Jul 1, 2025 – Proverbs 17:13 – the repayment for evil committed
“Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.”
Proverbs 17:13
Hi Everyone!
I was heavily involved in the street life
I cringe at the thought of this “anything goes” mentality I shared with those who were involved with me, because I went down a pretty slippery slope into crime and violence, and became someone I truly despise.
I did a lot of wrong, most of which I am incapable of correcting or making right, some to people who did me no wrong. Seeing this verse makes me cringe further, because I have experienced a life where evil was always at my doorstep, and I now live covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, which has cancelled the penalty of my sin, and taken me away from the consequence of death.
I have been cleansed of a lot of wrong, and I am so grateful to God for all He has given me, so I could live a better life.
Thinking about my wrong makes me want to kick myself, but I have to keep it under the blood where it belongs.
Today, we will look at Proverbs 17:13, the repayment for evil committed.
“Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.”
The book of Proverbs is a compilation of wise sayings, most being written by King Solomon, the wisest man in the world at that time. He is giving us keys that we can live by, for his greatest accomplishments, and also from his worst moments. These proverbs are useful, even, today, and while they aren’t commands, they will allow us to think on a more Godly level.
The word “whoso” means that this is an all-inclusive proverb that can apply to all people.
The word “rewardeth” means “to return, repay, or recompense”.
The word “evil” means “grief, affliction, adversity, or calamity”.
The word “good” refers to favour. Simply put, if anyone brings grief upon someone who has shown us favour, this is very displeasing to God.
In Psalms 109:3-6, the Bible says, “They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.”
If Satan stands at a person’s right hand, then their strength and security will be dictated by the mercy of Satan instead of being under the covering of God. I have been someone who has wronged people who have meant me no harm, rewarding hatred for love.
To be honest, my eyes keep welling up with tears, because I know that in so many ways, I don’t deserve God’s forgiveness or His mercy. For Him to give it to me anyway, and for Him to shower His love on me anyway makes me very mindful of what sin does to others and what it does to God.
Do we forget in the midst of our wrongdoing that we are actually sinning against God?
In 2 Samuel 12:13-14, the Bible says, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”
Even David, a man cited as being a man after God’s own heart, had a moment where he wronged two people who did him no wrong, one exercising loyalty to God, him, and his fellow soldier in the process. We see that David faced some punishment for His sin, but he understood that he sinned against the Lord. There was still a consequence for his sins even though he was forgiven by God.
The word “depart” means “to cease, withdraw, or recede comfort from”.
The word “house” refers to a family, an actual house, but primarily a person’s life.
In Jeremiah 18:20-21, the Bible says, “Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them. Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.”
The consequences are rough for someone who rewards evil for good, but even God stayed His punishment of Israel when David sinned against God and did the census.
In 1 Peter 3:8-9, the Bible says, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
If we aren’t supposed to render evil for evil, then we definitely should not reward evil for good.
We should be the ones who bless, who love, who treat people like they are created in God’s image, deeply loved by Him.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 2, 2025 – 1 Corinthians 2:10 – things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10
Hi Everyone!
I was having a discussion with a brother in my prison environment about the Word of God.
I usually have my tablet with me, which has a Bible app on it, and I was sharing with him the passages that tied right in to what he was telling me.
Somewhere during the conversation, the brother asked me how was I able to find these verses off like I did, and I told him that it was the Holy Spirit that was directing me to where I needed to go, showing him the verses that back up what I was saying.
No person is truly effective for the kingdom of God without being led and directed by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the road map for living in the kingdom of God with correction, direction, and training, so that we will be able to live in the manner that God intends for us to live.
Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 2:10, things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
Paul is writing to a church facing a ton of issues. They have false teachers infiltrating the church, they have the pagan rituals being fused into the Gospel, they have sexual immorality running rampant, and some people are questioning Paul’s apostleship at the same time.
It is a mess to say the least. Corinth was a place where people traveled to from all over, and also a place where different philosophies were taught and shared. In this section, Paul is tackling where wisdom comes from.
The word “but” in the beginning of a verse shows us that there is context that we must pull from previous passages.
A “But God” at the beginning shows that there is a shift that only God can handle.
In 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, the Bible says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory”.
Paul is distinguishing the wisdom of this world from the wisdom of God, and he is establishing that the wisdom from God confounds those that are relying on wisdom from the world to answer the questions they have within them. The wisdom God bestows upon us, if shared, will then give glory back to God, because we will also share how we obtained the wisdom God gave us.
The word “revealed” means “to take off the cover, disclose, taught, or made known”.
This means we didn’t know this in our own power or knowledge, but the Holy Spirit turned the light on for us.
The word “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit.
In Matthew 13:10-11, the Bible says, “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
God knows the hearts of people and He teaches us to not cast pearls before swine. If God is teaching us this by His Word, then He most certainly practices it. He keeps the cover on for the people who are not seeking His face, but uncovers His mysteries for those who are!
In Matthew 16:15-17, the Bible says, “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Even the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is comes as the result of the Holy Spirit revealing Him to us. We are doing nothing on our own. This is why believers can’t glory in anything that they know because it all is revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.
The word “searcheth” means “to seek, investigate, or make inquiry”.
The phrase “deep things” means “mystery or profundity”.
The Holy Spirit is going to teach us things that will leave no doubt that we are being taught by God.
In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
The phrase “all things” leaves everything open for God to teach us by the Holy Spirit.
This is why 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
I am still shocked at what the Holy Spirit continues to teach me, and I completely understand this passage now more than ever. This world today is no different than Corinth back then. The self-help boom is off the charts, and everyone has their idea of the key to a happy life, but have you considered the Holy Spirit?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 3, 2025 – Jeremiah 7:24 – the penalty of disobedience
“But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
Jeremiah 7:24
Hi Everyone!
Last night, my cellmate went to the hole for a dirty urinary analysis test.
It completely disrupted my night, because the sergeant came back and woke me up at 1:30am, and told me that I had to step out of my room because they had go pack his stuff.
Annoyed, I got out of my bed and complied with the officer’s directives, and while they were packing my cellmate’s stuff, I sat in the day room and read my Bible.
Thinking about my cellmate, I recall how many times that I didn’t heed to sound advice, how self-destructive I was when I began my time, and how many times I set my own self back. Praise God, I ultimately learned the lessons that I needed to learn, and have been blessed to forge a different path.
My heart stings for my ex-cellmate now, because he now has to face consequences he wouldn’t have ever had to had he heeded the admonishments that God has been sending Him.
Today, we will discuss Jeremiah 7:24, the penalty of disobedience.
“But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
In this passage, Jeremiah is prophesying to Judah. They have turned away from God, they are placing their trust in false Gods, and they are disobeying the Word of God.
In Jeremiah 7:1-3, the Bible says, “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.”
Jeremiah is coming with a word directly from God to a people who have tossed God to the side, but in these three versus, God is showing us His mercy and patience with Judah, despite their disobedience. All God wants us to do is change our way, repent, and come after Him, but so many of us continue to go astray.
In Ezekiel 22:30-31, the Bible says, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.”
Not only is the disobedience among God’s people, but the priesthood which is supposed to stand in the gap for the disobedient were not doing their job either. This completely left them all open for the enemy to reign, and also for the wrath of God to come upon them.
In Isaiah 56:10-11, the Bible says, “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”
I have truly come to understand that sinfulness is selfishness at its core, because when I was in the world, the only thing that mattered was what I wanted and what mattered to me. God didn’t matter, and as long as I got what I wanted, all was well in the world. I even had people standing in the gap for me, serving as watchmen, trying to get me to forsake my way, but I didn’t listen.
The word “hearkened” means “to obey, or listen attentively with the intent of obeying”.
The phrase “incline their ear” expresses a desire to hear the word of God.
The phrase “walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart” means that they followed after their own purposes, according to the twisted nature of their morally wicked heart. There is no God on the throne in someone’s life where they are trying to live their own way.
In Jeremiah 3:21-22, the Bible says, “A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.
Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.”
Even in the midst of our disobedience, God is still trying to restore us into Himself, so that we can be His children and He can be our God. Even when we have forgotten about God, He hasn’t forgotten about us.
We can’t move forward in life with a disobedient heart.
In Romans 6:16 the Bible says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
We have a choice, and God is going to allow us to choose, but the question is, will we learn from the past and become servants of righteousness?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 4, 2025 – 1 Corinthians 2:12 – receiving the Spirit from God in power
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:12
Hi Everyone!
Some people ask me how did I learn all the Scripture that I did in order to be able to teach it to others.
I know that there is no way I could be doing this in my own strength and knowledge. For the last ten years, I have been teaching the Word of God in some type of capacity, whether it be person to person, in bigger Bible studies, or through these devotionals.
I remember one day, when teaching a brother, I seriously studied for over an hour on a passage preparing for our study.
I went through the Scriptures, through concordances, through the commentary, and still my mind was lost as to how I would lead the study. It would have been easier to pick something I knew already, but I stuck to our study plan. Even when the brother sat down, I literally told him that I have no clue where we are going, but we are going to trust the Holy Spirit.
Do you know that from that point on, the Holy Spirit completely blew us both away by what He revealed to us. It was then that I realized more than ever that the Holy Spirit is really the teacher, not me, and the brother literally watched the Holy Spirit give me verse after verse, reference after reference, and illustration after illustration.
Today, we will be looking at 1 Corinthians 2:12, receiving the Spirit from God in power.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Paul in this section of Scripture is convincing the church, who is being bombarded with false teachers, that the wisdom they have taught them with is of God and not of man.
In 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, the Bible says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory”.
The word “perfect” doesn’t mean “flawless”, but it means ” spiritually complete or mature.
Keep that in mind because it is very important. Paul expresses that the wisdom of the world will always hit the ground, but the wisdom from God unlocks the mysteries of God and heaven.
The person who is teaching in their own knowledge will eventually run out of material, but the person who teaches in God’s power will always have a fresh word come for them to share.
There is a difference between what is going on in the world around them and what is going on through the Holy Spirit. Paul is imploring the church to distinguish between the two.
The word “received” means “to obtain”.
The phrase “spirit of the world” deals with the doctrine, knowledge, and revelation from man’s wisdom.
The phrase “spirit which is of God” is completely different.
The Holy Spirit illuminates and empowers, remains within us, imparts spiritual knowledge, truth, aid, comfort, sanctification and intercession.
In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
The Holy Spirit gives us what we need to not only live in a Christ like manner, but also to obtain the wisdom we need to be effective teachers of the Word of God.
In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”.
It is not anything we are doing or anything we are that empowers us to know the mysteries of God, but it is the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth, revealing the things that God wants us to know.
We are nothing in our own strength.
The word “know” means “to see, understand, or perceive”, but the term also expresses oneness, where the Word of God comes in our hearts and minds, essentially causing us to become Scripture.
In John 15:4-5, the Bible says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Unless we abide in the Lord, we are not going to know what we need to know.
Also, in John 15:7, Christ says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
We won’t even know what to ask God for without His Holy Spirit prompting us.
Paul is showing the church that the wisdom of this world leaves us lacking the things we need to live a Godly life, to know the mystery of God, and the capability to distinguish truth from a lie.
It is only by the Holy Spirit that we are able do these things.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 5, 2025 – Luke 18:27, the God of the impossible
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:27
Hi Everyone!
We can only go so far in our own strength.
Our minds can only take us as far as the limits that we place upon it. Our vision has a point where we cease to fathom the possibilities.
In the frailty of our flesh, we can’t see the way through our sin and suffering in order to experience the blessed life that God promised us, and because of this, many give up and accept sinfulness as the only out they have.
With God, all this are possible. I don’t want this to be a cliché statement that sounds good, but is not believable, because everything I am in on the line.
If my God doesn’t specialize in the impossible, then I wouldn’t be saved, I wouldn’t be a college graduate with my Associate’s in Arts Degree,
I wouldn’t be in my sophomore year of a Biblical Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program through Trinity International University with a 4.0 GPA,
I wouldn’t be married to an amazing woman, I would have incredible friendships, and I most certainly wouldn’t be at this table every morning at 5:00am to put together these devotionals.
Because God specializes in the impossible, I am better than I have ever been in life. This can be your story too.
Today, we will be looking at Luke 18:27, the God of the impossible.
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
The phrase “and he said” tells us that this verse is a response to a conversation being had in the text, so we have to grab the context to understand the message in it for us.
There is a rich ruler that comes to Jesus and asks Him what must he do to inherit eternal life.
Jesus gives him some of the Ten Commandments, and in Luke 18:21, the Bible says, “And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.”
The rich ruler says that he has kept all the commandments, but yet he is asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. This is a clear indication that following the law isn’t enough.
In Romans 8:3, the Bible says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”.
The law is weak and cannot save, and sadly most people live life walking on a tiled floor, trying not to step on cracks. That is not the relationship God desires.
Christ tells the man to sell that he has, give it to the poor, and follow Him, but the man was hurt to the core, worried about parting with his riches. Jesus was showing him the way to eternal life, and that way was renouncing money as his God.
In Luke 16:13, Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
We can’t serve God and money. There is only one God. Jesus was pointing to a deeper heart issue, one not expressly covered in the Ten Commandments.
The love of money hinders relationship with God.
