Devotional  Reading


Right Thinking Spiritually Will Bring Right Living
 
Titus 1:9   He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.  (NIV)

     It would be impossible to overemphasize the importance of sound doctrine in the life of a Christian. Right thinking about all spiritual matters is imperative if we would have right living. As men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles, so sound character does not grow out of unsound teaching!
The word ‘doctrine’ means simply religious beliefs held and taught. It is the sacred task of all Christians, first as believers and then as teachers of religious beliefs, to be certain that these beliefs correspond exactly to truth.
A precise agreement between belief and fact constitutes soundness in doctrine. We cannot afford to have less.
Each generation of Christians must look to its beliefs. While truth itself is unchanging, the minds of men are porous vessels out of which truth can leak and into which error may seep to dilute the truth they contain.
When men deal with things earthly and temporal, they demand the truth; only in religious thought is faithfulness to truth looked upon as a fault!
Increasing numbers of evangelical Christians are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth, but moral power has always accompanied definitive beliefs.
We need right now a return to a gentle dogmatism that smiles while it stands stubborn and firm on the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever!
EWTDR/FGMBC/ July 5, 2025



I Am Slipping

•             When I begin to act as if genuine joy is dependent on the state of the circumstances surrounding me.
•             When I begin to lose the distinct aroma of the fragrance of Christ in my life.
•             When I begin to feel or act as if my self-worth and acceptance is dependent on how well I perform.
•             When I am losing my grip on the reality of spiritual warfare. Then I begin to treat my brother or my fellow human being as my enemy and          
               seek to do battle with fleshly weapons.
•             When I act as if victory or success depends on me and my ability rather than on the adequacy of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
•             When I place undue emphasis on programming and planning to the exclusion of His direction, leading and guidance.
•             When more time is spent in the “activities arena” than in the prayer closet.
•             When the praises of men and women become more important than the approval of God.
•             When relating to and caring for people is less important than programs, planning, meetings, and budgets.
•             When I assume responsibility to worry and fret over things and people that God in His sovereignty and power would take charge of (if I would allow Him to do so).
•             When my rights become more important than God’s will and way.

FOTM/FGMBC 6/3/2025