THE FINAL FLIGHT
MAY 1
! Bible Reading: I Thessalonians 4 Key Verses: I Thessalonians 4:16-17- “16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Key Words: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Now she and navigator Fred Noonan were on the longest leg of a round-the-world flight. As they neared tiny Howland Island in the Pacific, fuel was precariously low, and stormy weather made radio communication difficult. But Earhart was not broadcasting her position. Her husband, George Palmer Putnam, had sold exclusive rights to the story of her flight to the New York Herald Tribune, and she may have wanted to keep other newspapers from getting the scoop. Just before 8 A.M. local time, Earhart radioed Howland: “We are circling but cannot see the island. Cannot hear you.” Her last message 45 minutes later was unclear. She and Noonan were never seen again. Ironically, the aviatrix had said that the round-theworld trip would be her last long-distance flight. The day is coming when we, as believers, will take our last flight – not by plane, but by God’s power through the rapture. What a glorious flight that will be!! Are you ready for this flight? If not, you can be by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. Do it today. What to do: ! Make sure you are ready for this last flight. ! If you would like to know more about being saved, contact me at pastorrouse@mountainviewbaptist.org or call 205/854-2741.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." - The Pledge Of Allegiance
THE REAL STARS
MAY 2
! Bible Reading: Psalm 8 Key Verse: Psalm 8:4- “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
Key Words: What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
The following was emailed to me, albeit in a different format. I’ve adjusted it to be applicable to this devotion. You don’t have to actually answer the following questions; just ponder them. 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prizes. 5. Name the last half-dozen Academy Award winners for Best Actor and Actress. 6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners. 7. Name last year’s Cy Young award winner for both the American and National Leagues.
Well, how did you do? The point is that none of us remember the “stars” and headliners of yesterday. One day all the applause dies, achievements are forgotten, and accolades are buried with their winners. Now... 1. List a few teachers who helped you through school. 2. Name a friend who helped you through a difficult time. 3. Name five people who taught you something worthwhile. 4. Name three people who love you and pray for you daily. 5. Name five people you enjoy spending time with.
It’s these people who make a difference in our life, not the ones with all the credentials. It’s these people who are important to us, not the world’s heroes who fade away. Think about it!! It’s these people we need to be seeking autographs from, not the world’s hero with all their headlines who don’t even know our name or care who we are! Think about it!! What to do: ! The things listed in this devotion.
THE GREATEST LIBERTY OF ALL
MAY 3
! Bible Reading: John 8:12-32 Key Verse: John 8:32- “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Key Words: the truth shall make you free
It was in 1776 the Liberty Bell was rung for the first time. Fifty years later on
July 4, 1826, it ushered in what was known as the Jubilee Anniversary of the American Republic. The bell, now cracked, no longer tolls but it is still very much a symbol of our freedom. No doubt our forefathers were well acquainted with the Bible so it is not surprising that they associated liberty with a bell. You may recall that on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest went alone into the Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice for the nation of Israel. When he entered the tabernacle he had on a beautiful robe. At the bottom of that robe was a series of tiny bells (Exodus 28:33-34). As the priest moved inside the Holy of Holies the bells could be heard, but when it was time for the sacrifice to be made the High Priest would take off the robe, and it could not be put on again until God had accepted the sacrifice for sins. When the people would once again hear the bells there was great rejoicing for they knew that God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were forgiven. Christ, our Great High Priest, also laid aside His garments of Glory and made atonement for us. As a result, the spiritual liberty bell of freedom can ring out anthems of joy for we are free – not because of our effort but because of Jesus. You too can be free today if you would but trust Jesus as your Savior. John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
What to do: ! Thank God for your liberty that comes through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Liberty Bell facts Location: Liberty Bell Center Bell Originally Cast: Whitechapel Foundry 1752 Strike note: E-flat Composition: 70% copper, 25% tin, small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver Bell owned by: The City of Philadelphia
BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT
MAY 4
! Bible Reading: II Samuel 12:1-13 Key Verse: II Samuel 12:12- “For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”
Key Words: but I will do this thing before all Israel
Israel was warned in Numbers 32:23b, “...and be sure your sin will find you
out.”
Adam and Eve thought they would never be caught. Be sure your sin will find
you out. Achan thought he would never be caught. Be sure your sin will find you out. And in our Bible reading, David thought he would never be caught. Be sure your sin will find you out. Just after noon on February 22, 1999, one hundred United States senators stood poised to vote on whether to remove President Bill Clinton from office. The question was posed by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who had presided over the 37-day trial in the Senate. Clinton, the 42nd president and a Democrat, faced two impeachment counts resulting from his efforts to hide his affair with a young White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The first count, perjury, was rejected by a vote of fifty-five to forty-five. (Ten Republicans broke ranks to join a solid block of Democrats who supported Clinton.) The second count, obstruction of justice, split the Senate fifty to fifty (only five Republicans broke ranks) and left Clinton in office. The Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of the Senate (sixty-seven votes) to remove the chief executive. The Clinton trial tainted the president’s considerable accomplishments and left the public exhausted. The sordid, 18-month-long story of the president’s extramarital affair had paralyzed Washington, stymied the work of Congress, and made American voters more cynical than ever about politicians. And his sin was found out. God’s Word is always true.
What to do: ! We would all do well to remember that sin never pays and it never pays to sin – because your sin will find you out.