In Luke 18:25, Jesus says, “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
At the comment, the people are now asking who can be saved. This is another clear indication that the love of money was something that people were burdened with, something that withstood their salvation.
One of the keys to this topic verse is for us to understand that we can’t be saved on our own.
In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
The grace of God paves the way for salvation, because He gave us Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sin by taking on the sin of the world, shedding His blood on the cross. We couldn’t get saved on our own, nor can we live a sanctified on our own.
Our best works get us absolutely nowhere in the kingdom without Christ.
The phrase “impossible with men” speaks of the things that we are incapable of doing, no matter how hard we try.
The phrase “are possible with God” speaks of God’s might, power, and capability to save our souls.
We need to understand that we all are in the same boat, because in Romans 5:6-8, the Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The provision was made for salvation, and it came as the result of a sacrifice on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago, something God allowed to happen before we became “good enough” to earn it.
Are we willing to forsake our “possibilities” to experience the God of the impossible?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 6, 2025 – 1 Corinthians 6:17 – being one spirit with God
“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
1 Corinthians 6:17
Hi Everyone!
As believers, the goal for us is to experience oneness with God as we grow in our faith.
We should aim to become more like Christ, who was the fulfillment of the law of love and the perfect example of how to live holy in the earth.
This oneness is synonymous with the concept of marriage where the two become one flesh, and the fusion occurs so that you cannot distinguish one from the other.
We are supposed to bear God’s image and likeness in the earth, and when people see us, they are supposed to know that we belong to the Lord?
Is that true in our lives?
Do people think that it makes perfect sense that we are believers, because we are starting to look more like what they read and hear about Christ? This should be our goal, but praise God that we don’t have to do this on our own. We have the Holy Spirit that continues to guide us and teach us how to conform ourselves into the image of God.
Today, we will be looking at 1 Corinthians 6:17, being one spirit with God.
“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, who are facing a number of issues. Sexual immorality is one of the resounding issues going on in the area that is infiltrating the church. Not only are people having sex out of wedlock, but they are also joining themselves sexually to prostitutes. Paul is writing to establish the boundaries for healthy sexual relationships, which requires him to teach about sexual immorality.
In 1 Corinthians 6:15, the Bible says, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.”
We have to understand that when we became Christians, we became joined to the body of God, and our bodies are devoted to Him? This means that we have to understand that we now have to use our bodies, minds, and hearts according to the will of God.
Let’s look at God’s intent for mankind at creation.
In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
God always designed us to represent Him in the earth, so people would see us and know that there is a God in heaven. God never desired for us to be out of fellowship with Him, but sin broke that fellowship God intended with mankind. Through Christ, we are now again given the opportunity to experience this previous oneness with God.
It was something He actually prayed for in John 17:21-23, where He prays, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
Not only have we received salvation, but we have received God’s glory so we can fully experience Him in this life we live right now.
We don’t have to wait on heaven to experience God’s presence. We have it right now, and we have the chance to become living witnesses and testimonies that our God is real.
The word “joined” means “to glue, stick to, cleave, or keep company with”.
This is an intentional act on our part to experience this oneness with God in all these ways.
In James 4:8, the Bible says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
Not only is drawing closer to God intentional, but removing ourselves from the sin that hinders our walk with the Lord is intentional as well. When we join ourselves sexually to someone we are not married to, we are essentially cheating on God, going against His design for sex in a marriage.
In Matthew 19:5-6, the Bible says, “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Oneness in an earthly Union is extremely important because it is a preview of the spiritual union we can have with God, while on earth as well as throughout eternity.
In Ephesians 5:29-30, the Bible says, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
We have to live our lives as if we are a shell housing his spirit, because we really are! If our lives aren’t in conformity to God’s Word, then we living unfaithfully to God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 7 2025 – Isaiah 54:7, the door of mercy open to the forsaken
“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”
Isaiah 54:7
Hi Everyone!
I know the cold, empty feeling of being apart from God’s presence, knowing I had gone too far, as I lived unrepentant of my behavior.
It is not a feeling of security, and you begin to watch yourself a whole lot more, almost expecting anything bad to happen.
Sometimes, God gets tired of our crap, and the best way to cause us to draw back into His presence is to let us go live the life that we are rebelling against Him to live.
Sometimes we need to serve, the muck and more of that nonsense we served to fully mature before we cry out to God for deliverance, and then He hears us and answers with love, forgiveness and mercy.
When it happened to me, I cried out to God and I have been trying to keep in step with Him ever since. I have slip ups now and then, but I am committed to remain by God’s side the rest of my life.
I am grateful that God loved me enough to let go, because it made me realize that I truly need Him in ways I never imagined. The world was very cold without Him.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 54:7, the door of mercy open to the forsaken
“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”
Isaiah is writing this prophecy to Israel, giving them assurance that despite their obstinate conduct, despite the sin that has separated them from God, and despite God having to step back and let their Sin run its course, His love for them truly endures forever. God doesn’t condone sin, but He will be ready with love and acceptance when we come to Him repentant of our sins.
The phrase “for a small moment” means “a short space of time”.
It felt like a lifetime when I was living outside of God’s will and presence, but it was nothing more than a season. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, the Bible says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
We have finite minds with finite visions. We are short-sighted, and we tend to look at things from our own perspective. This is what leads to our sinfulness in the first place.
The word “forsaken” means “to loosen or relinquish”.
God knows our hearts and He understands when we are in sheer rebellion, refusing to submit to His will. He definitely will allow us to be turned over to whatever sin we desire to serve.
In Romans 1:27-28, the Bible says, “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”.
Looking at this verse written nearly two-thousand years ago, we see the parallels to the society that we live in today. God warns, commands, admonishes, but eventually, it comes to a point when God steps back as says, “If you want it, you can have it”.
This isn’t an indictment on homosexuality, but it is an indictment on sin, because in Romans 1:29-31, the Bible also says, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful”.
This is a much bigger list than one sin, and some of us partake in this kind of sinfulness far more than we would acknowledge.
The phrase “great mercies” means “compassion, as a mother cherishing the fetus”.
The word “gather” means “to grasp, collect or assemble”.
This means God will draw us back to Him by His unfailing compassion.
In 1 John 1:8-9, the Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God is more than willing to receive our repentance and meet it with forgiveness and restoration.
In Luke 15:20-21, Christ says, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son”.
God knows our hearts, and before he could utter the words of repentance, the Father ran out to meet him with compassion and forgiveness.
Imagine what God would do for us?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 8, 2025 – 1 Thessalonians 5:6 – staying on guard against the enemy
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6
Hi Everyone!
In Fox Lake Correctional Institution, where I am currently housed, we are currently locked down. They are doing a major drug sweep, where they pull us off of our unit, make us go to the gym, and they torpedo our rooms, looking for drugs or any contraband.
If they find something major, that person goes to the hole. Fortunately, no one on our unit went to the hole, but no one should, because when they found drugs a few days ago, they posted a memo stating that they were conducting an institution-wide shakedown.
They gave us advanced warning that they were coming, which is something that the enemy does not do.
The enemy usually creeps up on us without notice, and strikes us when we least expect it. He is hoping to finding us unaware, so he can inflict the greatest amount of damage to us.
This is why we have to always be on our guard, filled with the word of God, so that when it does come, what comes out of us is the Word of God.
Today, we will be looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:6, staying on guard against the enemy.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
Whenever we see a “therefore” at the beginning of a verse, we have to find out what it is there for.
Paul is preaching to a church in Thessalonica who are afraid of what the Lord’s return would mean for them. They were concerned, because the church was facing persecution and they were exposed to the deaths of believers. The church was concerned about those who died before the Lord’s return, and of course, they were worried about where they would go if they died.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, the Bible says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
Paul is encouraging them, that those who already sleep have there place secure in the kingdom of heaven, and he did so to give them hope in what they are facing right now. Paul is reassuring them that their faith is not in vain, that there is a true home waiting on them when this life is over.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:5, the Bible says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”
We have to be secure in who we are in Christ, that we are no longer of the world we have been delivered from. Sometimes, when all kinds of crazy is going on, especially the fear of death, we can lose sight of who we are. Paul is telling the church to not forget who they are in Christ.
That is what the “therefore” is there for.
The word “sleep” means “to lie down to rest, to fall asleep”, which also means “to be morally and spiritually disengaged, living without consciousness of the coming day”. This is the person who becomes slack in their faith because it becomes too hard, or they become impatient with waiting.
The phrase “as do others” shows us that there a people who fold in the face of the testing.
In Matthew 25:3-6, Christ teaches, “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
Even though all of them slept, the wise brides had oil in their lamps, which is a representation of being filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a difference in being asleep and being ready at all times. God desires for us to always have our lamps filled with oil. We have to be ready, because the enemy tries to catch us sleeping. He wants to catch us off-guard, or impatient, or even in defeat, so he can pick us off.
The word “watch” means “to keep awake or to be vigilant”.
The word “sober” means “to be discreet or to abstain from wine”.
In Romans 12:11-13, the Bible says, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
We are not supposed to be sitting on our hands, waiting on the Lord’s return. We should be living as if He is right with us right now! We are supposed to be serving others, remaining in Him though hardships, and keeping our minds and hearts rooted in love. There is too much work to be done to focus on what happens when this life is over.
In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour “
This is our early warning system that the enemy is going to try to flip our lives upside down, just like they did my room yesterday. Be on guard!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 9, 2025 – Jeremiah 10:12, the God that produced this amazing world
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”
Jeremiah 10:12
Hi Everyone!
Who is God to you?
This picture we have in our minds about God sets the borders of limitations for what He can do.
Some people choose not to believe in God despite the mere understanding that Someone greater than us had to create the perfection that we see every day in nature.
Some people believe in God, but don’t believe that God cares enough about them to do anything beneficial in our lives.
They see Him as a brutal dictator instead of a loving Father.
Others want to believe in God, but they have been bombarded with disappointment, belittlement, and have faced a myriad of challenges in this life, making it extremely hard to see beyond themselves.
Yet still, others rely on the Word of God as truth, and experience God in a way that defies understanding.
In order to understand God truly by faith, we have to really comprehend the fact that He created this world that we live in by His power.
Today, we will look at Jeremiah 10:12, the God that produced this amazing world.
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”
Jeremiah is preaching to Judah, primarily because they have turned to idol worship. Idolatry cuts people off from their only true source of salvation and guidance. Jeremiah is trying to get them to understand that the idols they worship cannot speak or do anything for them, because they can’t even do anything for themselves.
Imagine the god that you have to build in order to worship. If you have to make the god, then wouldn’t you have power over it?
In Jeremiah 10:5, the Bible says, “They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”
Jeremiah is using common sense to get the people of Judah to understand that they serve a god that has no power to do anything, good or bad.
He is comparing the type of idols they erect to the true and living God.
The word “made” means “to accomplish, fashion, or fulfill”.
The word “power” means “capacity, means, strength, or substance”.
The idol is made, but in Genesis 1:1-2, the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
So God took an empty world that had nothing on it but water and made it to what we now experience today.
In Genesis 1:3, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
This is how God brought the world into being, by speaking to the thing, and causing it to come forth.
In Romans 4:17, the Bible says, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
What does the faith of Abraham have to do with God’s creative power?
By Abraham believing that God created the world by His power through His spoken word, then Abraham believed that if God can call forth a world that didn’t exist before into reality, then He can easily call forth a baby from a barren womb.
The word “established” means “erect, set up, or frame”.
The word “wisdom” means “skillfulness”.
Not only did God create the world, but He set the boundaries of everything in the world as well. When I look at a frame, I see a border that contains a picture. We can only operate within the frame God has for our life, and our lives are supposed to produce a picture that glorifies God.
In Proverbs 8:27-29, the Bible says, “When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth”.
Wisdom was there from the beginning and assisted God in creation. Everything was created within the framework of God, so there is nothing in our lives that He doesn’t know.
The phrase “stretched forth the heavens” shows me that God enlarged the borders of the heavens.
The word “discretion” means “reason, understanding, or intelligence”.
In Isaiah 40:22, the Bible says, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in”.
God always wanted us to be seated in heavenly places in Christ even as we live on this earth. How does idolatry come close to any of this that God has done through creation, or can do today?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Jul 10, 2025 – 19: GODLY PROSPERITY SERIES – 10 DAYS – see DAILY DEVOTIONS 2022 Q4
Jul 20, 2025 – 31: MARITAL BLISS SERIES – 12 DAYS – see DAILY DEVOTIONS 2022 Q3
Aug 1 – Aug 7: NO DEVO’S POSTED – I (Peterwill) WAS IN HOSPITAL!!
Aug 8, 2025 – Aug 28: FEARLESSNESS OF FAITH SERIES 31 DAYS – see DAILY DEVOTIONS 2012 Q2
Aug 29, 2025 – 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – pursuing good towards mankind instead of revenge
“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Hi Everyone!
Revenge is being played out on our communities, in warfare, and in international conflict.
We saw the President of the United States impose tariffs on a country, and that country imposed reciprocal tariffs on the U.S., plummeting the stock prices, raising the cost of food and products, and causing uncertainty about our future.
Right now, Israel is at war with the Palestinians and the Iranians, and bombs have been exploding on both sides, in clear revenge for what the other has done. See, in getting revenge, or avenging evil done to us, we think we are getting back at the other party, but a child gets hurt, a mother loses a son, a family is torn apart, all unintended consequences.
Despite what happens to us, getting revenge is not the way that God wants us to handle the situation.
Today we will look at 1 Thessalonians 5:15, pursuing good towards mankind instead of revenge.
“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Paul is sending final instructions to the church at Thessalonica. He has been encouraging them that the day of the Lord is coming and that they should live their lives in full expectancy of the Lord’s coming.
This means that we should live our lives the way God desires for us to live, bearing His image and likeness in the world. This means that when we are wronged by others, we put on love instead of warfare.
This means we defy the social norms of society that compels us to get even.
The word “see” means “to discern clearly or take heed”.
The phrase “render evil for evil” means “to recompense or repay harm with harm”.
This goes against the normal inclinations that most of us have.
In Leviticus 19:17-18, the Bible says, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
My wife Jessica posts a lot of stuff about our marriage, about our pursuit for my freedom, and good stuff about me. Trolls come out to bring up my past crimes from nearly 22 years ago, to attack what we are doing now, and my wife has this Mama Bear mentality, where she feels that she has to protect me from people like that. I tell her that if we respond to them, then we are no better than they are.
In Proverbs 20:22, the Bible says, “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”
This is hard, but it is very necessary, because God has a plan for these kind of situations that are much better than our own.
In 2 Samuel 5:22-23, the Bible says, “And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.”
David just had a great victory over the Philistines, but the Philistines came back for more, undoubtedly upset by their defeat. Instead of going after them, knowing they would likely win again, David stopped and enquired of God for His plan. This time, God told him to not go up against them, but to wait until he heard the sound going over the mulberry trees. The Lord went to battle ahead of David, ensuring that he got the victory.
The word “follow” means “to pursue”.
The word “good” means “beneficial or pleasing to God”.
When we are offended by others, we have to step out of ourselves and think about how our response can please God.
In Matthew 5:38-39, Christ says, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Making yourself available to be a punching bag doesn’t feel good, but God has a different plan for His children, one that will bring glory to Him.
In Matthew 5:44, Christ also says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”.
God wants us to take it a step further. I remember a guy called me a horrible name at recreation a couple of years ago. He did this in front of at least 50 people. He kept calling me names and then he started threatening me too. Everything in me wanted to punch this guy in the face, but I told him that I loved him.
Before the end of the rec. period, we talked, I gave him a hug, and I was able to encourage him through a personal matter he was going through.
Had I gotten revenge, that moment wouldn’t have happened. How many moments do we squander away taking justice into our own hands?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Aug 30, 2025 – Romans 7:22 – delighting in God’s word
“I delight in the law of God after the inward man”.
Romans 7:22
Hi Everyone!
As believers, we struggle with sin. The new convert is battling sin just as the pastor who is preaching the gospel struggles with sin. Paul, one of the top pastors of the church, clearly defines his own battle with sin as the war in his members within this text. Sometimes, he is victorious, and other times he slips, but this passage of Scripture is essential for those who mistakenly believe that they are able to flawlessly follow the law of God, or for those who judge someone else’s missteps. The more we grow as believers, our hearts change towards the commandments of God, and we form a desire to do the things that God wants us to do.
Today, we will look at Romans 7:22, delighting in God’s word.
“I delight in the law of God after the inward man”.
The word “delight” means “to rejoice in or to feel satisfaction concerning”.
The phrase “law of God” here pertains to the Mosaic Law that Paul grew up following that he still places great value in, even after his conversion.
He knows the law can’t save, but he sees a deeper importance in the law now as a believer in Christ.
In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
When we delight in God’s Word, it is going to be something our minds and hearts respond to that compels a shift in our thoughts and behaviors to reflect more of God’s image and likeness.
The phrase “inward man” means “man’s inner being, the deepest part of man where his desires, passions, and will flow from.
If we delight in God’s Word, then we will pursue it day and night, equating its importance to that of food.
In Psalm 119:11-12, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.”
David, like Paul, found great value in God’s Word, planting it deeply within him, so in times of temptation, he would respond the way God desired him to respond. Are we feeding ourselves with the Word of God daily and often. In order to become more Christlike, we have to know the will of God for us, which is found in the Bible.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6, the Bible says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
When the word of God is written on our hearts, God’s glory will come from our behavior, and He will draw us closer to Him in knowledge and truth.
When I received the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, I wanted to know more about God’s Word, and I wanted a real relationship with God. I wasn’t as concerned with getting everything right, because I knew that if I got to know God’s Word better, it would begin the heart change that I desired.
When we view sin in others, we must be careful to not judge their heart. We don’t know their struggles, nor do we know how deeply it runs. Instead of judging them, pray for them.
In Ephesians 3:16-17, the Bible says, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love”.
When we are tested by sin, we need strength to endure the testing, a fortitude in the face of trial to cleave to the Word of God, instead of what tempts us.
In Romans 6:19, the Bible says, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”
When we delight after God’s law, we render ourselves submissive to the Word of God, and we carry ourselves in a fashion that pleases God through our behavior. Just because we are tested, doesn’t mean that we have to give in.
There is true strength in the Word of God that brings victory over sin.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Aug 31, 2025 – Romans 7:23 – the war between the law of God and the law of sin within us
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
Romans 7:23
Hi Everyone!
Spiritual warfare is something that affects us all, especially believers in Christ.
There is an old nature that continues to rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times, and there is the new nature in Christ that continues to grow us into the people God desires us to be.
Paul is being brutally honest with believers about his struggle with sin, that sometimes, he caves and becomes captive to the sin that wages war within him.
If a pastor can acknowledge his struggles, then surely we can be honest with ourselves that we too have moments where we do things that displease God.
To see ourselves as we are is vital to us understanding how deeply we need the Holy Spirit’s help to overcome the sin that plagues our lives.
Today, we will look at Romans 7:23, the war between the law of God and the law of sin within us.
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
For context purposes, seeing the word “but” at the beginning of a verse should cause us to look back to understand the shift that is taking place.
In Romans 7:21-22, the Bible says, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man”.
Pay attention to this. Paul strives to do good, but evil is there too, knocking on the door of his heart, trying to gain entrance. This isn’t Paul looking to do wrong, but evil comes when he is trying to do things God’s way.
Does any of this sound familiar?
In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.
When we want to do good, some of us can drop our guards just a little to not see the enemy coming, but ask yourself, why would the enemy stand there quietly and allow you to do God’s will unchecked?
The word “see” means “to perceive or understand”.
The word “law” here means “principle for prescriptive usage”.
The phrase “warring against the law of my mind” means “attacking the desire we have to serve God”.
This the enemy trying to convince us of the benefits of sin.
I remember years ago when the enemy was trying to convince me that if I cut corners and sold drugs in prison, I could get an appeal lawyer faster. He laid it all out for me, including the opportunity, but praise God that I said no… multiple times!
In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The enemy is attacking our minds, the place where our thoughts, feelings, and will come from, and he is trying to get us to step outside of God’s will for just a second so we can experience the pleasure of sin.
To renew our mind involves a continuous process of planting the Word of God in our hearts and minds, so that God’s standard remains our standard.
Paul expresses that the warfare has made him captive to sin sometimes.
In Romans 6:17-18, the Bible says, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
That word “servant” actually means “slave”, which shows us that we have subjected ourselves to the complete will of the sin in us.
This is why we must remain saturated in the Word of God, because the Word empowers us with a standard against sin.
In Galatians 5:16-17, the Bible says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
Walking in the Spirit is living all life that is led by the Word of God, our only hope against spiritual warfare.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 1, 2025 – 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – an spiritual self-examination
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Hi Everyone!
Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica to persevere in the faith, and live their lives in full expectancy of the Lord’s coming.
Paul encouraged the church to live and move as children of God, the reflection of God’s glory, so that we wouldn’t have to worry about being prepared for our last day.
We would live as if tomorrow is not coming, and today is the only day we have to walk our faith out.
In this world, there is a constant stream of influences that are drawing people out of fellowship with God, and causing people to live counter the world of God, but as believers, we have to weigh things we encounter according to the Word of God.
If it lines up, then we can keep it, but if it doesn’t, we have to cast it away.
Today, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 5:21, an spiritual self-examination.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
The word “prove” means “to test, to try by fire, to examine, or to discern”.
This Scripture doesn’t tell us to prove “some” things, but it tells us to prove “all things”.
How are we to test all things?
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
These verses, also written by Paul, show us that “all scripture” is used for instruction, for examination, for redirection, and to show us how to live righteously in this world, then there is no other method by which we are to prove all things.
This is also necessary to equip us fully to do the works that God calls us to do. We can’t do things God’s way without it being in line with God’s Word. The world paints a different picture, and deceives people who don’t know any better.
In Romans 12:1-2, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
In order to be the living sacrifices that God commands, we have to make ourselves completely available to God, surrendering our will to embrace His will.
When we are in this posture, we can then experience this daily and continuous renewing process of our minds so that we can be in the frame of mind to know what God’s will is.
In Galatians 5:16, the Bible says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
When we pattern our lives according to the Word of God, we are walking and living in the Spirit. That means that we are constantly weighing the decisions we make according to the Word of God, bringing ourselves under subjection to it.
The phrase “hold fast” means “to retain or to seize in one’s mind and heart”.
The word “good” means “virtuous or valuable in appearance or use”.
The word “good” is going to always express something that is pleasing to God and aligns with His will.
In Philippians 4:8, the Bible says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
These are the things that we must seize in our minds and hearts, because all of these things have a direct connection to the Word of God.
In 1 John 4:1, the Bible says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
We have to be careful, because the enemy is crafty at making something sound Godly when it is actually is filled with falsehood. We have to be able to spot the fake and cling to the truth as believers, especially now!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 2, 2025 – Exodus 3:7 – a God who sees my pain and understands my sorrows
“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows”.
Exodus 3:7
Hi Everyone!
In the midst of the Israelites’ agony in Egypt, they cried out to God.
They were enslaved unjustly, but it was still directly within the purpose of God, to show His glory and power in Egypt.
In the midst of my confinement, I cry out to God for freedom in a way that I never have before. I don’t have a full understanding about what Israel experience directly, but I feel the pressure of incarceration, I feel my strength slip, and I feel the torture.
Sometimes, when we are the deepest afflicted, we think God somehow shut off His ears. The thing we don’t know was that their cries were heard by God and He was going to send a deliverer to free them.
I believe God is doing the same thing for me.
Today, we will look at Exodus 3:7, a God who sees my pain and understands my sorrows.
“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows”.
In this conversation between Moses and God by the burning bush, God introduces Himself to Moses and He is about to tell him his purpose.
The word “seen” means “to perceive, to discern, or to regard”
The word “affliction” means “depression, misery, or trouble”.
This tells us something about God because He doesn’t just see what we go through externally, but He sees what is in our hearts as well.
In Exodus 2:23-25, the Bible says, “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”
Sometimes, it has to get bad enough for the cry to be great enough, for God to look down and say, “enough!” Israel was being mistreated horribly and couldn’t take anymore, so they cried out to God for help.
Our topic verse is His answer!
The word “heard” means “to attentively listening with intention of acting”.
The slave masters hurt them badly enough for the cry to grab God’s attention. Sometimes, we can become so complacent in our suffering that we don’t even cry out.
In Nehemiah 9:9-10, the Bible says, “And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.”
The sound of God’s triumph is in our history, and it is a reminder that God meets us right where we are with the deliverance that we need.
The word “know” expresses a oneness, nearly as if He is experiencing it like we are.
The word “sorrows” means “grief, or anguish”.
In Hebrews 4:15-16, the Bible says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Parents know that there is a certain cry that their babies can do that they can hear from anywhere and they will run through a wall in order to get to them. Our God does so much more! Imagine having a God that experienced it like we have so we could come to a God that truly understands our anguish.
In Psalms 106:44-45, the Bible says, “Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.”
Even when we are wrong and have done something that has confined us, God will hear the cry of the repentant and bestow His mercies upon us. Just as God heard the cries of Israel, I know God heard my cry piercing heaven. My deliverance is coming!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 3, 2025 – Exodus 3:8 – a deliverer sent to the oppressed
“And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”
Exodus 3:8
Hi Everyone!
In this passage of Scripture, Moses is being called by God to be the person that delivers Israel from the hand of the Egyptians.
They have been enslaved for hundred of years, and their enslavement was torturous.
Their cry to God in the midst of their agony was heard and God was preparing an answer for them in the form of a Hebrew-born, former heir to all of Egypt.
Only God could do something like this, and this is another example to the sovereignty of God, showing us that He can, and will, deliver us from anyone or anything, no matter how strong the oppression.
Today, we will look at Exodus 3:8, a deliverer sent to the oppressed.
“And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”
Many people attribute Moses to be the deliverer of Israel.
The word “deliver” means “to rescue, to save, to defend, or to snatch away”.
In this conversation between God and Moses, God clearly says, “I am come to deliver them”, which tells us that Moses is merely the instrument that God ordained to represent His purpose.
