In the sixteenth psalm, David composed a very personal hymn in response to the goodness of God across the story of his life. We know it was personal because of his frequent use of the personal pronoun within the eleven verses of this psalm.

Despite the hard times that David experienced in his life, he amazingly looked with contentment and gratitude for his blessings. I know that he didn’t write the old hymn, Count Your Many Blessings”, but it sure looks to me like he is counting his blessings in Psalm 16.

Since the days of Joshua, the Jews knew which land was allotted to each one of them. Each of the tribes but one, the tribe of Levi, received instructions for the boundaries of their property. To the priestly tribe of Levi, the Lord promised that He would be their “lot” in life rather than a piece of real estate.

I think David picked up on this idea of looking to the Lord as his “lot” and his “inheritance”. So, when he wrote this psalm he was listing some of the blessings that he had in the Lord. We can do the same this Thanksgiving. What has the Lord deposited in your “lot”? I think you and I already have “a whole lot in our lot”.

1. Grateful for the Guardianship of the Lord, 16:1, 8

2. Grateful for the Grace of the Lord, 16:2

3. Grateful for the Gladness in the Lord, 16:3-4, 9

4. Grateful for the Goodness of the Lord, 16:5-6

5. Grateful for the Guidance of the Lord, 16:7

6. Grateful for the Glory of the Lord, 16:10-11

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

There Is a Lot in My Lot (Psalm 16)

After successfully performing a heart surgery on a woman, the heart doctor was not able to massage her heart into beating again. So, he removed his surgical mask, knelt down beside her and whispered these words, “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.”

This true story from Ohio reminds me of another true story from Jerusalem. It surprisingly happened to a young king in Judah when he was 39 years of age. He learned that he had a terminal illness and took it pretty hard.

God had used King Hezekiah in powerful ways by ushering in a spiritual revival in his policies and praying down a national rescue when surrounded by the Assyrian army. But something shifted in the young king’s heart. As he became more prosperous and the affluence of his administration began to rise so did his arrogance. 2 Chronicles 32:22-25 concludes with God saying of the ruler, “…for his heart was proud.”

This disturbing turn of events was used of God to reset the king’s heart. His remorse and his repentance would repair his heart and cause it to once again beat with the rhythm of trust and humility before God. Isaiah 38 gives us the true account of how his faith began to beat again.

1. Crisis in his health, 38:1

2. Sentence regarding his death, 38:1-2

3. Turning toward his faith, 38:2-3

4. Extension to his path, 38:4-6

5. Signs based upon His (God’s) strength, 38:7-8, 22

6. Healing based upon His (God’s) truth, 38:9, 21

7. Anguish if without his breath, 38:10-16

8. Appreciation upon this earth, 38:17-20

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Tell Your Heart to Beat Again (Isaiah 38)

The New Testament records these three words 10 times, “He is able”. Today we are going to learn from one of these passages what the Lord Jesus Christ is able to do. We will focus our attention on Hebrews 2:14-18. The closing verse of our text says, “…He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Since Hebrews 10:1-2, 11 signals that the temple was still in operation in Jerusalem, most bible scholars place the writing of this letter between AD 64-69. We don’t know the author of this letter, but it is clear that the theme is the supremacy of Christ. We see within these pages the repetition of the word “better” – Christ brings a better life through salvation, promises a better hope, offers a better sacrifice and assures us of a better inheritance.

This an incredible bridge between Old Testament typology and New Testament fulfillment. He most definitely a superior Person, a superior Priest and gives His followers a superior life. Let’s look at these five verses and learn about the ability of the Son of God.

1. He is able to relate to humanity, 2:14, 17

2. He is able to defeat the devil, 2:14

3. He is able to deliver from fear, 2:15

4. He is able to help against temptation, 2:16, 18

5. He is able to forgive our sin, 2:17

Jesus asked two blind men who came to Him for healing this important question, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They answered, “Yes, Lord.” What if He asked you that question. What would your answer be to Him?

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

He Is Able (Hebrews 2:14-18)

There are two great needs in the churches across America today. We need more intercession for others and more illumination through a great spiritual awakening. Ephesians 1:15-23 seems to chart the way in praying for those around us to experience an enlightenment.

In our text today we will hear Paul assure the disciples in Ephesus that he was praying for them the following, “…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.” Of course, Ephesus wasn’t the only church for which the Apostle prayed. He prayed for the church in Rome, the church in Philippi, the church in Colossae and the church in Thessalonica. These were the prayers recorded in the New Testament. He surely prayed for even more churches in his day.

The prayer for enlightenment was not a prayer for financial prosperity or a political priority, it was for spiritual maturity. The focus of his prayer is almost like he was praying that Christians would take a look at the spiritual bank book with available resources for living the Christian life.

