“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Billie Bob Harrell Jr. shared those common visions by common souls seeking the salvation of sudden fortune.

In June 1997, Billie Bob Harrell was sitting at home when he realized he held the only winning ticket to a Lotto Texas jackpot of $31 million.

Harrell, a deeply religious man, knew he had a godsend from heaven. After being laid off from a couple of jobs in the past few years, Billie Bob had been reduced to stocking the electrical-supply shelves of a Home Depot in northeast Harris County.

He bought a ranch and a few homes, gave money to his church and made loans to friends. Everyone wanted a piece of his money, and soon his marriage was in trouble as he lent and spent all of his winnings. In 1999, less than two years after his big win, Harrell was broke and he took his own life.

Money is not an end in itself; we should never love money. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how to best use all that He has given you and seek to be a good steward.

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.” – Benjamin Franklin

God’s Word: “not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” – 1 Timothy 3:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:8-9

J. Paul Getty founded the Getty Oil Company, and in 1957 Fortune magazine named him the richest living American. At his death in 1976, he was worth more than $6 billion.

He became a millionaire at age 23, and he lived a life of vanity. Yet, in the distress and discontent of his later life, he found himself looking back upon five failed marriages and poor relationships with his children. At age 75, he wrote:


“A man can attend only so many parties and dances without getting bored. He can drink only so much champagne and paint the town red only so many times before he wakes up to the realization that he’s wasting a very great deal of time and energy on meaningless things.”

Getty was asked what single thing he would change if he had the power.  He replied, “I’d change philosophy.  People should be more content.  The way to cure discontent is not necessarily to get more.” 

Contentment cannot be found in things of this world. It only can be found in knowing Jesus and loving Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for your life and be content in all that He has given you.

"Contentment is realizing that God has already provided everything we need for our present happiness." – Bill Gothard

God’s Word: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” – Philippians 4:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” – 1 Timothy 5:13

On June 10, 1929, the New York Daily Mirror hired Walter Winchell to be the first syndicated newspaper gossip column. Using his connections in the entertainment, social, and governmental circles, Winchell exposed exciting or embarrassing information about celebrities in those industries.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Winchell was also an outspoken supporter of civil rights. However, in the 1950’s, he supported Senator Joseph McCarthy and he had some people “blacklisted” from working in Hollywood because he suspected them to be communists. 

He was feared as a journalist because he often used rumors to blackmail his enemies. He was ruthless and arrogant in his quest to produce gossip.

However by 1970, Winchell had become a recluse in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Columnist Larry King wrote of Winchell: “He was so sad. You know what Winchell was doing at the end? Typing out mimeographed sheets with his column, handing them out on the corner. That's how sad he got. When he died, only one person came to his funeral: his daughter.”

Gossip is a sin. Today in prayer, confess any sin of gossip in your life to the Lord and seek to refrain from listening and spreading gossip.

“Have you heard of the terrible family They,

And the dreadful venomous things They say'

Why, half the gossip under the sun,

If you trace it back, you will find begun

In that wretched House of They.” - Ellen Wilcox Wheeler

God’s Word: “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” – Proverbs 11:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8

Pastor Joe McKeever reflected on reading his own journal that he had written in 25 years earlier:

“I invite you to read this opening to my journal dated October 1980.

I was 40 years old and Margaret was 38. We were in our 19th year of marriage, and pastoring the First Baptist Church of Columbus, Mississippi. Our children were 17, 14, and 11.

The first entry in the book is dated October 9. However, the paragraph above that reads:

‘The month of October got off to a poor start around the McKeever household. I announced to Margaret that until October 27th, there were no open days or nights. The month was filled with church meetings, committees, banquets, associational meetings, speaking engagements at three colleges, a weekend retreat in Alabama, and a few football games. She cried. Once again, I had let others plan my schedule in the sense that I’d failed to mark out days reserved for family time.’

I ran across that book today, read that paragraph, and wept.”

Men - your first responsibility to provide for the material and emotional members of your family. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for your family and ask Jesus how you can better provide for them.

"A man's family is also part of his work for the Lord. So if he fails with his family, he fails to qualify to be a minister." - Mary LaGrand Bouma

God’s Word: “If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.” – 1 Timothy 5:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” – 1 Timothy 4:14

In 1985, Colbie Caillat was born in Malibu, California and she grew up in Newbury Park, California. Her father, Ken Caillat, was a record producer. Colbie took piano lessons as a child and realized at age 11 that she wanted to be a singer. She began taking vocal lessons, performing onstage for the first time in sixth grade. She began playing the acoustic guitar at age 19, and recorded her first song. She auditioned for the television show “American Idol” but was rejected at the pre-audition stage and was unable to sing for the judges. The second time she auditioned for the show, she sang her own original song, "Bubbly", and was rejected once again.

