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

"Be Ready and Watchful"

Matthew 24:36-44  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

2 Peter 3:10  "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

1 Thessalonians 5:21-24  "Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

Insight: Are you living like Christ could return at any moment?  When you believe He could, it will change your life.  Remember how the scriptures proclaim the imminency of Christ's return and redeem the time!

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and make us like You.  Help us to remain mindful of You, your promises, and your imminent return.  Thank you for giving us hope.  Praise You for being our God and our friend.  Convict us of sin and let us repent and be sanctified.  We love You, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

On February 9th, 1809, Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was born today, just three days before the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Famous as a scientist and an author, Darwin had no professional training in biology. However, he enjoyed the outdoors and was selected as a naturalist on the five-year world voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. This trip helped shape evolutionary view. Darwin’s controversial Origin of Species appeared 28 years after the voyage was completed . The ideas in Darwin’s book have turned generations of people away from biblical creation. One might reflect on the respective legacies left by the contemporaries Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln.

This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."

(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.)

We don't want to risk dealing with sin's consequences.

Christians should be enjoying their sacrificial lifestyle.

Knowing the scriptures makes you more confident.

Align your life with the scriptures and you'll be blessed.

Christ gives you patience when you ask.

Hypocrisy hurts the church.

Christ guarantees us victory over sin.

We want a linear beginning and ending, but God often has us tack and sail to the finish line.

Conquer spiritual enemies with the Word of God.

Be ready for the final trumpet.

Are you giving others hope?

People who are coming to church should be giving.

Don't make people go through holy hoops before showing them love.

Perhaps we have tears on earth so Christ can wipe them away in Heaven.

Supplement church attendance with Bible study.

The scriptures are proven by changed lives and historical truths.

These quotes came from the Holy Spirit, Howard Everett, and Jason Gastrich.  If you'd like to read more wise quotes, you can either visit our Quotations Archive or get 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.