Proverbs 18:10

Verse of the Day Devotion: Proverbs 18:10 

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:10  

Today’s culture is a mess.  There is so much fear in this world, it is a sad state we find ourselves in.  However, my goal today is not to increase you fear, but to lessen it by looking to the one who can help us through these times.  In times of distress, people will look around for a place the deem as safe.  Some find their safety in entertainment.  They figure if they can take their minds off their situation, they can put this stress out of their mind.  Some will turn to alcohol and drugs to just numb their brain so they will not think about them.  Too often, we simply look for ways to refocus our attention to other things.  However, there is a much better way to handle this.  It is to face it while giving it to God.

Our focus verse tells us that we are to run to Him, and we will be safe.   He is a strong tower, a fortress,  that we can go to and know we are in a good place.  He is a refuge in time of need.  I like the way Adam Clarke puts it.  “What a strong tower is to the besieged, the like is God to His persecuted, tempted and afflicted followers.” Think of families in a town where the enemy is attacking and overtaking them.  When they finally get into the tower and the doors are shut and locked, they can now relax and take a rest.  This is how we can be when we go to God for safety and protection in our trials. 

This idea is found throughout the scriptures.  In Joshua, we read, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.  He promised Israel that He would always be with them, so they had nothing to fear.  The writer of Hebrews put it this way to the followers of Christ.  “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.  So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6.  There is nothing that man can do to us that God cannot and will not defend us from.  And I will add that there nothing that anything can do to us that God cannot defend or protect us from. 

And one final verse, of which I will quote the prophet Isaiah.  “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.  For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:10-13. 

No matter what this world brings our way, it has no chance of defeating us if we go to Him for safety.  We have nothing to fear, for as the writer of Hebrews said, “what can man do to me.”  If He is always with us, we have a definite and infinite advantage over anyone or anything that desires to cause us harm.  If we find ourselves in a dangerous situation, we can do what we can, but remember, He is with us at all times.  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.  Whether we live or die, Christ is gain to us.  While we live we are His servant and Christ our portion.  If we die, we will gain infinitely because we will be saved from what troubles were waiting for us and are immediately in heaven, our eternal home.  Either way, we win.

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

Job 34:12

Verse of the Day Devotion: Job 34:12 

“Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.” – Job 34:12    

This is an interesting verse which is just as true today as it was back then.  This was said by Elihu, who was not one of the three friends (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite,  who came to be with Job during his troubles.  This verse brings forth a great truth that we need to always remember: God does not do anything evil and He does not act unjustly.

Elihu was terribly angry when it came for his time to speak.  He had listened to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar speaking to Job, followed by Job’s responses and it appears that Job began to imply that God may have done wrong in all that had happened to him.  Here are Elihu’s comments.  “Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;” Job 34:4-5.  The idea here is that Job declared himself righteous, and God knew he was righteous, but would not declare his innocence.  In this, Elihu seems to claim Job said God perverted justice.  And if He perverted justice, than there could be a claim of wrongdoing.

However, Elihu states in our focus verse, with no question, that God will not act wickedly or pervert justice.  The apostle John puts it this way.  “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5.  Just as Elihu stated that God will not act wickedly or pervert justice, John goes even farther by saying that God is light with no darkness at all.  There is not even one small speck of darkness in God.  He is good, He is loving, and He is perfect.  God will not act with evil intentions but will only act in our good.   

We must understand with no question that God will not act in any way that is evil.  Even though we may go through hard times, we must not look at it as God bringing evil upon you.  On the contrary, what we may look at as bad and evil is actually a good, and we must trust in this truth.  As I have quoted in other devotions.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.  Everything He does is for our good, or for the good of someone else.  We do not always understand the why, but there is always a good reason. Even with what Job went through, God took that situation and revealed who He was.  “Then Job answered the LORD and said, I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6.

