August 2025 Devotions

August 1

Luke 24

“And ye are witnesses of these things.”

The greatest story ever told is that of the Lord Jesus Christ; the story of His life, His death and His glorious resurrection.  Paul defined the “gospel” as the death, burial and resurrection of of our Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:1-3) That “gospel” is the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth….” (Romans 1:16) The world desperately needs this salvation for sin has separated humanity from God and doomed all to eternal damnation.  This is where the “gospel,” the story of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus comes in.  It is the one message that gives mankind hope beyond this life and the eternal loss caused by sin.

How is the world to know this great gospel?  How will the unsaved hear about the crucifixion of our Lord, His substitutionary death on the cross? That is where the charge of our text comes into play.  Jesus said to His disciples, “And ye are witnesses of these things.” They were eye witnesses of the last three and one half years of His life; His gracious dealings with all He came in contact with.  They had heard His gracious teachings and had observed His healings and even His raising from the dead three different individuals.  These that He had chosen and ordained as apostles had personally watched as He was rejected of men, mercilessly  beaten and finally nailed to the cross.  They had seen the resurrected Savior.  John wrote in 1 John 1:1-2, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon , and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”  How is the world to know?  Through those who can “bear witness,” who can tell others what they know, what they have experienced and what others so desperately need.  They need to hear from us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior!

August 2

John 4

“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

I was talking with my grandson, Levi, the other day and he asked me where I got a really handy tool that I have.  I told him that I found the tool at a store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  What does it mean to be a witness for Jesus?  It is a woman that met Him at a well in Samaria, having Him radically change her life and then her running into town to tell others about what had just happened to her.  Through this woman’s “witness,” many in that village were brought into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  They heard what the woman said, checked out her “witness” for themselves and were brought to faith in the Savior.  

Have you trusted Christ as your Savior?  What has He done for you?  How has He impacted your life?  Your future?  Has He given you hope?  Have you experienced a relationship with Him?  If so, then you have something to share with others.  You are a personal witness of the impact the Lord Jesus can have on a life.  Like the woman that met Jesus at the well in Samaria, you have a story to tell others that can give them the same hope He has given you.  Go tell someone!

August 3

Acts 4

“…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Was it their demeanor?  Could have been their way of speaking?  Possibly it was their attitude.  Whatever it was, the authorities examining the disciples “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”  

We are discussing ways that we can be witnesses for Christ, and here is an important lesson being taught us by the apostles of the Lord.  They were spending time with Jesus.  Of course, they had just spent over three years with Him, but they were continually spending time with Him after His resurrection.  You will recall that Peter had gone upon the housetop to pray when the men that had been sent from Cornelius come looking for him.  He was spending time with His Lord.  John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day when he received the great visions of Revelation.  Like Peter, John was communing with the Lord Jesus.  One of the ways we are witnesses for our Lord is Him being reflected in our lives due to the fact that we are spending time with Him.  We spend time with Him in prayer and in the reading of His Word.  Time is being spent with Him when we gather together in His house.  He promised that when two or more were gathered together in His Name that He would be there with them.  

Have you ever heard someone describing a young person that is doing less that desirable in life as “getting in with the wrong crowd.”  Actions and attitudes are reflecting the influence of those with whom that young person is spending time.  Would you like to be a more effective witness for the Savior?  Spend more time with Him!  Let those around you take knowledge of the fact that you have been with your Lord!  Amen!

August 4

Matthew 5

“Let your light shine….”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followers me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of light.” (John 8:12)  In our last devotional thought, we looked at the benefit of spending time the Lord.  He will show on you if you spend time with Him.  Another benefit can be seen here in our passage today.  Speaking to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus charged them to let their light shine before men.  That light He was speaking of is His own glorious Person, and the influence that He brings into a life.  Because He is “Light,” “and in him is no darkness at all,” (1 John 1:5) that person that walks with Him will automatically be surrounded by His light.  That person will not walk in darkness, nor will that person influence others with darkness, only light.  

One of the most effective and important ways for us to be witnesses of the goodness and grace of God in our lives is to live in such a way as to allow Him to be seen in us.  Do you ever say, “The moon is really bright tonight?”  Is it brighter some nights than others?  Not really.  It appears brighter when its fuller, or when the sky is clearer.  There’s nothing to interfere with the light hitting the earth, making the moon look brighter.  Actually, the moon doesn’t have any light.  It only reflects the light of the sun.  Can you see where I’m going with this?  We don’t really have light of our own, only His light shining through us.  The closer we walk with Him, and the less we allow things in our lives to interfere with His light shining through us, we can let our light so shine before men that they may glorify our Father which is in heaven.  Let’s seek His face that He might help us to be greater reflectors of His glorious light!

August 5

1 Peter 3

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear….”

I was putting a wood screw into a piece of wood once, and without thinking I put the threaded end of the screw in my mouth first and then began screwing it into the wood.  Someone standing by asked, “Why did you do that?”  That lubricates the screw, keeping it cooler as it cuts its way into the wood.  I have had screws heat up enough that they broke off at the head before firmly anchoring in the wood.  Of course, work goes slower if you have to explain everything you’re doing, but that’s something to consider at another time.

If you haven’t been already, you will sometime be asked why you do what you do, why your react the way you react or why you feel differently about certain things than about everyone around you.  You may be asked in the future why you don’t seem overly worried about things that others are loosing sleep over.  Or, someone may ask you one day why you are so positive and upbeat all the time.  Whatever the case, this gives you an excellent opportunity to share your faith in Christ.  With the Lord God set apart in your heart and His Word governing your life, you will have the opportunity to give an answer for the reason of the hope that is in you.

In order to be “ready always” to give that answer, we need to have an understanding of the principles of our faith.  We need to have an understanding of the Biblical teaching of salvation; of why man needs what Christ has to offer and how he can receive it.  We need to have an understanding of God’s Word.  And the more acquainted we are to God’s Word, the more capable we can be in sharing our faith with the unsaved.  Let’s “be ready” to be witnesses for the Savior!

August 6

Acts 8:26-40

“And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”

There is a truth revealed here that believers must understand.  The unsaved are blinded to the things of God.  Scripture declares that they are incapable of understanding spiritual truths.  Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, said, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)  Because these wonderful truths are “spiritually discerned,” and the unsaved are “dead in trespasses and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1) they are in need of someone telling them about the Lord Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  They need someone to explain to them how they can know Him in the free pardon of sin.  An individual who has personally experienced Christ’s salvation needs to explain to one who hasn’t what it means to be saved.  This is being a witness.

How much do you have to know to be a witness?  To be totally honest, the more we know about the Bible the better we can explain to another what it means to be saved.  However, if you can tell another that you once were lost, separated from God, but that now you have been saved through what He did for you on Calvary, you can be a witness for the Lord.  The Samaritan woman that met Jesus at the well in John 4 was instrumental in bringing many from the neighboring village to Him.  She was limited in her understanding of spiritual truths, but she had trusted Jesus as Savior.  Just sharing her faith was instrumental in many being saved.  Let’s be willing to share what He has done in our lives so others may know Him also.

August 7

Matthew 9

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

In our area, there are huge fields along the Pigeon River that are used as commercial tomato fields.  I’m sure it is a very lucrative business, but one that calls for a lot of work.  Often these fields are tended and harvested by migrant workers.  Several years ago, for some reason one of the fields was abandoned just about time for the harvest.  We were told that the field was open to the public, so we took advantage of the offer.  The field was full of healthy tomato plants that were filled with big ripe tomatoes.  We picked enough for canning, but most of the tomatoes in that field went unpicked.  I remember looking at that field and feeling sad to think that it went to waste.

Should I care that the vast majority of the folks I will come in contact with throughout my life are unsaved?  Should it bother me?  It did the Lord!  He was “moved with compassion” when He saw the multitudes scattered abroad “having no shepherd.”  Aren’t you glad He cared?  That’s why we are saved now.  We are saved and blessed with a relationship with Him because He cared.  It’s easy to get so involved with our own plans, desires and problems that we fail to be concerned with the spiritual needs of those around us.  How can we overcome that lack of care?  “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”  Let’s ask Him to help us to care about the spiritual needs of those around us!

August 8

Psalms 142

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”

This devotional thought is a continuation of yesterday’s.  We considered the question yesterday, “Should I care that the vast majority of folks I will come in contact with throughout my life are unsaved?”  In this Psalm, David is considering this thought from a different perspective; from the viewpoint of that one who is uncared for.  

Here is an interesting observation: the Hebrew word translated “care” was also translated “seek, inquire, sought, search, ask, cared.”  David was saying, “No man sought for me, inquired about me, ask of my needs or cared for my soul.”  

In these devotional thoughts we are considering being witnesses for our Lord.  Part of being a witness is caring for the spiritual needs of others.  Yesterday we emphasized the need to pray that the Lord would help us to care.  Today we see the importance of someone caring for those who feel the lack of that in their lives.  One of the greatest characteristics of an effective witness for Christ is simply caring.  “Lord, help me to see the unsaved through your eyes so that I will care.  Amen.”

August 9

Psalms 68:11

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.”

Here is another interesting Hebrew word; the word translated “published” in our text for today.  It was also translated, “bringeth, bear, show, carry” as well as “published.”  Great was the company that carried the Word, that brought it and showed it to others.  

What a wonderful gift God gave us when He presented His infallible and precious Word!  The truths found in the Bible are of immeasurable value.  They tell us of things that will be detrimental to our well-being, and of things that will add great blessings and joy to our lives.  God’s Word presents to us the greatest of all blessings, and that is how we can know and have a relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Being a witness means carrying these blessed truths to others, showing them of His great love for them.  Understand this, beloved, one does not have to be a missionary or a preacher to “carry” God’s Word to others.  It just takes a child of God who is willing to serve as a waitress or waiter carrying God’s spiritual bread to the hungry or God’s water of life to the thirsty.  Publish His blessed truths so that others might be blessed to know Him!    

August 10

Ecclesiastes 11

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

I am not a patient (or a good) gardener.  Lynn has alway made fun of me, because I have many times dug up seeds planted just to see if they were beginning to sprout.  I sowed some grass the other day, raked it and covered it with straw.  Lynn said, “Now, you will be peeking under the straw to see if the seeds are sprouting.”  Well, I didn’t!  And, the grass is growing, thank you!

God’s truths are “bread” for hungry souls.  Our job as believers is to “sow” the precious truths of God’s blessed Word like seeds everywhere we go, seeds that introduced souls to the “Bread of life.” (John 6:33, 34, 48, 51)  Faithful sowing produces results that bring glory to Christ.  Let’s be sowers of the good seed of God’s Word.

August 11

Psalms 126

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Yesterday we considered “casting thy bread upon the waters,” which speaks of the casting of seed to produce bread flours.  Today’s passage clearly speaks of the same idea.  Examine carefully some of the words used; sow, reap, bearing, rejoicing and bringing.  Then notice the words tears, weepeth, and the word doubtless.  It is clear that the “precious seed” makes reference to the “good seed” of God’s Word.  Compare this with Matthew 13:3-23.  Peter speaks of the believer being born again “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Peter 1:23)  

The passage in Psalms speaks of the burden that is needed to make seed sowing effective; “tears…weeping.”  This is an essential part of being a good witness for Christ; caring.  It is easy to “care” for those closest to us; relatives, closest associates or friends.  But what about the strangers we come in contact with?  Did Jesus care about the strangers He came in contact with?  What about the woman of John 4 He met at the well?  What about Nicodemus who came to Him by night?  Did He care enough to weep tears of concern?  See Luke 19:41.  His very presence on this earth among cursed sinners proved He cared.  Perhaps we should seek to have the heart of our Savior when it comes to the lost around us?  Or, perhaps we should seek His compassion through our prayers.  Lord, give me your heart for souls, and your compassion for those around me who do not know you.  In your Name I pray.  Amen!

August 12

2 Kings 7

“…We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace….”

The people of Samaria were cowering with fear and starving to death because of the Syrian siege.  God caused the Syrians to hear noises that made them think a great army was nearing and they rose up and fled, leaving all their possessions and provisions behind.  Four leprous men came into the abandoned camp of the Syrians and found themselves to be men of incalculable wealth and blessed with an incredible abundance of food.  As they reveled in their newly found blessings, one of the men spoke up saying, “We do not well….”  He knew they needed to share their blessings with the suffering souls in Samaria.

Do you see the lesson?  You and I live in a day of “glad tidings,” the news that Jesus died and rose again that mankind might be saved and brought into an eternally blessed relationship with Him.  We have been graced with that knowledge, and we do not well if we are not actively sharing that news with others around us not so blessed.  Father, help me to see the needs of others around me, and help me to work with You to endeavor to see those needs met through the Lord Jesus.  In Whose name I pray, Amen!

