....French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning—and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”
See entire devotion here: http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com
Spurgeon's Morning by Morning
"Sin . . . exceeding sinful." - Romans 7:13
Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful." http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com
Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful." http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com
Today's DOP
Chastening
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)
One of the fascinating paradoxes of Scripture (and of human life) is the oft-repeated principle that true parental love requires appropriate chastening, and chastening rightly received generates blessing and happiness. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24).
This is effective child psychology, assuming that the chastening is remedial rather than vindictive and is applied in love rather than anger. But the main teaching of such passages goes beyond parental child-training methods to the grand theme of God’s spiritual training of His children for eternity.
This thought is often expressed in the Psalms (94:12, etc.), but it is especially clear in the Proverbs. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
The classic passage on this theme is Hebrews 12:5-11, which begins by quoting the above verses in Proverbs, and eventually concludes as follows: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).
We are "sons and daughters" of "the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18), and it is essential that we be properly trained for our glorious future as "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). We must learn to behave in ways appropriate to our high calling as children of the King, and this requires the divine rod at appropriate times. In His closing words to the last of the seven churches, Christ reminds us again: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19). HMM More KJVDevos
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)
One of the fascinating paradoxes of Scripture (and of human life) is the oft-repeated principle that true parental love requires appropriate chastening, and chastening rightly received generates blessing and happiness. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24).
This is effective child psychology, assuming that the chastening is remedial rather than vindictive and is applied in love rather than anger. But the main teaching of such passages goes beyond parental child-training methods to the grand theme of God’s spiritual training of His children for eternity.
This thought is often expressed in the Psalms (94:12, etc.), but it is especially clear in the Proverbs. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
The classic passage on this theme is Hebrews 12:5-11, which begins by quoting the above verses in Proverbs, and eventually concludes as follows: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).
We are "sons and daughters" of "the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18), and it is essential that we be properly trained for our glorious future as "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). We must learn to behave in ways appropriate to our high calling as children of the King, and this requires the divine rod at appropriate times. In His closing words to the last of the seven churches, Christ reminds us again: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19). HMM More KJVDevos
Genesis 13 - Separation "Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." (Gen 13:9 KJV)There are times when we must separate ourselves from weaker brethren. I just spoke of unity in the last few chapters, but here we see another type of necessary separation. Lot was worldly. He chose according to sight, and not according to faith. He chose with that "me first" attitude, wanting the best for himself, instead of giving the best to his "brother" Abraham. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun." (3:1), then, in v.5, "a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing." Yes, there is a time, and a purpose for unity among the brethren, but there is also an equal time and purpose for separation!
When brothers began to fight and bicker among themselves, then it was time for separation. God had plans for Abraham, and had to separate him from lot to bring it to pass. The worldly Christians that embellish our churches today, will pull you down, stay away from them! Teach them when you can, (and if you can). Many will not listen to sound instruction, that's why they are weak!, but don't seek to fellowship with them too much. None is to be ignored, but we must not cling to them as intimate friends, not until they grow in the Lord a little more.
This is especially true when one is known to indulge in open sin, flagrantly, we need to separate ourselves from him for the good of ourselves; our testimony, and for the Word of God. Turn them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soul might be saved, as in 1 Corinthians. 5:5, and be careful not to be partakers of their sin, or to take pleasure in them and their sin. (Rom 1:32) Lot "pitched his tent" toward Sodom, and later was found living there. Let this be a lesson for all of us. What we put before us will lure us further into its clutches. - by Marty Dunn More KJVDevos
Do you love the "rules" of the Lord? Do your friends?
The Precepts of the Lord
“Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.” -- Psalms 119:159
What are God’s precepts? 24 times in the Old Testament the word “precept” is used in reference to God’s Word. The Hebrew word underlying precept means directions or orders. The dictionary definition of a precept is “a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.”
This describes so well the purpose of the Word of God. It contains God’s commands, His orders, for mankind. We need to have our minds stayed on Him as in Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Obedience to God’s precepts is the standard we must use concerning who we are friends with, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” (Psalms 119:63). Don’t seek advice or companionship from those who don’t love the Word of God, His precepts.
To the world, obedience and freedom are looked at as opposing forces. But with God they are merged together! “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” (Psalms 119:45) True freedom only comes from knowing and obeying God’s precepts, and His precepts are only found in the Bible, as Psalm 119:27 states, “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”
· Do I diligently seek to know what God requires from me, His precepts?
· Do I joyously obey everything that God has revealed to me from His Word?
This devo was written by Peter L. Laitres and posted today at KJVDevos.
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