God had a good reason for allowing everything that happened to Him, and Job finally understood that and repented.  Let us also, understand this incredible truth and know that, as Paul said, ‘all things work together for good, for those who love God’. 

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

Mark 9:24

Verse of the Day Devotion: Mark 9:24 

“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” – Mark 9:24    

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you want God to help you yet are not sure if He can or will?  We have to be honest with ourselves if we find ourselves in this situation.  Just as the father in this story was honest with Jesus.  The story starts with the disciples struggling with belief themselves.  “And one of the crowd answered Him, Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” Mark 9:17-18.  A man brings his son who has a demon to Jesus’ disciples and told the disciples to cast it out.  However, they were unable, so He brings him to Jesus.  “And Jesus answered them and said, O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” Mark 9:19  Them refers to His own disciples.

After this, “They brought the boy to Jesus. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, How long has this been happening to him?  And he said, From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us, and help us! “ Mark 9:20-22.  Note the wording here, “if you can do anything”.  He was not sure.  And Jesus catches this phrase.  “And Jesus said to him ‘If You can?’  All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23.  In saying this, it appears that the beginning of faith appears to have come.  And we see this in the father’s answer to Jesus in our focus verse. “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24.   What this man told Christ was that he did believe He had power, but there was still elements of unbelief in him regarding the healing of his son.  This was probably due to the amount of time his son has suffered with it, and the many ways they tried to address it and failed.  Jesus heard what the man said and had compassion on him and the boy.  “When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, you deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” Mark 9:25. 

God knows us, and He knows our hearts.  Therefore, it does no good to attempt to conceal the doubts we may have.  We can know He is capable of doing everything yet have doubts about specifics we desire or need Him to do.  There are two things in our focus verse I wish to point out.  First, the man felt and admitted this unbelief to Jesus.  He opened his heart to Him, admitting its presence.  It was not complete unbelief in Jesus, just, in this instance, His healing power for his son.  As stated above, sometimes we experience so many failures regarding what we are praying for, it becomes difficult to believe it can be done at all.  And second, he appealed to Jesus to help him overcome this unbelief.  And this should be our cry when we find ourselves in a similar predicament: believing God can do anything but struggling in this instance.  We see God’s love in that He helped this man overcome his doubt, and He will do the same for us.  Open your heart and be totally open to Him, not just saying the words we think will work, but speaking the truth.  God will help us in our shortcomings when we admit they are there and ask Him for help.

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

Matthew 7:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: Matthew 7:1 

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” –  Matthew 7:1  

This is found in the last part of the Sermon on the Mount.  This speaks against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgements.  It can be in the form of thinking there is evil where it is not,  or in elevating an evil to a level way beyond reality.  The Jews of this time period were highly guilty of charging people of wrongdoing that did not actually exist.  They would do this to elevate themselves above others, thus giving them advantages over them.

In the next verse, Jesus gives an additional warning to them.  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2.  This was a Jewish proverb that expressed this truth in a form they would understand and ultimately agree with.  The idea is that those who are severe in the way they see others will naturally produce the same severity against themselves.  And, as Albert Barnes states in his comments on verse two, “It refers no less to the way in which people will judge of us, than to the rule by which God will judge us.”

He then gives the example of the speck and the log.  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4.  The word translated ‘speck’ is the word ‘mote’ which means an extremely small object such as a bit of barley or wheat.  The beam or log is a large piece of squared timber.  The meaning here is that we are more likely to judge a small offense of another than a larger offense of our own.  And, as with judging, we are more likely to try and remove the speck in another than the beam in our own.  Jesus says this is not the way it should be.  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5.  Jesus here directs them, and us, to the correct way of forming an opinion of others,  and reproving and correcting them.  It is done by first addressing our faults, then we can consistently advance to help others in correcting theirs.  By not addressing the beam in our eye, how can we accurately and fairly address the speck in another.  The best way to address the imperfections of another is to free ourselves from greater ones.

We need to be careful in the way we view and judge others.  This is not speaking of judges or magistrates in a court of law or forming an opinion of the conduct of another.  What is referred to here is forming a judgment hastily and harshly, without looking at how we may be incorrect in our judgement.  Also, it speak of judging wrongs that we know ourselves we indulge in.  Paul put it this way, “Therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” Romans 2:1. 

If someone needs our help in addressing a wrongdoing or overcoming a temptation, we should first address it in our own lives if we have the same problem, and then lovingly and patiently work with them to remove it from their life.  We should keep it between ourselves and the one we are helping, and not tell others through gossip or candid conversations.  We must remember that how we judge the person we are helping is how we will be judged.  Our goal should be to help those who need our help, and if we are unable to, then recommend someone who can.  Remember, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.  And we have to include ourselves in this statement and act accordingly. 

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

2 Timothy 4:2

Verse of the Day Devotion: 2 Timothy 4:2

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2 

This verse addresses the very heart of our responsibility while here on earth.  Jesus, in His last words to the disciples said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19.  The wording here is particularly important and precisely stated.   He tells them to make disciples, not just converts.  Too many times people are evangelized and make the decision to become a Christian, but then walk away because there is no follow-up.  It does not need to be the one who leads them to Christ, but someone must take this role to train them in the ways of God.  It could be an individual or a group, such as a church or a fellowship group.  It  is imperative that discipleship be our goal, and not just conversions.  Jesus expresses this idea in the next verse.  “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. 

Let us now look at what Paul said in this letter to Timothy and examine what he is saying.  Our focus verse states that we are to be ready, in season and out of season.  What this means is that we must be ready to teach the word, to both the saved as well as those needing salvation, whether it is convenient or not.  We must remember that we are doing God’s work and not our own.  First, He desires that all people be saved.  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.  And as Jesus stated in Matthew 28:19, He has called us to go out and make disciples. 

And as the time draws closer to His return, it becomes even more essential that we reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4.  I believe we have reached this time.  The Greek idea translated sound doctrine is “healthful doctrine”, doctrine that contributes to the health of the soul, or true salvation.  Many who claim they are Christians are turning away from what God says and are listening to what they want to hear, whether it is true or not.  And they will adhere only to those who teach these ideas that “tickle their ears”.  And unfortunately, in so doing, they will ignore the truth as laid out in scripture in order to follow these myths that appeal to their desires.

So, what are we called to do?  As stated above, we are to be ready to preach the word, the true word of God.  And how?  Several things are listed.  First, we are to reprove.  This means we are to refute those things which are wrong and help people realize what the truth really is.  For instance, some believe that after salvation you can sin all you want because all your sins are already forgiven.  My wife and I encountered a young man who absolutely believed this, and was having affairs with women because, as the belief states, he is already forgiven.  However, the truth is found in Romans 6.  “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2.  When we encounter someone who believes false doctrine, we are to, in love, work to show them they are wrong and present the truth. 

We also must be willing to rebuke them, again in love.  This means to bring correction to them, to express a judgement that what they believe is absolutely wrong and contrary to God’s will.  In essence, we are to admonish them and show them that they are wrong and need to reject these false teachings and accept what is right.  And we are not just to teach the truth, but also encourage people to follow the truth.  And we are to fulfill this calling with great patience and a persevering spirit.

We are called to preach and teach, spreading the good news of God to a world that so greatly needs to hear it.  And we are to train and disciple our brothers and sisters to understand what the Christian life is truly all about and assist them in moving toward that goal.  We need to take every opportunity we have to evangelize and teach.  We cannot, by ourselves, do it all.  But we can work together with our fellow Christians and, with God’s leading, go out and preach the truth to all we come across.  And by doing this, God will use us to lead many to Christ, and educate our brothers and sisters in the truths we find in His word.     

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

1 Peter 3:9

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Peter 3:9 

“Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9 

This verse addresses what our response should be if someone wrongs us in any way.   This is the summation of what he spoke about in the first seven verses of this chapter, addressing what the relationship should be like between a husband and wife.  Then, in verse eight we read, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;”  1 Peter 3:8.  Presumably, he is speaking about how to react when wronged by a spouse.  However, this fits with whoever does us wrong.  First, he states we must be harmonious in our relationships, meaning we should be in unity.  Also, we are to be sympathetic, being kind and showing love to everyone.  And, we are to be humble, not trying to lift ourselves above another.

Now granted, this is speaking regarding our physical family as well as our Christian brothers and sisters. However, this is simply the focus of this writing.  Jesus spoke of this in relation to all people. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:38-39.  The general idea here is that we are not to set ourselves against an evil person who is injuring us.  Now, this does not say that we are to allow people to injure or kill friends, family members, ourselves, or our Christian brothers and sisters.  We can defend ourselves and others, however, it should not move forward into the realm of repaying them in like manner.  I do not believe that Christ meant for us to watch as someone is killed or harmed.  We can defend ourselves, but as verse thirty-nine alludes to, we must not return evil for evil. 

And this idea is expanded on in the next couple of verses.  “And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matthew 5:40-41.  The idea here is that if someone sues us, do not resist them, but give them more than they sued us for.  And if they force us to do something, as long as it is not wrong or sinful, then we should, as the saying goes, go the extra mile.  What we are doing is showing them love in the midst of their wrongdoing.  Who knows what positive effect you will have on them, maybe even opening their hearts to the truth of Christ.

This can be a difficult thing to do.  However, the purpose of this is to show the love of God to those who may require any of these, or similar things of us.  And this is what we are called to do; to share Christ to all we come across.  And if this means we suffer in order to make this happen, so be it.  The disciples did, Christ also did.  Therefore we may be called to as well.  And if, in the process, we make a difference in someone’s life for the cause of Christ, then it was a good thing.

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

Proverbs 4:23

Verse of the Day Devotion: Proverbs 4:23 

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

When we think of the word ‘heart’ we have several things in mind.  First, a muscle in our chest that pumps blood throughout the body.  However, there are several other ideas we use regarding the word heart.  You have heard the expressions “from the bottom of my heart”, or “with my whole heart”, and lastly “what a heartwarming movie”. These are, of course, not speaking of the pumping of blood.  It is using the term heart to define the very core of who we are.  One example is,  “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  This same basic wording was used by Jesus in Matthew 22:37.  When the scriptures speak of the heart, it is not referring to the physical organ but the real us.

The ancient Israelites did not refer to the brain because, to them, intellectualism was an activity of the heart.  In fact, they did not have a word for ‘brain’, for all observable activities now attributed to the brain was then a heart activity.  As for the Hebrew prophets, the only true redemption was the renewing of the heart.  “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:6.  And in our focus verse, we see how the biblical Hebrews saw the heart: it is where we experience feelings, think thoughts, and also make decisions based on our desires.  Moving on to the New Testament, in ancient Greek, ‘kardia’, the word for heart in scripture does not refer to the physical organ in any instance, but rather to the center of who we are.  It is the center of the personality and it includes the center of our intellect, emotions, and will.

So, based on the above, what he is saying is we need to watch over everything we think about, feel and desire.  This is important because from the heart flows our true self.  If we hate someone, it will eventually be manifested by our actions.  We may be able to cover up negative feelings for a season, but eventually they will be seen by others.  And the same can be said for love.  If we genuinely love someone, they will see it through our words and deeds.  If we desire things we should not, it may come out in the form of acting it out, simply talking about it with others, or focusing on it in your thoughts and dreams. 

What we need to do in order to watch over our hearts was written by Paul.  “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5.  What he is speaking of here in the first part of this verse is to destroy reasonings or opinions that are contrary to God’s truth.  The Greek philosophers valued the powers of reasoning which appeared to be profound and conclusive, but actually led them to ideas that either did not exist or were false in themselves.  We need to discard these ideas and focus on the truth as found in God’s word.  We need to firmly plant God’s truth in our hearts and thus make this what drives our behavior: what flows from our hearts as the spring of our lives. 

And he closes with the following words on how to keep yourself from evil.  “Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:24-27.  As Christians, we are to be truthful and loving in the words we speak.  And we are not to look away, to the right or the left, from the destination we seek, but rather be fixed on the destination we long for.  “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“ Philippians:12-14.  Let us watch that our hearts ore focused on our love and devotion to Christ, and that we become so devoted to Him that it shows in every area of our lives.  

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

Isaiah 55:6

Verse of the Day Devotion: Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” – Isaiah 55:6  

As I look at all that is going on today, it makes me think that our time here on earth is drawing to a close.  What with some leaders not desiring to open churches again for meetings, yet many others such as stores, and other businesses are encouraged to get back to normal.  In fact, I was reading where one governor says we should wait a year to open churches.  There are many who take a terribly negative view of Christianity while accepting the ideas of most other religions. 

Because of this, we should work even harder to spread the word of His coming.  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Mark 16:15.  This is our calling, and we must take advantage of all opportunities we have to tell others of what Christ did for us.  For there will come a time when He will not be found.  And not only tell them but show them through our lives of obedience.  Many people are told the truth, but when they see the life of the one who told them, that it does not line up with their words, they struggle to accept it. 

According to our focus verse, we are called to go out and tell the world to reach out to Him while He may be found.  There is an old skit by the Christian comedy group Isaac Air Freight about someone who desired to continue living a worldly life until the last minute, then he would accept Christ.  Unfortunately for him, his time came sooner than expected. However, there are many who have chosen to do the same.  And we must reach out and tell them they must seek Him now, not waiting until a later time.

The next verse tells us what He desires us to do when seeking Him.  “Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:7.  We are called to forsake all wickedness and unrighteousness.  Whether in our deeds or our thoughts and desires, we must give them up.  Now, we may at times fall into some of these again, and we will need to repent and ask forgiveness. But it should never become a lifestyle where we go back to our old and wicked ways.  And when we forsake our old sinful ways and seek Him, He will have compassion on us and pardon us, through the shed blood of Christ. 

In closing, I believe there are two groups of people Isaiah is speaking about.  The first are those who do not believe and therefore are not saved, and the second are those who think they are saved but continue living as the world.  I want to encourage us to reach out to both when we, as Jesus said, go out into all the world.  There are some churches that do not teach the whole truth, and those under them may need to understand that there is more than what they are being taught.  This moves from evangelism to discipleship, and both are needed in this climate we live in today.  All must seek the Lord while He may be found, all must call on Him while He is near.  This should be a part of our truly devoted lifestyle we live with our loving and gracious God.

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

Philippians 4:8

Verse of the Day Devotion: Philippians 4:8 

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” –  Philippians 4:8

Have you ever just sat somewhere and thought about something that was bothering you, or caused you pain?  Or maybe someone hurt you or did you wrong.  It is easy to just sit and reflect on these things, but it is not healthy to do so.  Do you think you are alone during these times?  You know you are not, for God has promised to be with you.  “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.  We must remember we are never alone, and that He will bring us through all that happens.  In fact, He goes ahead of us to address these issues.  “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8. 

Because He is with us at all times and goes ahead of us to protect us, we will be fine.  And the fact He knows all things corroborates this idea.  “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9-10.  So, if God has everything take care of, then our thoughts should be elsewhere.  We, as Paul states in our focus verse, must keep our thoughts focused on good things and not allow ourselves to worry or think about things that are not worthy to dwell on.

Paul says there are eight things to look at to determine if something is worth contemplating.  Lets look at each of these briefly and see what God desires us to focus on.  First, whatever is true.  Not what we want to, or wrongly believe is true, but what is true.  Whatever God has declared as truth is what we need to focus on, not necessarily what man declares as truth. 

Second, whatever is noble.  That which is honorable and worthy of respect: honest words of a reverent nature.  Many things are not worthy to be talked or thought about.  However, what is should be where our mind is focused.  Third, whatever is right.  That which is defined by God and His character as right, not what we deem as right based on our understanding of the word.  In a broad sense, thoughts that are upright, righteous, virtuous and in keeping with the commands of God. Fourth, whatever is pure.  This word pure has as its original meaning that which had been sanctified for the temple.  A related word that has similar meaning is holy. 

Fifth, that which is lovely.  This does not refer to the outward appearance, but what is inside.  It has the connotation of that which is dear and amiable; that which is pleasing to address, such that one can love thinking about it and not something that is contrary to Christian thought and beliefs.  Sixth, that which is of good repute or report.  This speaks of things that are thought of as good by pretty much all in the world.  These are virtues which all people agree are commendable, such as  kindness, respect for parents, purity between brothers and sisters, as well as courtesy. 

And the last two, if there be any excellence or praise.  Paul knew he had not given a complete picture, which would be difficult to do, so he gives two overarching thoughts.  First, if there be any excellence.  Another way to express this is virtue or moral excellence.  If there was anything that had the nature of true virtue in it should be looked at and adhered to.  And lastly, anything that was worthy of praise such as incredibly good deeds, or that ought to be praise such as God Almighty. 

These are the things we are to think about and focus on.  I encourage everyone, and I include myself in this, to spend some time studying this verse and if there are areas where we need to adjust our thinking, then ask God to help you in this process.  Get rid of those things that are not listed here and focus on those things that are. There is peace and joy that floods our being when we do.

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

Romans 3:23

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 3:23 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” – Romans 3:23 

This particular section of Romans deals with the idea that we all have sinned, and none of us can address our own sins before God.  Earlier in this chapter, we read “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:9-10.  In speaking to the church in Rome, Paul declares that both Jews and Gentiles are guilty of sinning.  The Jews believed that they were in a much better situation because of their being descendants of Abraham.  However, just because they follow the law and performed the duties within the law gave them no greater advantage.

He now goes on to describe what he means by “None is righteous, no, not one”.  “no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive,The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:11-18.  This is not a pretty picture of mankind.  What we see is a string of OT quotations confirming the universality of sin, along with  a variety of sins that define what we see in humanity.  (Note: see Psalm 14 as an example).  He then ends this section by declaring that the law speaks to those under the law, but only declares what sin is, not how to address it.  “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:19-20. 

Now, the next two verses declares the righteousness of God is apart from the law.  “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:” Romans 3:21-22.  And then he states in our focus verse, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23, after which he says, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”  Romans 3:24.  Yes, we all have sinned.  Yes, we could not rectify this situation on our own.  However, Christ came to rectify it for us, not based on anything we have done, but what He has done.

Now, based on all this, we have several things to remember.  First, all people have sinned, from Adam and Eve to all alive today.  None of us are innocent in the sight of God prior to giving our life to Him and accepting the work Christ did for us.  It is through justification that we are absolved of our sins and declared not guilty, for He paid the penalty for us.  We did nothing but accept His work.  Therefore, it is important that when we go out and present the gospel to the lost, we are to help them understand their guilt, but also see the remedy.  We should not look down upon anyone who needs to accept the work of Christ in their lives.  We can and should denounce the sin, without denouncing the sinner.  For as much as they need Christ, we also needed what He did in order to be declared righteous.  Stealing a candy bar may look less bad than killing someone, but both were enough to require Christ’s justification for us.  No one, no matter what they have done, is beyond salvation, and our focus should be on leading them to Christ.  We must not look at anyone as being beyond Christ’s ability to save, just as we should not look at someone as having an advantage because of a good heart.  God sees us all as sinners who can be saved.  We need to see them this way as well, and then help to make it happen.

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