Devotional Quarterly Through-the-Bible Series Vol. 21, No. 4 September 1, 2011 Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb! Study in Exodus These Daily Devotionals will emphasize the power of God in giving people the opportunity to be redeemed by the precious blood of His Son, shed on Calvary. Because of the redeeming blood of Christ, men, women, boys and girls can trust Him to be their personal Savior. The design of these devotionals presents the gospel which is the good news of salvation. Not only did God deliver the sinner in bondage to sin, but He delivered the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage. John wrote that we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free. Personal and Daily Devotionals for Fall Quarter Written by Gene Smith, Mary McCalister and Marc Shultz
Read Through the Bible in a Year To help you with your Bible reading, we are providing suggested Scripture readings for each day of the quarter. You will find these suggested readings at the beginning of each devotional quarterly. The readings include the Sunday Devotionals, Daily Readings and the Daily Devotionals. The Daily Readings cover other Scriptures not related to the Sunday School lessons. By reading all passages listed each day, you will have read the entire Bible at the end of one year. You may use the box beside the date to check when you have read the Scriptures for that day. EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@abaptist.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@abaptist.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase, Jeff Allen, Greg Hilterbrand, Ashley Carozza, Blake Tilton LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Bonita McKnight, Kyle Elkins, Cindy Butler CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar, Carolyn Burks, Deby Turrentine, Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Cover Design: Jeff Allen Copyright 2011 Vol. 21, No. 4 Baptist Sunday School Committee 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.abaptist.org 1-800-264-2482 2
, September Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS o August 29 Hebrews 11:23 Hosea 11 14 o August 30 Psalm 18:1-6 Joel o August 31 Acts 5:29 Amos 1 3 o September 1 Ecclesiastes 12:13 Amos 4 9 o September 2 Acts 7:20-29 Obadiah; Jonah o September 3 Psalm 138:1-3 Micah 1 4 o September 4 Hebrews 11:24-27 Micah 5:1, 3-15; 6; 7 o September 5 Isaiah 6:5-8 Nahum o September 6 Exodus 4:1-9 Habakkuk o September 7 John 8:51-59 Zephaniah o September 8 Exodus 4:18-26 Haggai o September 9 Mark 12:24-27 Zechariah 1 4 o September 10 Exodus 4:27-31 Zechariah 5 8 o September 11 Acts 7:30-35 Zechariah 9:1-8, 10-17; 11 o September 12 2 Chronicles 32:13-21 Zechariah 12; 13; 14:5-21 o September 13 Psalm 14:1-7 Malachi 1; 2; 3:2-18; 4:1-4 o September 14 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 Mark 1 3 o September 15 Isaiah 42:6-8 Mark 4; 5; 6:1-33, 34-56 o September 16 Jeremiah 9:23, 24 Mark 7; 8:1-26, 30-38; 9 o September 17 Hebrews 2:14-18 Mark 10; 11:1-24, 27-29; 3 12:1-23, 28-44 o September 18 Hebrews 11:13 Mark 13:1-32; 14 16 o September 19 Psalm 78:42-51 Luke 1:1-25, 34-80; 2 o September 20 Deuteronomy 4:33-39 Luke 3; 4:1-30, 38-44; 5 o September 21 Isaiah 41:10 Luke 6:1-11, 13-49; 7:1-23, 31-50; 8:1-10, 16-56 o September 22 Hebrews 10:30, 31 Luke 9:7-28, 32-62; 10; 11:1-4, 11-37, 42-54 o September 23 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Luke 12; 13; 14:1-32, 34, 35 o September 24 2 Peter 2:9, 10 Luke 15:1, 2, 8-32; 16:1-13, 16-31; 17:1, 2, 6-37 o September 25 Jeremiah 32:17-20 Luke 18; 19:1-40, 45-48; 20 o September 26 Ephesians 1:7 Luke 21; 22:1-60, 63-71; 23; 24 o September 27 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8 John 1:1-13, 15-51; 2; 3:1-13, 18-35 o September 28 2 Corinthians 5:21 John 4; 5:1-16, 24-47; 6:1-4, 10-65 o September 29 Romans 5:8, 9 John 7; 8:1-50; 9 o September 30 Revelation 5:9 John 10:1-6, 16-42; 11:1-20, 28-57; 12:1-41, 44-50
, October Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS o October 1 Colossians 1:20-22 John 13:1-17, 20-38; 14:1-26, 28-31; 15:1-3, 9-27 o October 2 1 Peter 1:18, 19 John 16:1-12, 14-32; 17; 18 o October 3 Exodus 13:1-19 John 19; 20:1-29; 21 o October 4 Exodus 14:1-12 Acts 1:1-7, 12-26; 2:1-21, 25-41; 3 o October 5 Exodus 15:1-21 Acts 4:1-11, 13-37; 5:1-18, 30-42; 6:8-15 o October 6 Exodus 15:23-26 Acts 7:1-8, 11-19, 42-60; 8:1-34, 40; 9 o October 7 John 16:13 Acts 10:1-37, 44-48; 11; 12:1-4, 6-25 o October 8 1 Corinthians 10:13 Acts 13:4-37, 40-52; 14; 15 o October 9 Hebrews 11:28, 29 Acts 16; 17 o October 10 Exodus 17:1-7 Acts 18 20 o October 11 Exodus 17:8-16 Acts 21 23 o October 12 Exodus 18:1-12 Acts 24 26 o October 13 Psalm 34:19 Acts 27; 28:1-24, 29-31 o October 14 Romans 8:28 Romans 1:1, 2, 5-15, 18-20; 2:5-29; 3:1-9, 21-31 o October 15 Psalm 37:3 Romans 4:1-9; 5:1-7, 10, 11; 6:1, 2, 6-23 o October 16 Matthew 6:25-33 Romans 7; 8:1-6, 9, 10, 12-27, 35-39; 9 o October 17 Exodus 19:9-25 Romans 10; 11:1-10, 16-36; 12:3-21 o October 18 Romans 3:19, 20 Romans 13:1-10; 14:1-11, 13-23 o October 19 Galatians 4:4-6 Romans 15; 16 o October 20 Galatians 2:16 1 Corinthians 1; 2; 3:1-10, 16-23 o October 21 1 Peter 2:24 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2, 6-21; 5:1-6, 9-13 o October 22 Acts 13:38, 39 1 Corinthians 6; 7 o October 23 Galatians 3:22-24 1 Corinthians 8; 9 o October 24 Proverbs 14:34 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 14-33; 11:1-22, 30-34; 12 o October 25 Deuteronomy 4:6-8 1 Corinthians 13; 14 o October 26 Proverbs 11:10, 11 1 Corinthians 15:5-58; 16 o October 27 Deuteronomy 28:1 2 Corinthians 1; 2; 3:1-11 o October 28 Isaiah 55:7 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2, 7, 12-18; 5:1-5, 12-20; 6:1-14, 18 o October 29 Romans 14:12 2 Corinthians 7:1-8, 12-16; 8 o October 30 Psalm 33:12 2 Corinthians 9:1-5, 9-15; 10; 11:1, 4-12, 16-33 o October 31 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 2 Corinthians 12; 13 4
, November Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READING o November 1 Hebrews 8:1-6 Galatians 1:1-5, 13-24; 2:1-6, 10-15, 17, 18, 21 o November 2 Hebrews 10:19-22 Galatians 3:1-21, 25, 28, 29; 4:1-3, 8-31 o November 3 Hebrews 9:1-10 Galatians 5:1-15, 19-21, 25, 26; 6:2-6, 9-18 o November 4 Hebrews 7:23-27 Ephesians 1:1-6, 8-23; 2:11, 12, 19-22; 3:1-19 o November 5 Hebrews 9:11-15 Ephesians 4:1-31; 5:1-22, 25-33; 6 o November 6 Hebrews 9:23-28 Philippians 1; 2:1-8, 12, 13, 17-30 o November 7 Hebrews 9:16-22 Philippians 3:1-19; 4:1-5, 8-10, 14-23 o November 8 Hebrews 10:1-10 Colossians 1:1-8, 11-19, 23-29; 2:1-7, 11, 13-23 o November 9 Hebrews 5:5-10 Colossians 3:1-11, 16-25; 4 o November 10 Hebrews 10:11-14 1 Thessalonians 1 3 o November 11 1 Peter 2:5-9 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, 18; 5 o November 12 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 2 Thessalonians 1:1-6, 11, 12; 2; 3 o November 13 Hebrews 4:14-16 1 Timothy 1; 2:7-15; 3:1-14, 16 o November 14 Deuteronomy 9:12-21 1 Timothy 4; 5; 6:1-12, 18-21 o November 15 Acts 7:35-41 2 Timothy 1; 2 o November 16 Romans 1:21-26 2 Timothy 3; 4 o November 17 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Titus 1; 2:1-13, 15; 3 o November 18 Romans 12:1, 2 Philemon o November 19 Hosea 2:19-23 Hebrews 1:4-14; 2:1-13; 3 o November 20 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Hebrews 4:1-13; 5:1-4, 11-14; 6:1-9, 11-20 o November 21 Revelation 11:19 Hebrews 7:1-22, 28; 8:7-13; 9:16-21 o November 22 1 John 2:1, 2 Hebrews 10:15-17, 23-29, 32-39; 11:1-12, 14-19, 20-40 o November 23 Ephesians 2:14-18 Hebrews 12:4-29; 13:1-4, 7-13, 15-25 o November 24 John 10:7-15 James 1:1, 5-11, 16-25; 2 o November 25 1 John 4:9, 10 James 3; 4:1-5, 13-17; 5:1-9, 12-20 o November 26 Revelation 21:1-3 1 Peter 1:1, 2, 4, 5, 8-17, 20-25; 2:1-4, 11-20 o November 27 Ephesians 3:20, 21 1 Peter 3:1-17, 19, 20, 22; 4:1-11, 14-19; 5 5
Hebrews 11:23 Monday, August 29 The Faith of Moses Parents KEY VERSE: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king s commandment, Hebrews 11:23. The book of Hebrews is a rich part of the New Testament canon. In a unique way, it exalts the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In so doing, it makes the contributions of great men of God immensely valuable. God s people would be incalculably poorer without the teachings of this inspired book. With this transition in the lives of Moses and his parents, the writer began to focus on the way faith confronts opposition and hostility, a subject familiar to its readers. It was by faith that Moses was hidden by his parents and his life was preserved. They saw he was no ordinary child, and they understood that God had a plan for his life, which was to deliver the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. This enlightens anyone that God has a plan for his life. This writer discovered this great truth when God spared my life during the Korean War. Instead of going to Korea to fight the enemy, I was placed in a teaching position in Japan to train soldiers in heavy artillery tactics. Hence, I was taught how to teach. This has been a valuable asset in my ministry. Likewise, God has a plan for your life! Seek it and you will find it. JUST A THOUGHT: No circumstance is beyond God s control. Gene C. Smith 6
Psalm 18:1-6 Tuesday, August 30 In Your Distress Call Upon God Key Verse: In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears, Psalm 18:6. In his vow to please God, the psalmist David gave multiple metaphors to describe all the Lord had been and was to him. In so doing he expressed his love for the Lord who had shown mercy to him throughout his many struggles. David described the Lord as a rock (Psalm 18:2) because He provided stability and security for him. He also compared God to a fortress or a defense to which one might flee for protection. David also compared God to a buckler (horn) of his salvation which gave him strength. Animal horns were symbols of strength. Furthermore, David likened God to a high tower or a stronghold. The shield and stronghold were military terms which were symbols of strength. These symbols were used because the Lord had defended and delivered David from his enemies. Thus, God was worthy of David s praise. Christians in this present generation would do well to follow David s example of praising God for all His benefits. Count your many blessings, and you will see what God has done for you! Praise God for what He has done and is now doing in your life. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Do it daily. Begin today. JUST A THOUGHT: All nature is a grand symphony conducted by the Creator. Gene C. Smith 7
Acts 5:29 Wednesday, August 31 Obey God Rather than Man Key Verse: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men, Acts 5:29. The apostle Peter reiterated a basic principle that Christians are to obey their government s laws unless it is a sin to do so. This response by Peter and the other apostles about Jesus resurrection must have infuriated the Sadducees (Acts 5:17). Yet, it was the same message Peter preached (Acts 4:1-4). Peter, a spokesman for God, preached that they had killed Jesus, but God had raised Him from the dead and they through Christ could have forgiveness of their sins. This is the same message that God s faithful messengers preach currently. There is no greater message than this. Therefore, it behooves all preachers to preach the crucified Christ of Calvary and His subsequent resurrection from the dead. Many preachers preach this message only on Easter Sunday; however, it needs to be proclaimed more often. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do with Scripture is to apply it in one s life. For many people, it is easier to make the application to other people in the church service. One pastor became acutely aware of this when a church member said to him, You sure preached to them today. As a pastor proclaims the Word of God to a congregation, the people are to receive it as a message from God and make any and all applications of it in their daily lives. JUST A THOUGHT: Only fools focus on wrong goals. Gene C. Smith 8
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Thursday, September 1 The Whole Duty of Man Key Verse: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man, Ecclesiastes 12:13. This book of the Old Testament relates the history of man under the sun (Eccl. 1:1-3). Man s whole duty is to fear God, and keep his commandments (Eccl. 12:13). King Solomon stated that such reverence and service are everyone s duty. This serves as a reminder to each and every person who enters the church building that it is God s house and reverence and respect should be displayed by all who enter it. This rules out all quarreling and denouncing of others who attend the church services. People go to church to worship and praise God for what He is doing in their lives and not to fight and fuss with one another. A respectable atmosphere is to be enjoyed by all who attend the services. When this atmosphere prevails, it is easy to leave feeling refreshed and revived by the Word of God as it is read and proclaimed by the pastor. The Lord and His church are to be reverenced by all people and not criticized by anyone. It might be necessary for everyone to do a spiritual checkup before he enters God s house. Spiritual songs should be sung. A proper prayer should be offered to God for His blessings, and the preaching of the Word of God should be paramount. Do this next Sunday. JUST A THOUGHT: When one knows God s grace, he will show God s grace. Gene C. Smith 9
Acts 7:20-29 Friday, September 2 The Wisdom of the Egyptians Key Verse: And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds, Acts 7:22. The birth of Moses is recorded in Exodus 2:1-10. His father and mother were of the tribe of Levi. After being born, Moses parents viewed him as being a goodly child. In contradiction to the pharaoh s decree that all male children born to the Hebrew people were to be put to death, his parents hid Moses three months. When it became apparent that they could not hide him any longer, they made a waterproof basket. They put the baby Moses in it and hid him in the flags along the bank of the river. Pharaoh s daughter came there to bathe herself. In so doing, she discovered the baby Moses in the basket among the flags. She took him to the palace in Egypt and reared him until he was grown. Moses was well-trained in every area of life. God later called upon him to deliver the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. This serves as a reminder to all Christians that it is truly a blessing to be born and reared in a Christian home. This writer was born into the Smith family in the state of Oklahoma. This family was a dedicated Christian family whom God used in various ways. This author has sought to raise his children after this fashion. Thus, we praise God for utilizing us in His service. JUST A THOUGHT: Never underestimate the value of one soul. Gene C. Smith 10