NO MAN KNOWS
MAY 5
! Bible Reading: Matthew 24:29-41 Key Verse: Matthew 24:36- “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Key Words: knoweth no man
I do believe we are close to the rapture. The time of our departure as believers
is at hand. But no man knows the exact day and hour of that time although several have predicted the time of the Lord’s return on numerous occasions. One such person was William Miller. The following is taken from the book Amazing Stories of America’s Past. “All over the Northeast, about half a million Adventist disciples of New York Baptist evangelist William Miller piously awaited the end of the world. Journalists had a field day, but their reports were so rife with tall tales that it is hard to get at the facts. “Reportedly some disciples were on mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s holy kingdom amid the common herd. “Hearing loud trumpet blasts, the faithful in But no man Westford, Massachusetts, fell to their knees. But it was only Crazy Amos, the village idiot. ‘You fools!’ knows the exact he said. ‘Go dig your potatoes. Angel Gabriel won’t day and hour of go a-digging ‘em for you.’ “When April 4 dawned as usual, the Millerites that time… were disillusioned, but they took heart. Their leader had predicted a range of dates for Armageddon. They still had until March 21, 1844. The devout continued to make ready; but again they were disappointed. And again there was an adjustment: October 22, 1844, was now the projected Day of Doom. Amazingly, many followers were still committed. One shrewd Vermont farmer had sacred white robes made for six of his cows. ‘It’s a very long trip, and the kids will want milk,’ he explained. “Again, no cataclysm. “Miller never abandoned his belief that the end of the world was near, though he stopped predicting dates. His followers broke into factions, and in 1863 a union of diverse Adventist sects was organized as the Seventh-day Adventists. Today there are several million followers worldwide.”
The moral of the story is to make sure you know who you are following before you follow them.
What to do: ! Live everyday as if the Lord is returning today, and one day you just may be right.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE MAY 6 ! Bible Reading: Leviticus 20:13-20 Key Verse: Leviticus 20:13- “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
Key Words: If a man also lie with mankind
When it comes to same-sex marriages, the Bible gives us a direct answer. It’s not what many politicians think or what the liberal media might say, and certainly not what the world, in general, is led to believe. In Leviticus 20:13a we are told, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” We are also told in I Corinthians 6:9 that the effeminate (homosexual) shall not inherit the kingdom of God. These two portions of Scripture are God’s “one-two punch” on this issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriages and unions. When God says that any kind of homosexual act will be considered an abomination in His sight, and then tops if off by saying that this kind of lifestyle is the lifestyle of the unrighteous, the unsaved, you really can’t get any clearer or stronger language than that. When God uses the word abomination to describe this specific sin, He is using one of the strongest words possible to tell us what He thinks about this lifestyle. We are also told in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” If Jesus believed in the beginning that homosexuality was a sin, it will always be a sin. If it was an abomination yesterday, it will be an abomination today and tomorrow as well. While we are always to love the sinner, this does not mean that we are to tolerate and idly stand by while they impose their sin upon us. It is righteousness
that exalts a nation so I challenge you to always stand right and fight the good fight of faith.
What to do: ! Pray for our political leaders to do right. ! Love sinners but hate sin.
RAISE YOUR STANDARD MAY 7 ! Bible Reading: Numbers 1:47-54 Key Verse: Numbers 1:52- “And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.”
Key Words: every man by his own standard
When we speak of a standard, one normally thinks of dress, music, or sundry other things; but the word standard in our text literally means a flag. There were flags to identify families and tribes. (See Numbers 2:2, 3, 10, 18, 25.) Well, America has a standard as well. In January, 1776, General George Washington helped to organize the Continental Army and raised a flag with red and white stripes, but it featured the Union Jack in the upper left corner. The Continental Congress adopted the thirteen stars and thirteen stripes flag on July 4, 1777. The flag resolution gave credit to no particular person or persons for its design. Scholars say Betsy Ross sewed the first flag but her only influence on its design was to get Congress to abandon the six-pointed star. With a snip of her scissors she reportedly demonstrated how much easier it would be to make a five-pointed star In 1780, Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, asked Congress for a quarter of a cask of wine for having suggested certain patterns and designs for the flag. Congress denied his request! Still, many historians believe that Hopkinson originated the design of the first stars and stripes in which the thirteen stars are in a staggered pattern. The “Star-Spangled Banner” with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore the nights of September 13-14, 1813. It inspired Frances
Scott Key to write the song which became our National Anthem. In the 1800s, some flags carried a white eagle among the stars. Finally, in 1912, with the stars numbering forty-eight, exact standards of design were set forth by President William Howard Taft. Even more precise specifications were drawn up to define the forty-nine-star flag in 1959 and the fifty-star flag in 1960. All who contributed to the development of Old Glory can be proud of what she has represented for 234 years.
What to do: ! Pray for America – her leaders, her righteousness, and her testimony.
PATRIOTISM
MAY 8
! Bible Reading: Romans 10:1-13 Key Verse: Romans 10:1- “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
Key Words: prayer to God for Israel
Paul had a desire for Israel to be a saved and righteous nation, and we should have the same desire for Israel and America. Paul, in my eyes, was a true patriot. Maybe you’ve never seen all the news shots and photographs of then Presidential candidate, Barak Obama, standing on the platform with his hands to his side while the National Anthem is being played. You probably have heard him say that patriotism is not in the wearing of the American Flag pin. Recently he said that patriotism is not in whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, but patriotism is in your love for your country, no matter what your political views may be. Now, while I understand what Mr. Obama is saying, I also understand that one cannot be truly patriotic until they understand that true patriotism sees America as being a nation, not controlled by mankind, but controlled by God. Our country’s Pledge of Allegiance was written especially for children in 1892 as a part of a celebration for Columbus Day in public schools all across our land. The original version first appeared in an educational publication called The Youth’s Companion on September 8, 1892. It read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The author, Francis Bellamy, was an assistant editor for The Youth’s Companion. It was intended to be used just for the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery, but
its popularity led to an annual tradition. The pledge later became a daily ritual at school rooms throughout the country. In 1923, the first revision was made: “my flag” was replaced with the words “the flag of the United States of America.” Then in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill at the people’s urging that added the words “under God.” You see, in 1954 people understood that there could be no true patriotism until a nation has submitted itself, not to man’s rule or authority, but to God’s rule and authority. Now from that I will let you judge which of our politicians are true patriots.