Let’s pray for believers and followers of Christ in the US to awaken to the following:

1. Appreciation for Salvation from God, 1:15-16
2. Attention to the School of God, 1:17
3. Anticipation of the Summation by God, 1:18
4. Appraisal of Our Status with God, 1:18
5. Awareness of Strength through God, 1:19
6. Authority of the Son of God, 1:20-23

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Intercession for Illumination  (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Jeremiah 17 begins with a confrontation of Judah over the seriousness of their sin in the eyes of God by comparing it to something engraved with the point of a diamond. Their sin was also serious in terms of the drastic consequences they would soon encounter for their poor choices, namely exile “in a land that you do not know”.

So, how were they to live in exile in Babylon? Should they trust in man, or trust in the Lord? God gave the prophet Jeremiah two striking and contrasting images to motivate them to trust in Him rather than to trust in the flesh. If they lived by trusting in mankind, then they would be like a dried-up shrub bush in the desert. If they chose to trust in the Lord, then they would be more like a flourishing tree planted by water.

The Lord is outlining how true believers in any age, living in any place, under any circumstances can enjoy the goodness of the Lord and bloom where He has planted them at a particular time. Since Jeremiah’s ministry was from 627-582 BC, he would experience the turmoil of life in Judah just prior to the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem fell in 586 BC. God’s words through the prophet can enlighten and guide us in accessing the abundant life available through Christ.

1. Favor in Christ: “Blessed is the man…”

2. Faith in Christ: “…who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”

3. Fountain in Christ: “…He is like a tree planted by water…”

4. Fertilization through Christ: “…that sends out its roots by the stream…”

5. Fearless because of Christ: “…does not fear when heat comes…is not anxious in the year of drought…”

6. Flourishing in Christ: “…for its leaves remain green…”

7. Fruitful through Christ: “…for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Blooming Where You Are Planted (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Let’s look at what Jesus taught regarding the construction of a strong prayer life in Matthew 7:7-12. By chapter 7, Matthew had already recorded several times that Jesus referred to the prayer life of His men. He mentions prayer in the Gospel of Matthew 16 times. The Bible uses the term pray or prayer 316 times.

For example, Matthew wrote in chapter six where Jesus gives us the model prayer, “And when you pray…” (v. 5), “But when you pray…” (v. 6), “And when you pray…” (v. 7) and of course, the infamous, “Pray then like this…” (v. 9).

The passage we are going to look at today will give us a blueprint for laying a secure foundation for a lifetime of prayer along with an effective framework for raising upon it as large a structure as you are committed to build. Matthew 7:7-12 gives you the direction you are looking for! So, like His disciples asked Him, we ask You, Lord, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).

Petition, vs. 7-8
“Ask” mentioned 5x in this passage

Pursuit, vs. 7-8
“seek”

Patience, vs. 7-8
“knock”

Persistence, vs. 7-8
Each of these verbs are present imperatives calling for continuous action. Note also the ascending intensity of the three verbs.

Promise, vs. 7-8
God may not answer prayer according to our wishes, but He will answer it according to His will and His timing. Check out Exodus 32:7-14 where God spared His people because Moses stood on His promise.

Participants, v. 8
Is this written to a select group of Christ’s followers? I love how the Lord slides the invitation list in so smoothly at the beginning of v. 8 with the exciting words, “For everyone who asks…” Cool!

Positive Incentive, vs. 9-11
The Father longs for us to talk to Him about our lives, our needs, our challenges, etc. This being the case, why would He give us something bad when we pray? No, Jesus says quite clearly, “…how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/



Construction of a Prayer Life (Matthew 7:7-12)

Jesse Reno invented a moving device he dubbed an “inclined elevator”. He publicly introduced it at Coney Island in the Fall of 1896 where within one week 75,00 people took a ride on the innovative conveyor belt.

He had submitted a patent for his invention in 1892. It had no steps, just a single platform that could move 3,000 individuals per hour. He even equipped it with handrails for safety. The motor moved the belt at a speed of 90 feet per minute (for comparison, adults can walk at the average speed of 270 feet per minute).

It was not until 1897 when Charles D. Seeberger gave the moving steps the official name, “escalator” (Latin word, scala, means “steps”). A couple of years later, he would join with Elisha Otis and his elevator company to produce what we know now as the escalator.

Proverbs 12:24-28 with its up and down movement makes me think of five of life’s “escalators” that will either take us up in life or take us down in life. Each of the five verses make me think of the choices that life brings before us as we stand at the top of each escalator.

# 1 – Choice at the Escalator of the Hand, v. 24
Diligence will take you up to administration, whereas
indolence will take you down under supervision.

# 2 – Choice at the Escalator of the Heart, v. 25
Anxiety will bring you down into depression, whereas
affirmation will bring you up to gladness.

