Month: August 2024

faith

Devotional for August 11

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Character first, only then can we be trusted with great strength."

Joy in the Presence of the Lord

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:5-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Start with the end. Before striving for what you think you should be doing, cultivate the character of being that is able achieve such an end. What we should be doing is our calling, but to chase after our calling without first being what it takes to get there, leads only to vexation of spirit. Character first, only then can we be trusted with great strength. The wheat is easily separated from the chaff once “what we are” has been fully realized. The wheat is any activity that produces the desired harvest, while the chaff is anything that distracts, diverts, or derails from the hope of the envisioned end. Be then do. Amen. (Revelation 21:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 2:10-15; Luke 4:16-21; Colossians 3:2; Ecclesiastes 1:14; 1 John 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:17-25; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 22:11-21)

faith

Devotional for August 10

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Wisdom is the habit of consistently choosing what is best."

The Way to Go

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Wisdom is the habit of consistently choosing what is best. For example, willingly giving up the right to eat donuts every day is a good choice if we want to be lean. There are hundreds of such small choices we make each day. They are the little foxes that spoil the grapes. Every choice follows the God given law of “as you sow, so shall you reap.” This one law is a key to the higher life, yet who among us is sufficient for the task? Relying on willpower alone is a failure trap that activates once enough fatigue has made us vulnerable. Godly wisdom teaches us a better way. Wisdom, just like redemption and restoration, are given by the grace of God and received by faith. Rely on our own limited human strength, and that is all we will have. A better choice is to humble self and trust God. Rely on Him to make us strong for all the little choices required for the higher life. This we can be sure He will do, because God is faithful to fulfill all His promises. (Psalm 92:1-2, 32:1-2; John 8:30-36, 10:10; Galatians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23; Galatians 6:7; Proverbs 26:27, 27:12, 26:3; Psalm 32:9; Proverbs 3:4-8, 2:6; Song of Solomon 2:15; James 3:13-18; 2 Corinthians 3:5; James 1:2-8; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

faith

Devotional for August 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Because Christ can do all things through me, I can do all things through Christ."

Lord, My God, How Great Thou Art

16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. Psalm 104:16-31 
  (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Two people headed in different directions can only walk together if one of them changes course. We are the inner and Adam is the outer in this colossal Russian doll set known as humanity. When Adam walked away from God, we all walked away. Where Adam went, we all went, because we were still in Adam at that time. God mercifully sent Christ to redeem us and bring us back to Himself. To be born again, is to die in Adam, and be made alive to God nested in Christ. How wonderful the mystery of you in Christ and Christ in you! The revelation of this double abiding gives the understanding of the apostle’s testimony of being able to do all things through Christ. Because Christ can do all things through me, I can do all things through Christ. (Amos 3:3; Psalm 53:2-3; John 3:1-18; Romans 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 14:20; Hebrews 6:17-7:10; James 2:23; Romans 5:14-19; Colossians 1:25-29; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 4:8-13; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for August 8

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Trials of many kinds are sure to come. Remember the faithfulness of God and they will only strengthen the fruit."

Let the Earth Rejoice

97 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Psalm 97:1-6, 11 
  (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We do well to distinguish the eternal from the temporary. The fruit of the Spirit, which grows from the word of life sown in our heart, is meant to last. Trials of many kinds are sure to come. Remember the faithfulness of God and they will only strengthen the fruit. Also be on guard against the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, because they will surely stunt our spiritual growth if we allow them to dominate the soul. All that our heavenly Father didn’t plant, let it be pulled up and cast away. This world is only a temporary thing. See through the reality of present circumstances to the eternal reality of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our spiritual rock of truth that never changes. As Christ forms His perfect image in our soul, we abundantly bear the fruit of the Spirit. Happy is the day when we believe and abide in Him. (2 Peter 1:1-15; Hebrews 3:7-13; 1 John 2:15-17; Matthew 15:10-19; Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 13:3-23; John 15:1-16; Galatians 5:19-23; James 1:22-25; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Psalm 9:10; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 72:18-19) 

faith

Devotional for August 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "The way of faith and fitness has multiple targets, therefore a single silver bullet just won’t do."

The True Way

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1  (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

What is good for the spirit, is good for the body. What is good for the body is good for the heart. What is good for the heart is good for the brain. What is good for the brain is good for the muscles. The way of faith and fitness has multiple targets, therefore a single silver bullet just won’t do. Multiple targets and multiple angles, all with just one objective: to be good stewards of all that God has given us. God has provided all. The Word of God is a treasure trove of silver bullets good for everybody, everything, everywhere, yesterday, today, and forever. Load, aim, and fire at will. (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 13:8; John 15:7-11; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 22:20-21, 6:24; James 2:14-26; John 3:27; Acts 3:4-9; Proverbs 11:25; James 5:7; 1 Corinthians 3:6-8; Acts 3:19-25; John 4:23-26; Revelation 22:1-7; Matthew 6:9-13)

faith

Devotional for August 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Prayer is to faith what exercise is to fitness."

