Proverbs 17:17

Verse of the Day: Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17

True and faithful friends love in the hard times as much as the good times.  There are many people who act like true friends when things are going well and does not cost anything (money, time, or anything else).  All too often, when there is a change in a person’s situation whereby there is a negative effect on the relationship, they forsake the person and look for someone else that will be more fun.

Paul wrote to the Romans the following, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:15. As Christians, we are to stand beside our friends in all situations.  For instance, they receive a great promotion at their job, get together with them and rejoice, celebrating this great thing that has happened.  However, likewise, if they find out a close relative has died, go to them, comforting them by helping them deal with this great loss.  Weep with them, as they cry in their great mourning.

What a beautiful picture of true love.  Not envying or coveting what good they received, even though you would love it too.   And, not avoiding them because it is an uncomfortable situation.  Show yourself to be a true and loving friend by being there with them in the good times and for them in the bad.  You will honor God through it and show what a true friend really is.  Who knows, someone watching you may be positively changed by your actions.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 2:18

Verse of the Day: James 2:18

“But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:18 

It is easy to tell someone you are, let’s say a computer expert, but when they ask you to assist them with a relatively simple task, like printing a document, you have no idea.  So, you hit a couple of keys and tell them to reboot, and all will be well.  When the computer comes up and it still does not work, they begin to think you are not what you claim to be.  Then when they see the printer is powered off, and then power it up it prints just fine, they know you are not.

The same thing can be true regarding our faith.  Many people proclaim to be Christians, but their lives and focus tell another story.  Remember what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21. We can call Him Lord all we want, but if we do not live as if He is, then do we really believe it?  Do our priorities have His will first, or ours?  Are we All-In with Christ, or only partially in?  The proof of our faith is our works.  If there is no works, then is their really faith?  James says no in a very definitive way.  “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17. And people will notice it.

If you really have faith, then show that faith by living that faith.  The world is looking for reality.  Walking and talking your faith shows that it is real.  Talking alone will have them question it. William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Psalm 34:18

Verse of the Day: Psalm 34:18

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – 34:18

This is an encouraging verse.  The Lord will always be by our side when we are heartbroken.  We all experience these times.  And they are difficult times.

The idea of broken hearted is pressed and weighed down with afflictions, by intense sorrow.  So, during these times, we can trust that we are never alone.  The language is figurative.  As an omnipresent being, God is always equally near to all persons.  In fact, He is everywhere at the same time.  So, the idea is He is always with us.  Jeremiah put it like this, “Am I a God who is near,” declares the LORD, “And not a God far off?  Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:23-24.

We serve a God who is always near and attentive to us.  He knows everything we do, think, and what we are going through.  And He loves us with a love that is so great it is incomprehensible.  Take comfort in this, for we can always cry out to Him and He is there to comfort us and help us through.  And trust Him that he is faithful to us.

Two more verses that is a comfort to me.  “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 and “The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Psalm 46:11

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Genesis 15:6

Verse of the Day: Genesis 15:6

“Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6

Abram was told by God not to be afraid for He would shield Him.  Moreover, Abram would be given a great reward.  However, Abram responded to God with by asking “What will you give me, for I am childless, and my heir will be Eliezer my servant.  (In nomadic tribes, if a man was childless, his heir was his chief servant).  Then we read in verse 4, “Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.’”  Then He tells Abram that if He could count the stars, that would be the number of his descendants.

What is amazing about this story is that Abram was somewhere between 75 and 85 years old, while Sara would have been between 65 and 75 years old, long after the age of childbearing.  However, as we see in our focus verse, Abram believed God, and because he believed, God declared Abram righteous.

There are two things we can glean from this.  First, God can do anything no matter how impossible it may look to be.  If God promises us something, it will come to pass.  There is no doubt.  So, you can look at the promises of God throughout the scriptures and know that they can and will be done.   And second, this is a beautiful picture of the gospel.  If we truly believe that Christ died, was buried and then rose again for us, then our salvation is sure.  Note Jesus’ words in John’s gospel, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16  Do you truly believe?  If so, then God has declared you righteous.  Rejoice!

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Jeremiah 1:5

Verse of the Day: Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5 

Have you ever wondered why God works in you and through you the way He does?  We see the answer here in these words God spoke to Jeremiah; that being He knew Jeremiah even before He formed Him in His mother’s womb.  And because He knew Jeremiah, He consecrated Him and appointed Him to be a prophet.

God does not wait for us to be saved to determine what He will call us to do.  He knows us long before we are born.  In fact, long before we were made.   We see in Luke that John the Baptist was known before his birth.  “But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.  You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.”  Luke 1:13-16 We also see it with Samson in Judges 13.

From the beginning He knew what you would be doing for Him.  Do not be discouraged thinking you are ‘out of your league’.  He called you to your mission from the very beginning.  And remember, He will work through you to make it happen.  You are not alone.  Submit to Him, no matter what, and you will fulfill His purpose in your life and bring glory to God.  And that is a good thing.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Psalm 103:11

Verse of the Day: Psalm 103:11

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.” – Psalm 103:11 

This, to me, is a beautiful passage.