What to do: ! Put God first, for without God there can be no patriotism.
MOTHER’S INFLUENCE
MAY 9
! Bible Reading: Judges 17 Key Verse: Judges 17:2- “And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.”
Key Words: Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son
No doubt Micah’s mother had a great influence over his life, even though that influence was not God-glorifying but carnal, wicked, and unrighteous. Mothers do carry a lot of influence, don’t they? “August 18, 1920: Tennessee Ratifies 19th Amendment, Allowing U.S. Women to Vote” Some called it the War of the Roses. At issue was the ratification of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. The symbol of the suffragists, or “Suffs,” who supported it was a yellow rose. Their opponents, the “Antis,” rallied to a red rose. By the summer of 1920, thirty-five states had ratified it, one short of the threefourths needed. The rest were very much in doubt. The Suffs pinned their hopes on Tennessee; while they tucked yellow roses into legislative lapels and pleaded their case, the Antis kept money and liquor flowing freely among the state’s lawmakers.
When the legislature assembled on Wednesday, August 18, Suff campaign workers, counting roses from the gallery, were dismayed to see young Harry Burn, from heavily Anti McMinn County, wearing a red rose. Earlier, Burn had told them, “My vote will never hurt you.” The first ballot ended in a tie. Then, on the revote, Harry Burn changed his mind to aye. The crowd went wild – Tennessee had ratified the 19th Amendment. The next day Burn attributed his dramatic switch to a letter received from his mother. “I know that a mother’s advice is always safest for her boy to follow,” he said, “and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification.” Mothers, you carry a lot more influence than you realize – use it wisely and for God’s glory.
What to do: ! Mothers, desire to influence your family toward the things of God.
PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FIRST YEAR
MAY 10
! Bible Reading: Psalm 33:1-12 Key Verse: Psalm 33:12- “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Key Words: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD
The purpose of this devotion is not to be derogatory toward the President and this current administration, but I believe it is important that we understand that righteousness does exalt a nation. Since that is the case, unrighteousness brings a nation down. The following was sent to me and I think it is important enough for each of us to read, and then pray for our leaders and our nation.
President Obama’s First Year’s Accomplishments 1. Offended the Queen of England. 2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. 3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega. 4. Kissed Socialist Hugo Chavez on the cheek. 5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia. 6. Sided with Hugo Chavez and Communist Fidel Castro against Honduras. 7. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no pre-conditions while they’re building their nuclear weapons.
8. Gave away billions to AIG, also without pre-conditions. 9. Expanded the bailouts. 10. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian. 11. Doubled our national debt. 12. Announced the termination of our new missile defense system the day after North Korea launched an ICBM. 13. Released information on U.S. Intelligence gathering despite urgings of his own CIA director and the prior four CIA directors. 14. Accepted without comment that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two other nominees withdrew after they couldn’t take the heat. 15. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who identified military weapons and abortion opponents as “dangers to the nation.” 16. Ordered that the word “terrorism” no longer be used and instead refers to such acts as “man-made disasters.” 17. Circled the globe to publicly apologize for America’s world leadership. 18. Told the Mexican president that the violence in their country was because of us. 19. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from the Department of Commerce. 20. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion to Cuba of a 9-year-old whose mother died trying to bring him to freedom in the United States. 21. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists who threatened one American life and the next day announces members of the Bush administration may stand trial for “torturing” three 9/11 terrorists by pouring water up their noses. 22. Low altitude photo shoot of Air Force One over New York City that frightened thousands of New Yorkers. 23. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure them that the U.S. will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims. 24. Praised Jimmy Carter’s trip to Gaza where he sided with terrorist Hamas against Israel. 25. Nationalized General Motors and Chrysler while turning shareholder control over to the unions and freezing out retired investors who owned their bonds. Committed unlimited taxpayer billions in the process. 26. Passed a huge energy tax in the House that will make American industry even less competitive while costing homeowners thousands per year. 27. Announced nationalized health care “reform” that will strip seniors of their Medicare, cut pay of physicians, increase taxes yet another $1
trillion, and put everyone on rationed care with government bureaucrats deciding who gets care and who doesn’t.
Now I close by asking you: Is this really the change that America wanted? If so, America is bound for failure and defeat!!
What to do: ! Pray for America; and remember, your vote counts.
THE STORY BEHIND “TAPS”
MAY 11
! Bible Reading: II Chronicles 13 Key Verse: II Chronicles 13:22- “And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.”
Key Words: written in the story
It was in 1862 and the Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe and his men were located near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army waited on the other side of the landing and a battle soon followed. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay wounded in the fields. Not knowing if the soldier was Union or Confederate, the captain decided to risk his life and bring back the wounded soldier for medical attention Crawling through the gunfire, the captain reached the wounded soldier and began to pull him toward the Union camp. When the captain finally reached the camp, he discovered that it was a Confederate soldier who passed away shortly after Ellicombe’s heroic efforts. Ellicombe lit a lantern and sat down by the dead soldier to catch his breath; but to the captain’s shock and great amazement, he discovered that the soldier was not just a Confederate but was his son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out and without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, the father asked for permission to give his son a full military burial despite his “enemy status.” His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since his son was a Confederate soldier. Out of respect for the father, they did allow him to choose a single band member. The father chose the bugler and he asked the bugler to play a series of notes he had found on a piece of paper in his son’s pocket. The music was
a haunting melody which is used today at all funerals. We know it as “Taps.” The words are as follows: “Day is done – Gone the sun – From the lakes – From the hills – From the sky – All is well – Safely rest – God is nigh.” As Paul Harvey would say, “Now you know the rest of the story.”
What to do: ! Thank a soldier or the family of a fallen soldier for their sacrifice.