Remember in Mark 12:17 when Jesus says, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”
Sometimes, we give the wrong people credit. Being in prison, a lot of people would attribute their lawyer as their “Moses”, without understanding that Isaiah 37:35 says, “For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”
It is God who produces the deliverance, so that His glory shall be revealed, so that there should be no doubt as to who is behind the victory.
The word “hand” means “power, means, direction or dominion”. God not only wants to deliver Israel from their bondage, but He wants to deliver them into a land flowing with milk and honey.
The word “flowing” means “flowing freely or overflowing”.
When we look at the word “milk”, it means “richness of kine”, but we can see it as overflowing with new life. Milk is produced with new birth.
Honey was a luxury item, and in 1 Samuel 14:27, the Bible says, “But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.”
Honey also was used for healing purposes as well. So they were entering a land full of new life, luxury, and healing, all delivered to them by God.
God has already projected the victory over Pharoah in Egypt, and in this passage, goes in to tell Moses that they are going to occupy lands that belong to other people.
In Genesis 50:24, the Bible says, “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Before Moses is born, before Israel was enslaved, Joseph gave prophecy that God would deliver them out of Egypt and into the land flowing with milk and honey.
In Exodus 6:6-7, the Bible says, “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
Just as the deliverance of Israel came from God alone, the deliverance in our own lives from spiritual and physical bondage comes by God alone. When the instrument is called to deliver, let us be mindful that it is the Lord’s power that gives the victory.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 4, 2025 – John 7:16 – a doctrine that comes only from God
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
John 7:16
Hi Everyone!
Beware of those who expect you to be ordinary.
Jesus went to the Feast of Tabernacles, even knowing that the Jews sought to kill Him.
Imagine them frantically looking for Him, while badmouthing Him, and Jesus was in the temple, teaching the Word of God.
The Jews that heard Jesus teach were blown away that someone who wasn’t an ordained priest, someone who wasn’t formally educated in the Word of God, someone so despised by the Jewish leadership could teach the Word of God with so much clarity and understanding.
What they didn’t know was that they were talking to the living Word of God, who was receiving His words directly from the mouth of God. When we share the Word of God and people marvel at what we know, does the glory go to God, or do we pat ourselves on the back?
Today, we will look at John 7:16, a doctrine that comes only from God.
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
This verse is the reply to a question offered up in John 7:15, which says, “And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
Because Jesus allowed God’s power and wisdom to work through Him, people always marvelled at His teachings.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Jesus was thoroughly equipped to present the Word of God in a way that entered the mind and heart in a way that it never had before. This is one of the reasons why the Jewish leadership hated Jesus because He was stealing the hearts of the people away from them and they were losing their importance with the people.
In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
So the same power, the same wisdom, and the same truth that came to Him from the Holy Spirit is now available to those who believe.
It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to teach others, not our own wisdom.
The word “doctrine” means “instruction or tutoring”.
The word “sent” means “to dispatch”.
Jesus is telling the Jews that everything he knows and everything He is teaching comes from God, who dispatched Him to teach it.
In John 3:9-11, the Bible says, “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.”
Nicodemus was a part of the Jewish leadership, but he came to Jesus by night and was taught of Him. Nicodemus was formally taught, but he didn’t understand the spiritual matters Christ taught. Just because someone went to Bible college, doesn’t mean they know Scripture in the manner that God desires us to.
Experiencing the Holy Spirit’s instruction makes us witnesses of God’s truth and power, and we merely speak what we are given to say.
In John 8:28, Christ says, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
Sometimes, we won’t fully understand that someone was sent by God until they are gone. Christ is telling them that they will know that He was the Christ, but He still took time to acknowledge that He is merely sharing the instruction that God gave Him.
In John 12:49, the Bible says, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”
Christ left us an example of how we are to teach and how to glorify God in the process.
Christ always gave God the glory, but will we?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 5, 2025 – John 8:11 – a Saviour who doesn’t condemn
“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:11
Hi Everyone!
In this passage a woman is caught in the very act of adultery.
The scribes and Pharisees snatched this woman up and brought her to Jesus, using her situation to tempt Him, so that they could discredit His ministry.
Ironically, Jesus is in the temple teaching the people while the religious leadership, who are supposed to be in the temple teaching are outside the temple accusing and condemning sinners.
They bring this woman to Jesus, they are ready to carry out the Law of Moses which says that she should be stoned for the adultery.
Ironically, it is not depicted in Scripture that the man, who had to be with her, was taken as well. So not only are the scribes and Pharisees judging the sins of others, but they are showing favoritism with their judgment as well.
This completely counters the ministry and narrative of Jesus, who came to save us from our sins, not to condemn us for our sin.
Today, we will look at John 8:11, a Saviour who doesn’t condemn.
“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
In John 3:16-17, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Just as a company has a mission statement that defines its purpose, this iconic scripture defines Jesus Christ’s purpose on earth.
God made Jesus the vehicle and conduit for salvation, but God did not sent Jesus to condemn the world of sin.
In John 1:29, the Bible says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John The Baptist, whose purpose was to pave the way for Christ, proclaimed His purpose as well, that Jesus came to save the world of their sin.
They bring this woman to Jesus, and tell the Living Word of God that the Law says that she should be stoned, but wanted to know Christ’s take on the subject.
In John 8:7, the Bible says, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Of course, no one can stone this woman but Jesus Himself, and one by one, from the oldest to the youngest they drop their stones and depart, leaving Jesus and the woman there. Christ is illustrating that no one is in any position to judge or condemn someone else.
The world “condemn” means “to judge against or sentence”.
The word “go” means “to depart and live”.
The word “sin” means “to trespass against God”.
Jesus doesn’t excuse her sin, nor does He condone her sin, but He instructs her to remove this sinfulness from her life.
In Romans 8:1, the Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
This world does not operate according to the same narrative, and sadly, the way people have been introduced to Jesus us through judgment and condemnation. People go through life never understanding the love, compassion, and redemption that is offered through Christ because the people who are supposed to represent the Gospel are casting stones, instead of teaching them the Gospel.
This is why in Matthew 7:1-3, Christ says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?“
This is why Christ told the crowd to cast a stone at the woman if they are without sin, because he knew that they would have to judge the sin in their own hearts and lives.
Being in prison for the last 22 years, I have felt stones hurled at me, even when I shared the Gospel!
Praise God, that Jesus didn’t condemn me, but showed me the way to salvation.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 6, 2025 – 1 Corinthians 14:20 – spiritual maturity growing in the believer in Christ
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
1 Corinthians 14:20
Hi Everyone!
Paul is expressing to the Church, and to us, that orderly worship of God is necessary for the building up of believers and the educating of unbelievers.
The subject of gifts, and the speaking in tongues, has surfaced in his letter, and Paul is giving clarification about the importance of understanding over the importance of the gift itself.
If we speak a language openly that no one understands, then how can what we hear develop our maturity in the Lord?
Paul desires the church to exercise their gifts, but to do so in a manner that it glorifies God and not those who received the gifts.
Paul also desires for the church to grow in love, maturity and understanding of the Word of God, prioritizing that over the gift of tongues.
Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 14:20, spiritual maturity growing in the believer in Christ.
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
The word “brethren” gives us the intended hearer of this passage, meaning “fellow Christian, one united intimately in fellowship with another, or one possessing the same father”.
Paul is the pastor, and one of the leading pastors of the church, but he doesn’t speak to them like he is over them, but rather as someone who is alongside them.
In 1 Corinthians 14:12, the Bible says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
Paul understands that the church is eager to experience and exercise their spiritual gifts, but being someone who has been in their shoes and has grown, Paul is instructing the church to excel in building the church first above the zeal for gifts.
The word “children” means “immature”.
The word “understanding” means “thinking or cognition”.
Paul desires the church to exercise spiritual maturity, instead of being a church that operates from feelings.
In Psalms 131:1-2, the Bible says, “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”
This is an example of spiritual maturity, walking in the completeness God allows us to experience as we grow in faith and knowledge of the Word of God. It compels us to think before we act and before we speak, and it also ushers in a deeper sense of humility.
The word “malice” means “evil, badness, wickedness in moral character”.
The word “children” here actually means “a babe or someone who us innocent”.
In Ephesians 4:14, the Bible says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.
Ever see a child with too much sugar in their system? This is how a person is spiritually who has no direction and is not rooted in Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, the Bible says, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”
The spiritually immature cannot receive this of God in a manner where it causes a change in their hearts.
The word “men” means “spiritually mature or completeness”.
The person who is spiritually mature is going to desire to see the church built up, even if they never exercise their gifts.
In Hebrew 5:14, the Bible says, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
When we are spiritually mature we are able to not only discern good and evil, but we will also be able to discern when something is edifying to the body of Christ.
Sometimes, something good is actually bad for someone if they can’t handle it.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 7, 2025 – 1 Corinthians 14:26 – doing things properly and orderly
“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
1 Corinthians 14:16
Hi Everyone!
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, imparting the direction they need in order to serve God in the manner that God desires.
Back in those times, there were not church buildings, but people met in each other’s homes, and wherever they could gather to experience the Word of truth.
Imagine going to one of these services where people got up out of nowhere and led the service by speaking tongues, or if multiple people got up with doctrine to share, or everyone had a divine revelation from God to speak about.
The disorder in that would not build any up, but would lead into a state of confusion.
I actually experienced something like this at a Bible study, where people were speaking out of turn, where everyone had a revelation that bested the others, and someone even got up to speak to the brethren and started speaking in tongues, saying nothing else before or after! That is not orderly worship.
Today we will look at 1 Corinthians 14:26, doing things properly and orderly.
“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
The word “brethren” speaks of fellow Christians, those united with Christ and each other in intimate fellowship.
Unity is what Christ desires for the church.
In John 17:21, Christ prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Oneness ushers in the Spirit of God in such a way that it confirms the truth about God’s existence to others. This is what is supposed to be present in our church services, in our Bible studies, and in our fellowship. Sadly, this isn’t always the case, because it can become a mindless competition among believers that cause them to “one-up” each other.
The word “psalm” means “song”.
The word “doctrine” means “instruction or teaching”.
In Ephesians 4:11-13, the Bible says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”.
Our worship services should exemplify unity and strength, where our God given callings come together to build up the body of believers.
What God gives us is supposed to be used in an orderly fashion, so that we can receive the things God has for us. People are supposed to see the church and see the move of God like they did in the first century. Sadly, that is not always the case.
The word “tongue” speaks of the divine communication of God that flows from within a person and breaks forth in abrupt expression of praise and devotion to God, which are not coherent and not always intelligible.
It is one thing to praise God in tongues and another thing altogether to stand before the body and just start praising God in tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 14:6, the Bible says, “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”
The word “revelation” means “disclosure of the divine mysteries of God”.
The word “interpretation” means “translation”.
The word “edifying” means “building up”.
In 1 Corinthians 14:12, the Bible says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
What God gives us is always so that we can serve others with it, so that they can be strengthened, encouraged, enlightened, and walk away better than how they came.
This is what orderly worship in service provides, and it glorifies God in the process!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 8, 2025 – Galatians 3:26 – the true children of God
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26
Hi Everyone!
In the book of Galatians, Paul comes against the doctrine of the Judaizers, who crept into the church and taught believers of Christ that, in order to experience true salvation, they had to take up the Mosaic Law and follow it.
This doctrine discounted the cleansing, redemptive, and saving blood of Jesus Christ, and actually tried to teach people that Christ’s death on the cross wasn’t enough.
In this passage of Scripture, Paul is teaching the Galatian church about the purpose of the law, that it was a type of school system that taught and sustained people until the promise would come, the promise being Jesus Christ.
Jesus fulfilled the law so that by faith in Him, we would NOT have the burden of keeping the law ourselves.
Faith in Jesus has made us children of God, and there is a big difference in being created by God and being His child.
Christ is the difference.
Today, we will look at Galatians 3:26, the true children of God.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
People have errantly stated that “we all are children of God”.
That statement is not true, because the statement contradicts Scripture.
The word “children” means “descendant, offspring, one who is the object of paternal care and love, those who God loves and cherishes as a Father, the pious worshippers of God, the righteous, His saints, or Christians”.
In John 1:11-13, the Bible says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.“
In this passage of Scripture, there is a clear condition in order for us to be called the children of God.
We have to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in order to receive the power to become the children of God. This isn’t an appellation that is handed to us because we are created by God, but because we received Christ by faith, AND experience a new birth, where God is now our Father and we are born of Him.
The word “faith” means “moral conviction of the truthfulness of God, reliance upon Christ for salvation, assurance, or belief.”
This consists of Christian doctrine, the gospel, and all Christians stands for.
In Romans 8:14-16, the Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”.
We receive Christ by faith and it changes our relationship with God, and it changes our spiritual condition as well.
It puts us in direct fellowship with God, where we can call Him “Daddy”. It is one thing for God to be our God, but it is a deeper thing for God to be our Father, this is the right relationship that God desires for us, to be one with Him as Christ was when He walked in the earth.
In Galatians 4:3-5, the Bible says, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
When we were unbelievers, we were children of the world, but God made Jesus Christ available to those who believe, so that by faith, we can receive the adoption that makes us legally and spiritually His.
In 1 John 3:1, the Bible says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
The children of God know God and are known by Him, and this came by the love of God that completely defies our understanding.
It was a love offering that made Christ available, and by faith, we become children of God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 9, 2025 – Galatians 3:27 – putting on Christ in our daily lives
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27
Hi Everyone!
It is said that Paul visited the Galatian church twice before he wrote this letter, but every time he departed from the church, Judaizers came in and spread their errant doctrine that believers had to take up the law in order to fully be saved.
Paul is clarifying the record in his letter to the Galatian church, informing them that by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, they have already attained the promise of salvation.
Instead of putting on the Law, which is what the Judaizers were teaching, they only have to put on Christ, which is essential to living a saved lifestyle.
Giving ourselves in complete surrender and oneness with God allows us to robe ourselves in Christ.
When that happens, we bear His attributes and represent Him in our lives.
Today, we will look at Galatians 3:27, putting on Christ in our daily lives.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The word “baptized” means “to make fully whelmed, to fully immerse oneself into the belief, profession or observance in Christ, or to be identified with Christ.”
This expresses that we have died to our old self and have begun our new life in Christ.
In Romans 6:3-4, the Bible says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Because Christ fulfilled the Law, we don’t share the requirement to take up the Law. Now this doesn’t mean that we have a blank check to go back to our lives of sin because we are also dead to our old life of sin as well.
In Romans 6:1-2, the Bible says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Being baptized into Christ, means that we have received that coveted second chance to live our lives for Him instead of living our lives to serve the world.
Walking in the newness of life means that we live from our salvation, and we live in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It gets no better than this, but many people treat salvation flippantly, like Someone didn’t die a horrible death in order for us to experience the eternal life that we now live from.
The phrase “put on” means “to array, to invest in clothing, or to sink in a garment”.
In Ephesians 6:12-13, the Bible says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
When we put on Christ, we also put on the armor of God, to guard us against the schemes of the enemy.
This also means that we are saturating ourselves in the Word of God, so that we have the standard of truth always before us.
Romans 13:14, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
When we put on Christ, we have the ability to say no to sinfulness. We are empowered to refrain from a sinful life, but we still have a choice, and with that choice, we tend to sometimes deviate back into sin.
In Acts 4:12, the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Jesus Christ is that name, and by putting on Him, we can live from that promise of salvation.
In John 4:24, Christ says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
By putting on Christ, we can serve God the way He intends for us, without being incorrectly taught that faith in Christ isn’t enough.
He is more than enough, and so are we in Him!
Let us robe ourselves in Christ daily.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 10, 2025 – Galatians 3:28 – breaking the wall of differences between us
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28
Hi Everyone!
Paul is teaching about the divisions in the church.
There is a difference between unity and sameness, and Paul is stressing that even though we are of different race, status, and sex, we are still one in Christ.
Division keeps us from coming into oneness with each other, which also causes us to not come into oneness together with God as He intends.
Sometimes, we use division to exercise superiority over other people and that should not be.
We should acknowledge that God indeed has made us of different things, but that is so together, we will be able to reach every possible need the world has.
Many people look down on me because I am in prison, without seeing that I am a brother in the faith, and sadly I have written a number of churches only to not receive that response.
That is not how a body functions, to neglect someone who is under a different set of circumstance.
Today, we will be looking at Galatians 3:28, breaking the wall of differences between us.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Naturally, Paul is coming against the Judaizers’ doctrine in his letter, because they had infiltrated the church and began to shift the standard of the church. Being Jews, the Judaizers would naturally have an issue with Gentiles.
Even Peter had an issue with Gentiles as evidence by Acts 10:13-15, the Bible says, “And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
The Lord had to correct his thinking because he would be completely ineffective as a pastor with racist sentiments.
In Psalm 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Even in the Old Testament, oneness was something treasured by God, and He frequently used perceived outsiders to fulfill His purpose. If God saw divisions, there would have been no Rahab to help the spies and marry into the Jews, and there would be no Ruth, a Moabite whose faithfulness to God and Naomi allowed her to be married into the line leading right to David, which led to Christ.
Even Abraham, who was originally from Ur in the Chaldees, was selected by God to allow Judaism to begin through him, yet there would have been a real problem in the days of Paul if a person from Babylon would have walked into the temple!
In Ephesians 4:2-3, the Bible says, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
It should be our ambition as believers to actively pursue unity within the body of Christ. This means that we have to humble ourselves, we have to be patience with our differences, and we have to lead with love.
The word “one” expresses unity, something Jesus prayed for in John 17:22-23, which says, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
This unity ushers in the glory and love of God, and in this unity we can be spiritually mature and complete.
There should be no division between Jews and Gentiles, those confined and those free, and there should be no battle of the sexes, but there should be a body of people formed together to give God the glory.
In Ephesians 2:14, the Bible says, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us”.
We have not experienced the walls being broken down between us if we aren’t living in oneness with the body of Christ. We haven’t begun to grow to our fullness spiritually with this division present!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 11, 2025 – Galatians 3:29 – Christians that are heirs to the promises of God
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:29
Hi Everyone!
Paul has to re-established truth within the Galatian church about where they stand with God as the result of their faith in Christ.
Imagine the believer who newly receives Christ based on someone’s teaching, and the minute that teacher leaves, someone else comes in and tells them that they weren’t taught correctly, that there is one more thing they have to do in order to fully be saved.
Paul is establishing that because of a believer’s faith in Jesus Christ, they are partakers in the same blessings that were given to the Jews through Abraham.
It is highly important for believers to know exactly where we are with God and with our faith, because the enemy loves to come in and use our instability to spread confusion, so that we don’t mature in the faith.
Today, we will be looking at Galatians 3:29, Christians that are heirs to the promises of God.
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Being in Christ means that we are joined to Him, that we belong to Him, and the newness that we receive as the result of this union allows us to fulfill God’s will for out lives.
In Colossians 3:1-3, the Bible says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
We not only belong to Christ, but we have been risen with Him as well.
This not only means that we have been identified in His resurrection, but we have become of citizen of the kingdom of God, and according to Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
Being in Christ assures us that we are in heavenly places with Christ even as we live in this earth.
The phrase “Abraham’s seed” means “the spiritual children of Abraham, who by faith, are the heirs of the promises made to him.”
The word “heirs” means “partaker of the blessings which God bestows upon His children, implying admission to heaven and its privileges.”
The word “promise” means “a divine assurance of good, and the future blessing and enjoyment of God’s favour”.
In Genesis 22:17-18, the Bible says, “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
They promises given to Abraham belong to us as well, and we are blessed to be a blessing to others as well. Just as the promise came to Abraham by obedience and faith in God, the promises come to us by the same way.
The Jews became partakers of the blessing of Abraham because there were his seed.
We become partakers of these blessings by faith in Jesus Christ.
Being a heir means that we receive the estate of one who has died, and when Christ died on the cross, we received the Holy Spirit, which is the kingdom of God within us.
In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
The Holy Spirit will continue to tell us who we are in Christ, and we will share in His sufferings, but we will also share in His glory by being heirs of the promises.
In Ephesians 3:6, the Bible says, “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel”.
Let no one come and tell you that your salvation isn’t enough to receive the blessings and promises of God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 12, 2025 – Ephesians 1:5 – adopted with good pleasure by God
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”
Ephesians 1:5
Hi Everyone!
It should be important to note that Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome.
This letter is designed to show the church who we are, who Christ is, and that God is forming us into a body where Christ is the head.
The importance of Paul writing this from prison, facing an unknown length of confinement, potentially death, is the fact that someone in prison may not feel like this promises applies to them due to the dire circumstances of prison.
For Paul to strengthen a body of free believers with the divine assurance that we as believers are not only children of God, but we are the body of Christ, should encourage the church to come into agreement and unity with his teachings.
Today, we will look at Ephesians 1:5, adopted with good pleasure by God.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”
The word “predestinated” means “to limit in advance by decree of God”.
In Hebrews 11:3, the Bible says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
This is important to reflect on, because just as God framed the worlds according to His will, He also framed our lives according to His will. A frame sets a border for a picture to be revealed, and personally, looking back at my life, I can see how God let me move, but only let me go so far before He caused me to draw back within the frame.
There is a reason for this. In Romans 8:29-30, the Bible says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
God knew us before the foundation of the world, and He already predetermined what my purpose was going to be, even considering my flaws and confinement into the equation. He knew despite my prodigal nature, that He would redeem me unto Himself, and I would begin to live for Him, to bring God glory.
Remember in Acts 9:15-16, the Bible says, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Before Paul knew what his purpose was, while he was newly removed from persecuting Christians, God chose him to fulfill his purpose.
The word “adoption” means “the placing as a child, the state of those whom God through Christ adopts as His children and thus makes heirs of His covenanted salvation”.
This adoption made us citizens of heaven, and established God as our Father. He adopted us to be builders of His family’s name, and to bear His attributes in the earth.
In Romans 8:15-16, the Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”.
Paul is teaching this truth from both outside of prison and from inside of prison, because it is important for us to know who we are as believers.
The phrase “good pleasure” speaks of the delight or satisfaction God has for seeing His will fulfilled.
The word “will” means “purpose”.
When something became what God ordained it to be, He gloried in it.
In Matthew 11:25-26 Christ says, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.”
God chose us, not because we were the most qualified, but He chose us because His will could be done in us. He set the frame for the course of our lives, so that pictures would bear His image.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 13, 2025 – Ephesians 1:7 – the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”.
Ephesians 1:7
Hi Everyone!
Nearly 22 years ago, I was arrested for a double homicide.
I was plastered all over the newspapers, I was on every news channel in Wisconsin, my fate sealed long before I was even sentenced.
I was given two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, and to be perfectly honest, I deserved every day that they gave.
I speak in past tense because I received true salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and His blood has completely cleansed me from the sin that completely destroyed my fellowship with God.
My life is changed and no one in my prison environment believes that I am in prison for murder and I have a life sentence without parole.
I know I am nearing my point of physical redemption to match what has transpired spiritually over the last 17 years, but I will never forget that Jesus hung on a cross to save and cleanse me from my sins.
Today, we will be looking at Ephesians 1:7, the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”.
The phrase “in whom” lets us know that we need more context to receive the full message from this passage.
In Ephesians 1:5, the Bible says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”.
This redemption comes through the blood of Jesus Christ, and His blood took someone like me, who experienced utter rejection, and transformed my life forever.
In Ephesians 1:6, the Bible says, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Not only did God know what I would ultimately do, He already ordained the provision of salvation for me by faith in His Son, which would take someone rejected by everyone, and accepted me in His love!
The word “redemption” strikes a chord with me, and this word means “ransom paid in full, deliverance from the power and consequences of sin which Christ procured by laying down His life as a ransom”.
The word “blood” speaks of the atoning blood of Jesus, that allowed me, by faith, to become one with God, the way He intended.
I have been crying since I started this devotional, because Jesus took my place! He stepped in, and took the penalty I deserved, something I couldn’t pay back if I tried for the rest of my life. Imagine living, knowing you have taken lives, and no amount of good you do will ever bring them back to their families. That is my reality, but in Christ, I have a different reality, one where the blood of Jesus Christ has wiped my slate clean, and God only sees me, not my crimes.
The word “forgiveness” means “freedom or pardon”.
The word “sins” here speak of the deliberate, intentional transgressions that have separated us from God.
If the Governor of Wisconsin gave me a pardon for my crimes, then that means that my life sentences are wiped away and completely removed from the record. It would be as if I never committed the crimes in the first place. This is was God has done through the blood of Christ, wiped away, the record of our sin.
In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
God doesn’t leave anything out. All the filth in our lives is cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The word “riches” means “abundance”.
The word “grace” means “unmerited favor”.
This means I didn’t deserve it.
In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The provision was already made before I was born to sin!
In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
There is nothing I can ever do to save myself from my sin. God’s grace made the difference!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 14, 2025 – Ephesians 1:9 – the mystery of God made known to us
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself”.
Ephesians 1:9
Hi Everyone!
Paul wants the church in Ephesus to know that our blessed salvation, that not only pardons our sins, positions us as holy and blameless before God.
So when God sees a believer, He sees the blood covering our sins, and He sees His Son, Jesus Christ, when He looks at us.
We enter into a love relationship with God that we never had before, and we are taught and guided by the Holy Spirit into holiness and love.
We have so many promises as the result of our salvation, and God wants to reveal them all to us.
As believers, our primary goal is to learn the will of God in our lives, so that we can live to fulfill that will.
God reveals even this to us!
Today, we will be looking at Ephesians 1:9, the mystery of God made known to us.
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself”.
The word “made known” means “to declare or to give to understand”.
When something is made known, the goal is, for us to understand what we are given.
Remember in Acts 8:29-31, the Bible says, “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 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.”
A eunuch with great authority from Ethiopia stopped his chariot to read the Word of God, but could not understand what he was reading. The Holy Spirit sent Philip to him, and Philip taught him about Jesus, which led to his salvation and baptism. God desires for us to know His will, but what if Philip wouldn’t have been obedient to the Holy Spirit? The eunuch would not have received the Word of truth which saved his soul. There is always a purpose behind what we are taught.
The word “mystery” means “a secret, the revelation of something that was previously unknown or known vaguely, but now is more fully known, revealed in Christ to unite all things under Him
The word “will” means “determination or purpose”.