Know the Lord

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Psalm 103:6-19  (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Prayer is to faith what exercise is to fitness. Too little prayer and too little exercise are both ruinous to the spirit, soul, and body. To pray is to practice the presence of God. The more you pray the easier and more natural it becomes. A life of prayer begins with God, looks for opportunities to mix prayer in throughout the day, and ends with God. Prioritizing prayer prepares us to be better conductors of the grace of God. Pray not with endless lists like the leech or fire that never gets enough, nor with vain repetition like the heathen. O Lord, help us to pray so that we may come to know you better. (Proverbs 30:15-16; James 4:1-4; 1 John 2:16-17; Matthew 26:41; Proverbs 23:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Matthew 6:5-15, 7:7-11, 21:22; John 14:13-14; John 12:20-26; Matthew 16:24; Ephesians 2:1-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 42:2-4; Isaiah 55:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-25; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for August 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "God is more willing to give than we are to receive."

God Gives Power and Strength to His People

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. Psalm 68:19-22; 34-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Faith in God is required from beginning to end. God is more willing to give than we are to receive. God is willing to give more abundantly than we can ask or think. Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided us with the ability to meet the conditions, which is to take His yoke upon us so that we can learn from Him. We have to stand firm in faith long enough to get to a point where the narrow way that leads to eternal life becomes so enjoyable that it eliminates the desire for all that is contrary. The love of God compels us to do this from within, and not just from the external motive of outward conformity to a set of religious rules. All who hold fast to the gospel long enough will come to the place where there is an eagerness to turn away from lesser external things to obtain the much greater spiritual blessings. We gladly give up the old life trapped in sin for the much greater new life lived in the freedom purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can be sure that if we are willing, He will fulfill His promise to lead us into all righteousness. Praise and glory be to God for His love and faithfulness, which endures forever. (Ephesians 1:3-21; Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Psalm 94:19; Romans 1:16-17; 1 John 1:9; Mark 1:21-22, 2:13, 6:2; Luke 20:2-8; Matthew 7:21-23, 23:37, 11:28-30; John 14:18-23; Revelation 3:20; Mark 4:1-2; John 15:16; Matthew 13:18-23, 6:9-13)

faith

Devotional for August 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Joy comes with the personal revelation that God is."

My Expectation is from the Lord

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We humans are capable of doing many wonderful things in our own strength, but apart from God they are nothing. The grace of God falls like the sunshine and rain on the righteousness and the wicked. Sad and unfortunate are all those who have never known the love of a human father. Blessed and beloved are those come to know the father heart of God. Joy comes with the personal revelation that God is. Ask and you shall receive. (Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 30:20; Psalm 62:9; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; John 12:27-28; Isaiah 55:7-9; John 15:5-8; Proverbs 16:3; 1 John 1:9-10; Luke 15:11-24; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 7:7-8; Philippians 2:13; Mark 9:24; Mark 5:36; John 14:21; John 14:31; Psalm 33:16-22; Psalm 20:7; Psalm 44:6; Psalm 62:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for August 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "The answer is what the Bible calls “faith.”"

This is the Way

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Riddle me this: What is so simple a child can use it, yet so wonderful it cannot be defined? The answer is what the Bible calls “faith.” The effects of a little child’s faith in loving parents are easily seen. The child is carefree, trusting that all it needs will be met. The child is happy, confident that it will be protected from harm. The child is well behaved, desiring to please the parents. Faith in their caregivers comes naturally, because a child can do nothing to care for itself. Being a child of God is a privileged position that must be willingly accepted by faith to be seated in that place of honor. We are not left spiritual orphans. Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit, is a fountain of living water springing up to the highest places of the soul. O child of the Most High, have faith in your God. (Judges 14:14; Revelation 5:4-14; Jeremiah 2:7-13; John 4:14; John 14:18; Revelation 3:20; Romans 10:17; John 6:28; Mark 11:22; Matthew 18:3; Hebrews 11:1-6; John 15:5; James 1:21; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 John 5:21)

faith

Devotional for August 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Life in this world isn’t about what you get, it’s about what you give."

I Will Take Refuge in the Shadow of Your Wings 

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life in this world isn’t about what you get, it’s about what you give. Everyone will applaud you when you do well for yourself, but people will love you when you do well for others. Buildings with your name on them will pass away with the rest of this world, but make a positive impact on the life of just one person and it will ripple throughout all eternity. (Proverbs 23:1-6; Psalm 49:11-20, 10:4, 62:4-12; 1 John 2:16; Psalm 50:22; Isaiah 50:10-11; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 11:28-30, 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 3 John 2; Acts 20:32-36; 1 Peter 4:1-10; 1 Timothy 6:13-16)