SAY WHAT! MAY 12 ! Bible Reading: Matthew 23:13-28 Key Verse: Matthew 23:13- “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
Key Words: But woe unto
The Pharisees were notorious for adding to the law. Someone has said that God gave the nation of Israel around 400 laws, and by the time the Pharisees got through adding to them there were over 4,000 laws, rules, and regulations. Laws, rules, and regulations tend to get out of hand. Most towns and states have had (or still have) some off-the-wall laws. For example, it’s a crime: • To go to church in Georgia without a loaded rifle. • To enter Urbana, Illinois, if you are a monster. • To carry bees in your hat in Lawrence, Kansas. • To let a cat run loose in Sterling, Colorado, without a taillight. • To give your sweetheart in Idaho a box of candy weighing less than 50 pounds. • To sing the song “It Ain’t Goin’ to Rain No Mo” in Oneida, Texas. • To wear cowboy boots in Blythe, California, unless you own two cows. • To divorce your wife in Tennessee without giving her 10 pounds of dried beans, 5 pounds of dried apples, a side of meat, and enough yarn to knit her own stockings for a year. • To kiss in Riverside, California, without wiping your lips with carbolized rose water. • To eat a snake on Sunday anywhere in Kansas.
• To ride in a baby carriage in Roderfield, West Virginia, unless you are a baby. • To carry an uncaged bear down a highway in Missouri. • To drive buffalo through the streets of Newton, Kansas. • To whistle or sing “After the Ball” between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. in Mankato, Kansas. • To eat in a place that is on fire in Chicago. • To drive a mule through Lang, Kansas, in August unless it is wearing a straw hat. • To throw an onion in Princeton, Texas. • To carry an ice cream cone in your pocket in Lexington, Kentucky. • To mistreat rats in Denver. • To go to bed with your boots on in North Dakota. • To practice knife-throwing at a man wearing a striped suit in Natoma, Kansas.
Now, I’m not opposed to laws, rules, and regulations, but I do believe that if one is not careful, he becomes full of orthodoxy, not spirituality. There is a saying that goes like this: “Many believers are as straight as a gun barrel in their orthodoxy (rules), and as empty as a gun barrel in their spirituality (disposition).” Would you not agree we need both?
What to do: ! Have rules but carry them out spiritually (with the right disposition).
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY
MAY 13
! Bible Reading: Galatians 6:1-10 Key Verse: Galatians 6:10- “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Key Words: As we therefore have opportunity
In 1869, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican leader of the Alamo attack, was in exile on Staten Island, New York. He had brought with him a large lump of chicle, the elastic sap of the sapodilla tree, which Mayan Indians had been
chewing for centuries. He hoped that inventor Thomas Adams could refine the chicle into a rubber substitute. Adams experimented with the stuff, but it remained lifeless. By chance, he saw a little girl buying paraffin – a “pretty poor gum” – at a drugstore. Adams asked the druggist if he would be willing to try a new kind of gum. He agreed. Rushing home, Adams soaked and kneaded the chicle into small, grayish balls. The druggist sold them all the next day. With $55, Adams went into business making Adams New York Gum No. 1 and set the world to snapping and chewing. Adams was quick to seize the opportunity that came his way. You and I, as well, have opportunities that come our way – opportunities to do good for others – opportunities to witness and mentor others. Let’s be wise and take advantage of these opportunities to do good and reach others for Christ.
What to do: ! Be alert to opportunities God sends your way to be a blessing to others.
GET IT RIGHT MAY 14 ! Bible Reading: Proverbs 16:19-33 Key Verse: Proverbs 16:25- “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Key Words: There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death
It is important that we act right, live right, do right, and it is very important that we be right. Our key verse in the Scripture reading for today teaches us that man’s ways are not the right ways. If we get it wrong, we die. As a congressman, Clement L. Vallandigham led the Copperheads (Northerners who were vociferously opposed to the Civil War) and was banished to the Confederacy as a traitor. But by 1871, back in his native Ohio, he had built an outstanding reputation as a defense lawyer. One of Vallandigham’s clients, the raffish Thomas McGehan, was accused of murder, though he swore he’s never fired his pistol. Vallandigham thought of a way he could clear him: by showing, in court, how the victim could have shot himself while drawing his own gun. In his hotel room before the trial, the attorney demonstrated his dramatic ploy for colleagues. Taking one of two pistols from atop
his dresser and pressing it to his chest, he pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, he’d picked up the wrong one – the loaded one. “My, I’ve shot myself!” Vallandigham shouted, staggering backward. Twelve hours later, he was dead. No one knows how the gambit might have influenced a jury, but McGehan was acquitted at a subsequent trial. The point is clear: it is important that our way be right – not by our standards but by God’s Word.
What to do: ! Make sure you are right before you go shooting your mouth off.
GOD KNOWS
MAY 15
! Bible Reading: I Samuel 16:1-13 Key Verse: I Samuel 16:7- “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Key Words: but the LORD looketh on the heart
Who we are and what we are may be hidden from man, but God knows. Almost no one knows that the gangster Al Capone, who made a fortune from bootleg whiskey in the 1920s, had a brother, Jim, who was a law-enforcement officer specializing in Who we are and Prohibition violations. As a boy, Jim Capone ran away to join a what we are circus. After traveling extensively, he arrived in Homer, Nebraska, on a train and decided to stay. At may be hidden some point he changed his name to Richard Joseph Hart. from man, but Known as “Two-Gun Hart” in Homer because he carried a pistol on each hip, he was a crack shot God knows. who could hit a bottle cap from 100 feet away – shooting with either hand. He became town marshal and then sheriff, busting stills statewide. As a Prohibition investigator for the Indian Service, Hart earned a reputation among American Indians for brutality. In Sioux
City, Iowa, he killed an Indian in a barroom brawl but was acquitted when the victim turned out to be a bootlegger. Reappointed Homer’s town marshal, Hart was suspected of petty thievery while on night patrol and was relieved of his duties. Broke, he appealed to his family for help in 1940. Only then did Richard Hart tell his wife that he was “Scarface” Al Capone’s brother. Two-Gun Hart died in 1952. For years Jim Capone hid his true identity but God knew – and God knows who and what we really are. We may fool men, but we can’t fool God.
