Good Questions 3

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

What Have you Done?

Sometimes we need to ask ourselves this question when we have gone astray. What have I done? When we think about it we will sometimes understand where we strayed and why we find ourselves in certain circumstances. We can then get back on the right path.

The question is also appropriate for the things we should do. Have I done that which is right? Have done all I can? Have I really given my best effort in serving Him?

Self examination is a great way to keep yourself on the right spiritual track. Don't wait until you stray so far that it becomes dangerous.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Good Questions 2

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Who Told You?

If your think about it they never thought about their nakedness until they sinned, before that they were innocent and being naked meant no more to them than it would a baby.

Adam listened to Eve who was deceived by the serpent and they lost their innocence and the Garden of Eden also. Many today are losing out because they are not listening to God.

God always wants what's best for you. He loves you with a greater love than you can imagine. Listen to Him. He will never guide you wrong.

People sin because they think they know more about what is right and wrong than God does. That is why so many today are going strictly against the word of God and trying to make the world accept it. Only the influence of evil will contradict what God says.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Good Questions 1

Ge 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Where Are you?

Adam had sinned and was hiding from God. We know that was foolish because God sees everything, yet sometimes we allow sin to enter into our lives and separate us from God. We find ourselves trying to hide from Him. Did you ever notice that when you are doing something you shouldn't be doing you don't want someone to mention God. It makes us uncomfortable. We would rather not think of Him.

The point is that whether we think of Him or not, He is thinking of us. Sometimes it is good just to ask ourselves where we really are in our daily walk with the Lord. We might be trying to hide and not even realize it.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 6

THE FIRST THING TO GIVE

2 Corinthians 8:5 And , not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

No matter what else we might have to offer, the first thing we have to Give God is ourselves. We must make a commitment to Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Savior and then by making Him Lord over our lives and all that we have.

God deserves our very best and even our all. He can only take what you give Him and bless it. Once we Give Him our best then we can begin to give ourselves to others.

Too often we are satisfied to give God what is left. What is left of our finances, what is left of our time, what is left of our talents. If we are to truly receive the greatest blessings we must give to Him first and give him our best.

I hope you have enjoyed the series on First Things. Remember that sometimes the recipe of life doesn't come out right because we leave out the first steps.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 5

THE FIRST THING TO SEEK

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We spend a lot of time trying to see that our daily needs, and daily wants (and those of the future) are taken care of. Our shelter, our food, our clothing are all things we spend a lot of times worrying about.

If we would spend our time seeking the Kingdom of God the attractions of this world wouldn't seem to matter as much. Someone once told me that they had a $150.00 pair of shoes. I told them there was no such thing as a pair of shoes worth $150.00 to me. A cheaper pair of shoes will do the same thing for me, therefore they are worth as much to me as the more expensive ones. Sometimes we place a much higher value on worldly things than they are really worth.

The Kingdom of God and His righteousness is something that is way more valuable than we seem to make it. God is the source of all else. He can provide for everything we need. It only makes sense that we seek Him instead of the trivial things the world has to offer.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

EVERYONE HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND DON'T FORGET WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 4

THE FIRST THING TO REMEMBER

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; {24} Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

The place of worship should be a place of remembering and searching one's own heart. Who have I wronged? Who have I mistreated? Who have I ignored?

This does not say if we have anything against anyone else. It says if our brother has something against me I should try to reconcile with him. Sometimes others fail to forgive us even when we really want to make things right. This is not our fault. When we do not even acknowledge our wrongs and seek reconciliation then it is our fault.

Our prayer and worship can be hindered by the way we treat other people.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 3

THE FIRST THING TO WATCH

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all,Beware ye of the [leaven of the Pharisees], which is hypocrisy.

Be yourself. God made you special and he made just one of you. I am amazed at the number of people who are always trying to be like someone else or to be what they think someone else wants them to be like. I hear so much about peer pressure being such a big problem when it is really hypocrisy that is the big problem.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be different. We should all strive to change for the better but putting on a false front is not the way to go about it. It is amazing that some people even try to act worse than they really are to impress people.

Be the best you can be but be what you are. God knows who you really are and what He sees is much more important than what others think about you.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 2

THE FIRST THING TO REMOVE

Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

In modern day language Jesus was saying, "How can you get a speck of sawdust out of your brother's eye if you have a two by four in your own eye."

I try very hard not to be judgemental because only I am aware of all the faults that I have and I feel a bit self conscious judging others. I don't mean that we are ever to be open minded toward sin or ungodly living but we should be careful how we judge others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The message here was on finding fault with others. Many times we can well see the smallest faults in others while we can't see the greatest ones in ourselves.

The only person that you can really change is yourself. Once you become who you should be then you will have a more positive influence on others. You can't change the way others behave but you can change the way you react to them. Make a conscious effort to become more positive. Sometimes the person that you would like to change is reacting to your attitude. It is kind of hard to fight unconditional love.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST 1

THE FIRST THING TO DO
Matthew 23:26 blind Pharisee, cleanse first that within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Many times we worry more about the outward appearance than we do about the inward condition of our lives. Lately with some of the fashions, or lack of fashion, that I have seen I am beginning to wonder about that but it seems we worry more about embarrassing ourselves than offending God.

We would never dream of sending our children to school or church with dirty faces, hands, and shabby clothes and yet we have little concern with the things we allow them to put into their minds and hearts. Sometimes we are allowing things to come into our homes and into our children's and our lives that are just downright wrong.

I see people post scripture on the Internet and links to gospel songs in one post and then they are using profanity and talking about the alcohol they are drinking in their next post.

I once heard someone on TV say, "I may be a lowlife, but I look good." I'm afraid that there is a lot more of that going around than we want to think about. The only way we can really clean up the inside of our lives is by trusting Jesus and allowing Him to be our Lord and our Savior.

Many people try to live a good life but miss this important first step. That important first step is trusting Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

INTRODUCTION:
(I did a series on this a couple of years ago but I decided to revisit the subject)

Zig Ziglar tells a story about cooking a ham. He noticed that everyone in the family always cut the shank end of the ham off as the very first step in cooking the ham. When he asked his wife why she did that she told him that was what you were supposed to do to cook a ham. She explained that she had watched her mother cook hundreds of hams and she always cut the shank end off before she did anything else. Zig, being the curios type decided to ask his mother in law why. She explained that it was just what you did when you cooked a ham. She had seen her mother do it hundreds of times and that was the way to do it.
Zig wanted to get to the bottom of this so he called his mother's grandma and asked, "Why do you always cut the shank end of the ham off first thing before you start to cook it?"

"That's simple," she said, "My roasting pan is a little small and it won't fit if I don't cut off the shank end first."

Sometimes we do things in certain ways and we really don't understand why we do them that way. Sometimes the first step is not as important as we thought it was.

Sometimes the first step in anything is very important. The devotionals this week will be on First Things. I hope you enjoy them and get a blessing from them. While you are thinking about how things are going ask yourself if you are sometimes leaving out the most important steps in have a spirit filled walk with Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 4

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Make a special effort to have a prayer time or more than one prayer time. My wife and I start the day with prayer. This is not the only time that we but we have learned that it is the best way to start our day.

I am pleased when I hear of students who set aside a time to pray with their friends during school. There are even people who have prayer circles on their jobs and meet and have prayer together.
Having a special place and time to pray is a great asset to your prayer life.
It is also good to have a prayer partner or prayer partners. It is encouraging to have others to pray with and to know that they are also praying for us and us for them.

Make your prayer life a priority. Become a prayer warrior in your home, your church and in your community. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 3

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Make prayer a priority. Make it such a part of your life that you are aware that something is missing when you fail to pray.
My wife and I were about to eat at Subway the other day and as is our custom we bowed our heads and asked God's blessings on our food. We do this even when we eat out. We do not make a scene but we do quietly thank God for the food and ask His blessings upon it. In this instance a man came over and stuck out his hand and shook mine. "I just want to tell you how much I appreciate seeing you do that and what a good witness it is." he said. It gave us a chance to meet and fellowship with another Christian and even our conversation was a witness to anyone else who might have been watching. You never know when someone is watching you. It has actually happened to us on several occasions that someone would come up to us and comment.

Prayer before meals is not enough though. There are many opportunities for prayer. I realize that they are probably more for me because I am a preacher but if we talk of our faith the chances will come. We were in the doctor's office to get a checkup not long ago and the nurse and I usually joke and pick at each other. The conversation got around to our faith and the fact that I was a preacher. She asked me to pray for someone in her family. It would have been easy for me to just say "I certainly will." At that time I felt convicted by God to pray with her at that moment. She and my wife and I held hands and had prayer right there in the examination room. It was an opportunity for prayer and we were all blessed by it.

Be a prayer warrior. Take every opportunity to pray for and with others.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 2

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Remove the hindrances from your prayer life. We know that when we have sin in our lives it is important to confess that sin to God and get His forgiveness. When Paul exhorted us to "pray without ceasing" he did not mean we were to withdraw from society and spend all our time in meditation and prayer. He meant that we should remain in such a frame of mind that would allow a smooth transition into talking with our Heavenly Father without having to stop and change directions in our frame of mind.

There are many things that can hinder us. If we worry or are caught up in the cares of the world it is hard to make the transition into prayer. If we harbor a grudge or have anger or even a negative attitude it is hard to automatically begin to talk to God.

Even fatigue can effect our prayer life. Sometimes we wait until the end of the day to have our special prayer time and we will fall asleep before we have finished our prayers.

If you know of things in your life that hinder your prayer life you should make note of them... pray about them and work on removing them from your life. Prayer is too important to take a backseat to other aspects of your life.


Please feel free to contact me by email at
shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even
suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for
our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that
this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a
closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time
to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

PRAYER WARRIORS 1

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Church today is in need of prayer warriors. This past week I have thought much about the power of prayer. As I sat in the waiting room of the children's hospital this week with a family whose daughter was undergoing surgery for a brain tumor I thought of how many people were praying for her. There were three pastors present during the surgery. A large portion of her family, all of them faithful in their churches, were there with them.

People were being constantly updated on her progress and condition by text message and I know that many (due to Facebook prayer chains) across the nation were praying for her and will continue to do so. This family has a long road ahead of them but they are strong, they have faith, and they have a support group of people who love them and will pray for them.

There was another family there whose pastor was with them. Their baby had been born premature and had weighed only 1 and 1/4 pounds when it was born. He had been in the hospital for most of his 6 month life and was having major heart surgery at the time. They had faith and they had peace and they also had a large number of people praying for "their miracle boy".

There were others there who I didn't have a chance to learn anything about but I am sure just the fact that they were there would mean that they need our prayers.

I know from experience that having people pray for you when you or a loved one is going through a serious illness is very important. Pay attention to the prayer lists from your church. When someone asks you to pray for them be sure to take it seriously. There is power in prayer. God still performs miracles.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

GOING AWAY SORROWFUL

Mt 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt 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. (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Most of you are familiar with the story of the rich young ruler. Because of his wealth he was unwilling to forsake it all and follow Jesus. The sad thing is that he would have been leaving no more behind than those who did follow Jesus. They left it all.

The fishermen left their boats. Even the apostle Paul left a very promising future as a pharisee to follow Jesus for the rest of his life. It doesn't matter if you have much or little, all is all. There are many who will not even forsake their little pleasures to follow Jesus.

No matter what you choose to put over Jesus, if you turn away from Him and follow something else you, just like the rich young ruler will go away sad.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 4

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. {19} Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I keep hearing about the failings of the church and how the church is falling away from her true mission. I hear how the church is losing her power. If that is the case then the church must refocus on Jesus and His message.

Maybe we are too focused on committees and programs and drives and all sorts of other ministries when we ought to make Jesus the central focus of the church and all it's activities. Jesus is the power within the church and there is no other. He has the power to preserve His church and He will preserve it until He comes back for it.

He gave us the message to spread and He will empower us to spread that message. He will get the results if we just spread the message.

The world seems to be going the wrong way but He has overcome the world and He has given us the power to overcome the world. We need to get on about His work and prepare for His coming again. We don't have time to stand here gazing.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 3

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

WE HAVE AN UNCHANGING MESSAGE TO WORK WITH

It is not complicated. God made it simple enough that even a child would be able to understand it. Jesus came to pay our sin debt and He offers salvation to all who believe on Him.

We are all sinners. "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God". "There is none righteous, no not one.". It is pretty plain that every man is a sinner. Sin separates us from God. Jesus cam to redeem us or purchase us back to God.

He is the Son of God. He is "the way, the truth, and the life"
There is no other name, no other person, no other method or way of salvation but through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Salvation is in Him and in Him alone.

Many people are struggling and searching for something. They want something to believe in, something that will give them peace. What they must understand is that they are not looking for something, they are looking for someone and that someone is Jesus.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 2

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

THERE WAS A TASK LEFT TO COMPLETE

While it is true that Jesus finished the work of redemption on the Cross and by rising from His tomb it was a message that has to be believed. To be believed it has to be shared. There were many then who did not know what had happened. There are still many today that have no idea about the redemption through Jesus Christ.

When the apostles did finally become empowered by the Holy Spirit they began to spread the word and it spread like wildfire with many souls being saved. We have the same power available to us today to spread the gospel by seeking the lost ourselves and witnessing to them, by supporting ministries that preach and teach the gospel, and by sending missionaries to areas where the gospel is needed.

We have the Holy Spirit within us and we have the power of prayer available to us. We need to be burdened for lost souls and be determined to reach them by whatever means possible. Why are we still standing here gazing when there are souls to be reached?

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THERE IS WORK TO DO 1

Ac 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10 ) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus had just given them the great commission, their marching orders and then He ascended into Heaven.

They stood there gazing up to where He went and I am sure we would have been just as awestruck as they were. The stood in amazement. It was at this time the full impact of His message should have jarred them awake.

They gazed, I think probably in a daze and probably for some time at the sky long after Jesus was out of sight. It took the heavenly messengers speaking them to jar them into any kind of action again.

Today we too should be jarred into action by the impact of Jesus message because it is no less important some 2000 years later. Like the disciples we too often just stand gazing when we should be motivated to do the work that Jesus left us to do.

I want to talk about that work a little in the next few devotionals. I hope you receive a blessing and some inspiration from them.


Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 5

THE WORK OF THE SAMARITAN IS THE WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN

Luke 10 33-35 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (34) And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

The work of the Samaritan was a work of compassion. We can never fully do the work of a Christian if we don't have compassion for those who are wounded by sin and robbed by Satan.

It was a work of healing. Just like the Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man on the road, we sometimes must help bind up the wounds of those in sin. They need care, and they need help. We sometimes have to help them heal.

It was a work of Sacrifice. The good Samaritan spent gave his time, his energy, and his money to help a man he didn't even know. He did all this with no thought of ever being repaid. The true work of a Christian will be not be compensated in this world, but in the next.

It was a work of commitment. The Samaritan was committed to the man's ongoing care. He knew that sometimes things take time.

He was a great example to all of us.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.



If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 4

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED

We are always wounded by sin. Even if we feel that we might be getting away with sin in our life we must remember that sin has a built in penalty. It always causes us harm.
Sometimes it will leave us as helpless as the man on the side of the road. There are many who are wounded by sin and can do nothing for themselves.
We need to remember that Christ was wounded that we might be healed.

Isaiah 53:5 But he wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace upon him; and with his [stripes] we are [healed].

Even though there is help and healing through Jesus Christ we must do as the Good Samaritan did and offer our help. Have you had the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan lately.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 3

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

THE MAN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS RAIMENT

Satan does not just want to take your posessions and your valuables. He doesn't just want to leave you poor. He wants to leave you in embarrassing and humiliating situations.
I have often wondered about people who drink alcohol until they become completely out of their mind. I have heard them often talk about what a great time they had but when someone begins reminding them of things they did and said they would become embarrassed and would not want to hear or remember it. That doesn't sound like much fun does. Believe me... it isn't.
Satan will tempt you into sin which will strip you of your self respect. When you fail to respect yourself then you lose the respect of others as well.
Sin will strip you of your dignity. You will not want to look people in the eye. When you slip into the depths of sin you will feel as if people are looking at you and judging you when actually it is you who know you have been doing wrong.
Sin will strip a saved person of his testimony. I have known many Christian people who strayed from their walk with Jesus and ruined their testimony. We as Christians should forgive them and should do our best to bring them back into fellowship with the church and with the Lord. The world will not forget. If you don't believe that just look at the news of many preachers or Christians who have fallen into sin and see how the media and the public treats them.
Satan wants to strip you of your Godly raiment. He wants to leave you in that condition for the rest of the world to see.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 2

MANY TODAY ARE FALLING PREY TO SATAN
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a [roaring lion], walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The man was robbed. Many today are being robbed of the abundant life because they are falling prey to Satan and his temptations. Satan makes sin attractive. If sin wasn't attractive then it wouldn't be tempting to sin. Satan paints a beautiful picture but whatever he has to offer always leaves his victims spiritually bruised and bleeding.
No one ever decides in grade school that they want to be a homeless drunkard, a drug addict or wasted away from immoral living.
They start out taking small steps toward of a destructive life. No man who refused the first drink ever became an alcoholic. A man who treasures his life and the life of others would never become a murderer.
It is the small steps that Satan gets you to take. It is much like the prodigal son who left his father's house. He could have turned around at any point and gone home but he waited until he had reached rock bottom before he came to himself.
If you really want to be a Good Samaritan you might try to keep someone from taking another destructive step. Talk to them, let them know you care. The most important thing you can do is offer them hope and that hope comes from trusting Jesus Christ.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.