Men of the Bible Series - Abel (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4)
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Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
God’s Care, Concern, and Control over My Life (I John 4:18-19)
Coffee and the Word of God (Psalm 63:1)
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
Today is a day when we take the time to honor the one person who unselfishly gives herself to her children time and time again without asking for anything in return. If your life has been blessed by the touch of a godly mother, then you have enjoyed one of this world's greatest treasures and blessings. Not everyone has enjoyed this great blessing but those who have will go to their grave remembering the love of their mother. We set aside one day a year to honor mothers. Take the time today, to visit, call, text, send her some flowers, or do something to let her know that you love her and that you respect and honor her today. Mothers today are often misunderstood for someone who cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. But a mother is a much more vital part of the family. In fact, mothers are one of the most influential people on earth! From the time children are born, they are constantly connected to their mother. They depend on their mother for food and water. They look to their mother when they are frightened or are in need. Children are dependent upon their mother for physical and emotional provisions. Think about the fact that God ordained the home for a purpose. He had a plan for each member of the family, and God has ordained the mother to be significant in the lives of her children. It been said, “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” John Wesley said, “I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.” Today we honor mothers and thank them for their hard work. None of us could put a value on what our mother has taught us or for the nurture that she's provided for us. But Salary.com recently rated her monetary worth based upon the top ten jobs in a stay-a-home-Mom's job description. They valued her contribution to the family to be $134,121.00 annually. Think back to when you were a child. Do you remember all that your mother did for you? Remember the time she made your favorite meal, or the time she cleaned off your cut when you fell off your bike, or maybe when she cheered you on at your sports game, or perhaps the time she stayed up late helping you with a school project. It has been said that a mother spends an average of 92 hours a week doing everything from being a taxi driver to being a chef! Your mother has worked hard and sacrificed a lot for you over the years. "The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes-it never tires-it endures through all; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother's love still lives on." Washington Irving PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for the love and sacrifice for mothers. Thank You for the strength and wisdom you have given them to fulfill their calling. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES
Rahab’s Faith (Joshua 2) Joshua 2:11, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Joshua sent two men to the city of Jericho to spy out the land. Of all of the places they would end up staying, they lodged in the home of a harlot named Rahab. Once the king of Jericho heard of their whereabouts, he sent his men to go and find them, and the first place they went to was Rahab's home. Instead of turning them in, she hid them and protected them from being caught. In return for her loyalty, she and her family were spared when the city walls of Jericho came down. Rahab's faith stands out in four ways: 1. Rahab took a stand (Joshua 2:1-7). Rahab was a sinful woman from an ungodly background. However, she did understand and accept Israel’s God as the true God of heaven and earth (Joshua 2:10-11). Her faith produced self-denial. In protecting God's messengers, she defied and denied everything her king and countrymen stood for. She was no longer a part of sin-filled Jericho. Her life and allegiance changed, and people noticed it. God can change anyone. Although Rahab had a bad reputation in the beginning, she became an example of God’s grace. 2. Rahab took God at His Word (Joshua 2:9). Rahab's first words to the spies were "I know" (Joshua 2:9). She believed that the God of Israel was the one true God and that He alone could be trusted. Rahab experienced the grace of God. Although she was a harlot living in a heathenistic city filled with idol worshippers, the grace of God as available to her. Her life teaches that God can save and use anyone who repents and receives Him. God provides atonement for past sins and failures. No matter what our past sins were, God can forgive us and change us (II Corinthians 5:17). 3. Rahab's faith caused her to show concern for others (Joshua 2:12-13). Rahab risked her life to save the spies. She feared God, saved the spies, and became part of the Jewish nation. She cared for the spies and helped them escape. She convinced her family to come to her house and stay there seven days as the army of Israel encircled Jericho. She did not know when the fatal blow would fall, but she persevered in her concern. 4. Rahab's scarlet cord (Joshua 2:21). The scarlet cord symbolizes the blood of the Passover lamb, which was put on the Israelites’ houses to protect them from God’s judgment on Egypt before God freed the Israelites from slavery (Exodus 12:21-23). In this sense, the scarlet cord hanging from Rahab’s home was a sign of the safety and rescue she could expect for her household. 5. Rahab believed God (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab was a prostitute, a Canaanite, and an idolator, who became a believer. Rahab's faith was great and her theology was straight. She knew very little about God and His covenant with His people, but she acted strongly on what little she did know. As a result, she turned her heart away from Canaan’s false gods, put her faith in Israel’s God (Hebrews 11:31) and joined with them in their effort to secure the land God had promised to them. Rahab became an ancestor in the family line of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5-6). It is interesting to note that up until this time, she, nor the inhabitants of Jericho, had actually seen any of the Israelites. But, they had heard of them. They heard of their conquests in the desert and of how the Lord had parted the Red Sea. At this point in time, the Red Sea parting had occurred some forty years earlier. The fear of the Lord caused this response in Rahab; she knew which side she needed to be on. I love the fact that God had taken care of these two men, even before they got to Jericho. The Israelites were about to take over the promise land, not because of their strength, but because of the Lord. Rahab was the great-great grandmother of King David. She was also in the ancestral line of Jesus Christ. The scarlet line that saved Rahab symbolizes the scarlet blood of Jesus Christ that ensures salvation to everyone who believes and receives it. The same is true for us today. As Christians, we are blessed to live in God's promises. (The Bible is filled with His promises for us.) Sometimes, the new land is hard to see and even harder to walk through, but if we just step out in faith, we will see how God has taken care of every step we need to take. As the Lord leads you in His purposes for your life, you will see how He has prepared even those around you. And remember God clearly encouraged Joshua to "…Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9). May this encourage you today and go forth in all that the Lord is leading you to do. Points to Ponder: God has His Rahab’s to protect us. Sometimes the most unlikely person will come to our rescue. Questions to Consider: Can you give an example of this from your life? Do you believe He will forgive your sins no matter what you have done? PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your mercy and for saving me from my sin. Help me to gain wisdom through godly fear and reverence of Your ways. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to honor You in all that I do. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES
Elisabeth…A Mother Honored (Luke 1:5-7) Luke 1:5-7, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” Elisabeth was righteous toward God and most faithful to her husband. It is said of both Elisabeth and Zacharias that they were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless." They had a personal faith in God and sought to follow Him every day. They walked with God, following all His commandments and ordinances. Elisabeth was a fit vessel for the forerunner of Christ as she was blameless in every commandment of the LORD. Being blameless does not mean perfect or sinless; it means to be irreproachable or faultless. They were faithful, living in such a way that no one could charge them with open sin. They offended no one; they lived honestly before both God and men. When we read about the life of Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, we find them both " well stricken in years" However, wonderful surprises were awaiting this godly couple. God would do what seemed impossible and bless Elisabeth and Zacharias and bring joy into their home through the birth of John the Baptist. Elisabeth became the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Both Elisabeth and Zacharias were of the priestly tribe of Levi. Zacharias’ name means, "the Lord has remembered," and Elisabeth’s name means, "my God has remembered." Elisabeth was barren. She had no children, and no hope of having any children because both she and her husband were both “well stricken in years.” Most likely at least sixty years of age. In their day, sixty was considered the beginning of agedness, and they were likely well past that. God is never late nor is He ever too early. He is always on time, working according to His timing that is always perfect. God promised them a son and would deliver the promise through His messenger the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11-13). God promised that at the birth of John, Zacharias and Elisabeth would experience great joy and gladness and many would join them in their rejoicing (Luke 1:14, 58). When Elisabeth visited Mary, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41). The Holy Spirit does not fill rebels or renegades. He fills those whose desires are only to please God. Elisabeth would in fact bear a son (Luke 1:57), and they were to name him John, (John 1:13, 60) a name that means "The Lord has been gracious" or "to whom the Lord is gracious." Luke 1:80, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.” Zacharias and Elisabeth raised John for a time. Their faith, their prayers, and the things God had taught them doubtless touched John. That, coupled with the touch of God on his life, helped him become strong in spirit. Luke 7:28, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” What an honor to John and to his mother, Elisabeth, for Christ to say this. Elisabeth proved to be a great blessing and encouragement to Mary. As Christians, we should never be satisfied with being just average spiritually. We should strive to be obedient to all the commandments of God. When we live within God’s will, loving Him supremely and obeying all His commandments, He will bless us and use us to bless others in ways we could never imagine. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I praise You and exalt You as the Lord of Life. Thank You that Your timing is always right, even when I want You to hurry up. Thank You that You do not bow to my schedule. Thank You that when You say "No" to my request, You are really saying "Yes" to Your best in my life. You are working out Your will. Help me love You more so I can be a blessing to those around me. May I learn to trust You as I wait on Your best. I love You. In Jesus' Name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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