Posts with the tag “rick”

Daily devotional from Exodus 28-30--And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭28:2‬ ‭When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30:20‬ ‭We all have had the experience - after we have been tent camping for a...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Exodus 12--Verse 13The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.The angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites whose doorposts were marked with the blood of the Passover lamb. This was a sign placed on the doorposts to si...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Genesis  45--Verses 7-8And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.Circumstances weren’t always in Joseph’s favor, but God had a plan and turned things around.We have al...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Genesis 25--Verses 32-34Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.In the Old Testament, birthright was a privilege of the first born son to one...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Genesis 9--Verse 13I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.Verse 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.Our verses today say that after the flood, God will see the rainbow that He created and remember His...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Revelation 18--Verses 14-15"The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!” The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud...One day in the future, Babylon (symbolic of an evil global religious, economi...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Revelation 13--Verse 8And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.In the last days, the Bible says a “beast” will rise out of the sea and all who dwell on earth will worship it. Well, not everyone.There will be some alive on earth at this time, whose names...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Revelation 8--Verses 3-4And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.Right in the midst of a time of judgement we find the prayers of the...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Revelation 3--Verse 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.Sometimes we run out of energy, sometimes we forget, sometimes it’s just easier to let a dream die. But when the dream or job is from the Lord, it is our responsibility to constantly remind ourselves, provide it with focused energy and...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 John 1--Verse 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.John defines love as living a life of obedience to God’s commandments.Jesus summarized God’s greatest commandments in Matthew 22: 37-39 as loving God and loving neighbor. These are old commandments as ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 John 1--Verse 3That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.This epistle is written, eyewitness testimony by John, who lived life with Jesus and came to know Him as the eternal Son of God. This is John who wants to share his story to make his...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Peter 4--Verse 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.Does this verse mean we should just overlook or hide or avoid confronting bad behavior just because we love someone?The Bible guides us with life-giving principles. It doesn’t seem healthy to let someone continue down a destructive path just because we love them, so this vers...  Read More

Daily Devotional from James 4--Verse 17So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.Christians know that God hates sin, and as believers we are to do our best to live a  sinless life - to live in a manner worthy of our calling as children of God.Living a sin-free life seems like monumental task, and it gets worse as we learn there are two types of sin, known as sins...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Hebrews 12--Verses 1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Hebrews 7--Verse 25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.Jesus is our great High Priest forever.High priests intercede and offer sacrifices for sinful people to a holy God. Unlike human high priests of the Jewish nation, Jesus’s sacrifice was once for all and does not need ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Hebrews 2--Verses 17-18Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.High priests in the Old Testament were responsible for interce...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Titus Chapter 1--Verse 2b… eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.Our God never lies. That would be contrary to his holy nature. He has made many promises to His children (including eternal life) that He guarantees to keep. Here are a few:Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God i...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Timothy 6--Verse 15b… he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of Lords.In this verse Paul is emphasizing the greatness of God. Throughout time, there have been kings and lords - some good and others tyrants.Some have gained their titles by birthright, others by battle or deception or murder - but not our benevolent King, who created the heavens ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Timothy 1--Verse 5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.What should be the motive of church leaders as they minister to the people in their church? Paul tells us in this verse. It is not to gain popularity or reputation, but to share God’s love with His children. This love comes from faith in God and a belief t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Thessalonians 4--Verses 11-12...and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.Not all Christians are called to be pastors; not all are called to be global missionaries. In fact, most are not. Most Christians are to live quiet, normal li...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Colossians 3--Verses 1-2If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.After working outside in the yard on a hot, sunny day, it sure feels good to come inside, take a shower, and put on fresh clothes. This is a picture of the t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Philippians 2--Verses 12-13Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have it made! Don’t we? We are saved from paying the spiritua...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Ephesians 3--Verses 4-6When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the go...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Galatians 4--Verses 6-7And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.God has made us heirs to the riches of His kingdom by making us sons and daughters. And along with that inheritance, He has given us the privilege of calling Him by an intim...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Corinthians 12--Verse 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”God’s wisdom is not like worldly wisdom. If we are preparing for battle, wisdom says we should attempt to strengthen both our offensive and defensive a...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Corinthians 7--Verse 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus...What a great promise!  There will be a number of times in every person’s life when we will be downcast. There will be potholes in the road of life that affect our spirits negatively. But Paul tells us that God comes to the rescue and comforts us when we are down and depressed. He...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Corinthians 2--Verse 4For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.Sometimes love hurts. Sometimes we must act in a way toward our loved ones that  causes them pain, but is for their benefit. This is sometimes known as “tough love.” It may hurt us as much o...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Corinthians 13--Verse 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.What is your spiritual goal in life? I don’t mean the goal to reach heaven. What is it that you desire that can be useful in bringing God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven?Some wis...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Corinthians 8--Verse 1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.We all have our ideas about what is right and what is wrong. Some of these ideas come from conscience, some from what we were taught, some from our personal interpretation of the Scriptures. But just as important as it is to b...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Corinthians 3--Verses 1-2But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready...Puppies are so cute! We sometimes wish they could stay the same (without the chewing and “accidents”) and never grow up. But we can’t st...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Romans 14--Verses 17-19For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.So many times, people get caught up in judging others and defending their own points of view, wi...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Romans 6--Verses 6b-8For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”I saw on the news this morning, a woman...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Romans 4--Verses 3-5For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.As Christians, our salvation is provided by God as a free gif...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 27--Verse 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Paul and his traveling companions had been tossed about by stormy weather and monster waves for so long they had given up hope. They were beaten down by unrelenting, hope-draining circumstances.The sailors lost faith in their sh...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 22--Verses 21-22And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”Why such a harsh response to Paul’s re-telling of the events that led to his conversion, and his God-given mission to the Gentile...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 17--Verse 21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.Things never change. Today we have social media fans, who have nothing better to do than swipe through multitudes of  tweets, Tic Tok posts and web sites looking for something new to entertain themselves with. It was the same for ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 12--Verses 15-16They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.Many were gathered together at the house of Mark (the gospel writer), praying for Peter. He was imprisoned  according to Herod’s orders, probably to s...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 7--Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.Stephen was one of the seven chosen by the apostles to take care of practical needs of believers, while the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and ministry of the Word. Yet, full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen was working many signs and wonders, spreading the good news, making conve...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Acts 2--Verse 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.After Pentecost, the early Christians, before they were even known as Christians, were devoted to spending time together. Our verse today, and others that follow, tell us they were sharing meals together, praying, praising God, selling property to...  Read More

Daily Devotional from John 18--Verse 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”Pilate had nothing to fear from followers of Jesus - their mission was not to overthrow Roman rule. If only the Crusaders had listened to the  words of J...  Read More