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From Bitter To Sweet Exodus 15:22-25 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, Marah means “bitter.” (This name has the same meaning as Miriam and Mary , which we will come back to in a few moments.) Ruth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. The waters were bitter until the tree was put into it, then those same waters were made sweet. The interesting thing here is this event occurred only three day...

The Savour Of Jesus’ Name Song of Songs 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. When we talk about the Lord Jesus Christ, when we fellowship together in His name, it is like a perfume or ointment going forth wherever we go. It is the smell of the burnt offering, wellpleasing to the Father, and we carry that savour everywhere we go. Those around us can tell we have been with Jesus! See Ephesians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 and Acts 4:12-13. Song of Songs 1:12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. Notice the spikenard is the woman’s. Mary of Bethany poured HER spikenard on the Saviour, the King, then the smell filled the house. She did this in preparation for Jesus’s death: John 12:1-3, 7 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but...

God’s Greatest Poem Please read this whole post so you don't misunderstand where I am going with this devotional. God gives each of us (mankind) one or more talents; talents we can squander on ourselves, for the world, or use for God's glory. If we come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual gifts to be used to build up and strengthen our fellow believers. One talent I have had since I was a child was the ability to play with words and make a poem out of them. Granted, I do not consider most of the poetry written before I came to the Lord to be worth much in the eyes of eternity, nor when compared to the poems I have written since I have gotten saved. Now I use my spiritual gifts (exhortation and teaching) to make my natural talent better and to make a difference in the lives of those around me, especially to edify my brethren and remind them of the promises of God. Truly, my talent and gifts in this area would be nowhe...

Jesus’ Compassion I was reminded recently of a poem/song I wrote based on Mark 1:40-42 ( Be Thou Clean ), the chorus of which is: I wondered if Jesus would have compassion on me. I asked if He was willing, and He said, Be thou clean. Jesus being moved with compassion was the reason He fed the 5000 and His motive for several other miracles and lessons taught by Him and the other apostles: 1) Forgiveness: Matthew 18:27, 33 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt… Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 2) The Father's reception of the prodigal son: Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 3) A high priest's (and the High Priest's) understanding of our infirmities and weaknesses: Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and o...

Sowing The Wind And Reaping The Whirlwind Hosea 8:7-8   For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Wind – idea of vanity, nothing of substance Whirlwind – destruction, judgment from God Main sense: Wind – sowing a storm, playing with lightning (or a lightning rod), if you will. Whirlwind – tempest, hurricane Galatians 6:7-8   Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Illustration: Deuteronomy 22:9   Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. Ecclesiastes...

Behold - Your Saviour! In the past, I have done devotions on the theme of Behold, A Fivefold Picture (of the Saviour), basically presenting the contrasts between the Gospels, using the five different Behold statements about the Saviour. Ie. Isaiah 42:1 states, "Behold my servant," and corresponds with the Gospel of Mark which presents Jesus as a servant. Now at the Mission we are working our way through the Gospel of John, and I was covering part of John 19. I know there are five different statements about the Saviour using the word "Behold," that use the term in a different way than it is normally used (ie. Behold, ... Consider something - but these statements are commanding us to behold a Person - eg. Behold your King - no comma - ie. Take a long, deep look at your King). For a refresher I rechecked to find behold is used 1326 times in 1275 verses - only eight verses are used differently covering these five statements: Behold My Servant! - Isaiah 42:1 and Mat...

New Testament Apostles - A Word Study Interesting that the word " sent " in the New Testament ( send out, send forth - String's #649), comes from the word apostello . It means someone or something that was sent out (usually from God in the NT), including the apostles, but it includes basically any kind of messenger or person that is sent in a service or a commission. However, the word that is translated into English as apostle is apostolos (a different firm of the word - Strong's #652). Everytime it is used in the NT, the context shows that it is always the 12 apostles that are in view (except four times),* and one of the four usages is referring to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 3:1. *John 13:16 - he that is " sent " 2 Corinthians 8:23 - " messengers " of the churches Philippians 2:25 - your " messenger " It is noteworthy to me how the NT uses this word. There are many pentecostals and charismatics who try to teach there are other "apost...

Sevenfold Promises And Statements In The New Testament - Part Two K. Seven aspects of true faith in the church age mentioned, including the Godhead/Trinity. Ephesians 4:4-6 1) There is one body,  2) and one Spirit,  3) even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  4) One Lord,  5) one faith,  6) one baptism,  7) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. One Spirit (the Holy Spirit), One Lord (Jesus Christ, the Son), One God and Father. L. Seven components to the whole armour of God. Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore,  1) having your loins girt about with truth,  2) and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  3) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  4) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  5) And take the helmet of salvation,  6) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ...