JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"Not Us, But God Through Us"

Psalm 115:1  "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth."

John 14:12-14  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

2 Corinthians 4:7  "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Corinthians 12:7-10  "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
 

Insight: If we are obedient and willing, God will work through us.  We can be the conduit for amazing things.  Get prepared now to do God's will and always give Him credit.  We are only stewards of His gifts and power and we need to use them wisely and for His glory.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and make us like You.  Thank you for wanting to use us for your perfect work, even through we're imperfect vessels.  We love You, Lord.  Forgive our sins and purify us.  Help us to know your will and to do it.  Please use us for great and mighty things.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Arkansas Supreme Court 1905, was quoted by Supreme court Justice David J. Brewer in his lecture, entitled, “The United States a Christian Nation.” The opinion they rendered in the case of Shover v. The State, 10 English, 263, included:

This system of religion (Christianity) is recognized as constituting a part and parcel of the common law.

If you'd like to have the citations for the footnotes above, please email us.  If you'd like to see more quotes from those who framed and founded America, please click here: http://jcsm.org/AmericasFounders/.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

Thomas Edison said, "I haven't failed, but I've found 10,000 ways that won't work."

We need God's power to minister.

What's inside of you helps carry you through life.

Healthy people can still have health problems.

Don't let anything in your heart or life that would make Christ want to avoid dwelling in you.

See your trials as blessings and privileges.

These quotes came from the Holy Spirit, Phillip Macintosh, and me.  If you'd like to read more quotes, you'll want a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.