In Romans 16:25-26, the Bible says, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith”.
Knowing the mystery of God’s will establishes us, placing us under a sound foundation where the lie of the enemy cannot shake us from.
Even Jesus praised God when His mystery was revealed unto His disciples.
In Luke 10:21, the Bible says, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”
The disciples were sent on a mission to preach, heal, and cast out demons, and they came back with a report that established the power of God working through them. God revealed His Word and His power to the disciples, who had no clue beforehand. God took great pleasure in this, as He does in us.
The phrase “good pleasure” means “delight, or satisfaction”.
The phrase “hath purposed in Himself” means “to set forth, or exhibit”.
This shows us that God is very intentional about what He reveals to us, making sure it totally lines up with His will.
In 2 Timothy 1:9, the Bible says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”.
God’s desire for us to know His will was present in the beginning and it still is present today.
It brings pleasure to God for us to know what He knows.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 15, 2025 – Psalm 23:1, the loving Shepherd my God is
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1
Hi Everyone!
My God is all-sufficient and my sufficiency is in Him.
Everything I need to live my life as a believer, God has already provided. Everything I desire to me is in Him
Since my salvation, God has shown me that He not only will never leave me nor forsake me, but His provision will ensure my success as long as I am in His will.
A Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. He positions them to experience sustenance, He provides them with protection, and He gives them the confidence to be themselves without worry because He is right there.
I have been walking with the Lord deeply for 17 years, but even before my salvation, I can really see God’s mighty hand guiding me and preserving me, knowing what I would ultimately become.
In life, we reach after the wrong things, hoping it would fill the voids in our hearts and minds, but that can only be found in Christ.
Today, we will reflect on Psalm 23:1, the loving Shepherd my God is.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The word “LORD” refers to The Self-Existent and Eternal God.
The word “shepherd” refers to one who tends the flock by pasturing them
In John 10:10-11, Christ says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
God not only desires us to have an abundant life, but He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross so those who believe would remain under the covering of God. A shepherd is self-sacrificing, not desiring to lose any of his sheep.
In Luke 15:3-5, the Bible says, “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
It bothers our Lord when we go astray, and He will go to the ends of the earth in order to pursue us. I know this from experience, because I was heavily entrenched in gang activity, drug use, violence, and crime, suffering some severe consequences for my choices. God met me in the prison and redeemed me for the curse I was under, and brought me into the fold, rejoicing.
Some people have the wrong impression of God, and that’s why they cannot fathom His love for us as His flock.
In Romans 5:6-8, the Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God poured His love offering upon us in the form of the provision of salvation before we had it all together, before we even chose to do wrong. Through Christ, we have a sure pathway to salvation, redemption and eternal life because of the love of our Shepherd.
The word “want” means “lack”.
In Philippians 4:19, the Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Many people misapply this passage in order to teach prosperity doctrine, but God will supply all of our need as we continue to fulfill His will for our lives. God desires for His will to be done, and the good Shepherd is going to give us what we need in order to perform that will.
In Luke 22:35, the Bible says, “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.”
When Christ sent them on a missionary trip, they were fully provided for every step of the way. When we remain in God’s presence, and place ourselves in subjection to His will, God will respond by making sure that our only concern is to do what we are commanded to do.
If the Lord is our Shepherd, then He leads and we follow, placing ourselves under His authority.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 16, 2025 – Isaiah 54:17, a heritage of covering by God
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
Isaiah 54:17
Hi Everyone!
Believers face spiritual warfare.
If you want to be a Christian, but do not desire to engage in warfare, then you have a very unrealistic perspective of the faith.
God never once promised that we are going to have a magical ride through life before we go to heaven, but He assures us that trials are going to come, that people are going to resist the work that God is doing in us, and people are going to say horrible things to us, but one thing God promises us is that He will always be here for us.
The assurance that we are not going into battle alone is enough for me to have the confidence that somehow, someway, I will come out of this thing on top, and God assures me in His Word that the attacks we suffer will not overcome us, and the words of our dissenters will hit the ground.
Today, I will reflect on the promises of Isaiah 54:17, a heritage of covering by God.
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
In the Word of God, we have the assurance of trials.
In John 16:32-33, the Bible says, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus is giving prophecy that the disciples are going to be scattered by persecution, and are going to leave Christ all by Himself. This prophecy was fulfilled in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas betrayed Jesus and the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. Jesus tells them that they are going to face trials, but because Jesus overcame the world, His victory is ours!
In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish”.
In Christ we will always have victory over weapons formed against us, and over tongues that try to condemn us.
Think about it.
The weapon was fashioned against us, meaning the enemy specifically made a weapon to attack us with, and gave us a word of condemnation. Just yesterday, my wife made a video about coming to see me in prison, and an internet troll attacked her and said that I don’t deserve a visit because I’m in prison for murder.
That is condemnation railed against us, but Romans 8:1, the Bible clearly says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
If God doesn’t condemn me, then why would I allow someone to condemn me. Do I believe them, or do I believe God?
The enemy loves to see us try to fight against the weapons and condemnation launched against us. If we are fighting the enemy on our own then we aren’t being effective in the kingdom of God.
In James 4:7-8, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
We have to resist the enemy with the Word of God, not by trying to defend ourselves against his allegations. The woman taken in the very act of adultery was brought to Jesus, and they told The Word of God what the law said, that she should be stoned. There is not one word recorded from the woman defending herself against the allegations. Jesus Christ defended her, and they people left until it was her and Jesus.
Our heritage is our inheritance, given to us who believe as the result of the death of Jesus Christ. That makes us victorious over weapons formed against us, and words aimed to break us down.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 17, 2025 – Isaiah 53:5 – faith and healing
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Hi Everyone!
A very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer.
It is in moments of our great adversity where our faith is tested the most.
In this moment of trial, shrinking under the weight of suffering would be normal, and some people would actually excuse a person to not trust in God to heal, but this is not that case!
We are not rely on Christ for what He is going to do, but we are trusting in Christ for what He has already done!
The provision for my friend’s healing was already given in advance, and we have gone to God in faith, that healing has already been fulfilled in Jesus’ name.
Today, we will look at Isaiah 53:5 faith and healing.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
This verse is Isaiah’s prophecy written about Jesus Christ’s death on the cross some 700 years before it happened.
There is no way Isaiah could write this passage of prophecy unless divinely inspired by God.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
All scripture!
So not only is this particular passage the divinely inspired Word of God, but the whole Bible is divinely inspired!
This means every verse in the Bible is true, and if that is the case, then “with His stripes we are healed” is true as well.
In Hebrews 6:17-19, the Bible says, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil”.
God wants to show Himself faithful to us, that our prayers are being heard and answered, and that we can hope in and place our trust in God. When we enter into that secret place of prayer, we commune in the Holiest of Holies, which is direct access to God.
We can speak openly to Him, and in 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
We are not praying to someone who doesn’t care about us, nor are we praying to a God who desires to see us suffer. We are praying to a God who deeply loves and cares for us.
Sometimes, we can hinder our own prayers.
In Romans 4:20-21, the Bible says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
Unbelief is one of main reasons our prayers of healing can be hindered. Abraham was a person who continued to trust in God under all circumstances, no matter how long it took, no matter if he knew all the details. He was fully persuaded in God’s Word and so do we need be.
In Mark 9:23-24, the Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
The man had a demon-possessed son, and the evidence didn’t look like he would be healed.
The father was losing hope and he told Christ “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us” in Mark 9:22.
The word “if” to God expresses partial trust, believe that God can, but not believing that He will in this case.
This is where many of us are, and sadly, this is the reason why we don’t reflect the divine works of the first century church.
So today, for my friend, we are entrusting his healing to a God that is mighty to save!
When we rely on God’s Word as truth, we exercise the faith to activate its promises!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 18, 2025 – Philippians 4:4 – a heart of rejoicing at all times
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4
Hi Everyone!
Paul wrote this letter from prison to a church that was dear to his heart.
Philippi was the location of the first church he founded in Europe.
Philippi was also the place where Paul experienced the supernatural deliverance from prison with Silas when they were jailed for exorcising the demon from the fortune teller.
They were also able to share the Gospel with the jailer, causing his whole family to receive salvation from their sins.
Paul writes this letter to encourage the church to continue to remain strong in the Lord and to fervently serve God and each other
As believers, we are not exempt from hardships. In fact, hardships are pretty much guaranteed in the life of a believer, but there is a posture that we must carry in the struggles that we face.
Paul is trying to take the church to a deeper faith, far below the surface, and not predicated upon good feelings.
He wants a church who will rejoice in the Lord in all circumstances.
Today, we will look at Philippians 4:4, a heart of rejoicing at all times.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
The word “rejoice” means “to be cheerful, to be happy, or to be glad”.
This passage doesn’t tell us to rejoice in our circumstances, but it tells us to rejoice in the Lord. This cheerfulness comes as the result of a deep contentment in the Lord arising from a deeper trust in our sovereign God. Not only does God know exactly what He is doing, but He knows why He is doing it.
In James 1:2-4, the Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
I am sure that Paul and James are not telling us to throw a party when we battle adversity, because that is not a realistic stance to take. Counting it all joy, stems from a trust that we have in God, that He is not only with us in our trials, but there is purpose in our trials that will equip us for an even greater work.
I remember wondering why I had such a hard life, filled with a lot of heartache and stress. It wasn’t until someone needed to hear my testimony in order to get through their pain that I became grateful for what God chose me to go through and learn from, my trials.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Bible says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Sometimes, we are going to want the stress, trials and heartache removed from our lives. Sometimes, we will even beg God to remove them, but God’s response is to empower us with His grace, so that we can not only endure them, but we can obtain the posture of rejoicing in the Lord, causing us to glory in what brought us agony. The testimony of strength arising from trials can be a blessing to others.
In Romans 12:12, the Bible says, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”.
The posture we have in a trial usually determines how well we fare in the face of trial. Rejoicing in the Lord is like praising God on credit, already determining that He has provided the victory.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, the Bible says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.”
Paul wrote to a church facing persecution, giving them the same advice that he gave to another church that he is commending and encouraging.
In 1 Peter 4:13, the Bible says, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
There is glory that will be revealed to those who rejoice in the Lord in all situations, and that glory will turn our mourning into dancing!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 19, 2025 – Hebrews 12:3 – the proper perspective during trial
“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Hebrews 12:3
Hi Everyone!
We are going to experience trial in our lives.
We don’t know what kind of struggle we may find ourselves in, but one thing that we can be assured of as believers is that Jesus Christ has gone through much worse.
There is always someone who is worse off, and we have to be mindful of that as we go through trials.
We read the faith chapter in Hebrews 11, and we see the champions of faith displayed, but do we really consider the immense struggles they encountered in order to be listed there?
We want God to see us faithful, but a lot of times, we don’t want the suffering that the faithfulness requires.
Even as I type this devotional, I am struggling with a new tablet that is a blessing to have, but new prison rules regarding these tablets and the features of this new tablet makes the work way harder. I could complain, or I can consider Christ, and press forward.
Today, we are going to be looking at Hebrews 12:3, the proper perspective during trial.
“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
When we consider Christ, we see that He came down from heaven, took on flesh, experienced things that He would never have to consider in heaven, and endured them all in order to provide us with the gift of salvation.
Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”.
Christ walked as we walked, but He walked perfectly in the earth, the struggles he encountered were unfair, undeserved, and unnecessary. On our worst day, it doesn’t measure up to what Christ willingly endured on the cross for us.
When we look at the phrase “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself”, it shows us that it was an intense battle for Christ to take on something that He never encountered before, for us. He didn’t know what sin felt like, and He never knew pain.
He also didn’t know what being separated from God felt like.
In Luke 22:42, the Bible says, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”.
Jesus’ agony was so intense that His sweat was like drops of blood. He knew what was coming, and it hurt already.
Even in Matthew 27:46, the Bible says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hath thou forsaken me?”
This was the first time He ever was separated from God, and it was more intense of a pain than any physical pain He encountered.
He was always one with God and that was stripped away, because He went to the cross, taking on mankind’s sinfulness in order to be the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world.
The phrase “lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” means to allow your spirit to be broken from the exhaustion behind constant work and testing in the Lord.
In James 1:2-3, the Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience”.
There is always a purpose behind our pain, and that purpose is to not only make us a testimony to others who are going through what we have overcome, but it is also for God to build a resiliency in us for the matters that we are yet to encounter.
In Galatians 6:9, the Bible says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
This verse is evidence that we are going to struggle as fellow workers with Christ, but if we remain strong in the face of hardship, God is going to allow us to reap a harvest from our faithfulness in trial. Sometimes, it is going to be a real struggle, but just knowing that we are not going through it alone makes all the difference in the world.
Let us contemplate the suffering of Christ in our labors.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 20, 2025 – Matthew 7:1 – leaving judgment in God’s capable hands
“Judge not, that ye be not judged”.
Matthew 7:1
Hi Everyone!
I heard a believer once say that a person was deserving of death for an offense they committed. It was a matter-of-fact statement that came off of his lips so fast that it shocked me. Another thing said: he is in prison for murder!
While someone who has been forgiven for their sin should understand the grace of God a whole lot better than others, sadly, it is usually the believers who cast judgments upon people causing them to stay away from the faith.
It is often the person who has been forgiven so much that refuses forgiveness to others even for minor offenses.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, and that is God, but sadly, many of us think we can do a better job at judging others than God can.
When we cast judgment upon people, not only are we determining what should happen to them, but we are also developing a standard that we will likely continue to uphold.
Today, we will look at Matthew 7:1, leaving judgment in God’s capable hands.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged”.
This passage in Scripture is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, were Jesus is teaching people about a number of things that will produce a more Godly life.
The word “judge” means “to form an unfavourable opinion about someone that tries, condemns, or punishes someone in an absolute sense”.
When I was arrested for homicide charges, I was judged by people outside of the courtroom, most wished I’d die, and many said I would never be anything good. Praise God that they were all wrong!
In Romans 2:1, the Bible says, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”.
A person who judges a murderer has hatred in their heart and according to Matthew 5:22, if we hold anger in our hearts without a cause towards our brothers and sisters, we will be in danger of judgment. We are in no position to judge our brother in anger or otherwise.
In Romans 14:10, the Bible says, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ”.
Now, being someone who lived in the streets, serving sinfulness, doing whatever came naturally, I cringe at the thought of standing before a Holy God with my record here on earth. Why would I ever compound that eerie thought by adding to it judging my brother and sister?
In Romans 3:23, the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.
This means no one is in any position to judge, nor are we able to stand in judgment without the blood of Jesus Christ cleansing and blotting out our sin.
In Romans 14:13, the Bible says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”
Have we ever considered the negative effects of our judgments on others? Not only are we disobeying God, but we are also putting a person in a position of giving up and stoping trying.
I remember being someone who felt the weight of judgments and it caused me to see no incentive in doing right.
In James 4:12, the Bible says, “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy: who art thou that judgest another”.
Also, in 1 John 2:1, the Bible says, “My little children, these things write I to you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous “.
So if there is only one lawgiver, and advocate, and we are neither, then what gives us the right to judge anyone?
Also are we are telling God that we can do His job better than He can?
When the woman taken in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, the crowd wanted her stoned, but Jesus told them to cast the first stone if they are without sin. When the crowd left, it was just Jesus and the woman. Christ didn’t condemn her, and neither should we condemn others!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 21, 2025 – Matthew 7:2 – being held accountable to the same standard of judgment that we apply to others
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again”
Matthew 7:2
Hi Everyone!
We have to be careful as believers about becoming judgmental of others.
This is one of the main reasons why so many brothers don’t attend church service in the prison environment that I am housed in.
People receive their salvation, and then somehow forget that the same God who forgave and redeemed them can work on the heart and mind of someone else as well.
There is a brother who refuses to share the Word with other brothers because he feels they are heathens and not worth the time it would take to share the Gospel. By saying this, he implied that they aren’t worth saving.
When we judge, we are not only acting as if we are God, but we are essentially implementing a rule that God will judge us from. It is important for believers to exercise discernment about where a person may be in faith, but it will never be our place to condemn others before God.
Today, we will look at Matthew 7:2, being held accountable to the same standard of judgment that we apply to others.
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again”
The word “judgment” means “a legal decision of condemnation imposed”.
The word “judge” means “to form an unfavourable opinion about someone that tries, condemns, or punishes someone in an absolute sense”.
In John 9:2, the Bible says, “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?”
There is a retribution theory errantly tied to Christianity that says if something bad has happened it is because there is sin in our lives. The disciples judged this family without knowing the truth.
In John 9:3, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
The whole time we are judging someone, they are really in God’s hands, producing His will at an appointed time. We have to be careful in how we view others.
The phrase “what measure ye mete” means “to allot by rule”, implying the standard by which punishment should be rendered.
We ar replacing God as judge when we say what a person is, and where they are going.
In Job 42:7, the Bible says, “And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: you ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath “.
This is a perfect example of someone wrongly casting judgment on others, not knowing that the suffering that Job went through wasn’t because of sin, but it was because God allowed Job to go through refinement which ultimately sharpened his understanding about himself and God. Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh. Scholars have tried to identify exactly what it was, but whatever it was, Paul asked God to remove it.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of God may rest upon me”.
Sometimes our suffering can cause us to cast judgment on God, causing us to not see Him as loving, faithful and concerned with our well being.
Paul endured a church that questioned his apostleship in God because of some of the things that he faced. In judgment, we are so quick to ‘be God’ that we will totally have His purpose wrong!
People judged me; the judge who sentenced me called me “evil incarnate”, my family said I was never going to change, and my old friends thought that I would be a thug forever. They were all wrong.
In Acts 28, Paul was gathering sticks and was bittrn by a viper. The natives judged him with condemnation until they saw that no harm came to him as the result. Then, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
How good are we really at judging others?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 22, 2025 – Matthew 7:3 – making it a priority to keep the sin out of our own lives
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
Matthew 7:3
Hi Everyone!
We are quick to try to fix everyone else’s problems, but we are hesitant to work at fixing our own messes.
As believers, it is no different because while we think we have all of the answers for the problems of sin, we have no answers to handle the sinfulness that runs so prevalent in our own lives.
I have experienced people who aren’t believers who have a standard of behavior that I fell short of, yet I could be critical and judgmental, and no different from a Pharisee.
See, I’m judging again
I believe that if we spent more time developing our own relationship with God, and more time developing our faith, we would be as Christ is, and that is look upon people with compassion and understanding.
When we exercise personal accountability, we should see that there is no room for judgment.
Today, we will look at Matthew 7:3, making it a priority to keep the sin out of our own lives.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
The word “beholdest” means that we fix our attention upon whatever we are looking at.
The word “mote” means “a dry twig or straw”. Some translations define it as a speck. This is the person who sits back and breaks down the sinfulness in someone else.
In Philippians 2:12-13, the Bible says, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear an trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”.
If we are working out our own salvation, then we don’t have time to dissect the sinfulness of others. We should be conferring with God on how we can live a life that is pleasing to Him.
The word “considerest” means “to observe fully, to discover, or perceive”.
The word “beam” means “a stick of timber or a plank”.
How can we see the sinfulness in others without addressing our own sin, which may be greater?
In Ephesians 4:1-2, the Bible says, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”
In order for us to walk worthy, we have to constantly check our behavior, our speech, and cast it into the fire, to allow God to make it was He desires it to be. The person who judges, carries an arrogance about them, as if they have it all figured out, but the person who breaks down their own sinfulness is going to be humbled by God to make changes.
In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death”.
If I look at my own sinfulness and Godly sorrow is produced, then it is going to make me draw closer to God. There is no way a person can be judgmental from this posture, understanding how greatly we have been forgiven.
In Luke 18, there is a story of two men praying in the temple, a Pharisee and a tax collector.
In Luke 18:11, Christ says, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”
This is the stance many believers have had, serving God while looking down on others.
In Luke 18:13, the Bible says, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner”.
This is the posture that we should be in, and if we can’t lift our eyes to heaven, then how can we fix our eyes on our brother and sister’s sinfulness as if we don’t need God’s mercy too? The publican, the person least likely to receive forgiveness, was the person God deemed justified before Him, not the person who thought he was better off than him.
Judging others does not fulfil the will of God. Obedience does.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 23, 2025 – Lamentations 3:21 – hope in any storm
“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.”
Lamentations 3:21
Hi Everyone!
The writer of Lamentations, Jeremiah, writes about the perilous times awaiting and befalling the children of God from the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. It was read to also commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Sinfulness and idolatry ultimately caused the wrath of God to fall upon His children, causing them to have their city destroyed and also causing them to be exiled by the Babylonians.
Imagine receiving the Word from God in advance that this is going to happen, and you are desperately trying to share this with others, hoping they would repent, but it falls on deaf ears.
It produced sadness in Jeremiah, and these writings are the result of it. Even in the midst of the somber mindset that Jeremiah had, he still has a word of hope, and that hope is in the Lord.
When have we experienced peril, but have found hope?
Today, we will reflect upon Lamentations 3:21, hope in any storm.
“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.”
The word “recall” has the same meaning that we would use for the word “repent”, which means “to turn back”.
The word “mind” refers to the center of one’s being, where thoughts, desires, passions, and the will comes from.
So this tells us that Jeremiah went through a process of grief that didn’t at first allow him to see hope in the face of the suffering he saw that was to come.
In Psalms 73:16-17, the Bible says, “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood their end.”
Asaph, the writer of this Psalm struggled with watching the wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer, and it became too difficult for him to think about. What changed it for him was when he went into that secret place with God, and was refreshed with strength and truth.
In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says “Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you”.
Do we take our agony to God, or do we build a tabernacle for it?
The word “hope” means “to wait or be patient”.
This shouldn’t be viewed a noun, but as a verb, because it requires action on our part.
In Romans 4:20-21, the Bible says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, he was able also to perform.”
Abraham was given a promise that completely countered all logic, and he endured some suffering ahead of receiving the promise. He didn’t look at the circumstances, but looked at God for perspective.
In Romans 4:18, the Bible says, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.”
Sometimes, all signs point to destruction, or to suffering, but trusting in God will produce His peace, and from peace, we can find hope. We can’t do this on our own. We have to abide in Christ in order to see beyond what is happening. When we see hope, we also see a divine expectation of good.
In Romans 5:3-5, the Bible says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; A patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”.
When we walk in hope, we see suffering as a way that we will be strengthened with a resolve to serve God even as we struggle. If we are faithful in our trials, God will show His faithlessness through His love.
There is a reason why Jeremiah had hope.
In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Jeremiah knows God and even in the midst of peril, there is also a testimony of His mercies, His compassions, and His faithfulness.
What are we going to see in trial?
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 24, 2025 – Matthew 7:8 – asking a faithful God in faith and expectancy
“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be open unto you”.
Matthew 7:8
Hi Everyone!
We serve an awesome God.
He is not only God, but He is our heavenly Father, Creator of the universe.
I learned in my Christian Counseling class that our experiences with our earthly fathers can reflect our perceptions about God, and when we have had less than stellar representatives as fathers, then it is hard to fathom a God that is any better.
Just because our experiences haven’t been up to par, doesn’t mean that God isn’t faithful to His word or His promises.
Jesus is teaching us about asking for God’s help, and He is inviting us to ask for God’s help, being truly confident that God is going to hear and respond to our prayers. This isn’t about some prosperity doctrine, but it is about us being aware that we have a God that we can come to with our prayers, who hears and answers us.
Today, we will be looking at Matthew 7:8, asking a faithful God in faith and expectancy.
“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be open unto you”.
This verse is connected to Matthew 7:7, where Christ says, “Ask and it shall be given, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”.
Our topic verse amplifies the truth of Matthew 7:7, and serves as confirmation to its truth.
Some people will incorrectly say that this verse was for the disciples of Jesus, but this passage of Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon of the Mount, a message that was given to the multitudes that followed Him.
This message was for them then, and it is for us now!
The word “asketh” means “to supplicate, request, or pray for”.
The word ” receiveth” means “to take, obtain, or have offered”.
In John 14:13, Jesus says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
We we ask God for something in Jesus’ name, we are applying His authority to our prayers, and God is more than desirous to give us what we ask Him for, as long as our prayers align with His will.
The word “seeketh” doesn’t just refer to our endeavouring or pursuing, but it means “to worship as well”.
The word “findeth” is self-explanatory, but it should be noted that we don’t worship or pursue God in vain.
This is a posture of decrease, so that God can increase in our lives.
It is an act of humility, and in 1 Peter 5:6, the Bible says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time”.
Our posture before God will produces a response by God
Some people pervert these passages, and treat them as a rubber stamp to get anything they want. Remember, we are asking God for His help! In
1 John 5:14-15, the Bible says, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
We can’t ask God for something outside of His will, and then expect Him to answer it, just because we want it.
A good parent wouldn’t give their eight year old the car keys, with permission to drive, so God won’t give us something that will only harm us. How can God be glorified if we are given something harmful for us?
The word “knocketh” means “to rap”.
This means that the opportunities we pursue aren’t going to always fall in our laps. We are going to have to reach after it, but God will make sure His doors of favor will be opened to us.
In Revelation 3:8, the Bible say, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept My word, and hast not denied My name.”
There are always conditions, and we can’t disobey God’s Word and declare His authority untrue, and then expect God to hear us and answer our prayers.
When God opens the door, no one can undo it, and when God answers a prayer, it can’t be nullified by anyone!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 25, 2025 – Matthew 7:15 – being vigilant against false prophets
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Matthew 7:15
Hi Everyone!
We have to be careful who we receive the Word of God from.
It is important for us to always weigh what we hear with the Word of God, and we also have to be willing to confer with the Holy Spirit when we have a question about anything.
We must study the Word of God for ourselves, so that the Holy Spirit can give us the discernment we need to distinguish the truth from a lie.
The enemy’s job to is to ensure that the Word of God doesn’t take root in our hearts and minds, so we won’t live fruitful in the manner the God commands.
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, is teaching that people are going to come in looking the part of someone in the faith, but their job is to disconnect us from our fellowship with God.
There were false prophets then, and there are false prophets today, and we are to be on guard against them.
Today, we will look at Matthew 7:15, being vigilant against false prophets.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
The word “beware” means “to take caution” When we look at the word “beware”, it usually tells us to act in a way that prevents injury or death. If Christ is using this word, then it is serious.
The phrase “false prophets” means “a pretend foreteller or a religious imposter”.
In Jeremiah 23:16-17, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD of host, Hearken not unto the word of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace, and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.”
There were a lot of false prophets that tried to get Israel to fight against the Babylonians, or they told them that the exile wouldn’t be that long. But the Word of the Lord said the exile would last 70 years, that they were to surrender willingly, and build their lives there.
When someone gives us a word that counters the will of God, destruction is always a possibility.
In Acts 20:29-30, the Bible says, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”.
Paul knew that the enemy will definitely send in imposters that will come in to separate the children of God from the truth. Christ warned about it,
Paul warned about it, and in 1 John 4:1, the Bible says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world”.
Three different people gave the same testimony, so we should take heed, and scrutinize what we hear to make sure we are actually hearing the Word of God.
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the Bible says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
We live in a world where people want to hear what they want to hear, even if there is no truth in it. Being in prison, I love hearing a word that tells me I am going home soon, but I have to be careful to make sure the Word actually comes from God.
In James 1:5, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and unbraideth not, and I shall be given him.”
We have to take a moment to ask God about the Word we receive, and trust the Holy Spirit to teach us. Are we willing to humble ourselves and make sure that that the Word we are receiving is the Word that God wants us to receive? The enemy is counting on our ignorance, hoping that we won’t give it a second thought.
Ever experienced someone who gave you the wrong directions? It sends us where we didn’t intend to go.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 26, 2025 – Matthew 7:12 – applying our faith to the golden rule
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
Hi Everyone!
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
This golden rule has guided people for ages, and it is universal in nature, so that people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions can follow it.
Even philosophy has something similar: act as if your behavior creates a rule for society.
All of this teaches us that if we treat people the way we want to be treated, then this world would be more kind, loving, and collaborative instead of divisive.
We have a war going on in the Middle East, and it doesn’t matter what side you are on, because when we see women, children, and non-combatants starving to death right before our eyes, it should bother us all.
I wondered why this verse was in the teaching of “seeking God’s help”, but the Holy Spirit showed me that it is pointless to ask for God’s help, while mistreating His creation.
Today, we will look at Matthew 7:12, applying our faith to the golden rule.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
The word “therefore” is used to sum up a point being made.
We know that this passage in Matthew 7-12 is an invitation for us to ask God for help in the matters that we face.
In Matthew 7:11, Christ says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
This verse, connected to our topic verse, shows us an invitation in this for us to be mindful of how we treat and care for others.
In Mark 12:30-31, Christ says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Loving God reflects how we love each other, and how we love says a lot about us.
We can’t be people who actively pursue God’s hand, but not pursue His love.
I was watching “The Godfather” last night, and a person came to seek justice from him, but never pursued his friendship.
When a person is a “means” instead of an “end”, then we aren’t treating them the way that we truly want to be treated.
In Romans 12:9-10, the Bible says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor what is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
If we honour our brothers and sisters above ourselves, then their needs will always be at the forefront of our minds, and their wellbeing will always be considered.
In Romans 13:8-9, the Bible says, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there by any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”.
God really cares how we treat others, especially those we don’t feel that we need. We can’t be quicker to ask for God’s help than we are at loving our brothers and sisters.
In Galatians 5:13, the Bible says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
God gives us a lot of room to exercise the gifts, callings, and authority on this earth, but He wants to see us use what we are given to love others.
In 1 Timothy 1:5, the Bible says, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”.
When we operate in pure love, we will treat people the way we truly want to be treated, and it will not hinder our prayers and requests to God.
God is looking for people who love from the depths of their soul.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 27, 2025 – Matthew 7:24 – constructing on Christ’s firm foundation
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.”
Matthew 7:24
Hi Everyone
Our faith requires obedience.
If fact, faith cannot exist without obedience, and through obedience, we are built upon the foundation of Christ.
Too many of us, me included, want to say that we walk in step with God, but we have moments of disobedience, where we would rather go our own way and do or own thing instead of heed what God is instructing us to do.
In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is telling us that hearing the Word of God is not enough, but we have to hear and heed the Word of God in order to have the stable, firm foundation in Christ.
We want what we build to hold up in the face to storms, adversity, or even persecution, because if it does, then God is glorified.
If we don’t, then we are subject to destruction, because what we built without God won’t last. Trust me, I know this a million times over.
Today, we will be looking at Matthew 7:24, constructing on Christ’s firm foundation.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.”
The word “heareth” means “to attentively listen, to give audience with the intention of obedience”. This is similar to a soldier who is always ready to receive a commandment from their superior. We have to be postured to obey God’s word.
In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, the Bible says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.
Our priorities have to be different when we aim to serve the Lord. We have to be kingdom focused and God led in order to have a firm foundation in the faith.
In Matthew 7:21, Christ says, “Not every one that saith unto me, “Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
We can’t pay God lip service with no obedience. We must do what He commands.
This is why He begins our topic verse with “therefore”, because Jesus is stressing the importance of obedience.
The word “doeth” means “to accomplish, fulfill, or perform”, all used to express obedience to God’s Word.
In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”.
God’s Word was never designed to just be heard and not heeded.
In James 2:18, the Bible says, “Yes, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
We can’t show faith or obedience by just hearing the command. We must perform what we are asked.
The word “wise” means “prudent, one possessing practical skill or acumen”. We don’t see wisdom by what a person knows, but by their ability to apply what they know.
The word “built” means “to construct, or erect”.
The word “house” means “dwelling, abode, family, or life”. This is action, not talk.
Many of us tell God, “I hear you”, but nothing is constructed.
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, the Bible says, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Our problem is when we try to build our lives on disobedience, and then expect the blessings and glory of God to rest upon us. We expect to be successful while disobeying God’s word, but God won’t let it happen that way.
In Luke 6:46, Chris says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
If the Lord is Supreme in Authority or Commander, then His Word is law. If we go our way instead of heeding His Word, then He can’t be Lord. If we are going to build our lives, our relationships, and our careers on the foundation of God, then we must obey His Word concerning these things.
This is the only way!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sept 28, 2025 – 1 Timothy 6:10 – rejecting the love of money
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Hi Everyone!
This world is driven by money.
I was watching a television program that plays music videos from local hip-hop artists from Milwaukee, and I saw artist after artist hold up money, toss money, and I even saw someone holding about $100,000 like it was a small child.
Even worse, I heard them rap about welcoming a trip to federal prison for selling drugs, and I also heard them rap about a willingness to kill to keep the money, and jewelry they had
I was saddened by the sight of this, because in the race for money, we are neglecting our God-given purpose, and risking destruction in order to gain something that gives no peace.
What I saw was people who are willing to lose everything in order to gain a false sense of wealth.
Today, we will be looking at 1 Timothy 6:10, rejecting the love of money.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.”
Paul is writing to Timothy, the pastor that who essentially be taking his place after he goes to his death. Paul aims to prepare Timothy for his position, but there is also a message in this for us.
The word “for” at the beginning of the verse suggests a connection that must be made in order to glean the full context from this verse.
In 1 Timothy 6:9, the Bible says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
How many of the super wealthy have we seen brought down in destruction because their attitude toward money provided them an outlet for them to serve sin at an astronomical level? Well, it also happens with normal people as well.
In Matthew 6:24, Christ says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Money isn’t the problem. It’s our hearts.
The phrase “love of money” means “avarice”. After going to a dictionary for that meaning, I’ve found that “avarice” means “an excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain”. This is a desire that consumes a person and keeps them from serving God with they full heart.
When the rich man asked Jesus what must he do to inherited eternal life, it indicated that he knew that what he had wasn’t enough. When Jesus told him to follow the commandments, he told Jesus that he kept them from his youth, but asked Jesus what did he still lack. This indicates that following the rules isn’t enough either
In Matthew 19:21, the Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, if thou will be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.”
The man heard this and walked away from Jesus because he was filthy rich and didn’t want to part with his wealth. Money became his idol.
The word “evil” means “wickedness”. Our excessive desire for money will be the root of wickedness, and sin will consume our lives if money is our idol.
The phrase “coveted after” means “to long for”, which is a desire that we meditate on.
The phrase “have erred from the faith” means that seduced away from reliance upon Christ for salvation and sanctification.
In Exodus 20:3, the Bible says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”.
We also should not covet after anything that does not belong to us. That takes us out of fellowship with God and causes us to drift away from His covering.
In Exodus 23:8, the Bible says, “And thou shalt take no gift; for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.”
The unholy desire for money keeps us from living righteously, and will blind us from seeing what God is trying to show us. When we have an insatiable desire for wealth or gain, it lines us up for destruction, and it causes us to live with a broken fellowship with God.
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 29, 2025 – Joshua 1:5 – trusting in a God that never fails
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Joshua 1:5
Hi Everyone!
Joshua is the new leader of Israel, and he is charged with leading the children of Israel into the promised land flowing with milk and honey.
They were forbidden access before because they were fearful, and that fear caused them to ignore the fact that God told them to go seize this land.
Only two of the twelve spies sent came back with a praise report and a testimony of victory, and that was Joshua and Caleb, the only two left from a generation that God allowed to pass away due to unbelief.
Even Moses was excluded for his anger and lack of belief and obedience when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, causing the waters to flow from it.
Now, Joshua has the reins, and God is encouraging Him before he sets off to claim the promised land.
Today, we will look at Joshua 1:5, trusting in a God that never fails.
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
In Joshua 1:2, the Bible says, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”
In this statement God makes to Joshua, He already tells him, indirectly, that he was going to be victorious. God told him that He has given them the land. This should automatically induce faith within us, because God spoke it, and He can’t lie. Sadly, that is not always the case.
In Numbers 13:30-31, the Bible says, “An Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it. BUT the men that went up with them said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we”.
Forty years before, they had a faith report by Caleb and Joshua, a confidence in God’s word, but they had people driven by fear, who didn’t believe the Word of God was enough, who didn’t believe in God for the victory.
We cannot expect victory to come into our life when we branch off from God and go our own way. We have to obey what God has for us because He knows what is best for us.
In Numbers 27:22-23, the Bible says, “And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses”.
God ensured that Joshua would get no resistance from the people, by establishing that he would be the leader anointed by God to lead them into the promise. So God’s talk with Joshua in Joshua 1 is solely for him.
In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, the Bible says, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I commanded you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
Undoubtedly, Joshua knows this firsthand, and he knows that as long as he obeys God, what he is setting out to do will indeed prosper. Too many of us want to do our own thing, and then expect God to bless what we do. It doesn’t work this way. The idea of not turning from it, to the right or left, implies an obedience the way God wants us to follow Him.
In Matthew 7:13-14, the Bible says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
We have to do things God’s way, and there won’t be room for deviations on our part. Life and prosperity are at the end of obedience, and that prosperity means that we become circumspect, able to live wisely in this world.
The path to success is forged in obedience!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
Sep 30, 2025 – Joshua 1:7 – a path to live in wisdom and strength in a land of promise
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:7
Hi Everyone!
Joshua is preparing to lead the children of Israel into the land God promised them.
This has been as long journey of highs and lows, of terrifying fears and watching God’s sovereign hand move them to the point they now stand.
As a leader, there is a weight that is carried, a responsibility they have for their own personal relationship with God, but leaders are entrusted with the lives of the flock.
If the leader falters out of fear, then the flock is likely to follow, and if a leader is disobedient to God, then the flock will follow that as well.
Through obedience, through walking in faith and in God’s courage, Joshua, and us, will be able to live wisely in any place or journey God takes us.
Today, we will look at Joshua 1:7, a path to live in wisdom and strength in a land of promise.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”
The word “strong” means “to fasten upon”.
The word “courageous” means “mentally alert, fortified, or established”.
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, the Bible says, “Accordingly to grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.“
Moses laid the foundation, and Joshua is building upon that foundation. We cannot build on any foundation other than the Lord, and expect success to follow us. We have to fasten ourselves to the Lord.
The word “observe” means “to take heed”.
The word “do” means “to complete, perform, or accomplish”.
In John 15:4, the Bible says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.”
Joshua has to remain in the Lord to win.
We cannot expect victory to come into our life when we branch off from God and go our own way. We have to obey what God has for us because He knows what is best for us.
In Numbers 27:22-23, the Bible says, “And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses”.
God ensured that Joshua would get no resistance from the people, by establishing that he would be the leader anointed by God to lead them into the promise. So God’s talk with Joshua in Joshua 1 is solely for him.
In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, the Bible says, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandment of the LORD your God, which I commanded you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
Undoubtedly, Joshua knows this firsthand, and he knows that as long as he obeys God, what he is setting out to do will indeed prosper.
Too many of us want to do our own thing, and then expect God to bless what we do. It doesn’t work this way. The idea of not turning from it to the right or left implies an obedience the way God wants us to follow.
In Matthew 7:13-14, the Bible says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
We have to do things God’s way, so there won’t be room for deviations on our part. Life and prosperity are at the end of obedience, and that prosperity means that we become circumspect, able to live wisely in this world.
The path to success is forged in obedience!
God Bless!
Marshall & Jessica