What to do: ! Be real!!
CONFUSION
MAY 16
! Bible Reading: Judges 17 Key Verse: Judges 17:6- “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Key Words: but every man did that which was right in his own eyes
There has always been confusion in politics. Forgive my English, but where God ain’t, confusion reigns. It appears from the beginning of earth’s government, confusion has reigned. For example, did you know that in the first session of the Montana legislature, the voters had split the new state house of representatives between Democrats and Republicans, with five seats in dispute? To protect its party’s claim to victory, each set of representatives met independently, in separate locations, for the entire 90-day session. Thus, Montana had two houses of representatives. The state senate also was evenly split. Since the lieutenant governor, a Republican, held the tie-breaking vote, the Democrats refused to attend. In retaliation, the Republicans passed a resolution subjecting the absentees to arrest and stiff fines. The Democrats took it on the lam, eluding the law by fleeing the state. In the end, Montana’s fractious first legislature failed to pass a single law, not even a “feed bill” to pay expenses and keep itself going – for which, no doubt, Montanans breathed a sigh of relief.
One way to know where God ain’t is when you find every man doing that which is right in his own eyes.
What to do: ! Follow God. He will never lead you astray.
TYPHOID MARY
MAY 17
! Bible Reading: Galatians 5:1-9 Key Verse: Galatians 5:9- “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Key Words: a little leaven
The truth is who you run with (verse 7) does have a great impact on your life. Take, for example, Typhoid Mary. Her name was Mary Mallon; she was a cook but not a criminal. After a wealthy New York family hired her in 1906, six people in the household came down with typhoid fever. George A. Soper, a Department of Health sanitary engineer, traced her work history and discovered that she had fled typhoid outbreaks in at least five other homes. Mallon was tracked down and determined to be a breeder and carrier of the deadly Salmonella typhosa bacteria. She was isolated in a hospital for two years and released on the condition that she find another occupation. Against orders, Mallon went back to cooking and was recaptured after five years on the lam. She was confined to a hospital for the rest of her life; she died of a stroke in 1938 at the age of 70. Though “Typhoid Mary” was herself immune from the deadly disease she carried, she infected at least 57 people and caused three deaths...that we know of. Every one of us affects others in some way by our actions, attitude, and words. Yes, Mary Mallon was known as “Typhoid Mary.” I wonder after we are gone, what will we be known for?
What to do: ! Leave a spiritual legacy for others to follow.
DING, DONG – AVON CALLING
MAY 18
! Bible Reading: Mark 16 Key Verse: Mark 16:15- “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Key Words: Go ye into all the world
The world has always understood the importance of selling their product, and they are good at doing it. One such example is Avon. Peddling books door-to-door in the late 1870s, David McConnell found a surefire way to make himself more welcome as he traveled throughout the East. On each stop, the young pitchman gave his customers – mostly women – a small vial of perfume he had concocted in exchange for their time. Much to his surprise, on return trips he discovered that his perfume was more in demand than his books. In 1886, McConnell gave up the book trade, created the Little Dot Perfume Set – five home-brewed floral fragrances in little bottles – and launched a business of his own. Operating out of “a room scarcely larger than an ordinary kitchen pantry” in New York City with his wife as sole assistant, he was “bookkeeper, cashier, correspondent, shipping clerk, office boy, and manufacturing chemist” for the new enterprise, which he called the California Perfume Company. Soon, however, McConnell hired Mrs. P. F. E. Albee, a former colleague in the book business, to God has sell his product door-to-door. When the New Hampshire widow took to the road, she sold not only something to the five fragrances, but also a new career option for women. Inspired by McConnell and encouraged by give you that Albee, women responded enthusiastically to the lasts for eternity: opportunity for flexible, respectable employment. Like the oak tree that became its symbol, salvation! McConnell’s company grew from a small beginning into a mighty thing. In 1928, impressed by how the countrysides of Suffern, New York (where McConnell’s lab was located) and those of Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, were so similar, McConnell dubbed a new product line “Avon.” In 1950, the California Perfume Company officially changed its name to Avon Products, Inc. By the time the beauty products
giant reached its centennial, some 40 million women across the nation and around the world had worked as “Avon ladies.” The difference is the world has something to sell you that lasts only for a period of time; God has something to give you that lasts for eternity: salvation! Now, don’t you think that’s worth knocking on a few doors for?
What to do: ! Be faithful to your church’s soul-winning program.
KNOW THAT YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT
MAY 19
! Bible Reading: Numbers 32:20-33 Key Verse: Numbers 32:23- “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Key Words: Be sure your sin will find you out
Numbers chapter 32 tells us about the half-hearted tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half the tribe of Manasseh. These two and one-half tribes of Israel asked for land on the wrong side of Jordan. Moses agreed based upon the condition that in times of war, they would send their men to help in battle. The two and one-half tribes agreed, but then Moses gave this warning to them in verse 23, “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Our sin always finds us out!! It was a bloodless, two-day battle over three wagon-loads of paper, in which the only shots were fired by a middle-aged woman, and they called it the Archive War. When Austin became the capital of Texas in 1839, state documents were moved there. Sam Houston, however, wanted these archives in his namesake city; after he was elected president of Texas in 1841, he decided to get the papers. Using recent Mexican Army incursions into Texas as his excuse, he dispatched Colonel Thomas Smith with twenty men and three wagons to steal the archives from the Austin Land Office. Arriving on the morning of December 30, the paper pilferers had the wagons almost filled when they were discovered by Angelina Eberly, a local innkeeper out for a stroll. Arousing the citizenry, she positioned herself at a howitzer (originally in
place to fight American Indians) in front of the land office. Turning it toward the building, she lit its fuse. The subsequent fusillade persuaded Smith and his men to leave the remaining archives and get out of town. The posse that followed had few weapons, but they did have the howitzer. The chase ended the next day. The thieves, camped only eighteen miles from Austin, woke up surrounded by the posse. With the cannon pointed straight at them, they prudently gave up without a fight. Their sin had found them out.
