The Morning Devotional for November 3, 2020:
SPECIAL EDITION
Read MoreOur God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3, ESV)
The Morning Devotional for November 2, 2020:
SPECIAL EDITION
Read More5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Prayer: Our God in heaven, we are grateful to you for your many mercies and for your constant care and protection in a world that is wrecked by sin. We find that we are often consumed with the uncertainty of our world and the concerns that we often face. We thank you that your eye is always upon us and that you are governing the affairs of this world in order to bring everything under the feet of your Son. We are blessed to know that you regard your people with love -- a love that never wavers. Forgive us, Father, for failing to see things in a way that your Word tells us. Forgive us for taking our eyes off the things that are above and becoming enamored with the fleeting things of this life.
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Prayer: Father, we know that you hold all things in your hands and that each hour of our day is ordered and governed by your hand. We reflect on our lives and see your hand of providence guiding every step we take. We thank you that you are a kind and gracious Father who pities us and cares for us. We look to you as the one we can trust and rest. We thank you for your Son, who has proven your love for us. Forgive us for the times that we wander and worry. Forgive us for not looking to you for all things -- small and great.
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Prayer: Father in heaven, we are thankful that you guide and direct all of our steps. We know that you have promised to be with us and care for us in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. We live in trying and difficult days, and we see the effects of sin being displayed all around us. Throughout our world, we see the rebellion and hatred of those made in your image, and it grieves us. We sometimes worry and grow anxious over these things forgetting that this life is passing away, and one day you will complete the full reversal of the Fall and bring us into the New Heavens and the New Earth.
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The Morning Devotional for October 29, 2020
Special Edition
Read More4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Phil. 4:4-7, ESV)
Why Worship on Sundays?
In the Old Testament, worship was on Saturday, celebrating God’s finished creation. But His work of redemption was finished at Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week. On multiple Sundays, the resurrected Lord visited the assembled church establishing a new day for corporate worship (Luke 24:1-3, John 20:1,26, Acts 20:7-9, 1 Cor 16:1-2, & Rev 1:10). We also have the example of the apostles in the early church as they worshiped on the first day of the week.
Worship’s who, what and where, and why
Who? God alone initiates the church’s corporate worship. What? He summons us, not privately, but corporately, through the Word and His Holy Spirit (John 4:19-24). Where? Into His heavenly presence (Psalm 100, Hebrews 12:22-24) Why? To adore and obey Him as we hear from Him in the reading and especially the preaching of His eternal Word (2 Tim 4:1-2).
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Over the next few months, with the goal of writing one article each week, I want to blog through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. My goal will be to be both theological and practical, addressing adults and children. The format will look as follows:
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Attending worship and listening to a sermon can be difficult at times. There are so many distractions that seem to get in the way of a serious and attentive focus on the preaching of God’s Word. No one is immune to this issue. It is certainly true that whenever the Word of God is preached, the enemy of our souls is never more alive and active, seeking to prevent God’s people from hearing the living voice of Christ speak through the Word proclaimed. What are we to do to avoid this constant plague upon our lives? Allow me to offer a few practical tips to help focus and benefit more from the Word proclaimed.
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The Morning Devotional for October 28, 2020:
Read More31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32, ESV).
The Morning Devotional for October 27, 2020:
Read More27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)
The Morning Devotional for October 26, 2020:
Read More27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30, ESV)