August 13

Esther 8

Through the wicked plot of Haman, a decree had been signed by the king that would have resulted in the slaying of all the Jews of the land.  Through God’s intervention, that decree had been rescinded and a new decree had been signed that would guarantee the Jews victory over their would be assailants.  The problem was that King Ahasuerus ruled over a vast kingdom, and there was a great challenge in getting the specifics of that new decree to all the subjects of the land.  This task was assigned to the “posts,” who “rode upon horseback…mules, camels and young dromedaries” carrying the good news of hope for the Jews throughout the kingdom.

A decree was given from the Almighty that “the soul that sinneth it shall die.”  And that decree effected all, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  A new decree has been given, that decree stating that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  The challenge is getting that news to as many souls as possible before the day of judgment falls.  We who are saved are the “posts” to whom this responsibility has been given.  “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) We don’t have to ride on horseback, mules, camels and young dromedaries,” but we must carry this good news to as many as possible, whether they be on the other side of the world, or the other side of our area.  Let’s be faithful “posts!”

August 14

Acts 16

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

I’m not sure Paul spoke with this man, “the keeper of the prison” before he came trembling and inquiring, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved.”  He very well could have, but we are not given that information.  What we are given is how Paul and Silas responded to their difficult and painful situation, and it would seem that this was at least partially what compelled the jailor to realize there was something missing in his life that these men possessed.  His observation of these godly men going through the crucible of testing was instrumental in leading him to the conclusion the he “must be saved.”

All followers of Christ go through times of testing and trial. (1 Peter 1:6)  The “if need be” is all important here, and our Lord is the One that decides whether or not it is a “need be” time.  Part of the “need be” is the molding of us to the image of our Savior, (Romans 8:29; 12:1-2) but also to be considered is the use of heaviness to allow our witness for Christ to shine.  Paul and Silas were about to influence an entire family through their suffering, and only God knows how far that influence reached beyond that family.  Think for a moment how the suffering of Biblical characters enabled a witnessing of true faith under trial that spoke volumes to those observing that time of testing.  Joseph’s testing made his witness for God even greater.  So did Daniel’s, and his three friends as well.  The Apostle John’s suffering on Patmos gave him the opportunity to provide one of the greatest prophetic master pieces of Scripture.  

 What does this say to me?  It reminds me that my times of testing are used for many things in my life as a believer, not the least of which are the opportunities these provide for my testimony to be shared and others influenced through my faith.  Father, help me to shine for you in times of testing and trial.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!  

August 15

Acts 8

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

The word “preaching” is the Greek word from which we get our word, evangelize.  Every where that these “scattered” Christians traveled, they shared the good news of Jesus Christ’s salvation.  The word means a sharing of good news, and what greater news is there of the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior, and His willingness and power to save all that come to Him in faith?

These weren’t “preaching” in the sense of standing and proclaiming aloud and sparing not, (Isaiah 58:1) but were sharing their faith everywhere they went.  And the result?  Souls were saved as the Gospel was shared.  This was an everyone, everywhere and every opportunity proposition.  

We have good news to share!  Everyone will not be interested in hearing it.  Many will not be at all, but some will.  It is that some that will we desperately need to reach.  May the Lord help us to go everywhere proclaiming the good news!

August 16

Acts 4

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Thayer defines “must” as “necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end.”  Everyone you and I will ever come in contact with in our lives as believers “must be saved,” and the only way they can be saved is through placing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  All “must be saved.”

Unfortunately, all are not being told this truth.  In fact, many are being taught by professed “Christian” leaders that they just need to put to practice some wholesome acts of kindness, treat others as they would like to be treated, refuse to be judgmental of any regardless of their beliefs or practices and love all and they will enjoy the blessings of heaven for ever.  Many are being taught that faith is the all important thing; regardless of what that faith is in, as long as it is faith.  Good deeds and acts of kindness are the things many are being taught that will make them acceptable to God.  Lies!  All lies!  And sadly, these lies are deceiving many into an eternity of hopelessness.

Beloved, you have been taught the “truth,” and the truth has made you free. (John 8:32, 38)  That truth must be shared!  You will come in contact with someone, perhaps even today, that so needs the truth you possess in your heart.  Share it!  Let God take that truth and transform some needy soul’s eternity!

August 17

Ezekiel 3

“Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

There is a negative thought in this chapter in Verse 18, but let’s emphasize the positive.  Ezekiel had an opportunity, in his case a Divine calling, to be God’s spokesperson.  That calling was to warn the people of Israel of coming judgment.  If he faithfully delivered the message, and the people refused to hear and do business with God, they would be judged, but Ezekiel would be acknowledged as having delivered his soul.  God would bless him for his faithfulness.  We have not received a calling into the office of the prophet, an office no longer active in this day, (1 Corinthians 13:8)  but we have been called to be witnesses for Christ.  Our duty as believers is to let others know of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Sadly, most that we come in contact with will not give their hearts to Christ, but if we are faithful to be witnesses for our Lord we have “delivered our souls.”  This is all that our Lord requires.  Let’s seek to be faithful witnesses to the lost around us.

August 18

Acts 3

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up an walk.”

Peter was given an opportunity to share his faith in Christ, and he seized that opportunity.  That man had been “laid daily at the gate of the temple” to beg for “alms.”  Peter had perhaps seen this man before, but on this day the man sought for help from him and John.  Peter’s response, and the power that the Lord had given him, provided more than just alms for this poor man.  It met a need in his life that he had lived with “from his mother’s womb.”

The Lord gave power to His apostles that we simply do not have today, but we have “power” to be witnesses for our Lord.  In all honesty, this man’s greatest need was not a healing of his lame limbs, but the need of his lost soul.  Therefore, the greatest blessing we can offer to those around us is the gospel of the Lord Jesus.  Their greatest need is a healing of their souls, and that is only possible through the Lord Jesus.  Like Peter we can say, “Such as I have give I thee,” and that which we can offer is truth that is found only in our Lord; truth that leads to life eternal.  

Let’s take advantage of opportunities given us to share our faith.  It may be the result of an observation someone makes of us, a compliment given or even a question asked.  But opportunities will come, the Holy Spirit will see that it happens.  Seek His guidance and wisdom.  He will give what is need, when its is needed and He will use us to bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ.

August 19

Proverbs 4

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

Proverbs deals much with right and wrong, sin and righteousness and what is acceptable to God and what is not.  Much is presented as a father giving wise counsel to his children.  And, it really is just that.  It is our Heavenly Father telling us things to avoid in our lives, and things to pursue.  Much wise counsel is found in this book of wisdom, counsel that will benefit the children of God immensely.

Believers are said to be walking on a path that leads “unto the perfect day.”  Jesus spoke of this path when He said, “…strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)  We are on this path because we are saved and following Jesus; not in order to be saved, but because we are saved.  

Part of your witness as a child of God is the path upon which you are walking.  It is a path of obedience, of holiness and righteousness; a path of oneness and communion with the Lord Jesus.  His is leading the way, and we are following.  Know this, child of God, others around you are aware of the path upon which you trod.  If you are walking faithfully on this path with Christ, it is seen.  Walking on this path that leads unto the perfect day bears witness to those who are walking on the path that leads to eternal destruction.  Keep walking with Christ!  You need no placard to identify you as a follower of Christ.  Just continue faithfully following Him, and let your light shine for those walking in darkness.

August 20

Genesis 6

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

It was certainly a wicked day when Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  How wicked?  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts or his heart was only evil continually.”  That is wickedness in the extreme!

Jesus said that it would be just like that in the days preceding His Second Coming; the days in which we are living.  He also said it would be as it was in the days of Lot, and those were extremely wicked times.  Is it possible to be a faithful, obedient Christian in such evil times?  Yes!  Noah was, and so can we be.

In one of our earlier devotional thoughts, we considered Jesus’ command given in Matthew 5:16; “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  One thing about light is that the darker the surroundings, the brighter the light shines.  Even a small light in a very dark room can produce a real difference in the darkness.  

We do live in a very dark day.  We are not going to be able to eliminate all that darkness, but we are able to shine for Christ in that darkness to show someone else the way to Him.  The children’s song declares, “This little light of mine, I’m going let it shine.”  That is all that our Lord is asking.  It is dark!  Just keep shining for Christ!

August 21

Psalms 49

“Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world….” 

What is witnessing?  How can I be a witness for Christ?  This Psalm provides an excellent illustration of a witness for our Lord.  It begins with an invitation to “all ye people” and “all ye inhabitants of the world,” then continues to extol the Lord for all His gracious provisions and blessings that the psalmist enjoys.  He speaks of his fearlessness because of God’s care and continues to boast of the Lord’s redeeming love for His own.  Is that not the sharing of faith?  Is that not boasting on the Lord before the unsaved in order that they might see what He means and what He provides for those trusting in Him?

One of the most effective ways of sharing faith is just letting others know of God’s goodness to you.  You can share how you came to trust Christ as Savior.  Or, you can tell how the Lord has been gracious to you in your times of need, how He has comforted and given strength where needed.  In doing that, you are witnessing on a personal and practical level.  It is wonderful to be able to quote Scripture and to speak doctrinal truths to the unsaved to enlighten them, but nothing compares with being able to confidently say, “He has done so much for me.”  Be a witness for Christ!

August 22

Isaiah 49

“…I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

Jesus is the “Light of the world.”  The whole world!  He is the “Light” for those living in America, in Europe and in Africa.  He is the “Light” in Asia.  There is no corner of the planet where Jesus Christ is not the “Light.”

And, beloved, “Light,” His “Light” is what this sin-darkened world so desperately needs.

That is where the “enlightened,” the saved come into play.  We are reflectors of His “Light.”  We don’t have light in ourselves, but are blessed with His “Light.”  The children’s song says, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”  Jesus is given for “a light to the Gentiles,” and that “Light” is to shine through us that have been so blessed with His “Light.”

I love flashlights.  Always have.  I used a light last night that was given to me for a Christmas present from my brother-in-law probably ten years ago.  Its a great light with a lot of illumination; easy to carry, small enough to fit easily in a pocket and has an LED bulb that is easy on batteries.  It is my “go to” light.  We should long to be “go to lights” for our Lord.  He wants so to enlighten the darkness in this world, but depends upon you and me to shine for Him.  Let’s share the “Light of the world” everywhere we go.  Amen!

August 23

Acts 26

“…for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.”

In Psalms 98:2 we read the following words; “The Lord hath made known  his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.”  That was Paul’s emphasis to King Agrippa, reminding him of the public nature of the crucifixion of Christ; a public display of capital punishment sanctioned by Rome through Pontius Pilate. Through that very public crucifixion, the Lord was making known His salvation, and the means of the salvation, to all mankind.

That was 2,000 years ago, and some have never really heard of that great salvation.  It isn’t a secret!  It is not to be kept quiet!  This great salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is to be shouted from the housetops.  That is our duty!  The world needs to hear of Christ, and must hear of the gracious salvation He offers to all, but the only way they will hear is through the witness of His own.  Let’s keep this message out of “the corner,” and rather shout it from the housetops.  “We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!  Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!”

August 24

John 12

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”

Jesus’ answer recorded here was given to Andrew and Philip in response to their letting Him know that there were some “Greeks” who had requested to see Him.  The answer seems somewhat strange in light of the request, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.”  It would almost seem that He ignored this special request altogether, but He did not.  Instead, He gave a message to them that in order to understand Him and His great work, they would have to see Him in light of His death on the Cross.  And, Jesus said that in order to really understand Him would require that one “follow Him,” saying, “where I am, there shall my servant be….”  

For the world to see and understand the Lord Jesus, they must be made to understand His purpose, His reason for coming to this world in the first place.  That purpose was His death on Calvary.  Nothing else about the Lord Jesus will make perfect sense until it is understood that He came to give His life a ransom for many.  

I don’t know if Philip and Andrew carried this message back to the Greeks that made the request, but I do know that most do not understand the Lord today for they have not viewed Him in the light of His primary purpose as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)  “Father, help up to be vessels through which You can let the world see Jesus in the light of the great purpose for which He came; salvation through His death, burial and resurrection.”  Amen!

August 25 - 31

For the last week in August, please read the Book of Esther.  As you are reading, be mindful of some things that should help in understanding this great Old Testament book.  The Book of Esther is one of the post-captivity books written to Israel; which was Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.  The Babylonian captivity lasted from 606 BC to 536 BC.  At the close of the captivity era, Cyrus, the king of Persia, made a decree allowing the Jews to return to the land of promise. (See Ezra 1:4) Only a remnant returned, leaving the majority of the Jews living in the Gentile lands to which that had been deported.  The Book of Esther takes place in the Persian Empire, over which Ahashuerus ruled as king.  The approximate time setting of the book took place around 521 BC, about 15 years after the Babylonian captivity had ended.

Many have historically rejected the Book of Esther due to the fact that God’s name is nowhere to be found in the book.  That is true, but it is also true that His providential hand can be clearly seen throughout.  The book portrays a reality that has been witnessed since the beginnings of God’s dealings with Israel, and continues to be seen today.  That reality is the hatred of the world for God’s chosen people, and the efforts made throughout the centuries to destroy them; an effort that is still in the hearts of many in the 21st century.  The resounding message in this book is the faithfulness of God to His Word and to His people in protecting and providing for them.