# 3 – Choice at the Escalator of the Huddle, v. 26
Righteousness influences friends upward to excellence, whereas
wickedness influences friends downward into error.

# 4 – Choice at the Escalator of Harvest, v. 27
Negligence brings you down in wastefulness, whereas
persistence brings you up to resourcefulness.

# 5 – Choice at the Escalator to Heaven, v. 28
Belief in Christ brings you up to life, whereas
unbelief toward Christ brings you downward to death.

Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Choosing between Life’s Escalators (Proverbs 12:24-28)

“…the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

Paul wrote a letter to Philemon during his first imprisonment in Rome, perhaps around 60-61 AD. Out of the four prison epistles, Philemon is without question the most personal.

Paul had won Philemon to Christ during his third missionary journey while he was evangelizing Ephesus. Even though Philemon was from Colossae, he must have traveled to Ephesus where he heard the transforming message of the gospel through the Apostle.

While being held captive in Rome, Paul met Onesimus, a runaway slave from Colossae, who left the house of Philemon abruptly and secretly where he had served. Onesimus had most likely stolen some money on his way out the door (vs. 18-19) and may have continued stealing from others. Then, Onesimus meets Paul in prison, is led to Christ and discipled by the Apostle.

Paul talks Onesimus in to returning back to Philemon to make things right, only this time he will enter the house of Philemon with a hand-written letter from his mentor, Paul, urging his Colossian friend to receive Onesimus now as a brother in Christ. Paul gladly and generously offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes to make things right.

Paul begins his letter with some heartfelt affirmation of the refreshing way that Philemon treated Paul and others in his life. His statements of Philemon’s life give us a clear pathway of how we tool can share with others the blessing of refreshing (vs. 7, 20).

Resources for the Labor, v. 6

Expressions of Love, v. 5

Faith in the Lord, v. 5

Rejoicing during This Life, v. 7

Encouragement for the Load, v. 7

Sharing with the Lost, v. 6

Hearts with a Lift, v. 7

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

The Blessing of Refreshing (Philemon 4-7)

We are almost to Labor Day. The Bible affirms work and condemns laziness and idleness. As a matter of fact, there is. Liberty University publication that lists 43 different occupations found in the pages of Scripture. There is nothing wrong with good, ole fashion work.

There is something wrong, however, with those who would attempt to work and try to earn salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 remind us that we are saved by grace through faith not by our own works and efforts. This is repeated in Titus 3:5 where it says, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy…”

This is why in honor of Labor Day I would like to direct our attention to one of the most beloved passages of Scripture in all of the Bible, Matthew 11:28-30.

Spurgeon is reported to have given 12 different messages from Matthew 11:28-30 across the span of his lifetime. Once he was asked why he would preach from this same text again, he replied, “One cannot preach too often on this text!”

You are going to like what the Lord has to say to you today through His Word. Get ready to grow in grace! Let’s talk about the rest we discover in Christ.

1. Illustration of a Yoke – “take My yoke upon you”

2. Invitation to the Yoke – “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden”

3. Inspiration from the Yoke – “and I will give you rest.”

4. Installation of the Yoke – “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me”

5. Information about the Yoke – “for I am gentle and humble in heart”

6. Investigation of the Yoke – “and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and burden is light”.

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Finding Rest in Christ  (Matthew 11:28-30)

In our text today Jesus chooses metaphors of salt and light to convey the impact citizens of His kingdom should have upon society because we are different from the kingdoms of the world. So, if we attempt to accommodate ourselves to the world and permit our lives to be conformed to the molds of its kingdoms, then we shall lose our distinctiveness and our potential to impact the decay and the darkness of this world.

Let’s examine the significance of four verses found near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, undoubtedly one of the greatest sermons ever delivered. Although our Lord’s message runs through three chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, chapters 5-7, our attention will focus only upon Matthew 5:13-16.

We will direct our attention to six observations from the text.

1. Desperation of Isolation from the Kingdom – “…the earth…the world…”

2. Declaration of the Indicative of the Kingdom – “You are…you are…”

3. Description of the Influence of the Kingdom – “…the salt…the light…”

4. Disruption through Interruption to the Kingdom – “…but if salt has lost its taste…nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket…”

5. Dedication to the Intention of the Kingdom – “…how shall its saltiness be restored? ...but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others…”

6. Deterioration into Ineffectiveness of the Kingdom – “…It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet…so that they may see your Father who is in heaven.”



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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Kingdom Impact upon a Fallen World (Matthew 5:13-16)

Weekly Biblical devotions that help us Grow in Grace. Real stories and absolute truths from Scripture that provide strength, hope and encouragement. Hosted by Victor Morrison, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbus, Texas, USA.

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