What to do: ! Know for sure that your sin will find you out!!
TAXES
MAY 20
! Bible Reading: Matthew 22:15-22 Key Verse: Matthew 22:21- “They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Key Words: Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s
Let’s face it. I know of no one who likes to pay taxes. We do it, but we don’t like it. But did you know that until the Civil War there was no federal income tax? The government was supported largely by bonds, excise taxes, and “external revenue” from tariffs on imported goods. The expensive war, however, led legislators to explore new sources of “internal revenue” from citizens at home. On August 5, 1861, a 3% tax on annual incomes over $800 was adopted, but no one bothered to collect it, perhaps because it met such a small part of government needs. On July 1 of the following year, a new tax law was signed, giving America its first operable federal income tax. This was repealed in 1872 – it had just been a temporary way of funding the war debt – and no new income tax was proposed until 1894, when the government needed money to meet financial crises caused by a monetary panic. But on May 20, 1895, the Supreme Court ruled that the whole idea of an income tax was unconstitutional, since the tax would not be distributed among the states in proportion to their populations. It took the 16th Amendment (ratified on February 3, 1913) to make income tax legal.
Oh, that dreaded 16th Amendment!! But with all that being said, Jesus paid taxes and did command that that which was owed to Caesar be paid to Caesar. So I do, not because of Caesar, but because of God’s command.
What to do: ! Obey God in all things.
GOD’S WORD LIVES ON MAY 21 ! Bible Reading: Mark 13:24-31 Key Verse: Mark 13:31- “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
Key Words: My words shall not pass away “A few appropriate remarks” were requested of President Abraham Lincoln for the dedication of the cemetery on the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania, set for November 19, 1863. In fact, Lincoln was not the featured speaker. That honor went to the eminent orator Edward Everett, a Massachusetts clergyman, journalist, academician, and, later, a congressman and statesman. While Everett had been given two months to prepare his speech, Lincoln was not even invited to speak until two weeks before the event. At intervals during a photographic session on November 15, he began making notes. On the 17th, the day before his departure for Gettysburg, he wrote his first draft on a sheet of White House stationery. During the train trip, the president gave his speech more thought, and on the eve of the ceremony he completed its final draft, adding another nine lines in pencil on a piece of lined foolscap. True to form, the eloquent Everett delivered a dramatic two-hour oration. Lincoln, suffering from what was later diagnosed as smallpox, rose with his mismatched sheets in hand and in less than three minutes delivered a ten-sentence speech of some two hundred seventy words. A smattering of applause followed from an audience unsure that he was finished. While Everett’s address received far more attention than did the president’s, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows exactly what Everett said; but every school student either has read or even memorized the president’s Gettysburg Address.
So it is with God’s Word. When other books are long forgotten, God’s Word lives on.
What to do: ! Spend more time in God’s Word. It will never die.
DID YOU KNOW? MAY 22 ! Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:17-29 Key Verse: Proverbs 22:28- “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”
Key Words: Remove not the ancient landmark
We’ve all heard the saying, “We’ve come a long way, baby.” This is certainly true when you go back to the time of the early colonies which were formed primarily in what are now the New England states. For example, did you know that? • It was a crime for a minister to perform a secular wedding. The couple must have given evidence in their life that they knew Christ as Savior before the pastor could “legally” marry them. • All dancing was a crime that was performed in taverns and at weddings. • It was a crime to rebel against your parents. • It was a crime for theatrical performances or sporting events to occur on the Lord’s Day. • It was a crime to turn church music or spiritual music into a performance. • And it was a crime to question the Word of God.
Yes, we’ve come a long way, baby; but it’s been the wrong way. We should remember the words of God are to “remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” What to do: ! In your personal life, remove not the ancient landmark.
ABSTINENCE
MAY 23
! Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20 Key Verse: Ephesians 5:18- “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Key Words: And be not drunk with wine
Over the years I’ve had people attempt to take Ephesians 5:18 to justify drinking of alcoholic beverages. I do believe that God’s Word teaches total abstinence from every form of alcoholic beverage, but I’ve learned arguing with these people in a common sense way is nearly impossible so I’ve approached the subject and verse like this: say that God’s Word is saying you can drink an intoxicating beverage, according to Ephesians 5:18 then it must be wine, and you can’t drink so much as to get drunk or tipsy, and then you can’t drink unless you’re filled with the Spirit, and once you’re filled with the Spirit, you won’t want to drink – so the issue is settled. Below are some of the laws in some of the states in regard to alcoholic beverages. • You can’t buy a beer in Maine unless you are standing up. • You can’t drink beer in Oklahoma if you are only dressed in your underwear. • You can’t buy beer in South Carolina after the sun sets. • You can’t play baseball or climb a tree while drinking in Iowa. • But our dear state of Alabama has the best law – you can’t own or sell anything that tastes like, looks like, or smells like beer. Ask me if this is enforced!
It doesn’t really matter what men say – God’s Word teaches us to abstain, and that settles that. Amen?
What to do: ! Remember the admonition of Solomon found in Proverbs 23:29-30, “[Don’t fill your life with sorrow.]”
