by Pastor Cecil | Oct 17, 2011 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
I was listening to a classical music station this morning when I heard the announcer make an announcement about an upcoming play in downtown Seattle. I cannot recall the name of the play, but he said that it was about a young man in the early 1900’s who lived in L.A. and was tempted beyond his ability to resist.
As I heard this announcement I thought of today’s Scripture. Temptation is not a sin, but our yielding to temptation is a sin. There was an old song that we used to sing when I was a boy. Read the words below:
Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you, Some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, Dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.
Joseph is a prime example of how to deal with temptation when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. He made every attempt to avoid her. It was only by deceit that she was able to find the means to be alone with him, but that was not his doing and God used Joseph’s time in prison to raise him to a high position in Egypt and to become a savior of his people. God will always provide a way of escape if we only keep our eyes open and our hearts pure.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil?s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2011 | Isaiah
Isaiah 53:12
“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
I recently received an e-mail from one of our subscribers, Ed Thornhill, who passed on some information that I found interesting and inspirational. It has to do with the town of Reed City, Michigan. I visited Reed City’s website to check what Ed had shared with me. They have a museum there called the “Old Rugged Cross Museum.”
Back in 1913 a Salvation Army officer, George Bennard, passed through a trying experience which caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the Gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
Bennard spent the last years of his life by the “side of the road,” a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. At the age of 85, on October 9, 1968, he passed away. Near this home there still stands a twelve foot high cross with the words “The Old Rugged Cross—Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.”
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 13, 2011 | John
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
The following article was just forwarded to me. All I can say is, WOW! I am delighted to forward it for your consideration.
A BURDEN by Michael Carl
Have you ever wondered how we can have million dollar church buildings and pack-in huge crowds on Sunday, but have no power in our witness? Do you wonder how about half of the people in this country claim to have had a born again experience and how the churches are having so little of an impact? Have you been amazed at the fact that American society is becoming increasingly antagonistic to the church. How can this be?
The answer seems to be that it’s because the pastors in the pulpits have sold out to the ‘Seeker Sensitive’ movement. We’ve opted for programs, lights, smoke machines, stage props, and the prosperity Gospel.
Pastors preach the Gospel of Self-Fulfillment and talk about how we’re destined to reign. Our pulpits echo with: ‘God wants you to be happy’ and ‘You can have your best life now’. We have major tele-preachers holding ‘camp meetings’ where the ‘preacher’ shouts, ‘Let’s celebrate you!’
I heard a preacher say once that if you have trials in your life, then you don’t have enough faith. What a ludicrous statement and how utterly un-Biblical! Paul had more faith than most of us and he never stopped going through trials. We talk faith and prosperity while the church around the world grows in not merely number, but in depth and maturity. They see miracles and God’s power; they sense His presence.
How? They’ve learned to persevere through trials. A Charismatic Episcopal Church Bishop in Pakistan had a Muslim slit his throat, throw him off of a bus and leave him for dead just because the Bishop was a Christian. But the Bishop’s ministry grows and he sees the fruit. Christians in other parts of the world weep for revival in the American church. What does that say about us? It means that we are weak and self-absorbed.
I heard another television preacher turn the tables and suggest that a preacher who focused on subjects like F. F. Bruce’s The Hard Sayings of Jesus was not preaching the Gospel and ignoring the truth of the Word! ‘They didn’t want to hear that,’ he claimed! What utter disregard for the truth! Jesus said, ‘The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head,’ and told His followers of His coming arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion. This means we’re deceived and taken with greed.
There are no tears for revival and the only One weeping is Jesus. He bled and died for us and we proclaim that the Gospel is a means to prosperity, power and influence. Church services look more like pop concerts and the preaching is only a babbling collection of self-absorbed slogans and how God wants us to be happy! No, God wants us to be holy!
Where is the message of repentance? Where is the ‘”If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me”‘?
Folks, the message of the cross is foolishness and offensive to the world. Paul told us that 191/2 centuries ago. Paul also told us that if he wanted to please the world, he would not be a follower of Christ. Can you imagine Elijah having a chat with the wicked King Ahab about how we can ‘Coexist’? Or, do you think John the Baptist should have opened a dialogue with Herod about tolerance?
No, those mighty men of God were sent to confront the leaders of their time about the sin in the society! Why is it that our evangelicals spend their time trying to cozy up and make nice with our politicians while there are souls perishing hourly and going into a Christ-less eternity?
This is the message that will transform this culture and turn this country around.
-Please comment on this article at the website below-
http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
–Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil?s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 12, 2011 | Matthew
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I just read two articles that peaked my interest. They both concerned finds of sunken silver on ships that were sunk long ago. Last month an announcement was made of a discovery of the British steam ship Gairsoppa off Ireland and its cargo of 240 tons of silver has an estimated worth of over $200 million dollars. This ship was torpedoed in 1941.
Now a new discovery in the North Atlantic is of the British steam ship Mantola that was torpedoed in 1917. It was carrying 20 tons of silver worth $18 million dollars in today’s economy. In just over a month these two discoveries have resulted in a true treasure trove that will benefit both the discovery team as well as the British government.
The day and age we live in is undergoing such financial upheaval that governments are making agreements with these underwater search teams to find treasure that will help ease their financial situation.
As I meditate on the millions of dollars that remained on the bottom of the ocean for so many decades, I could not help but make a spiritual application. The treasures of this world may seem worth so much in today’s economy, but with eternity in view, they hold no value at all. I have just one question for each of us: Where is our treasure?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil?s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 11, 2011 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 25:27
From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.
Back when I was a Juvenile Probation Officer (It is amazing that I can recall that far back) I was continually dealing with dropouts from school. The reason that most gave was that they just didn’t like school. The fact of the matter is that they were too lazy to apply themselves to the discipline of learning.
As a pastor for many years I have been aware of this same type of behavior. As a matter of fact, there are many who never get started. They make promises about how they are going to serve the Lord, but it is just a bunch of hot air. I guess we could say that they dropout on their promises.
Dependability and reliability are qualities that we rest upon. When we step inside an airliner for a flight, we rely upon the mechanics who built the plane. Flying at 30,000 feet, we depend upon the pilot and crew to safely fly the plane to our destination.
When I was flying from Seattle to Boise to conduct my brother’s memorial service, we were met with extreme fog over the Boise Airport. We circled for over an hour waiting for a clearing that would allow us to land. At last the pilot announced that we were going to attempt to land, but if the conditions were not favorable we would have to return to Seattle since there was only enough fuel to make just the one attempted landing. It was no time for the pilot to dropout. Praise the Lord we were able to land in time for me to conduct the service. Are you a dropout?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil?s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