However, Colbie expressed gratitude at the judges' decision, saying "I was shy. I was nervous. I didn't look the greatest. I wasn't ready for it yet. I was glad, when I auditioned, that they said no.” She continued to pursue her musical career and in 2008 she won a Grammy Award for her work. 

The Lord has given each of us unique gifts and talents he wants us to use to their maximum capability to bring glory to Him. Today in prayer, ask Jesus how you can best serve Him with the talents and gifts He has given you.

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." – Galileo

God’s Word: “So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12

In 2006, David Platt was named senior pastor of the 4,300-member Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He was just 28 years old.

“He may be the youngest ever to be senior pastor of a megachurch,” said John Vaughn, founder of the Megachurch Research Center in Bolivar, Missouri.

Mr. Vaughn, who helped coin the term megachurch to define churches with 2,000 or more weekly attendance, said that in 26 years of researching megachurches he has not seen such a young minister named senior pastor of such a large church.

Pastor David, who had never been a senior pastor before, agreed it's an unusual opportunity.

"This is a very intimidating position to be in," Pastor David said. "There are a lot of factors that only God can get credit for. It doesn't make sense outside of that."

Dr. Platt has five college degrees, including a doctorate and two master's degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and two bachelor's degrees from the University of Georgia. Previously he was hired by the seminary as assistant professor of preaching and apologetics and dean of the chapel after he finished his doctorate.

"I'm in over my head at every level," he said. "It is humbling, overwhelming."

No matter what your age, the Lord desires that you be an example to other Christians. Today in prayer, ask Jesus how you can be an example of His love to others.

"We who are older should always be careful to encourage the desire of the young to serve, and let no one despise their youth!" - Mark Copeland

God’s Word: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.” – Titus 2:7a

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” – 1 Timothy 4:7

In an article entitled “35 Old Wives Tales Every Indian Has Probably Heard”, Rega Jha lists the following wives tales:

“If you are unable to fall asleep, you are awake in someone’s dreams.” “Cutting nails (finger or toes) at night summons ghosts or brings bad luck.” “If you see a broom first thing in the morning, bad luck is ahead.”  “If you spill chai while pouring it in a cup, you have a clean heart.” “If you eat the last bite of a shared dessert, you will get a loving husband.” “If you see a rainbow and make a wish, while touching gold, it will come true.” And finally, “If you bump your head on someone else’s head, you will grow horns unless you bang heads again.”

Following old wives tales and myths are time wasters and can potentially lead us astray from following the Lord. Today in prayer, ask Jesus to give you discernment to stay away from godless myths.

“Fancies and devices of men in the worship of God are contrary to truth and piety.” - Matthew Henry

God’s Word: “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” – 2 Timothy 4:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.” – 1 Timothy 4:6

In his book, “Regret The Error,” Craig Silverman traces newspaper corrections. He states that by 1973, roughly one newspaper out of eight had a headline for its corrections of previously reported news. Mr. Silverman credits New York Times editor A. M. Rosenthal as the man who “invented” the page 2 corrections. Previous to the page 2 corrections on the newspaper, if you read the initial error, the chances of reading corrections were slim. The corrections would appear almost anywhere within the newspaper.

It was Rosenthal that anchored corrections within the newspaper on page 2 at the bottom of the page. Readers often saw the prominent spot. It was Rosenthal that gave newspaper corrections a place and a standardized format.

Rosenthal also invented the “Editor’s Note.” The Editor’s Note is reserved for serious mistakes in reporting or lapses of ethics in journalism. It is a public correction from the person who is overall in charge of the newspaper. Almost every newspaper in the United States has adopted Rosenthal’s Editor’s Note format for corrections.

As best as possible, we need to point out wrongs and correct them. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for the correction you have received during the years and ask that He give you the courage to correct others in love.

"Often times God asks us to take risks in order to be obedient to Him. This is especially true when He speaks to us about our need to confront others when they are unmistakably caught in the cycle of unrepentant sin." - Rich Grimes

God’s Word: “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” – Titus 2:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” – 1 Timothy 4:1

In January 2018, a truck driver in Peru, Jainer Jesus Flores Vigo, age 40, decided to take a short cut. He wanted to avoid paying a toll on a road and to get to his destination a bit quicker. Though he was not completely sure where he was, he decided to go off road.

Janier was soon arrested for leaving “deep scars” on the surface and part of three geoglyphs - a total area of about 50 by 100 meters. He had just run through the famous Nazca lines. The Nazca Lines are large designs that were scratched into the ground’s surface between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500 on a coastal plain south of Lima. UNESCO calls the site one of the “greatest enigmas” of the archaeological world. They cover about 290 square miles and depict creatures, plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric designs.

Janier had ignored the warning signs and had taken the wrong road damaging a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are many who think they know the right road, but they end up going down a path of destruction. Today in prayer, thank Christ that He is faithful and seek to follow only Jesus.

“Therefore true believers shall not apostatize, but shall stand fast, and shall be kept even to the end.”  – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.” – Mark 13:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 3:13

F.B. Meyer was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic. 

He encouraged his congregation that the drudgery of daily life can be a Divine Calling. He said the following:

“Take up your work, then, you who seem to be the nobodies, the drudges, the maid-of-all-work, the clerk, or shop assistant. Do it with a brave heart, looking up to Him who for many "years toiled at the carpenter's bench. Amid the many scenes and actions of life, set the Lord always before your face. Do all as in His presence, and to win His smile; and be sure to cultivate a spirit of love to God and man. Look out for opportunities of cheering your fellow-workers. Do not murmur or grumble, but let your heart rise from your toil to God your Maker, Saviour, and Friend. So the lowliest service will glisten, as grass-blades do when sun and dewdrops garnish them.”

By faithfully serving the Lord here on earth, we will be prepared to reign with Him and to serve Him in heaven. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can serve Him.

“We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.” – Mother Teresa

God’s Word: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” – Ephesians 6:7-8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

"They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons." - 1 Timothy 3:10

During the 2007-2009 Global Financial Crisis, the worst recession since the Great Depression, many banks and financial institutions were found to be severely undercapitalized.

To remedy undercapitalization, the U.S. Federal Reserve developed “stress tests.” Stress tests focus on a few key risks, such as credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk, to banks' financial health in crisis situations. Hypothetical crises are determined using various factors from the Federal Reserve and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Banks with $50 billion in assets are required to do internal stress tests by their own risk management team and also stress tests from the Federal Reserve.

The main goal of this stress test is to see whether a bank has the capital (available money) to manage itself during tough times.

In a similar way, our faith is tested for authenticity and strength. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that through testing, your faith will increase. 

"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them." - Charles C. West

God's Word: "Test everything. Hold on to the good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” – 1 Timothy 3:5 

For the first ten years of his ministry, Roger Hernandez was “a terrific pastor and a terrible husband.” He has now made his family his first ministry. In the article “When Ministry Hurts Your Family,” he shares his biggest mistake in ministry: “I remember a rainy Friday night, around ten o'clock, when my daughter was five years old. My wife had left to take some teens home after a small group that met in our house. A church elder was scheduled to pick me up and take me to a church retreat. When he arrived, my wife was not home yet. He asked me to go because people were waiting for me. I was needed at the camp. So, I could wait for my wife to get home, or I could leave my daughter by herself for a short while.

I chose wrong. I gave Vanessa her "blankie," put on a VCR tape of VeggieTales, kissed her, and left. Shortly after, a thunderstorm struck. Lightning, thunder, trees moving, wind howling, sideways rain hitting the windows. My wife was stuck on a road with a fallen tree in front of her for an hour. My daughter was at home alone. To complicate matters, the lights went out. Instead of being held by her father and being told everything would be all right that night, she was alone in a big, empty, scary house. Meanwhile, her father was fulfilling his ‘ministry responsibilities.’”

Our first ministry is to our family to see them grow in Christ Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for your family and seek to teach and to encourage them to grow in Christ.

"The mind of Christ is to be learned in the family. Strength of character may be acquired at work, but beauty of character is learned at home. There the affections are trained."  - Henry Drummond

God’s Word: “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” – 1 Timothy 5:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” – 1 Timothy 2:8

Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and of the 20th century, renowned for his intensity and his perfectionism. He was at various times the music director of La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera  in New York, and the New York Philharmonic. Later in his career he was appointed the first music director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, and this led to his becoming a household name (especially in the United States) through his radio and television broadcasts and many recordings of the operatic and symphonic repertoire.

One other trait that distinguished the maestro was his legendary fits of rage. The librarian of one of Toscanini's orchestras was particularly troubled by the conductor’s habit of throwing valuable musical scores at the musicians when he was angry. Watching closely, the librarian observed that Toscanini's first act when enraged was to take his baton in both hands and try to break it. If the baton snapped, Toscanini usually calmed down and rehearsal continued. If the baton did not break, he began hurling sheets of music.

How did the librarian cure Toscanini from throwing sheets of music? He made sure the conductor had a generous supply of flimsy batons on hand for rehearsal!

Everyone wrestles with the sin of anger. Today in prayer, give any anger you have to Jesus. Then worship the Lord and accept His peace.

"People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." - Will Rogers

God’s Word: “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” – Proverbs 29:11

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By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” – 1 Timothy 2:3-4

In the 1960’s, Dianne Lake was a teenager when she met

Charles Manson. She quickly fell under the influence of the sex, drugs, and mind control he used to manipulate the girls who joined him.

“I needed to belong,” she says. “I needed to be part of this movement, part of a family. It’s part of his con that he was able to hone in on whatever a person’s weaknesses were, whatever their needs were and then fill it, provide it. I mean, he was a master at that. And he used it to manipulate. He made all of us, I think, feel individually that we were his favorite, that we were loved and adored.”

But after Manson and some of his followers murdered actress Sharon Tate and were arrested, Dianne became a key witness for the prosecution.

After the convictions, Dianne was able to rejoin society and eventually she became a Christian.  

In her book ‘Member of the Family’ she wrote she believes God was with her through it all, and gave her the grace she needed to move past her time in the Manson family. “Now I really want to, you know, share this remarkable saving grace that I can only attribute to –to God. We’ve had a wonder—you know, I have a wonderful husband, have wonderful children. You know, great church family. It’s just; it’s only by the grace of God. I’m thankful for God. I’m thankful for Jesus Christ as my Savior.”

Jesus desires all men and women to be saved. Today in prayer, pray for those people you know who have not accepted Christ as their Savior.

“Only in Jesus Christ do we have assurance of salvation, forgiveness of sins, entrance into God’s family, and the guarantee of heaven forever when we die.” – Luis Palau

God’s Word: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” – Colossians 4:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” – 1 Timothy 2:1

Bill Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, one of the largest churches in America.

In his book “Too Busy Not to Pray”, Pastor Hybels wrote:

“Many of us have pressing personal needs and serious problems that ravage our lives, but we don’t ask God for help because somewhere, well beneath our surface layer of faith and trust, we don’t believe God has the power to do anything about them.

The fact is, of course, that God is capable of handling any problem we could bring him. Creating planets isn’t much of a problem for him. Neither is raising the dead. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle - but he’s waiting for us to recognize his power and ask for his help.”

In everything, bring it before the Lord in prayer. Today in prayer, thank Jesus that we can take all prayer requests directly to Him, and He intercedes for us.

"To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them." - John Calvin

God’s Word: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.” – 1 Timothy 1:18-19

In the third round of the National Football League 2012 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback Nick Foles. He was a back-up quarterback for three years and nearly quit the game. He said he prayed about the situation and believed the Lord wanted him to continue playing football.

“I knew as a person, the more growth I would have, the more opportunity to glorify God and trust in Him, was to go back and play football because of everything I had encountered,” Nick said. “It took a lot more faith to go back and play than if it would have gone the other direction. Either way, I would’ve been fine. I know I would’ve trusted in God.”

That trust led him first to Kansas City for the 2016 season. In 2017, Nick was traded back to Philadelphia as the back-up quarterback again. Then in week 14 of the season, starting quarterback Carson Wentz sustained a season ending knee injury.

Nick became the starting quarterback and guided his team through the playoffs and to a Super Bowl victory. Nick was named the game’s most valuable player.

Less than five seconds into his post-game interview, Nick acknowledged God as he held his baby girl and took in the victorious moment the city of Philadelphia has been waiting for since 1933.

“Unbelievable. All glory to God,” Nick said.

“I wouldn’t be out here without God, without Jesus in my life. I can tell you that first and foremost,” he shared later, during his post-game press conference.

Nick has taken the next step of faith and said that after his playing career, he believes the Lord is leading him to be a youth pastor. He has signed up for seminary classes during the offseason.

Are you looking to Jesus and growing in faith? Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a rewarder to all those who place their faith in Him.

"Faith is taking God at His word.  Faith is not belief without evidence.  It is belief on the very best of evidence -- The Word of Him "that cannot lie."" - R.A. Torrey

God’s Word: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” – 1 Timothy 1:15

Dr. Richard D. Phillips is senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., a Christian author, and chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology.

He wrote the following: “I had this experience recently while sharing the gospel in a small town outside Kampala, Uganda. Several Ugandan Christians and I were walking through an impoverished neighborhood when we came across a group of women boiling stew on their porch. When we approached, they invited us inside their home. In some ways, it was a difficult situation. The women, along with a couple of men inside, were Muslims. Only one of them spoke English, so I had to speak with them through an interpreter. But when we brought up Jesus Christ, they were eager to talk and asked many questions. How important it was that I was able to share briefly and clearly who Jesus is and what He did for our salvation. God blessed that conversation, and it resulted in six Muslims professing faith in Jesus Christ.”

Everyone needs Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He came into the world to save sinners.

"Almighty God, through the death of your Son you have destroyed sin and death. Through his resurrection you have restored innocence and eternal life. We who are delivered from the power of the devil may live in your kingdom. Give us grace that we may believe this with our whole heart. Enable us, always, to steadfastly praise and thank you in this faith, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." - Martin Luther

God’s Word: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” – 1 Timothy 1:12

In 1934, Cameron Townsend established a summer linguistic course in rural Arkansas for training translator-linguists. The first summer course was inauspicious. Only two students turned up for classes at the abandoned farmhouse Townsend rented for housing the “school.” The next summer Kenneth Pike, a skinny young man recently rejected by the China Inland Mission (CIM), arrived for the summer course along with four other students. The CIM had rebuffed Pike because of his nervousness and inability to pronounce Chinese. After failing as a CIM candidate, Kenneth had returned to Gordon College where he took a graduate course in Greek, and it was there that he learned of Townsend’s summer school. If he couldn’t be a traditional missionary, perhaps he could be a Bible translator? As unpromising as Kenneth appeared, Townsend had just collected his first linguistic genius.

Dr. Pike believed that the structure of language should be studied in context, not just single sentences, as seen in the title of his magnum opus "Language in relation to a unified theory of the structure of human behavior" (1967).

Dr. Pike’s theories led to new methods of language translation. Eight years after Cameron Townsend began Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), Kenneth Pike assumed the presidency of SIL in 1942. He labored to build SIL into a full-fledged scientific organization, while maintaining the founder’s vision for biblical translation. In addition to producing a New Testament, each SIL translation project also conducted linguistic and anthropological research. By the early 1980s, the organization’s translator-linguists were laboring in 761 indigenous language projects and SIL members had published over 9,000 articles and books. Pike also groomed a growing cadre of professional linguists in SIL by encouraging the organization’s best minds to pursue doctoral degrees at top universities around the world. By the time he retired as president of SIL in 1979, the organization had more than 100 members with earned doctorates.

In serving Christ we find His joy. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He will give you strength if you faithfully serve Him.

"The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves." - D.L. Moody

God’s Word: “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness” – Colossians 1:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” – 1 Timothy 1:7

In 1984, Lee Man-hee founded the South Korean cult known as Shinchonji. Claiming to be a Christian group, Man-hee identifies himself as "the promised pastor," mentioned in the Bible. His critics say that Lee is peddling Christian heresy.

The name Shinchonji comes from the Book of Revelation. It translates from Korean as “new heaven and earth.” The group’s official name is Shinchonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The cult now claims to have attracted about 200,000 adherents in its home country of South Korea, along with thousands of followers in more than twenty countries.

Man-hee teaches that there is no Holy Spirit.

Members are told what materials they cannot look at. There are websites, and books, actually all books about the Bible are regarded as lies and theology books are banned because they are not the correct interpretation of the Bible and will corrupt the member and the pure Word as received from Man-hee.

The cult believes that the only path to God is through the shepherd Lee Man-hee.

There are many false teachers claiming to be the way to God. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom and sensitivity toward false teaching.

"False teachers cannot comfort or make happy a timid conscience; they only make hearts confused, sad, and melancholy so that people are gloomy and act sad." - Martin Luther

God’s Word: “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” – Hebrews 13:9a

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” – 1 Timothy 1:5

The Rev. Frederick Buechner is an ordained Presbyterian minister and author of numerous bestselling books. Writing about God’s Love, he said the following: 

“I was walking along Central Park South (in New York City) near Columbus Circle at the foot of the park when a middle-aged black woman came toward me going the other way. Just as she passed me, she spoke. What she said was, "Jesus loves you." That is what she said: "Jesus loves you," just like that. She said it in as everyday a voice as if she had been saying good morning, and I was so caught off guard that it wasn't till she was lost in the crowd that I realized what she had said and wondered if I could possibly ever find her again and thank her, if I could ever catch up with her and say, "Yes. If I believe anything worth believing in this whole world, I believe that. He loves me. He loves you. He loves the whole doomed, damned pack of us.”

The Lord desires us to love just as Jesus loves us. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life to the Lord. Seek to love others as Christ loves you.

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” – Henry Van Dyke

God’s Word: “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2018, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 1 TIMOTHY