If we think about it, the height of the heavens is so great we cannot even begin to imagine it.  There are no boundaries.  It goes beyond stars, galaxies, and all things within this universe.  If we were to set out to go to the end of everything, we would never reach it.  First, we would get to the end of the universe God created and we reside in, however, after that is the realm of eternity where God resides.

What the psalmist is basically saying is that God’s lovingkindness is infinite.  There is no end to the love God has for us who fear him.  We can never conceive of anything greater than His love.  Isaiah uses the same picture describing God’s ways.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9.

Finally, Jesus stated it best when He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13 And who are His friends?  “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”  John 15:14

We who are totally devoted to Him and do what He commands us, His love for us is beyond measure.  It is so great, He Himself died for us, one who never had to die, but He took on the form of man so that He could pay for our sins by His death.  I reiterate, what a beautiful passage this is.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 6:33

Verse of the Day: Matthew 6:33

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33

As Christians, we have no need to worry about the needs in our life.  This verse does not mean we will get everything we ‘want’, but everything we ‘need’.  This has nothing to do with the name it, claim it heresy. Look at the list in vs 25 and 31.  It deals with food, clothing and shelter.  These are really our only needs; food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place for shelter.

What Jesus is saying here is that if we truly, with everything that is in us, seek first His kingdom, His righteousness, His life, God will take care of meeting the above needs.  It is important that we understand that it may not be the way we would like it.  For instance, we may want and get a full meal, however, we may only get some bits and pieces of food.  But it is food and gives us what we need.  Also, we may want and get a new house, however, we may only get a small room or someplace to hang out with protection from the environment.  God will provide our absolute needs, but He will do it in the way that is best for us with the tasks He has for us to accomplish.

Be thankful for all His gifts, and all His provision.  Use all these things in your work for Him.  Do not compare yourself and what God provides with what others have.  If you have any food to eat, any clothes to wear, and anyplace to shelter yourself, you are blessed.  There are many people in the world who do not have anything at all.  Therefore, be thankful.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Romans 12:2

Verse of the Day: Romans 12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” -Romans 12:2.

When we become Christians, it is important for us to realize our old life is done away with and we are new creatures.  Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church the following, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.  So, being a new creature is a result of accepting Christ as Savior.

Our old life was being conformed to this world.  In order to fit in and make life easier, we would do things the way the world did it, believe what the world believed, take on habits and feelings that it considered appropriate and acceptable.  I am not saying we all accepted everything, but much of it.  Especially in the area of the existence of God, and even more fundamentally, what God is.

When we are saved through the blood of Christ and become new creatures, we are to discard these old thoughts and ways.  We are to take on the ways of Christ and not of the world.  We must change the way we think from a worldly to a spiritual view.  We must study God’s Word and make Christ’s ways the model of our own.  If something is sin, we must see it as sin.  If something is a bad witness, we must not do it.  Our life must exemplify the life God wants and demands us to live.  And as we live this transformed life, we will exhibit to ourselves as well as those around us what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Let God work through us in this process.  We can do this because He promised us He would make it happen.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Ephesians 4:32

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32 

In this section Paul is giving some thoughts on the new life in the spirit.  This verse addresses how we should be around our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are to be loving and kind.

There are going to be times when our fellow Christians are going to disappoint us.  I have seen so many instances where there is arguing (not debating but fighting), demeaning and taking advantage of one another, just plain treating each other wrongly.

Where is the love in that?  Jesus commanded this of us.  John 13:34 says, ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Note, this is not a suggestion.  We are required to love just as He loves us.  He loves everyone, including the those who are against Him.  This does not mean He did not admonish some, like the Jewish leadership.  However, like with the brethren, His love was unquestionable.  In fact, in fact, a few times it led to tears.  I think what we see here is that disagreements should not lead to anger.  It should lead to a friendly learning experience where all can come to the truth.

If a brother or sister offends us in any way, forgiveness should be the outcome.  We should never hold a grudge but should strive for reconciliation.  There should be nothing that separates us.  We are the body of Christ.  Therefore, we should act as Christ did.  This will bring the unity God has called for and will bring glory to God through the ‘true’ love we show everyone.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 7:12

Verse of the Day: Matthew 7:12

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12 

This verse is commonly called the Golden Rule.  In essence, what Matthew is laying out is the idea that if we do not want to be treated a certain way, do not treat others that way.  And, if you desire others to treat you in a certain way, treat others that way.

This is what Jesus referred to as the second greatest commandment.  “And He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39.  He said this in response to a Pharisee lawyer who asked Jesus which command was the greatest.  He responds with love.

How are we to love our neighbor?  In the same way we love ourselves.  If we are hungry and need food, we would like someone to give us something to eat.  Then give others who are hungry something to eat.  If we need to get somewhere but need someone to take us there, be open to taking others where they need to go.  If we do not like to be gossiped about, do not gossip about others.  This is a simple concept to understand but can be difficult sometimes to fulfill. If you find you cannot help someone for some reason, then help them find another who can.  Remember what James said, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?”  James 2:16. Is this love, or are they just empty words?

Be God’s hands and feet on the earth.  Do all you can to help those in need.  If you cannot help them, then get them in touch with someone who can.  Do not leave them in their difficult state.  Would you want empty words over actual help?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.