Category: Daily Devotional

Matt 15:30-31 Large crowds CAME to HIM, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, & many others, & laid them at His feet, & He healed them. The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, & the blind seeing. & they glorified the God of Israel. Luke 8:35 The people went out to see what had happened; & they came to Jesus, & found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down AT THE FEET of JESUS, clothed & in His right mind; & they became frightened. Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat AT THE Lord’s FEET, listening to His message. Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, & it will not be taken away from her. — Come to Him, sit at His feet & choose the good portion that will never be taken away! There are so many blessings AT THE FEEF of Jesus. We can find rest for our souls & help for our battles. We can find His love & His glory! This is the place where we can lay it all down! AT HIS FEET! Love Mel

Hebr 9:11-14 When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater & more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; & not through the blood of goats & calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats & bulls & the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Matt 8:17 Himself took our infirmities, & bore our sicknesses. — The meaning for Salvation is being saved or protected from harm, evil & destruction. Christ is our savior & He is the Lamb of God who obtained eternal redemption for us all. Jesus redeemed & released us from the power of sin. He hears our prayers & healed us. Sin has a way of keeping us away from God & needs to be done away with. This is where our redeemer comes in! He has made the most perfect way back to the Father! —John 14:7 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — Praise God! Love Mel

Another excerpt from “Hard to Believe” by Pastor John MacArthur, p.149.  “In Matthew 11: 14, Jesus stated, “And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.” In the Old Testament, Malachi 4: 5 said that before the Messiah came to set up His kingdom on earth, Elijah would come as a forerunner. In Matthew, Jesus wasn’t saying John was actually Elijah, but one like Elijah. John 1 bears this out, when the priests and Levites asked John if he were the Christ, and he said he wasn’t. Then in John 1: 21, they asked, “‘ What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’” We know Jesus’ meaning in Matthew is that someone in the person and character of Elijah had come: a powerful, rugged, Elijah-like individual who was announcing the kingdom. So, according to Jesus, John the Baptist was the greatest mortal who ever lived, yet amazingly Matthew 11:11 says, “He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This is a great truth. Greatness isn’t being like John the Baptist, because his was a greatness of function as herald for Christ. True greatness is not in our function, but in our relationship to God that places us in His kingdom.” How about that? According to The Lord, We are positionally greater than anyone who has ever lived because we are in relationship with the creator or all things. And it all comes from faith in Christ Who makes us right with the Father. You can have a personal audience with God the Father at any time. No appointments required. Use your access well.  Love Mel

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 119:135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, & teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:10-12 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:171 My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes. — Some things to see in the scriptures above! Teach me, lead me, & make your face shine upon me! Have you ever thought of God as a Teacher? God is always revealed in His truth to the ones who humble themselves & are willing to be taught by Him! When we are filled with the  knowledge of this world & our trust is focused on that knowledge then how can we receive God’s truth? God our teacher is looking for willing participants with open hearts! Let’s be His children in heart today to receive His teaching, let’s not be too proud or arrogant but teachable. Please Be our guide O Lord! Love Mel

From Bill –The following is a direct quotation from John MacArthurs book Hard to Believe p. 142. “John the Baptist came from a common, humble family without any noteworthy education or social grace, and without any previous accomplishments to his credit. And yet our Lord said he was the greatest human being who ever lived up to that time. Matthew 11:11: “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Jesus even emphasized the fact by starting with “Assuredly,” which means “truly,” or “a fact beyond dispute.” Jesus offered no qualification or opinion here, just a statement of fact: “John is the greatest human being ever.” John was greater than Adam or Abraham. He was greater than Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; greater than Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon. John’s personal character marked his greatness. He was a man who could recognize, acknowledge, and overcome his limitations, which is always a hallmark of greatness. Every person is either a victim of his situation or a victor over it. Everybody has challenges, weaknesses, failings, infirmities, and problems. The question is whether or not you can overcome them. The great ones fight through, and John did that. He was a man of humility who recognized his shortcomings. The great are the ones who see their failings and work to overcome, not the ones who fancy themselves to be without weakness. And as long as you admit no weakness, you will never grow to your full strength. This was a rare gift in the ancient world.” Let us strive to acknowledge and overcome our weaknesses and flaws to the glory of God, just like John the Baptist did.  Love Mel