Devotion: God's Word Makes You Free

Every product that we purchase normally comes with an instruction manual, designed to tell us everything about the product.  In this manual, we find the manufacturer’s best practices, a list of do’s and don’ts to efficiently operate their product safely and to maximize the life of their product so that we can fully enjoy it.  In following these instructions, the manufacturer offers a warranty, a certain guarantee that their product will function accordingly and that we will be pleased with its performance.

God tells us to “study to show thyself approved” so that we can “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15), but most of us do not adhere to this command.  This word of truth is given to tell you what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness).  You are to rely on the word of truth because it includes everything needed to grow in maturity, to be perfect (meaning proficient or capable), and to do what God wants (II Timothy 3:16-17).  The idea that we are to “attend to his words” holds little meaning for some because just carrying a Bible with them fits the commandment.  When we attend to his words, we learn that “they are life unto those that find them” (Proverbs 4:20-22), meaning, “God’s words are full, abundant life unto those that hunt for, look for, or seek those words.”  This is why there is more to knowing God then just opening the book, reading a verse or two, and coming out with an opinion about the entire plan of God.  We must immerse ourselves in his word; we must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided us through his instruction manual.

The manufacturer of the heavens and earth has given us an instruction manual, designed to tell his best practices, that list of do’s and don’ts that allows us to efficiently operate safely and to maximize life in this world’s system.  It is in following these instructions that we get certain guarantees, those promises that only he can honor.  As you read this inspirational message, we pray that you will understand why reading, studying, and following this instruction manual is so important, it will, as the scripture says, “make you free” (John 8:32).

We pray that this message will be a blessing to you and that you will share it so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Is Dependable

Recently we spoke about the sovereignty of God and how God’s capabilities and abilities are mistakenly confused with the characteristics that makes God who he is.  We mentioned that the capabilities and the abilities of God speak to his sovereignty and that God is the supreme authority, an omnipotent or all-powerful entity, who operates totally independent of any part of his creation.  We also mentioned that there is absolutely nothing that God does not have the capability or ability to do, and that just because God “can do” a particular thing, does not mean that God actually “does” that particular thing.

We went on to mention that God has the capability to be unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and to do evil and bad things; the ability to change anything that he chooses to change, especially his mind, if he chooses to change it; and the ability to lie as well, if he wants or chooses to.  We then mentioned that God has chosen not to make these characteristics part of the distinctive qualities that makes him who he is, choosing to have absolutely no injustice, immorality, unrighteousness, or wrong doings with him.  All of these things speak to the very nature or character of the God we serve and what he wants man to know about him.

Can you imagine serving a god that is unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and does evil or bad things?  What about serving a god who had respect of person or whose favor could be brought for a price?  How about serving a god who constantly changes his mind or one whose mind could be changed at all?  And while we cannot speak for any of you, we can answer each of these questions with a great big “YES.”  Yes, we can imagine serving a god such as this because once upon a time we served a so-called god just like that.  Yes, we are speaking of the one called “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) or “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).  However, after discovering the truth, we are truly thankful that these are not the characteristics of the sovereign, omnipotent God of all creation that we now serve, who has chosen not to make these characteristics part of the distinctive qualities that makes him who he is.  If you think about it, it would be extremely hard to please a god who changed things all the time, especially one who changed his mind, much less trusting one who was unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and did evil or bad things.

If we had to sum up God’s character or nature in one word, “integrity” would definitely be at the forefront.  “Integrity” is defined as “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards; uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; or the state of being complete or undivided.”  Integrity is definitely the one word we would choose to sum up the very character or nature of the God we serve.  God tells us that he is God and that “there is none else besides him,” (Deuteronomy 4:35) for there is no one else like him.  God tells us that “he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath,” for there is no other god than him (Deuteronomy 4:39).  God has chosen to be “the One of integrity” as a way to set himself apart from all other gods that man could claim to serve (Exodus 20:3), that way, his children would recognize him over all others.

As you read today’s inspirational message, we pray that you will be inspired as well as understand why “God is dependable;” it is one of those characteristics, that distinctive quality that makes God who he is.  As always, we pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: How Do I Get Faith?

Faith, how does one get faith?  Scripture tells us “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).  And while some translations may use the phrase, “a measure of faith,” we know that God, who is not a respecter of person and treats everyone the same (Romans 2:11), would not give everyone “a,” (an indefinite article) random or varied amount of faith but “the,” (a definite article) same amount of faith.  But you may ask, “Why do some people appear to have more faith than others?”  The answer is exercise.  You can build up your faith by exercising it, like you would when building up your muscles, through exercise.

Your faith must grow in order for you to profit from having it.  Your faith must be developed.  To develop your faith, it must be fed, for nothing grows unless it is fed.  If you feed your faith “you may grow up into Him” (Ephesians 4:15), “grow up in the fullness of your salvation” (I Peter 2:2), “grow in spiritual strength (grace) and become better acquainted with our Lord” (II Peter 3:18).  The only way to increase your faith is through the knowledge gathered through the word of God (Romans 10:17).  But know this, Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2), so look to Jesus as the food to feed your faith, as the source to grow your faith, and as the example to exercise your faith.  He revealed to all, the trail of faith.

We pray that this message will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing and that you will be the better for having read it.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Keep Your Word

When Paul set Timothy as the overseer of the church at Ephesus, he gave Timothy detailed instructions for the care of the church and his conduct as the overseer.  One of the things Paul told Timothy was to “let no man despise or look down on him because of his youth, but instead be an example of the believer in word, in conversation or conduct, in charity or love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).  Please notice the first thing Paul told Timothy to be an example of the believer in, was “in word.”  Yes, that’s right; it is “in word.”  Paul is telling Timothy that if he wants people to respect him and not despise or look down on him, he needs to honor his word by being consistent in all the things that he says.  Interesting thing to have first on the list, isn’t it?

This same notion of honoring one’s word also applies to so-called born-again believers.  The born-again believer needs to be in a position where his or her word counts for something.  A truly godly person will not say one thing and then in turn, do something totally contrary or opposite to what was first said because suddenly it becomes inconvenient or there is a change of mind or heart.  “A godly person will honor his or her word no matter what, even to his or her own hurt” (Psalm 15:4).  As you read today’s message, we pray that it will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: What You Say Is What You Get

Words are so powerful, more powerful than many realize.  We so often say things without really given any thought to what we are actually saying and giving even less thought to the effect of those spoken words in our lives.  The Bible tells us “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), which suggests that with one’s mouth, an individual can speak death into his or her life or the same individual can speak life into his or her life.

Many are not aware that God has built a system that works based on what a person says, which is an interesting thought in itself.  Scripture tells us, “that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3) and “by the word of God the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6).  Basically, “he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9).  However, more interesting is the power that our spoken word or our tongue (James 3) has in this system that is activated by words.  Scripture tells us “you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NIV).  In simpler terms, we have been trapped by what we say, by the words that we speak.  And you still think what you say is not important?  So, give care to the words that you speak, they do more than you think.  Amen.

We pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: I Don't Agree With Other Preachers

In this age of information, we who seek the truth have no reason not to be able to find it, provided we do not limit ourselves to the walls of traditionalism or denominationalism.  God tells us “that his people are destroyed because they lack knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  Interestingly, this lack of knowledge has not come from a shortage of knowledge but from our rejection of knowledge.  That’s right, there is no shortage of knowledge that is destroying us, but it is our own rejection of knowledge that is doing it.  Because we are quick to dismiss all, including those preachers, teachers, and evangelists who do not align themselves with our beliefs, we limit the amount of knowledge available to us.

If the amount of knowledge is as vast as the oceans, it would be like dipping a cup into the ocean and using what is in the cup as your only source of information.  Everything that you could possible know would be confined to the limits of that cup.  And just as the ocean has things that can be harmful to us, it also contains things that can be beneficial to us.  Knowledge works the same way; there are things harmful as well as things beneficial.  It is through “studying God’s word” (II Timothy 2:15), using every available resource that we gain the wisdom and understanding “to rightly divide the word of truth” and pick the harmful item out of the ocean of knowledge.

We should learn to listen to everyone and learn from everyone because nobody knows everything but everyone knows something.  None of us are perfect nor do we have a perfect understanding of all of the scriptures.  So many of us are at different levels of understanding in our walk to discover the truth about the things of God that we should not discount anyone’s ability to help propel us to the next level or to give us a different perspective on things.  Limited knowledge leads to a limited life.  A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.  There is an ocean of knowledge available to each of us, do not limit yourself to the boundaries of one cup of knowledge.  Explore the endless possibilities contained within the entire ocean.

Today’s message is short, but we wanted to share some thoughts on the limits we impose on ourselves when it comes to gaining knowledge, especially when it comes to the things of God.  We pray that the message will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Do You Know God?

“Do you really know God?”  We all have relied on traditional teachings to provide us with spiritual knowledge, the kind of knowledge that brought us closer to God.  We have put our faith and our trust in these teachings because that was and always has been the accepted practice.  We have been taught to never question the things of God or anything that we did not understand.  Over the years, man has either forgotten or just plain ignored the words of God.  Man has even forgotten or misinterpreted the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ about God.  And to beat it all, man does not truly seek to know God much anymore, forgetting how to walk and to talk with God.  Man has become totally dependent upon the church leaders, television, books, the Internet, and other various mediums to teach them the truth about God and his word.  We currently have a belief system full of contrary beliefs, misguided values, unethical practices, and overstated theologies.  This belief system has made it hard for many to take hold of the truth, especially when one does not recognize it.  The truth has become so distorted that it is easy to see why man has a hard time identifying with the things of God and even God himself.  However, the bottom line is, “Do you really know God?”

Everyone has an opinion or interpretation as to whom they believe God to be.  But none of that matters; it only maters what God says about himself.  And if you want to know him, if you truly what to know who God is, then you will have to search the scriptures yourself to find him.  According to scripture, Azariah gave us these instructions; “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (II Chronicles 15:2).  We found the prophet Jeremiah agreeing with Azariah’s instructions, but offered one clarifying fact, “God will be found by those who search for him with all their heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  Then we found in the book of Hebrews, where the author agreed with both Azariah and Jeremiah, saying, “God will reward those that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).  If you diligently seek the one true God with all of your heart and all of your soul, you will find him.  As you draw near to God, he will reveal himself to you.  God does not hide himself from those who truly seek him with all of their being.  And while the devil and his entourage of naysayers may adamantly denounce this principle, do not be deceived; they only come against the truth and never bother with the lies.

As with all that we publish, we ask that you check out the information for yourself, verifying that what is presented, regardless of the source (including us), is not contrary to the word of God.  Never accept anyone’s interpretation for something that you have not investigated yourself.  Words can be manipulated to say many things, just make sure the ones that you accept are those of God and not those of man.  Know this, “A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.”  God tells us, “knowing the truth will make us free” (John 8:32) and hopefully today’s message will help do just that.  We pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW