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Bible Gleanings, devotions

Lovers of Self | Bible Gleanings | June 22-23, 2024

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He preserved his smartphone at all costs, even if it meant potentially ending lives. In May of 2023, a distracted Indian official was taking selfies on the job, when he dropped his phone into a water reservoir which held over 2 million liters of water for local residents and farms. According to the Associated Press, he first directed divers to retrieve the phone, but when they came up empty-handed, he gave orders to drain every drop of the desperately-needed water in order to reunite with his darling device. He selfishly sacrificed lifesaving resources to save a waterlogged phone that costs only a few hundred dollars to replace. The selfies on his phone must have been spectacular!

His selfish retrieval happened time zones away in another country, but his selfishness hits home. All of us live in a “selfie culture” in which we are absorbed with ourselves and obsessed with a fervent quest for happiness at any cost. We are innately and instinctively self-centered, self-seeking, and self-serving. That is why the Bible says that as sinners, we are naturally “lovers of self” (2 Tim. 3:2a). Our fallen spiritual genes compel us to put ourselves first and everyone else last (Rom. 2:8; Phil. 2:21; James 3:16).

However, such self-centeredness should be steadily shrinking in the souls of saints who possess a new nature because of the redemptive work of the One who put others before Himself on Calvary’s cross. Thanks to the sanctifying work of Christ in believers, the Lord is replacing our greedy impulse to prioritize ourselves with a holy inclination to serve others and seek their best interests. That is why the Scripture teaches that selfless neighbor-serving is one of the surest evidences of having been saved by grace (1 John 3:14-18). Thus, all who know Christ should exhibit self-denying actions and a self-sacrificial attitude. As Paul the apostle commanded: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5; cf. 1 Cor. 10:24).

Ironically, selfishness always results in great loss. Being self-absorbed will destroy friendships, damage fellowship with other believers, and even dismantle your prayer life (Prov. 18:1; James 3:13-14; 4:3). On the other hand, selflessness always results in great gain. As Jesus promised, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:11-12). And after speaking to the self-centered rich young ruler, the Lord Jesus assured: “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matt. 19:30, KJV).

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Growing in Grace | Bible Gleanings | June 15-16, 2024

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A group of tourists visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.” His point was that no one is born as a hero or heroine, or someone who joins the annals of renowned history. Everyone starts out at ground level as a crying infant.

And that’s how you start out as a born-again believer as well. You aren’t born as a Christian adult, but as a babe in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1). You take baby steps on the narrow road that leads to life, and you eventually start to run the race of redemption (Heb. 12:1). You drink the milk of God’s word until you can mature and feast on the meat of truth (1 Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12).

And while we start out this way, we must not stay this way. It is God’s will that we grow in Christ as believers. We must “no longer be children,” commanded Paul in Ephesians 4, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (4:15a). We must “grow up” into salvation and give up “childish ways” (1 Peter 2:2; 1 Cor. 13:11). And we must “graduate” from the elementary school of faith, moving on from the ABCs of the Christian life to the deeper things of God (Heb. 6:1-3).

Therefore, the Lord commands all believers: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). We are exhorted to always seek a deeper understanding of Christ and to experience His grace more fully. We should never settle with what we already know and who we are right now. Rather, we should strive for continual growth and constant progress in spiritual maturity.

And the measure of our growth in grace is fruitfulness. Growing crops produce fruit and growing Christians produce spiritual fruit. Thus, all believers should be a good tree that “bringeth forth good fruit” (cf. Matt. 7:16-18). When you abide in the True Vine, you will bear “spiritual produce” that points people to its source, which is the Lord Jesus (John 15:1-8). If you possess the Holy Spirit and let Him possess you, you will bear fruits of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23, KJV).

Therefore, our daily prayer should sound like the words of Growing in Grace, a hymn penned by Edmund S. Lorenz (1854-1942) which pleads, 

“Help me Saviour, more each day,

Gladly Thy sweet will obey;

More and more Thy love display,

Oh, help me grow in grace!

Growing in grace ev’ry day,

Growing in grace ev’ry hour,

Help me Saviour, Thou hast pow’r,

To ever grow in grace.”

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

God Finishes What He Starts | Bible Gleanings | June 8-9, 2024

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An artist may have half-completed paintings in his studio for lack of time and inspiration. A woodworker may have half-built bookcases and desks in his shop because of a shortage of labor and supplies. A mechanic may have half-finished project cars in his garage due to preoccupation with other pressing matters. A tailor may have half-completed garments in their sewing room due to scarce materials. But there are no half-Christians in the workshop of salvation because God always finishes what He starts. 

The apostle Paul promised, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6, KJV). And the point is clear: God makes whole Christians out of unholy sinners and He will sustain them wholly by His grace until Christ Jesus returns. God cannot lie and He has sworn in the testimony of Scripture that if He saved you, He will keep you. It is more probable for the oceans to dry, the sun to cease shining, and God to no longer be God, than for you to lose your salvation. There is no “undo” button for conversion. 

You will never fall off of the potter’s wheel as clay being conformed to Christ (Rom. 8:29). You can never evict the Holy Spirit from the home of your heart (Eph. 1:13). You can never erase your name from Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). You cannot loosen God’s saving grip on your soul (1 Pet. 1:5). You cannot renounce your citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20).

The Lord Jesus promised as much in the Gospel of John when he said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:37-39). He likewise assured in John 10, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

And God will keep you saved until the end of history and the beginning of eternity. When Christ returns bodily and triumphantly, you will be a finished product. Paul said it best in Romans 8: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Open Doors | Bible Gleanings | June 1-2, 2024

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Open doors for gospel proclamation are all around us—we just have to walk through them. Our day-to-day lives are like long corridors with doors flung wide-open that we often pass by (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12). And as much as we should pray for such opportunities to present themselves, it is equally important to pray for the courage and strength to seize them. The same apostle who said, “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:3), also said, “[Pray] that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19). But be warned: be careful what you pray for—you might just receive it!

The Lord has answered this prayer in my life many times, but one occasion stands out. I was out of town for a ministry training, and I stopped in the local Waffle House to have some breakfast for dinner. And I overheard one of the other servers talking about “being spiritual” and watching witchcraft videos on TikTok. Initially, I didn’t give it a second thought. I went about my business, finished my meal, and left a gospel tract with the tip for my waitress. The Lord had opened a door for the gospel, but I passed it by.

I went to my car and saw the waiter in my side mirror as he scrolled on his phone. I felt compelled to go back in and have a gospel conversation. “I don’t want to start an argument,” I wrestled internally. “It will probably seem offensive anyway.” Then I remembered that this is a man for whom Christ died, who will face Him on the day of judgment, and I can tell him how to be forgiven and redeemed. And then it hit me: I had been praying for open doors and boldness to walk through them—and God put the answer to my prayer right in front of me.

Thus, I went back inside and said, “Hey there, I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about witchcraft,” I remarked. And a short gospel conversation ensued, but he was not offended at all. He was very courteous, thankful, and open-minded. And now, I am praying that the Lord will open the door of his heart so that he can believe the gospel (Acts 16:14). 

What open doors has God placed in your life? It could be a conversation with a coworker, a moment of vulnerability with a friend, or even a chance meeting with a Waffle House waiter. Will you step through those open doors with gospel courage?

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

The Trouble with Tattle-Taling | Bible Gleanings – May 25-26, 2024

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Many aptly describe it as, “the season of the snitch.” Tattle-taling was at an all time high during the coronavirus pandemic. It was a time of social surveillance and “corona-shaming,” when blabbermouths and gossip-mongers dished the dirt on their own neighbors and coworkers who did not abide by strict health department guidelines. In February of 2021, the New York Times ran a story which suitably summarized the situation: “Snitching offered people a way to feel as if they were doing something good, at the expense of anyone who seemed to be doing something wrong.” The article concluded that blowing the whistle is part of the “ecosystem” of our society and is built into us as human beings. Therefore, the pandemic simply exposed who we really are: squealers who like to spill the beans on others so the beans aren’t spilled about us. 

Those well-versed in the Bible should not be surprised to hear this, since the Lord Jesus warned us about our tendency to be tattle-talers long before the pandemic occurred. Christ once cautioned, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:1-5).

It is written within our spiritual DNA to focus on the speck in our brother’s eye rather than the plank in our own. Our sinful heart shouts for joy when we hold up a mirror to others, and it shrieks in fear when we look in the mirror ourselves. And you can thank your first parents for this. When Adam and Eve sinned in Eden, they blamed everyone but themselves—Adam pointed his finger at God and Eve pointed hers at Satan (Gen. 3:12-13). Thus, like the first sinners, we judge others and dwell on their deficiencies in order to vainly put ourselves in the clear.

Fortunately, if you know Jesus, God is purging you of tattle-taling and replacing it with a love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). And naturally, such sin-covering love uncovers a multitude of good and fixates upon what others are doing well (Phil. 4:8). As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:6a, such Christlike love “rejoiceth not in iniquity.” In other words, this kind of love “doesn’t keep score of the sins of others” (1 Cor. 13:6a, MSG). Tattle-taling is not a Christian virtue—it is an unholy vice. That’s the word on the street, anyway.

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Demand for Discernment | Bible Gleanings | May 18-19, 2024

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It was disgusting and only corroborated my cibophobia (the fear of getting food poisoning). A few weeks ago, I was enjoying one of my favorite convenient meals: a Jimmy Dean breakfast bowl. I was savoring the eggs, potatoes, and sausage, and I suddenly bit into something bitter. And I immediately spit it out without any hesitation! Thankfully, even after having COVID three times, my sense of taste is still healthy and it probably saved me from food poisoning. 

And there is a soul-sanctifying “taste” that all believers should possess—something that the Bible calls discernment. Discernment is having the spiritual sensitivity to spit out what is bad for us and our relationship with the Lord, and it will save us from soul-poisoning. When you bite into false teaching, discernment kicks in and says, “Spit this out right now! It’s no good for you.” When you bite onto sin, which always appears as sweet, discernment sounds the alarm and says, “This is poisonous and detrimental to your sanctification. Don’t take another bite.”

Believers are commanded throughout all the Scriptures to be discerning. “Do not judge by appearances,” said our Lord Jesus, “but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). Paul likewise admonished, “But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). John the apostle similarly told us that we ought not believe everything we hear: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:1-2). The writer of Hebrews said that we ought to feast on the solid food of God’s word so that our “powers of discernment” can be trained (Heb. 5:14). And the apostle Paul prayed that believers would abound “in all judgment [or discernment]; that ye may approve things that are excellent” (Phil. 1:9b, KJV).

To further clarify, discernment is being able to see things the way God sees them. Discernment is having a heightened sense of what is right and wrong so that you can see things that are wrong when they look right. Discernment is being able to see a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15). Discernment is seeing Satan when he disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Discernment is seeing the devil as a roaring lion when he appears as a cuddly kitten (1 Peter 5:8). Discernment is being able to see the appealing fruits of sin as the rotten and bitter fruits of demise that they truly are. Discernment is wearing the Bible as eye-glasses so that you can see the world, the devil, and the flesh for what they are.

Are you discerning?

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

Farewell and Thank You | Bible Gleanings – April 6-7, 2024

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American author Tom Peters once aptly quipped, “If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.” And it is with bittersweetness that I announce that the Lord has opened a new window for us in Bandana, Kentucky, and we have opened the shades. The saints of Bandana Baptist Church have extended the invitation to me to serve as their pastor, and the Lord has confirmed to us that this is His will. We trusted in the Lord and He made our paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6). They are a beacon of gospel light in Ballard County, and we could not be more thrilled to shine the light of God in Christ alongside them.

Unfortunately, this means that my columns in the Murray Ledger & Times will cease next week, as we have moved out of the area. Sharing the gospel and biblical truth through these columns has been an overwhelming joy for the last six years. I am so thankful for you and the hundreds of readers in Calloway and Marshall counties. Thank you for your kind letters over the years and for the funding that several of you have generously provided. The weekend column will not go away entirely, however, as Bro. Kim Reeder, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Murray, will be taking it over for the time being. I encourage you to read his biblically-based and thought-provoking columns—you will not be disappointed.

Also, I will still be publishing books and devotional entries. Kentucky Today, a Kentucky Baptist publication, will be picking up my devotional columns. They will be available each weekend at www.kentuckytoday.com. Additionally, future devotional columns and entries will be shared on the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/biblegleanings), and my blog (www.brandonsdesk.com). 

Finally, Bible Gleanings: Volume III (containing the last nine months’ worth of columns and ones forthcoming) will be published and available for purchase on Amazon by Christmas of this year. Dozens of other books will be available on Amazon throughout this year as well; just type in my name on Amazon.com.

“And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.

Brandon is the founder and main contributor to Brandon’s Desk, the blog with biblical resources from his ministry. He pastored the family of believers at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky for six years. He and his wife Dakota live there with their three dogs, Susie (Jack Russell), Aries (English Shepherd), and Dot (Bluetick Beagle).

For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word:

Bible Gleanings, devotions

He Is Alive | Bible Gleanings – March 30-31, 2024

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There are many iconic tombs around the world, each one famous for what they contain. Egypt’s towering pyramids are notorious for housing the mummified bodies of ancient pharaohs and their treasures. The royal tombs of Westminster Abbey are renowned because they are the resting place of English nobles. The Green Dome in Saudi Arabia is distinguished because it holds the body of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. The legendary Ming Tombs in China contain the bodies of thirteen emperors who reigned during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.).

The stone tomb of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is remarkable as well, but not because of what is inside, for it is empty! Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb after His brutal crucifixion and He rose victorious from the grave three days later. The Bible tells the story:

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you” (Mark 16:1-7).

The female followers of Christ expected to find a lifeless body after what they witnessed on Calvary’s hill. The remaining disciples fled into hiding, fearing that the Jews would also execute them (John 20:19). Even Peter, the most outspoken disciple, had fled for his life after three times denying Christ (Luke 22:54-62). None of Jesus’ disciples waited by the tomb for His triumphal resurrection. Their doubt and fear, however, had no effect on reality: Jesus had indeed risen bodily, defeating the power of sin and death.

Do you believe that Christ arose from the dead as Lord? Believing that He is the risen Lord is the only belief that saves. The apostle Paul wrote, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). If you have believed, are you telling others about Him? “Go quickly and tell,” the risen Lord commands (Matt. 28:7a). Spread the news that the tomb is empty, and that all who believe in Christ have everlasting life!

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.

Brandon is the founder and main contributor to Brandon’s Desk, the blog with biblical resources from his ministry. He pastored the family of believers at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky for six years. He and his wife Dakota live there with their three dogs, Susie (Jack Russell), Aries (English Shepherd), and Dot (Bluetick Beagle).

For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word:

Bible Gleanings, devotions

His Eyes Are Upon You | Bible Gleanings – March 23-24, 2024

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The latest developments in facial recognition technology has caused many to wear frowns on their faces. This high-tech programme works by measuring facial features in images and videos in order to identify people. Facial recognition software is embedded into your smartphone, employed by workplace security systems to identify employees, and utilized by law enforcement to track down wanted persons using CCTV footage. But this doesn’t put a smile on everyone’s faces, including some legislators in Massachusetts who passed laws in 2020 regulating its use on the grounds that it invaded personal privacy. One political activist, writing for the New York Times, expressed their reservations by saying, “One of my concerns was that we would wake up one day in a world resembling that depicted in the Philip K. Dick novel The Minority Report, where everywhere you go, your body is tracked; your physical movements, habits, activities, and locations are secretly compiled and tracked in a searchable database available to god knows who.” Evidently, many people don’t want the whole world to know all about them—including their faces.

However, the fact we all must face is that there is a God who knows everything about us—whether we like it or not. The omniscient Lord knows and sees everything that you do, think, and feel (1 John 3:20). Indeed, His knowledge of you is so complete and comprehensive that He cannot learn anything new (Isaiah 40:13-14). He knows your past, present, and even your future before it happens (Psalm 139:16). The God who named all the stars knows your name, and yes, even your face as well (Psalm 147:4).

Those who have transgressed His law should find this terrifying. No sin or sinner is hidden from His studious sight (Heb. 4:13). All of our evils are committed under the watchful eye of His just judgment. He knows all of our deepest (and darkest) secrets (Psalm 44:21). Because of His unsearchable and inscrutable ways, we cannot escape His all-encompassing knowledge of our many iniquities: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3).

But those who are heart-broken should find this heart-comforting. The Lord understands what you are going through more than anybody, and He knows what you need before you even ask Him (Matt. 6:8). Even the number of hairs on your head are known to Him, if you are His child (Luke 12:7). He also carefully records your many sorrows in a detailed record book: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8). His eye is on the sparrow, and His eye is upon you (Matt. 10:29-31).

Knowing that God knows you ought to produce a humbling cry which says, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4a, KJV).

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.

Brandon is the founder and main contributor to Brandon’s Desk, the blog with biblical resources from his ministry. He pastored the family of believers at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky for six years. He and his wife Dakota live there with their three dogs, Susie (Jack Russell), Aries (English Shepherd), and Dot (Bluetick Beagle).

For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word:

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Just Judge | Bible Gleanings – March 16-17, 2024

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An Oklahoma judge was recently judged to be unfit to judge because of poor judgment. According to the Associated Press, the former district judge sent over five-hundred text messages to friends during a murder trial, “including messages that mocked prosecutors and were sprinkled with emojis.” Obviously, judges should oversee cases with serious solemnity and meticulous attention to detail since lives are at stake and justice must be served. Justice is not a joke, and this ex-judge is currently on trial for “gross neglect of duty, oppression in office, lack of proper temperament and failure to supervise her office.” If she hadn’t been caught on CCTV cameras, she may have issued an unfair verdict that reduced the criminal’s charges.

Guilty sinners like you and I might wish that the Judge of all the universe is just as careless and neglectful of our spiritual crimes. We may hope that He is too preoccupied with controlling the cosmos to remember the multitude of our trespasses and sins. But the verdict of the Bible is that God keeps a perfect ledger of all our evils (Rev. 20:12-15). Every last sin—from the time of our birth to our death—will be recorded in the books that shall be opened on the Day of Judgment. God sees all of our iniquities (Heb. 4:13), and He could even see them with His eyes closed (cf. Psalm 11:4).

The good news is that the same Judge fully and finally forgives those who are in Christ. Those whose names are written in the Book of Life do not need to worry about any books containing a record of their sins because they have been erased and forgotten (Jer. 31:34; cf. Psalm 103:12). Jesus traded places with guilty sinners, and He cancels the gargantuan sin debt of anyone who trusts in Him (Col. 2:14). That is why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The one who has faith in Jesus is justified by the Judge Himself and declared innocent because of the substitutionary atonement of Christ (Rom. 3:21-26).

Jesus bore your punishment, paid your penalty, and died the death you deserve (Rom. 6:23). As Isaiah the prophet declared, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5-6). Have you trusted in the Christ who was judged in your place or are you hoping that God is too busy to keep up with your sins?

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.

Brandon is the founder and main contributor to Brandon’s Desk, the blog with biblical resources from his ministry. He pastored the family of believers at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky for six years. He and his wife Dakota live there with their three dogs, Susie (Jack Russell), Aries (English Shepherd), and Dot (Bluetick Beagle).

For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word: