in the desert after their deliverance. Three days after God parted the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptian Army, they were unhappy with Moses. They complained about his leadership, forgetting God was leading Moses and them (Exodus 13:21-22). Why would God lead the people to an undrinkable and bitter water source? Wasn’t Moses familiar…

FEED THE HUNGRY Read John 6:1-15 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. John 6:11 (NKJV) The feeding of the five thousand is one of the greatest miracles ever performed by Jesus. Each of the four gospels tells of this account when over 5000 men, not including women and children, spent their day listening to Jesus. The disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowd away, seeing that “this is a deserted place and…

IN THE FIERY FURNACE Read Daniel 3:8-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.  – Daniel 3:19 (NKJV) Yesterday, I worked with the pizza ovens at my part-time job. Fear of burning the pizzas, I kept a close eye on the thermometer, which read 540 degrees Fahrenheit, and continuously requested my supervisor to double-check the oven temperature. He would always reply, “The oven needs to be hotter!” Whenever I checked the pies,…

TIME WITH GOD Read Matthew 26:36-58 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Matthew 26:40 (NKJV) Have you ever had the experience where you got up early in the morning and tried having a worship experience with God, but you were so sleepy that you could not stay up? Such was the disciples’ experience when Jesus asked them to watch and pray. Their eyes were heavy, and they could not find the energy they needed to pray for the master. Were they disinterested in…

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) All humans on earth experience temptations daily. Christ, when He was here, experienced temptation constantly from the devil (Matthew 14:1-11). God never promised us that He would remove our temptations but provide us the ability to endure and be overcomers. Christ was…

A GOD OF CHANCES Read Luke 23:26-56 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 (NKJV) Have you ever had a bad habit you wanted to break? How often did you find yourself doing that thing you no longer wanted to do? Our struggle with the flesh, sin, is similar. Paul speaks of his battle with sin and the desire to do good. He wrote,  “For I know that in me (that is, in…

A MATTER OF CHOICE Read Joshua 24:1-28 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers serve that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) Have you ever had a moment when everything seems to be going right? You look in the mirror and say, “You are amazing, and look at all you have accomplished.” Joshua…

A PRIVILEGE TO LEAD Read Romans 16:1-2 I commend to you, Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea. Romans 16:1 (NKJV) I know that women in leadership have been a very controversial topic in many churches. Amidst the controversy, we cannot deny that God has used women in times past and still today. One such we will examine is Phoebe, a less-known woman in the Bible, and the role she played in ministry. She served as a deacon in the church, serving among the elders. One task entrusted was traveling with Paul’s letters to the…

MOLDING THE FAMILY Read Deuteronomy 6:1-25 You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:7 (NKJV)  Before embarking upon the Promise Land, the children of Israel received the commandments of God that they should live. It was to be from generation to generation. It is that “repetition is the key to real learning” Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer (2009). “The Success Principles (TM),” p.32, Harper Collins. Constant reinforcement of the commandments was encouraged. In…

TALKING WITH JESUS Read Matthew 6:1-18 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7 (NKJV) Talking to one of my former schoolmates this week, we reminisced on the good old college days. I reminded her of a line she would use when she was praying. “Lord, you said the cattle on a thousand hills belong to you. Can you please sell one of the cows and give me the money?” We have been laughing about this for years each time we…

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Read Philippians 3:1-21 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20, (NKJV)  Interestingly, every year the world celebrates the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, yet there is little spoken of or recognition that he will be returning. When Jesus left earth and ascended to heaven, He promised He would prepare a place for us. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may also be. (John 14:2-3). The Christians hope…

SHARING THE LAST MEAL Read 1 Kings 17:8-16 And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me, and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 1 Kings 17:13 (NKJV) This week at church, we had an early thanksgiving celebration. We could go into the community and share gift bags with some of the less fortunate and help make their thanksgiving a better experience. It is a joy when we can extend the blessings that God has given us to our…

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Read Exodus 23:20-33 So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. Exodus 23:25 (NKJV) There are many in our world today who are feeling unhappy, sad, lonely, and angry. They believe that all odds are against them, and in whatever they do, a spell of bad luck keeps pursuing them. One way to tackle this negative mindset is to count the blessings that you have received. You will be surprised by the countless things to be grateful for….

GOD’S WONDERFUL WORKS Read Genesis 1:1-31 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) I enjoy painting and drawing. The entire spectrum of color seen in nature is awe-inspiring, so I find it hard to have one favorite color. In my best artistic renderings of God’s creation, I fail to recreate the details only that the Creator’s hand could make. Each day, nature reminds me of Our Creator. The Genesis account shows the work of God. Six times it says, “And God saw that it was good” (Vv. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). He…

BEARING CHRIST’S FRUIT Read Galatians 5:16-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22- 23 (NKJV) If you were blindfolded and took a taste test of ten different common fruit, there is a high probability you would get them right. The fruit would direct you to the tree, plant, or bush on which it grows. Similarly, Paul tells the Galatians that their fruit will make their character known. Paul makes a clear distinction between the Spirit and the flesh. He says they are the…

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Read Luke 17:11-19 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God. Luke 17:15(NKJV) The story of the ten lepers in the Bible is a well-known story of being thankful. Jesus healed ten lepers; however, only one returned to give thanks. In today’s age, thankfulness comes around only once a year and maybe just before turkey carving. I often forget how refreshing a “thank you” can be, let alone what a testimony an out-loud “Thank you, God” can be. “It is for our own benefit to…

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) Here we find a prayer of praise to God for His goodness and provisions. When we acknowledge Christ as the creator and sustainer of our lives, we should rejoice. In every facet of our daily lives, we should be grateful for the daily blessings and remember that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). The Psalmist wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I…

THE VIRTUAL JESUS Read John 16:5-15 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7 (NKJV) When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, software platforms tailored for virtual business took off. Everyone turned to these platforms to stay in touch with family, friends, colleagues, business partners, and bosses. Due to pandemic restrictions, which continually changed and evolved, the virtual platforms provided some comfort and a degree of normalcy. Even though…

ZACCHAEUS, THE SYCAMORE CLIMBER Read Luke 19: 1-10 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” Luke 19:8 (NKJV) Zacchaeus was a man short in stature. He figured that his only way to see Jesus was to get above the crowd into a tree. As Jesus passed that way, “he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. So he came down at once and welcomed…

SHACKLED IN CHAINS Read Acts 16:16-40 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:26 (NKJV)  Paul and Silas were accused of causing trouble (freeing a girl from an evil spirit) and whipped (Verse 18-24). Not only that, but this good deed resulted in them being imprisoned. Surprisingly, while in prison, they did not murmur or complain about how wrongly they have been treated, as I believe I would have. Instead, they sang hymns and prayed (Verse 25). They worshipped openly,…

RUNNING FROM GOD Read Jonah Chapters 1-4 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:3 (NKJV) Has God ever asked you to do something you did not want to do? Such was the case of Jonah. God called him to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. It wasn’t a task Jonah wanted to do. He tried running from…

EVERYDAY MIRACLES Read Psalm 91:1-16 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) It was a rainy day, and I was driving to attend a women’s ministry service. My car started losing control, and as I entered the highway, I slid over to the left lane. My heart was racing as I tried to remain calm and regain control of the vehicle. I could not, but it snapped back in control, and I was driving just as I was before. As far as I could see on the ramp, …

A TIME TO CELEBRATE Read Acts 2:14-39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NKJV) People are known to love celebrations. Whether it is weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, you name it, they want to commemorate some important event that took place. In the Bible, there is countless evidence of festive celebrations. Last year, I started acknowledging the moment I came to Christ for Baptism. It was the best day of my…

A FORGIVING GOD Read Jonah Chapters 1-4 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the town. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade till he might see what would become of the city. Jonah 4:5 (NKJV) Jonah eventually did what God requested of him to do-preach repentance to the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-4). He believed that the people were too set in their ways to turn to God. Jonah wanted God to destroy the city. He was very displeased when the people sought after God in prayer and…

NO LONGER CAPTIVES Read Exodus 12:29-39 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go; serve the LORD as you have said.” Exodus 12:31 (NKJV) Pharaoh and the Egyptians were in terror when the tenth and final plague – the death of all firstborns – stuck the land (Exodus 11:5). Finally relenting, Pharaoh ordered the Israelites to leave and be free, fearing further suffering would come upon his kingdom. The day the Israelites have long waited for was finally here. They were…

JESUS, OUR BEST FRIEND Read Proverbs 18:1-24 A man of companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (ESV) Many of us say we had a best friend at some point. We wanted to spend every moment in that person’s company, especially as kids. This friend may also be one in whom we confide. Jesus, here in the passage, explores our need for human friendships. We trust our friends; however, they are sometimes loyal or give the best advice. Do not be deceived “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthian…

CREATED FOR HIS GLORY Read Psalm 100:1-5 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (NKJV) We all feel pride in our accomplishments, cherishing the creation of life and our creative mind. Our innovations lead to praise and recognition at work, home, or with family and friends. But how often do we use them for, or give credit and glory to, our Creator? God has fashioned a people in His image and for His purpose. “This people I…

LIBERTY THROUGH CHRIST Read Romans 6:1-23 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. Romans 6:22 (NKJV) It was a cold winter day below 50 °F. I noticed a homeless guy sitting in our restaurant’s corner seat as soon as our doors were open, so I went over and started talking to him. As I spoke to him, I discovered that he had slept under a bridge the night before without a blanket but just a sweater and windbreaker. When I asked why…