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SAMPLE DEVOTIONAL:
Church Discipline
1 Corinthians 5:1 “… there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles.”
Someone at the church in Corinth was sleeping with his stepmother and the church was overlooking it. Paul condemned it and encouraged the church to “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved.” (1 Corinthians 5:5) Paul’s warning continues by saying that “a little leavening leaveneth the whole loaf.” One rotten apple can damage the whole barrel.
Flathead catfish are taking over the Altamaha River in Georgia. They grow quite large, and some have been caught that weighed a little less than one hundred pounds. The problem is that they are eating up the red breast perch, the first choice of many pan fishermen. Authorities are trying to control the catfish by encouraging people to catch more of them, but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Church discipline in most churches is so relaxed today, that the church is losing credibility. It is shameful to hear about unfaithfulness among couples and other ungodly things in the church. Years ago, churches erroneously disciplined people for dancing and even lesser things. They saw their error and dropped discipline altogether, and that was a bad mistake. It should be reinstated for blatant, public sin else the church will continue to lose its testimony.
Lord, help churches find the right and just balance for discipline, so that they can be good models of Christian living. Amen.
The Power of Satan
Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, slew all the children … from two years old and younger.”
One day, while my grandmother and I were fishing on the banks of the Ohoopee River, we saw a snake that had partly swallowed a catfish. The spiny fins of the fish were sticking through each side of the throat of the snake. The snake could not swallow the fish or spit him out. We could not reach them on the opposite bank, so I guess they both died an agonizing death.
Herod was angry about not being able to find the Christ child, so he went to Bethlehem and killed all of the children two years old and younger. He was controlled by Satan and committed that horrible crime under his power.
When Satan rules a person’s life, there is no depth to which that person can’t sink. It is like the grip of the snake on the fish and the fish on the snake. It produces death. People get on drugs or alcohol and begin to steal, rob, and even kill to support their habit. It often starts with prescription drugs and many good people are enslaved to them. Don’t say, “It couldn’t happen to me.” Avoid the risk by giving God power over your life.
Oh, Lord, it is frightening what evil people might do. Take control and remove Satan’s power from me. Amen
Deception
Matthew 2:8 “When ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him, also.”
Fishing is about convincing a fish that your bait can satisfy that gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. That is called deception. What you are dragging past him might be wood, metal, plastic, or something else, but if you fool him, he might jerk the rod right out of your hand.
Herod was lying as he spoke the words in our verse for today, and had no interest in worshipping the new King, Jesus, but was deceiving the wise men so that they would find Jesus and Herod could eliminate Him. God was not deceived by Herod’s lie and told the wise men not to return with the news to Herod. God sees right through lies and cannot be fooled.
Marriages, churches, businesses, governments, etc., cannot be soundly built on deception. Truth must be their foundation. Sometimes dating couples try to cover up their past and bad habits. When the partner discovers it, he feels cheated. Employees who lie about their qualifications are discovered and the employer loses confidence in them. Honesty is the best policy and builds trust.
Lord, remove my tendency to try to deceive people, because You honor honesty. Amen.
Painting by Martha Green
30 POUNDS OF DIRTY BASS