Category: Devotion

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul gives instructions to the Corinthians about their gift to the suffering saints in Judea. As part of the instructions, Paul teaches important lessons regarding love, integrity, devotion and service.

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Late December is a time where we commonly consider possible resolutions for the new year. I am a fan of resolutions. One of mine is to lose the rest of my excess weight, and keep it off by exercise and proper diet.

Of course there are spiritual resolutions to set, that if kept diligently, will be even more beneficial to each of us. “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

There is a step to be taken prior to the setting of resolutions. That step is assessment. It takes discernment and introspection. Whether you desire to time any resolutions with the beginning of the new year or not, such assessment is needful, and should be constant. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Perhaps there is some deficiency that devotional acts of prayer, study and meditation might fill. Maybe there is a bad habit or trait that can be altered through diligent effort. It is possible that a careless neglect can be made into a point of focus in the months ahead. Surely there is something done, or left undone that can be addressed after an honest assessment of our life and faith is made.
Might I suggest that each of us set aside time this next week, amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, to “examine” ourselves, and then upon that assessment resolve to improve in any appropriate facet of our life and faith? This would certainly please our heavenly Father, as we improve the expression of our devotion to Him.

The lesson takes the text of 2 Peter 1:5-11 to establish the importance of diligence to the maturation of the Christian. Such maturation ensures fruit bearing, and an acceptance by God leading to eternal life. A lack of diligence is shortsighted and destructive.

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Daniel is a man of Purpose, Principle, Purity and Prayer. As such, he serves as a wonderful example to us.

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(The following article was written by Tommy Davis, one of the members of the West Side congregation. I commend it to you. Stan)

Take a minute to answer this question, do you have dreams for the future? Do you want to be a doctor, make a scientific breakthrough or do you want to be a professional athlete? Some people dream of good health or being wealthy and living in a huge house. People in nearly every culture have dreams for the future. We hear about holding onto our dreams at events like graduations, and when we get married, we feel like a dream just came true. Most of us don’t dream of terrible events like death or destruction.

God has a dream for us too. When God created man, he longed to walk with man on earth and have relationships with us. For a while in the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day — Genesis 3:8. I often wonder what those conversations were like! This soon came to an end when sin entered our lives, and now we are separated from God. No longer do men walk with God and talk to him face to face. We are imperfect and impure; not fit to be in the presence of God. The relationship was broken!

Continue reading “Dreams” →

This eighth sermon preached by Jerry Fite in our gospel meeting May 9-14, 2009 shows that we must be righteous in the choices we make as we seek to serve God.

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Sermon Audio: Sorry, the audio did not come out for this sermon. We have the powerpoint file only.

The Lesson is an exegetical treatment of Romans 12:1-8. There are four marks of devotion evident in the life of any faithful child of God. Self-sacrifice, Self-alteration, Self-examination and Self-involvement. The lesson identifies and discusses these marks.

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The Bible uses the term heart metaphorically, to refer variously to: the seat of our understanding, will, devotion and conscience. It is a beautiful figure of speech, that contains many lessons for the Christian.

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