THE DAYS PAST AND THE DAYS AHEAD
MAY 24
! Bible Reading: Revelation 9:1-11 Key Verse: Revelation 9:3- “And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Key Words: locusts upon the earth
The most amazing thing about the insect onslaughts was the suddenness with which they occurred. Farm families first noticed a thick gray cloud approaching. Then they heard the beating of wings, a sound like a cascading waterfall. All at once, there would descend a swarm of 120 billion grasshoppers – a mile high, 100 miles wide, and up to 300 miles long. The locusts plunged down, and the munching noises of their feasting echoed across the land. First they’d devour the crops, then they’d go after tools and harnesses. In desperation, people hit at the hungry insects – sometimes four deep on the ground – with whatever they could wield. But no matter how many were killed, others took their places. They ate through cloth hastily thrown over crops, survived fires, and ignored smudge pots. (One farmer claimed they would warm their legs by his fire.) “Hopperdozers” were used; the insects were forced into a pan of sticky tar, then thrown into a fire. The ravenous creatures also invaded homes and stores, consuming clothing, curtains, and food. Then, after a few days, they went on to ruin some other area, leaving wells and streams polluted with their corpses. People whose existences were already spare were reduced to destitution. The insects were Rocky Mountain locusts. They normally bred in the foothills of Montana and Wyoming, but in dry weather, such as the summers from 1874 to 1878, they swarmed more fertile lands. Frontier farmers were a hearty lot, but this plague discouraged hundreds of them; giving up the fight, they went back east. But the locusts mentioned above will be nothing compared to the locusts of demons which invade the earth during the Tribulation period. As I read the prophecy found in Revelation, I can’t help but say, “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul and delivering me from the wrath to come.”
What to do: ! Pray for the salvation of your loved ones and your enemies.
GONE
MAY 25
! Bible Reading: I Thessalonians 5 Key Verse: I Thessalonians 5:2- “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”
Key Words: as a thief in the night
Can you imagine what the world will say, wonder, and do when we as believers
in Jesus Christ are raptured off this earth? Gone – missing – what a shock it will be! I read the following recently about an early colony in American history. One of the first serious attempts to colonize North America resulted in one of its oldest mysteries: Somehow, a colony of 114 men, women, and children disappeared without a trace. In midsummer 1587, the expedition, financed by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by John White, landed at Roanoke Island (off the North Carolina coast in what was then Virginia) on a tide of trouble. A year earlier Raleigh had established an English garrison there to protect his title to the region; the only signs of it that the colonists could find were a ruined settlement and a single human skeleton. One man who strayed from the camp was found dead, his body abristle with 16 arrows. Nevertheless, the new settlers remained optimistic. On August 18, 1587, Virginia Dare, White’s granddaughter, became the first English child born in America. But with winter approaching and no time for planting crops, the colony was running out of supplies. Despite protests, White was chosen to return to England for help. He arrived as the English were repelling the Spanish Armada and was unable to return to Roanoke until 1591. There was no sign of the colonists he’d left except, carved on a tree, the letters “CRO,” and on a palisade post, the word “CROATOAN,” which was the name of another island where the American Indians were known to be friendly. Thinking that this group had relocated there, White set out to find them, but he never did. Finally, his ship nearly destroyed by bad weather, he was forced to return to England. Over the centuries, searches for the lost colony of Roanoke have yielded nothing but theories. The day is coming, and coming very soon, I do believe, when Jesus is going to call up his saints, and thus we will ever be with the Lord. Yes, we will be gone – forever to be with the Lord. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
What to do: ! Make sure you are ready for the Lord’s return.
I’M BAFFLED
MAY 26
! Bible Reading: I Corinthians 16:1-11 Key Verse: I Corinthians 16:1- “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.”
Key Words: so do ye
Yes sir and Yes ma’am, I’m baffled. I truly am. Not just me, but other pastors are baffled as well. It seems as though when our churches want to collect money for special projects, people open up their wallets and checkbooks and give generously. For example, someone in the church is needy and going through a hard time – out comes the money. When there is a special missions project, man, do the people give! I read a story that took place during the Civil War. Far removed from the Civil War’s action in the little town of Austin, Nevada, a local election turned into a bonanza for the Union Army. Two local candidates for mayor, Democrat Reuel Colt Gridley, who was a Southern sympathizer, and Republican Dr. H. S. Herrick, a staunch Union supporter, proposed a friendly wager: Whoever lost the election would march between Austin and Clifton, Nevada, carrying a sack of flour, whistling either “Dixie” or “John Brown’s Body.” Gridley lost; he made the 1.25-mile trek carrying a 50-pound sack of flour decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons and flags. Herrick carried Gridley’s coat and cane, but at the end he wouldn’t accept the flour, leaving Gridley “holding the bag.” In the local saloon, the two decided to auction it and send the proceeds to the U.S. Sanitary Commission fund. The auction turned into a fundraiser, with one miner after another buying the flour and re-donating it for another sale. At the end of the day, they had collected over $4,500, and Gridley still had the sack. He took the show to cities around the United States. In the end, $275,000 was raised. Even in those days of the Civil War when many were hurting financially, they gave – because it was a special project. Now, it’s not the giving to special projects that bothers the pastors, it’s the lack of giving faithfully week after week to meet the general needs of God’s work. The money for the General Fund goes to meet the needs of our children and children’s ministries, the bus ministry, the Sunday School ministry, the Prime-Timers ministry, visitation, music, and the list goes on and on. So the next time the offering plate is passed, give to the church’s General Fund – it goes to meet special needs as well.
What to do: ! Give heartily to the General Fund of your church.
GIVING HONOR
MAY 27
! Bible Reading: Romans 12 Key Verse: Romans 12:10- “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Key Words: in honour preferring one another
General John J. Pershing said he’d trade his stars for it. Harry Truman said he’d rather have one than be president. They were referring to the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military decoration, awarded for acts of heroism on the battlefield “above and beyond the call of duty.” The medal was established during the Civil War, when Dr. Mary Walker served as the army’s first female assistant surgeon. She also became the only woman to win the medal. Walker’s medal was revoked in 1917, but it was finally reinstated half a century later. To date she is the only woman to have received the Medal of Honor. Honor is not to be tossed about and given at a whim; honor should be earned. God’s Word lays out for us those who we are to honor. • • • • •
Our Parents – Exodus 20:12, Matthew 15:4 Widows – I Timothy 5:3 Masters (bosses) – I Timothy 6:1 Pastors (double honor) – I Timothy 5:17 The King – I Peter 2:17
And certainly above all, we are to honor the Lord (Psalm 8:5, 66:2; Proverbs 3:9; Revelation 4:9). Today, I challenge you to give honor to whom honor is due.
What to do: ! Be honorable by giving honor where honor is due.
“Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong” -Thomas Jefferson
BE VIGILANT
MAY 28
! Bible Reading: I Peter 5 Key Verse: I Peter 5:8- “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Key Words: Be vigilant
The word vigilant means “to keep awake, to be watchful.” The enemy is and will always be out to consume us as believers. The same is true for our nation. Those of us who know Christ as our Savior must be vigilant in guarding our religious freedoms. I used to have a college professor who would often say, “The price of freedom is vigilance.” J. Edgar Hoover said, “Today, the Constitution is our most priceless inheritance – our bulwark against encroaching tyranny. But the Constitution, which belongs to each of us and is our greatest protection, will continue to be the effective guardian of our rights only as long as each American recognizes his responsibilities and discharges them accordingly. Unless we know the Constitution of the United States, we cannot understand it. If we do not understand it, we cannot give it the support necessary to preserve it as the protector of our liberties and the foundation of our Federal Republic. If we remain in ignorance of our Constitution, how can we defend it? “Our forefathers left us a free government which is a miracle of faith – strong, durable, marvelously workable. Yet it can remain so only as long as we understand it, believe in it, devote ourselves to it, and when necessary, fight for it. It is up to each one of us to keep the House of Liberty in good repair.” Some words of wisdom, would you not agree?
What to do: ! Pray for our government leaders.
The most important political office is that of the private citizen. ~Louis Brandeis
THE NEED FOR BIBLES
MAY 29
! Bible Reading: Matthew 5:17-26 Key Verse: Matthew 5:18- “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Key Words: one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law
A jot and a tittle are the smallest and least of the punctuation marks in the Hebrew language: the point being that God blesses His Word. We need His Word; as believers, we cannot live without the Word of God. Just as food is nourishment for the physical body, God’s Word is nourishment for the soul. Did you know that the Bible, through more than one hundred fifty years of early settlement in America, remained the base of her people’s religious devotion, her education, her colonial government? These Bibles had been shipped in from England. Now, suddenly the American Revolution cut off this supply, and the stock dwindled. Here was America in its greatest crisis yet – and without Bibles! Patrick Allison, Chaplain of Congress, placed before that body in 1777 a petition praying for immediate relief. It was assigned to a special committee which weighed the matter with great care, and reported: “...that the use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great that your committee refer the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, the Committee recommend that Congress will order the Committee of Congress to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union. Whereupon it was resolved accordingly to direct said Committee to import 20,000 copies of the Bible.” During the session in the fall of 1780 the need arose once more. Robert Aitken, who had set up in Philadelphia as a bookseller and publisher of The Pennsylvania Magazine, saw the need and set about quietly to do something about it. In early 1781 he petitioned Congress and received from them a green light to print the Bibles needed. The Book came off the press late the next year, and Congress approved it. So originated the “Bible of the Revolution,” now one of the world’s rarest books – the first American printing. What to do: ! Don’t starve your soul. Feed it with a daily spread of God’s Word.
THE CHURCH AND OUR NATION
MAY 30
! Bible Reading: Revelation 3:14-22 Key Verse: Revelation 3:14- “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”
Key Words: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodecians write
There is an old saying that goes, “As goes the church, so goes the home, as goes the home, so goes the nation.” The very foundation of our nation is a strong, spiritual church which produces a strong, spiritual nation. What we are seeing in our country today is the result of weak churches. If our nation is to be strong, our churches must be strong. The very French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the foundation of greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and our nation is a boundless forests – and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her strong, spiritual public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning – and it was not there. I looked for it church which in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went produces a into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret strong, spiritual of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be nation. good, America will cease to be great!” The key to being a strong nation is not found in a political party, but in strong, righteous churches where Christ is preached and the Bible reigns as the Book of Books.
What to do: ! Get in a strong, Bible-believing church and be faithful. Be a vital part of your church and your community.
AMERICA AND GREATNESS
MAY 31
! Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:23-35 Key Verse: Proverbs 14:23- “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”
Key Words: In all labour there is profit
America has become a nation of people who ask, “What can you do for me?” rather than a nation that asks, “What can I do for my country?” We see this throughout our society and even in our church people. As a rule, we aren’t looking for churches in which we can serve but in churches where we can be served. Lyman Abbot wrote, “A nation is made great, not by its fruitful acres, but by the men who cultivate them; not by its great forests, but by the men who use them; not by its mines, but by the men who build and run them. America was a great land when Columbus discovered it; Americans have made it a great nation.” The author of the following is unknown. “Those who built this nation to its present greatness believed in the invincibility of intelligence, economy, and hard work. Guided by Providence, they entered a wilderness with vision, industry, and courage. They took the forked stick and made a steel plow. They took the rude sickle and made a reaper. They took the wagon and made an engine, an automobile, an airplane, a tractor. They made an iron thread into an ocean cable, rough type into great color printing presses, and steel beams into soaring skyscrapers. They made forest trails into magnificent highways. They put the little red schoolhouse and the little white church on a thousand hills. America is great because individual men have freedom and equality; because individual men have been given the incentive to create, to produce, and to save, because individual men have been rewarded for their labor with a generous share of the goods they helped to produce. America has taken its place among the great civilizations of history because the cornerstone upon which the republic rests is the social, economic, and spiritual betterment of individual man.” I might add that this all comes by the grace of God.
I thank God for America. Let’s all pray and strive for America to be a Godly nation. What to do: ! Live righteously, then God will bless America.
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Pam Lee Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse