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Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Failure of False Gods | Bible Gleanings – March 9-10, 2024

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A toy power drill is stashed away in a box at our house that we keep to occupy the multitude of my wife’s nieces and nephews. It is plastic, devoid of electricity, and always produces entertainment (and sometimes a pounding headache). In my closet is a Black and Decker cordless drill—it is the real deal, and the tool I always use when there is a job to do. I’m not a genius, but I know better than to grab the Fisher Price toy drill when I need to drive a screw through a wood plank or door hinge. I know that the fake drill is incapable of getting the job done because I’ve seen the power of the real drill and the powerlessness of the phony one. 

Likewise, the God of the Bible is the real deal—the true and living God—not only because He has displayed His power in creation and salvation, but because all counterfeit gods are powerless. The Lord is God not only because of what He can do, but also because of what false gods cannot do. Idols cannot speak, love, or answer prayer—and the Lord God does all three (Psalm 115:4-8). False gods only bring disappointment, dissatisfaction, destruction, depression, and—apart from repentance—damnation from God. The only One who can provide lasting joy, enduring satisfaction, abiding contentment, and everlasting life is the God whose name is the Lord. 

Idols cannot be faithful to you. All they can do is fool you and fail you. The false gods of possessions, pleasure, prestige, power, and position will never give you unconditional love, unceasing care, and eternal soul-satisfaction. Besides, idols are only so-called “gods,” as Paul said: “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—  yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Cor. 8:5-6).

Therefore, only the Lord God is worthy of your service, trust, and worship. He never disappoints, deceives, or dismays. He will satisfy you with good things (Psalm 103:5). He will love you relentlessly (Romans 8:38-39). Do you serve and love Him or the false gods of this world? The choice is as obvious as choosing between a real drill and a toy.

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 Right Thing After the Wrong Things | Bible Gleanings – March 2-3, 2024

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The best thing to do is always the right thing to do—especially after doing the wrong thing. And that was the experience of an intoxicated driver in North Yorkshire, England. Earlier this month, English police received a call from a man who turned himself in over the phone, confessing that he had been driving drunk. He made the reckless decision to get behind the wheel after a long weekend of heavy drinking, but fortunately, he realized his mistake and reported himself to the authorities. According to the Associated Press, “When officers arrived, the 52-year-old man was in a van on the side of the road. A breath test revealed he was three times over the legal limit.”

He made the best decision after making a bad decision. He did the right thing after doing the wrong thing. And that’s what the Lord commands us to do when we’ve done the wrong thing. When we sin against God, we cannot go back in time to undo our actions. But, we can set things right by “turning ourselves in” to the Lord through confession of our sins.

Unconfessed sin yields nothing but destruction, demise, and dismay. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,” warned Solomon, “but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov. 28:13). Achan of old learned the hard way that failure to confess one’s sins results in wreckage and woe (Josh. 7:1-15). And David reminds us that sin will consume us until we confess it: “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3-4).

Thankfully, cleansing and forgiveness is available when we contritely confess our sins to the Lord: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When David eventually confessed his sins, God forgave him as well: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” (Psalm 32:5).

Therefore, when you commit sin, immediately confess it to the Lord in the place of prayer. Refrain from self-punishment, and do not dwell on your guilt. Do not engage in other good works to appease your conscience either. Instead, be frank and forthright about your sin, as king David was after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and slew her husband: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words  and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:3-4).

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

Run the Race | Bible Gleanings – February 24-25, 2024

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It’s a flat-out pancake race. Held in the English town of Olney, the annual Pancake Day Race is a centuries-old street-sprint in which contestants hold a pan containing a pancake while they run. The race is tied to Shrove Tuesday (or Fat Tuesday), the liturgical holiday of “food indulgence” which immediately precedes the day of Lent. According to the Associated Press, the race originated in 1445, when a “harried housewife [heard] the church bells signaling the Shrove Tuesday service and raced off with her skillet.” And you don’t have to be a pancake expert to compete—you just have to “stack up” against the competition. 

Some races like the Pancake Day Race are purely for entertainment, with no tangible reward. Other races are more serious, such as those in the Olympics, which offer mammoth monetary benefits. However, one race is more momentous than any marathon on earth because it offers rewards of everlasting worth, and that is the race of the Christian life. The Bible often describes the believer’s life on earth as a strenuous race that ends at the finish line of heaven. As the writer of Hebrews commanded, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2a).

Like any race, the race of the Christian life is not easy. It requires a great deal of “holy sweat” and disciplined effort (1 Tim. 4:7). The temptation to quit and rest from the run of redemption is always present. The glaring absence of runners in the race (Matt. 7:13-14), or the sight of other Christians who appear to be getting farther than us might be discouraging at times, too. Above all else, the weight of sin often slows our advance as we attempt to run with endurance. 

We may even be tempted to look behind us and become disappointed at how poorly we ran in the past. But, according to Paul, we cannot focus on the failings of yesterday—we must keep running and facing forward. He encouraged, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi. 3:13-14).

We must keep moving, fixing our gaze upon Jesus, who will meet us at the end of the race (2 Tim. 4:7). One day, we will cross the finish line when we cross from death to life in eternity. Until then, we must keep on running: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Cor. 9:24).

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

Evangelistic Exigency | Bible Gleanings – February 17-18, 2024

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I didn’t need foreknowledge to know it was going to end badly. Not far from where I was, a motorcyclist lost control and slipped on some soft gravel, sending him and his bike onto the unforgiving asphalt. Time stood still as I saw him plummet, but there was no time to waste in helping him. I immediately pulled over and darted into action to potentially save his life. As soon as I lifted him up, another friendly neighbor ran from his truck to assist. We managed to get his bike standing upright, and aside from a few scrapes and bruises on the man and his Harley, he was thankfully alright.

But I wasn’t. I drove away convicted in the depths of my soul. An unsettling question kept racing through my mind: “I dropped everything I was doing to save a man from physical danger, but do I do the same for those in grave spiritual danger?” I couldn’t help but wonder, “Do I have the same sense of urgency for the souls around me who are driving down the wide road that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14)? Have I done all I can do to get them off of that road and onto the one that leads to everlasting life?” I am glad I helped the man, but I often fail to feel the same concern for those who need the most help—the lost and the unsaved.

Perhaps you can identify with my God-wrought exposure of guilt. Think about it: how zealously are we preaching the gospel to those who are headed to hell in a handbasket? Are we alarmed in our souls for those whose souls may be seconds away from eternal damnation? When was the last time we prayed with tear-soaked eyes for God to save our unbelieving coworkers, family members, and friends? Can we relate to Paul’s yearning for the salvation of his family when he said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:9)?

And what produces this much-needed zeal and urgency? It’s simple: understanding the dire spiritual condition of the unsaved and their eternal danger. The motorcyclist’s dangerous predicament drove me to action—I didn’t want to see him suffer or possibly die. Likewise, understanding the spiritual peril of unbelievers and their desperate need of salvation will ignite in us the “heartburn” required for zealous preaching of the gospel. Unbelievers are lost, dead, enslaved, and in everlasting danger (Isaiah 53:6; Eph. 2:1-3; John 8:34; Matt. 25:41-46; Rev. 20:15), and we need not forget it. 

Jesus didn’t forget either. He understood man’s spiritual condition (Matt. 9:36; John 2:24-25), and did everything He could to change it. Do you have a heart for the lost like Christ? Do you yearn for their salvation like Paul? Do you zealously proclaim the gospel to the unsaved souls that you know?

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

Curing Callousness | Bible Gleanings – February 10-11, 2024

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I became accustomed to the twinging pain after a while. At first, my sensitive fingertips were sore and screaming for relief when I began picking on the guitar over thirteen years ago. Pressing down on the nickel strings, bending them for that twang sound, and sliding from fret to fret to look like Stevie Ray Vaughn made my cushy fingertips calloused. When it was all new, it stung so badly that playing the air guitar seemed preferable. But over time, calluses formed on my fingers, melting away all sensitivity to fingertip pain for good.

A callus on the fingertip may be helpful, but a callus growing on the heart and mind is eternally hazardous. For this reason, the word of God sounds the alarm on the destructiveness of callousness, which refers to a deadened sensitivity to sin. According to Paul, the minds of unbelievers are callous—insensitive to iniquity, torpid to transgression, and unresponsive to ungodliness (Eph. 4:19). In fact, the conscience of an unsaved person can even be cauterized or “seared” so that it is numb to evil and its everlasting repercussions (1 Tim. 4:2). And it is possible for even Christians to become calloused to crookedness, indifferent to impiety, lethargic toward lawlessness, and “dull of hearing” (Matt. 13:15; Heb. 5:11).

Calluses form gradually, too. Mine did not grow overnight, but through practicing and playing the guitar for over a decade—and likewise, our sensitivity to evil gradually lessens the more we play with it. We begin by accepting our sin, and telling ourselves, “Just sinning this once won’t hurt.” Then we progress to advocating our sin, thinking, “Well, my sin isn’t as bad as everyone else’s!” And soon enough, we move on to approval of our sin, saying, “This sin isn’t too bad after all.” And once we get to the point where sin no longer makes us blush (Jer. 6:15), we have become callous. 

How can you know if you have become callous? Think about your reactions to sin in your life and in the world. Do you gasp when you hear about the infanticide of abortion taking place in our country? Do profanities and graphic scenes on television make you sick to your spiritual stomach to the point where you turn it off? And when you fall into temptation, are you overcome with godly sorrow, or do you make excuses for it?

Thankfully, spiritual callousness can be cured by the salve of Christ’s healing grace and through repentance and renunciation of sins that cause calluses (Rev. 3:19). If calluses have formed on your heart and mind, let Jesus apply His balm to make you sensitive to sin again, and instead of repeating the evils that make you indifferent, repent of them. Moreover, deepen your knowledge of what is right from the Scripture. Knowing the word of God is the only way to know our wretchedness (Romans 7:13, 24). Have you become calloused?

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

A Little Leaven | Bible Gleanings – February 3-4, 2024

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Sourdough is now the greatest thing since sliced bread. People from all walks of life are jumping on the bakery bandwagon, experimenting with different recipes and techniques to achieve the perfect loaf. This trend first swept the nation in 2020 because everyone was isolated in quarantine and store bought yeast was in short supply. Since baking sourdough requires a lot of time and very few ingredients (both of which everyone had), it was the perfect pandemic bread. And the sourdough trend is still in style today, causing some to question whether Jesus was telling the truth when He said that man does not live on bread alone!

However, although sourdough has been all the rage recently, it is not a recent invention; in fact, it predates sliced bread. The ancient world relied solely upon sourdough’s active ingredient—wild yeast produced by flour, water, and time. And this wild yeast was commonly known as “leaven.” Bakers in ancient days would retain a pinch of fermented dough or leaven from the previous week and add it to a new lump of dough to accelerate the fermentation process. The little sour fragment would morph with the new lump, so much so that it was impossible to separate the leaven from the lump. 

It is no surprise, then, that the Scripture likens sin to leaven, since it quickly spreads its sourness into the heart and life of anyone who kneads it. It only takes a little leaven of evil to corrupt your testimony, taint your mind, ruin your relationships, or destroy your church. Sin infiltrates insidiously and permeates progressively—and it doesn’t take much to sow irreparable damage. That is why Paul the apostle warned, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1 Cor. 5:6-7a; cf. Gal. 5:9).

Believers must be vigilant against evil, no matter how small and harmless it may seem. As Jesus cautioned, “Watch and beware of the leaven” (Matt. 16:6a). Additionally, we must cast out any leaven in our hearts and minds before it has the chance to fester and spread sour corruption to our lives. And if we find ourselves spoiled by sin’s influence, we must turn to Christ for cleansing. As the Puritan Thomas Adams (1583–1652) encouraged, “Our leaven hath soured us, but we are made sweet again by the all-perfuming blood of our blessed Savior.”

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

Giving Your All | Bible Gleanings – January 27-28, 2024

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They couldn’t believe what they were seeing, but what they heard was even more unbelievable. The words of commendation stunned and silenced the whole crowd. They concluded that the woman had acted carelessly. She was wasting precious time and money, they thought. But the One whose estimation matters the most applauded her with six little words that speak volumes: “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8a).

This was the humble woman, Mary, who poured an expensive alabaster flask of ointment upon the head of the Lord Jesus, while He ate dinner at the house of Simon the leper (Matt. 26:6-13; John 12:1-8). Bystanders angrily criticized her, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted like this? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor” (Mark 14:4-5a). Indeed, it seemed like she was pouring money down the drain, since the flask was worth more than three-hundred days’ wages. Nevertheless, Jesus was worth more to Mary than all the world’s silver or gold. And more importantly, Jesus didn’t think it was a waste—and He commended Mary for giving her very best to Him. 

And thus, Mary joined the hall of biblical heroes and heroines who gave their all to the Lord, whether it was much or little. She joined the ranks of ancient saints like the widow woman from Zarephath, who gave God her last fistful of flour and tablespoon of oil (1 Kings 17:8-16). She gave what she could, like the young lad who gave Jesus his sack lunch, so He could multiply it (John 6:6-14). She offered everything she had to Jesus, just as the “anonymous donor” in the Gospels gave Jesus a donkey for transportation and an upper room free of charge (Mark 11:3-6; 14:13-16). She gave her best to Christ, just like Nympha who donated her house to the Lord, and Barnabas who gave the proceeds of his fields to the church (Col. 4:15; Acts 4:36-37).

When you give your all to the Lord, whether it is great or small, it is always pleasing in His sight. And this is because the Lord values quality over quantity. He measures the sincerity and generosity of your heart, not the sum or size of your offerings. Even the smallest act of sacrifice is significant in His eyes, as it reflects your love for Him. He sees and knows, dear believer: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 33:18; cf. Heb. 6:10). Will you join the ranks of faithful saints who gave their all to the Lord, no matter how great or small it was?

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:

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God Will Send His Ravens | Bible Gleanings – January 20-21, 2024

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A German boy and his mother were in a perilous predicament in the dead of winter. Their food and firewood were running out, leaving them famished and freezing. And suddenly, the woman’s son swiftly slung the door open, ushering in the suffocating cold air. “My son,” she gasped, “why are you opening the door on such a cold night?” The youngster, familiar with the biblical story of Elijah being miraculously fed by ravens, said with conviction, “Mother, it’s for the ravens.”

Do you remember that awe-inspiring account of God’s powerful provision? The Lord assured Elijah that He would meet his needs if he stepped out in faith to live in the wilderness east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:2-4). The Lord promised that Elijah would drink from the brook and be fed by the ravens. And that’s precisely what occurred: “And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook” (1 Kings 17:6). The Lord of creation used winged birds to care for Elijah because he had taken refuge under His wings (Psalm 91:4). God rewarded Elijah’s firm faith with faithful provision. 

And the boy with childlike faith was likewise honored with miraculous provision. The mayor of the snowy village was walking around that frigid night to check on the residents, and he was shocked to see a little cottage with an open door. He went to investigate and the mother explained that they were waiting on God to send His ravens. The concerned mayor then remarked, “I will be your raven, both now and ever.” And he provided them with food and warmth.

Whether you are in dire straits like this German family or standing alone for the truth like Elijah, you can be certain that God will provide for you when you trust His word and remain faithful to it. When you devote yourself to the Lord—no matter how hard it may be—the ravens will always arrive on time. When you put the Lord first, He will meet your needs according to His riches in glory (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19). The faithful are never forsaken. The holy are wholly cared for by the Lord.

And this is the trustworthy testimony of Scripture. As David exclaimed, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25). He also declared, “Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:9-10). “For the LORD God is a sun and shield,” proclaimed another psalmist, “the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). Will you open the door with arms of faith to let the ravens in?

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

Stand in the Gap | Bible Gleanings – January 13-14, 2024

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The dark days of history have always been brightened by those who had the courage to wave the torch of truth. Societies slumbering on the bed of wrong have always been awakened by those with the backbone to sound the trumpet of truth. One such person was Rosa Parks, who defied the racial segregation of her day and time by refusing to give up her seat on the bus on December 1st of 1955. She was willing to stand for what was right and later famously said, “Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”

Whether it was Rosa Parks on the bus, Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, Patrick Henry in the colonies, the anonymous “tank man,” at Tiananmen Square, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer during the Holocaust, the world has always needed humble heroes who would stand for what was right—even if they stood alone. And in these evil days in which we find ourselves, God is looking for torch-bearers to shine light in the dark and trumpet-players to sound the truth to the deceived. He is looking for the faithful few and the righteous remnant who will go against the flow by believing, preaching, and living the truth. He is seeking out Elijahs who will stand for the truth in the face of evil. He is on the lookout for Daniels who will oppose idol worship at any cost.

Unfortunately, there are so few who will stand in the gap. As the Lord said in Ezekiel 22, “The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:29-30, KJV). The truth is, it is easier to be a hermit-crab Christian. It is more convenient and comfortable to compromise, take a back seat, sit on the sidelines, and ride the fence.

Doing what is right is almost never easy or comfortable, and it will cost you popularity and approval. But you are not alone when you stand for what is right. The faithful few are out there, as God reminded the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19:18). And more importantly, you’re never alone when you stand with the Lord and His truth. As the great Scottish reformer John Knox once said, “One with God is always the majority.”

So, will you speak up, stand up, and stand in the gap, even if no one else does?

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 Lord’s Discipline | Bible Gleanings – January 6-7, 2024

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An unpleasant tingling sensation swept over my body as the needle sank into my vein. It wasn’t a surprise, however, since the nurse had warned me, “Alright, you’re going to feel a slight prick, Mr. Bramlett.” Needles have never frightened me, but I have always appreciated a heads-up before the metal micro-rod pierces my skin. I was in the hospital, desperately requiring medicinal fluids, and the stinging of a needle was the only way to get them into my system. Pain was the price of gain, and there’s no doubt that I would have been worse off without the medicine I needed—even if it required a painful prickle.

And this is what happens to all of God’s children when they are lovingly disciplined by Him. His discipline is a painful prick of the conscience and a temporary sting to the soul that gives us the correction we need when we have sinned. The Lord administers the sanctifying medicine of His compassionate discipline when our sin-sick heart goes astray, and sometimes it hurts. As the writer of Hebrews said, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). Believers do not face punishment from the Lord since there is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1), but wayward saints must endure His benevolent chastising, just a loving father disciplines his children for their good.

His discipline sometimes takes the form of heartache, inward regret, or bitter sorrow (Psalm 32:4). He may also use the loving rebuke of other believers to administer His chastisement (Matt. 18:15-20; Heb. 3:13). More often than not, the Father reprimands us as believers by letting the consequences of our sin run their course. Sometimes, His discipline may be very severe if we continue in sin without repentance (1 Cor. 11:29-30). And just as God chastised the Israelites through famine and drought, the Lord may see fit to upset and interrupt our lives in noticeable ways in order to arrest our attention and correct our course.

The good news is that God always administers such painful discipline because of His fatherly love for us, His children. “My son,” said Solomon of old, “do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov. 3:11-12). Moreover, as the writer of Hebrews confirmed, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Heb. 12:7-8). Even Jesus promised, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

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: