My Daily Devotional

A Tree And Its Fruit "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:19-20 If you died today how would God judge you? Has your life been fruitful, or has your fruit swiveled up on the vine? In the Bible, the scripture above comes under the heading, "A Tree and Its Fruit". The message tells us that during our time on earth, we must make our life meaningful in the sight of God. My devotional today is about making a change in your life, a change to be the kind of person God wants you to be. A change that will make your life meaningful to God. God knows what is in your heart. You may put on a good outward appearance to the outside world, but He knows what you are really like on the inside. The question you need to answer, "would God be pleased with you as you are"? Would He be pleased with all the secret sin you have committed, with all the unforgivness, with all the pride you have about yourself, with all the anger and bitterness you may have stored up inside you? Could you stand before God today with a clean heart, and be comfortable with His judgment? If you are not sure where you stand; today could be the day that you need to let God transform you, and change you into the person you need to be. When you allow God to make this transformation in your life, and in your heart, you will stand before Him, at His judgment throne, and be 100% sure that God would be pleased with you, both on the inside and on the outside. Making sure that God is pleased with you, is the only thing that really matters during your life. Making Him first in all you do, and obeying and following His commands is the only way you can be sure that He will find your life meaningful. Asking Jesus into your heart and receiving His gift of salvation is the only way for your life to bear fruit. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today is the day you need to ask Him into your heart, and let Him forgive you of all your sins, make you white as snow, and give you an eternal life in Heaven. Don't take the chance that you will have tomorrow as your life on this earth could end today, and if you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior you could spend your eternity in Hell. Today is your day of salvation, get down on your knees right now and ask Him into your heart and he will transform you, and then when you stand before God at the Judgment throne you will know for certain that you will spend your eternity in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 31

My Daily Devotional

Life Is Meaningless "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13 If you could have anything in life, what would you choose to have? There was one man who was given this choice, his name was Solomon. Study the scripture above as these were the final words of Solomon, the man that asked God for wisdom, and was granted more wisdom than any man has ever been given. You may recall that Solomon had earlier called life "utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." In looking back over Solomon's life and the wisdom he gives us in the book of Ecclesiastes, his conclusion was all that matters is that we "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." I would encourage you to keep these important words in your thoughts and minds at all times, as these came from the man that had more wisdom than any other. Take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments the number one priority in your life. If our purpose in life is to serve and glorify God, then we must live each day with this engrained in our thoughts and mind, and not waver from it. We need to fear God, because it is God that will someday judge us, and hold us accountable for all our sins. There are only two destinations that we have available when this life is over. These are to spend all eternity either in Heaven or in Hell. There are no other options available. I pray today that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and will make "fear God and keep his commandments" the most important thing in your life. Everything else in this life is meaningless, and has no purpose. All that matters in the end is where you will spend your eternity, everything else is meaningless. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 30

My Daily Devotional

Finding Your Peace “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 So many people today do not have peace in their lives, because of what is happening in our world. From hurricane Katrina, the War on Terror, rising gas prices, to threats of economic collapse, and crime and murder in our streets. Many times our government seems to be in disarray, and our ability to cope with all the stresses of life, takes away our peace. All of these things have an effect on our personal lives, whether we like it or not. So how do we have peace of mind in these troubled times? We need to keep our minds on the Lord during these troubled times and His peace will fill our hearts. There are several things that can bring us peace which I have listed below. 1. Nursing a grudge and not forgiving is a major factor in unhappiness. 2. Living in the past, and being preoccupied with old mistakes and failures lead to depression. 3. Wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. 4. Stay involved with people and situations around you. Do not withdraw and become reclusive during times of emotional stress. 5. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow or misfortune. Refuse to indulge in self pity when life hands you a raw deal. 6. Retain your old fashioned family values—love, humor, compassion and loyalty. 7. Do not over-extend yourself. The Bible teaches us that we are to be content with our situation in life, and that He will provide all our needs. As Christians we need to get our minds off the problems that surround us, and turn them over to God. God promises us peace in our lives when we are trusting Him, and letting Him control our lives. When we place our burdens and worries at His feet we will have peace in our minds and our lives. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 29

My Daily Devotional

Lessons From Malachi "But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant." Malachi 2:8 The Book of Malachi is a little known and read book of the Bible. It is the last Book in the Old Testament, but carries a wonderful message for us. The four chapters of Malachi deals with how the priests, which could also be directed at each of us, does not have the respect and reverence for God that, "they and we", should have. We cheat God by not giving Him our best. We do not give Him our first fruits in our money, our time and our talents. We hold back and even when we give, so often we give begrudgingly, not because we really want to give, but because we are expected to give. The important thing so many miss in giving their best, is that they may have to sacrifice in order to honor and obey God. By sacrifice, I mean that we must be consistent in our behavior, such as our prayer time and our daily devotion time; reading and studying our Bibles. God wants our best, and we should never hold back in giving our best, but most of all giving it freely to Him. The scriptures in Malachi give us a stern warning for the penalty of not honoring God, and holding back, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings". Malachi 2:2 This is pretty plain language, that tells us that if we don't honor, respect and worship God that He is not going to hear us when we pray to Him and call upon Him. The chapter goes on to say that we will be judged harshly for not obeying and honoring God, as there will be a day of judgment which will separate the good from the bad, as each will be judged accordingly to how they have lived their lives. However, for those that do obey and follow His commands, God will throw open the floodgates, and pour out so much blessings that we will not have room enough for it all. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 28

My Daily Devotional

Looking To The Future “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 We can all look back and see things in our lives that we wish we would have done differently, but the Bible says to make the most of each day. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may not come. You must live for today. You can’t do anything about yesterday, but you can do a great deal about tomorrow. Regardless of the poor choices we may have made in our lives, and the times we feel we may have blown it and things will never be the same, there is still a new day ahead. God promises us that if we have faith in Him that He will restore us and make us new. We just have to believe and live for tomorrow and trust Him to provide for us in the future. We cannot change anything that happened in the past no matter what we do, but we can plan for the future and make it better for ourselves and our families. There are so many examples God gave us in the Bible where almost all the disciples faced disappointments in their lives. Paul for example faced death many times during his life. He was beaten numerous times and spent much time in prison for his faith. He was finally beheaded for his faith in God. Throughout all these examples that God gave us, none of these people lost their faith and trust that God would provide for them. God tells us in Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” We must remain focused on the future and not dwell in the past. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our past is forgotten and forgiven. Look for a brighter tomorrow, and experience an eternal home in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 26

My Daily Devotional

No Walls In Heaven "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?" Romans 14:4 Each day my daily devotionals are posted where people in all walks of life can see and read them. They are read by the rich and the poor, by the old and young, by the employed and the unemployed, by the sick and the healthy. They are also read by members of the Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish, Muslim, Islam, Hindu and all other church denominations and faiths. They are read in over 150 different countries around the world that I know of, and published in newspapers throughout our country. This is a widely diverse audience that see a short message each day about God and the teachings of the Bible. I realize that many of my readers are believers in God and His son Jesus, and also realize that many of my readers may not have accepted these messages and asked Jesus into their hearts at this time. Regardless of what your status in life is today, or in what country you live, if you died you are either going to heaven or hell. Those that have accepted Jesus as their savior, will have an eternal life in Heaven, while those that haven't will spend all eternity in Hell. There is not going to be any walls in heaven if this is your destination, as the Baptist are not going to be in one place, and the Catholics in another. The rich are not going to be in a palace, while the poor are in a shack out back. The old are not going to be in a retirement area, and the young all by themselves. There will not be a section for black people, and another for white people. Everyone in heaven will be together, as there will be no separation of any kind for the people who go there. So if you have any kind of religious belief, prejudice, racial or social issue against others on this earth, you need to realize that you cannot take this with you. Only those who believe and have accepted Jesus will be with you in heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 25

My Daily Devotional

Be an Encourager “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” Proverbs 10:21 In the previous devotional I talked about complaining and the negative impact it can have on others. In the scripture above Solomon gives us his wisdom about the impact that our words can have upon others. God wants our words to nourish others, and not to affect them in a negative manner. The people who stand out from the crowd in most of our lives are not complainers. They are the people we feel good being around because they build us up. They are the people that always have positive things to say, and make us feel good just to be with them. Very few of us want to be around someone that is constantly telling us how bad they feel, or that they did not sleep well last night. We usually don’t seek these people out as someone we want to be around. We have enough problems of our own to deal with, and to be burdened down with others baggage does not do any of us any good. This is not to say that we should not be concerned with others when they have real issues, as we should be concerned, and be there to listen and help them in any way we can. But very quickly we will know when people have a chronic case of complaining, and I believe this is what Solomon is talking about in the scripture above. These people can demoralize and drag others down with them. God wants us to be an encourager, and so often just the words we say to others can make a difference. Think about your own life and determine whether you are an encourager. Do you make others feel good about themselves, or do you constantly complain about things that both you and they cannot control. If you find yourself in this situation, just begin to think before you speak, and then speak words that are positive and uplifting, words that nourish. "The lips of the righteous nourish many." Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 24

My Daily Devotional

Complaining Doesn't Help “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14 One of the things that really bothers me is to hear people constantly complain. Having spent over 45 years in health care, I was obviously in a profession where much of my job was dealing with patients who were sick, and naturally they were always complaining about their medical condition. This is to be expected in this kind of environment, however outside of a medical setting I believe that our complaining should be limited, and we need to seriously be aware of it. If we are sick we need to always seek medical advice from a physician, but to constantly be complaining to others that we did not sleep well, or that we are tired, or that some minor ailment is bothering us, I feel does not do anyone any good. We need to keep a positive attitude about our lives, and being around someone that has nothing to say but complain about all the things that are wrong with them, can quickly change our positive attitude to one that is negative. I strongly believe that God does not want us to be complainers, as this does no one any good, as He knows what we are going through. I believe conversation is healthy between all people, but so often a conversation that deals only with complaining about health issues or other events that are happening can demoralize others. My philosophy has always been if I do not have anything positive to say, I will keep silent. I like the scripture above which warns us about being a complainer, and I would encourage each of you to think about yourselves in relation to this scripture, to see if this applies to you. God wants us to be a positive influence, to be an encourager to others we come into contact with, and if even in the little things, we complain and cause someone else to falter just a little we have not been the influence we should be. We should be content in all our situations in life, and not complain. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 23

My Daily Devotional

Blinded by the Future “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it.” Isaiah 43:18-19 The other day as I was doing our daily mail route I was reminded how often our past blinds us from our future. After experiencing several weeks of overcast and rainy days, suddenly the bright rays of the sun were shining so brightly through the window of my car that they momentarily blinded me. To regain my vision I began looking back through my rear view mirror. This “blinding encounter” made me think about life, and how so often we take our eyes off of the road ahead, and the good things that God is doing in our lives. We begin looking back in the mirror, and so often we take our eyes off of God and we see ourselves and our past in the mirror. It is these times when we begin looking back that we see the past and the mistakes we have made, the dashed dreams, the expectations that weren’t met, and all the disappointments of our lives. We are too often blinded by what God has in store for us in the future, that we revert to looking back into our past. This is what the Israelites did when they were in the wilderness, as they were so blinded by what lay ahead of them that they continued to look back at their past. God has a plan for each of us, and wants us to look at the bright road ahead that He has planned for us. He does not want us to be trapped in the past, but to look at the shining future He has in store for us. If you have Jesus in your heart, you have a marvelous future waiting for you, as nothing will ever compare to your eternal home in Heaven. God gave you this future by sending His son to die for you. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Steven October 21

My Daily Devotional

Let God be Your Guide “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:10 “Lord, I need your help to get through this?” “Why is this happening to me?” “Have you forsaken me during this time in my life?’ Do these questions sound familiar? More than likely, either you or someone you know has recently expressed these thoughts. In the scripture above, and most of the 12th and 13th chapters of 2nd Corinthians, the Apostle Paul was talking about the difficulties he had faced in his life. He talks about the time he spent in prison; the times he was beaten; the times he had to flee for his life, and all the difficulties he faced because of his faith as a Christian and believer in God. Paul called it “his thorn”, and the messenger of Satan, who tormented him. God tells us throughout the Bible that we will all face times of troubles and difficulties in our lives; that we will all be tested. Each of us has our “own thorns”, as Satan is always on the job to torment us and try to take away our faith and trust in God. Job also faced so many difficulties during his life that most men would succumb and give up to the kinds of problems he faced. Both Paul and Job persevered however, and did not give in to the trials and tribulations they faced, but remained steadfast and did not waver in their trust and faith in God. As you go out each day to face your trials and troubles, keep your eyes focused on God, and don’t give up and let Satan get the best of you. Make God first in all you do and let Him be your shield and your comfort, and let Him lead you to your mountain top where you will reign supreme by trusting in Him as your Savior. You will be victorious in all your struggles when God is at your side. Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 20

My Daily Devotional

What will Heaven be Like “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.” Matthew 13:44 Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? The Kingdom of heaven is of such great value that one should be willing to give up all he has in order to gain it. Jesus did not imply that one can purchase the kingdom with money or good deeds. Having been in the medical field for 45 years I recall a story about a sick man who asked his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.” Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know. You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side’, said the man.” The doctor was holding the handle of the door; and on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, his dog sprang into the room, and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing—I know my Master is there and that is enough.” I believe this is the way that we need to approach death, and what is on the other side. Our Master will be there to welcome us home, and greet us with open arms. God promises us an eternal life where we will live with Him. We are only passing through this life, but a better life awaits us. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are assuring ourselves of a better life, where we will spend our eternity with our Master. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 19

My Daily Devotional

Valley Dwelling "Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hill and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord." 1st Kings 20:28-29 How are you dealing with the trials and troubles that this life can offer? Are you down in the valley or on the mountain top? I grew up in the mountains of Kentucky, and spent much of my youth, exploring and enjoying mountain life. Much of my happy times were spent on top of the mountains, as it was peaceful, and there were no worries when I was on my mountain tops with my grandfather. Many Christians refer to mountains as being our good times, as they are above their worries and troubles. Most consider the valleys, as our bad times, as they cannot see their way out of the struggles and trials. Some people have this idea that God is the God of our good times, but He is not there when we are going through bad times. They think that He leaves us helpless in the valleys, especially when the troubles are of our own making. I want you to know that our God is the God of the mountains, but He is also the God of the valleys. God sent His son Jesus to earth to die on the cross of Calvary, as a sacrifice for our sins. He left His home in Heaven because He loved us so much, and wanted to save us. He came down to where we were for the sole purpose of dying on the cross for our sins, so that He could bring us freedom from our sins, and give us an eternal home in Heaven. Jesus came down to crown us with glory, to clothe us with robes of righteousness, sharing everything that He has with us. That is the grace of God. He came down to our valley. So whatever you are going through right now, know that God is right there in your valley with you. He is holding you in His arms and carrying you through the valley. Victory is already yours as He is with you and will lead you to your mountaintops. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 18

My Daily Devotional

Boasting and Toasting "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8 I have always been guilty of thinking I have all the answers to life's problems, and not giving God the credit. I had an old friend at one of my hospitals who, used to say, “When we learn better, we do better.” However, I am also learning that some things are harder to learn especially when it comes to pride. I’m as guilty as anyone of succumbing to boastfulness, and all during my writing I constantly find that I am using the "I" word more than I should. I know that I cannot do anything myself, as God is directing my life, and I should give him credit for everything, but that "I" word keeps popping up. I will continue doing battle with it each day, but it doesn't go away. I like what the old radio comedian Fred Allen once said: “Some movie stars wear their sunglasses even in church. They’re afraid God might recognize them and ask for autographs.” Ouch! But, of course, it’s not just movie stars who get carried away with their own importance. The apostle Paul wants us to know that such pride has no place in the work of salvation. We can’t take any satisfaction in earning favor with God--because we can’t earn it at all. We can only “boast” in the work of Christ on our behalf, and “toast” the loving heart that went to the cross for us. So, is there nothing for us to do? Paul says it perfectly: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). In other words, now that we are children of the king, let’s act like it. Give God credit for everything, don't take credit for anything yourself, keep your focus on God, and always thank Him for all the blessings He bestows on you each day. Make Him first in all that you do, and give Him credit. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 17

Change Your Priorities

Change Your Priorities "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding." Proverbs 3:13 I realize that most people spend the best part of their time either involved in their work or school, and I have encouraged you in previous devotionals, to put forth your best effort in these areas, which is important. But, how many times do you come home from your work or school, and are exhausted? You have a spouse, children, family, and friends who are part of your life and need to be nurtured. The fact is, we give our best efforts to our work or school, while the people who we love the most often, get the leftovers. When we look at our culture, we see the result of this, as almost half of all marriages today end in divorce. Marriages suffer because husbands and wives don't have time for each other, and many are little more than convenient living arrangements. Children suffer, because the parents don't have time to spend with them, teaching them good family values. They get only little bits and pieces of your love. But the most critical person that gets left out in this scenario is God. He may get only a brief "hello" in the morning when you wake up, and maybe a short prayer as your eyes close at night. Today, I want you to change your priorities by starting your day with God, and spending some quality time with him. Take some time with your family before work or school, and have breakfast together and talk about the day ahead. Then go to work or school, and do the very best job you can. After work, spend the balance of time with your family, eating and playing together, and bonding and sharing your love with them. Before you close your eyes thank God for everything he has blessed you with, then spend some more time in His Holy Word, and watch how your life will change. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 16

Why Do We Suffer

Why Do We Suffer "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:50 Today, I want you to know that God loves you, and wants the best for you in all that you do. He is with you always, even in the struggles and trials you might be facing. He knows all about you. Every time we pick up the newspaper, or turn on the news, there are situations staring us in the face, where seemingly innocent people have been killed, seriously injured or where tragedy has befallen them. It is easy to see why so many people could say, "if God really loves me, then why do I suffer." I receive many e-mails from my readers asking this very question, as they have tried to live good Christian lives, but trouble and trials seem to follow them around daily. However, we must face the undeniable fact that people do suffer. You can find sickness, sorrow, and suffering in all walks of life. This very moment you can probably think of someone, very close to you, who is suffering greatly, and it just doesn't seem fair. The suffering and sorrow that you and I face today, is not the work of an unjust God; it's the consequences of sin. We suffer because we are sinners. There was a time when suffering and sorrow did not exist. When God first created man, everything was perfect. Man brought sin into the world. But Jesus Christ suffered for us all, that we might have eternal life. The curse of suffering and death entered this world because of sin, but we can escape the curse through Christ. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." There is coming a day when all suffering will end for those who know Jesus as their Savior. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 15

Look Up For Your Answer

Look Up For Your Answer "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 It is always interesting to watch people in a big crowd, some always look down, others always look around, and others are always turning and looking back, but God doesn't call us to do either of these as He only wants us to look up. When God told Noah to build the ark, he instructed him to build a roof to within 18 inches from the top as a window, as He wanted Noah to only look up, as if he looked out from the side he would only have seen the endless water, the debris, and the people screaming for help. The answer to all of life's problems is to always look up, as God has solutions for all of the struggles and problems you may be facing today. You can look around you, and may find some comfort in talking to other believers, pastors, family and friends, who can give you advice. You may also be able to look back and see how you and others have dealt with some of the same issues in the past, and not make the same mistakes again. You may look in front of you however, and see that there is no way out of your situation, and realize that you do not know where to turn. When all these fail you realize that the answer to your problem is to look up, and ask God for help. You will find that God is always there, and is always waiting for you to ask Him to help you, and give you His peace and His comfort in your situation. So if you are dealing with problems and difficulties today, you can raise your hands, lift up your heads and look up, where God will let the faith build up in your hearts, and fulfill His promise that everything will be all right. You will then realize that God promises to provide all that you need. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 14

Seek God's Will

Seek God's Will "Rejecting the advice of the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier." 2 Chronicles 10:13-14 In the scripture above King Rehoboam stubbornly rejected the wise advice of his nation's elders and instead followed those who told him only what he wanted to hear. As a result, conflict broke out and the nation became divided. The Bible warns us, "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7. Tragically, many people are the victims of their own bad decisions. We are faced with choices each day of our lives, and so often we turn our backs on what is right or what is best, and decide instead on what is wrong or what will bring us harm. Only afterwards do we really realize that our bad decisions have resulted in bad consequences. When we make the wrong choices, we are seeing Satan at work in our lives, as he has tempted us to do the wrong things, and we have followed him. When we make the right choices, we have followed the Holy Spirit, who is always there to lead and guide us on the paths that God wants us to follow. We can always seek the words of God, found in our Bibles, which will give us the wisdom we need to do the right things, but so often we don't seek the relationship with God that we need and make bad choices. Life is filled with decisions, some minor, but some are life changing. The most important thing I can encourage you to do is this: Seek God's will in every decision you make, pray about which choice to make, then turn to your Bible to find God's wisdom. If you have godly friends seek their advice and their wisdom. When you have Jesus with you each day you also have the Holy Spirit which will lead and guide you to do the things that are right and are pleasing to God. Always remember that God loves you, and that His way is always the best. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 13

Pitch Or Pile

Pitch Or Pile "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:1 Over the years we have moved several times, as I accepted new jobs at hospitals during my career as a Hospital Administrator. Each time we moved we were faced with the decision of what material possessions we wanted to take with us. We made the choice to "pitch or pile", and usually kept more than we needed, and had piles of stuff, like pants that were two sizes smaller than I could wear, but some day they would fit again. The need pile usually was enormous as compared to the pitch pile. When you become a Christian and ask Jesus into your heart you are faced with this dilemma as you have to make a decision to pitch the sins that have bound you over the years. You have to rid yourself of many of the things that you have accumulated during your life, sometimes even things that you have enjoyed. I will call this the "Satan Pile", as these are the things that you must leave behind. Things like anger, unforgiveness, lying, foul language, selfishness and many other sins will have to be left behind. However, you will also start a new "Jesus pile", and begin accumulating things that God will approve and want you to have, such as love, forgiveness, acceptance, peace, joy, contentment and happiness. It is necessary to give up the old ways and take on the new ways as it wouldn't really profit us to own and hoard the whole world if we lost our soul. So if we keep our soul, we have more gain - much more - than if we actually did possess the entire world. The new pile leads to an eternal life in Heaven, but the old pile leads to an eternity in the fiery pits of Hell. Make your decision today to rid yourself of the things that could keep you from experiencing the joys of Heaven, and ask Jesus into your heart. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 12

A New Life

A New Life "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2nd Corinthians 5:17 There is something exciting about getting something "new". I can recall our children's faces when they got a new toy, or when they got new clothes, or got their first new bicycle. There is something inspiring about getting a "new" anything. Most people even try to change their appearances by new hairstyles, makeovers, whiter teeth, to plastic surgery in hopes of creating a new look. The problem with these superficial changes is that it is only skin deep, and only covers what is on the outside. In the scripture above Jesus promises us that our entire being can become new, not just the outside surface, but also our inner being, when we ask Him into our hearts. Our happiness and joy begins with what is inside us, in our hearts, not on the outside. Just think what a new beginning could mean to you today. I am confident most of you have made mistakes during your life. You have committed sins you are ashamed of, you have done things that you regretted doing, you have hurt others, and done things that you wish you could erase and eliminate in your past. When you accept Jesus, all of these are forgiven, as anyone who comes to Jesus is given a brand new start. "All things have become new." What an amazing promise God has given us. We not only get a new start, but we become a new creation. "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25 Once we accept Jesus as our Savior He wipes all our sins away, and we are given a new start with a new life. This precious gift of salvation, gives us the opportunity to begin a new life, one that will lead to an eternal future in Heaven. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 11

Every Knee Will Bow

Every Knee Will Bow "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!" Philippians 2:6-11 There is coming a time when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God has given man the free will to accept His free gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ, or reject that gift. That is a choice each person must make during their life. That is why the Word says "Today" is the day of salvation. The reality is, you may not see tomorrow. So the ultimate choice each living person has to make is to bow their knee to Jesus and confess Him Lord and receive God's free gift of everlasting life, or reject Christ in this life and spend eternity separated from God. Sadly, there are many people walking this planet today that have chosen to live their lives in complete rebellion to God and to His Word. They have rejected Jesus Christ in their life and refuse to acknowledge Him for who He is. But they will at some point bow their knee to Jesus and confess Him to be Lord. For those who have already bowed your knee to Jesus and confessed Him to be Lord, you have the assurance of everlasting life with your Savior when this brief journey here is over. That is why no matter what may be happening in this world, we can never lose sight of the fact that our hope is in a better place. For those who are reading this today that have not bowed your knee to Jesus and have not confessed Him to be Lord, I am praying for you. He loved you enough to die for your sins so that you could receive everlasting life, and know true joy, true peace, and true abundance in this life as well. Take a moment right now and ask God to open your heart and ask Jesus to be your savior. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 10

Are You Living For Jesus

Are You Living For Jesus "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kind of evil against you because of me." Matthew 5:11 Let me ask you a serious question today, "are you making God first in your life?' There are so many that are Sunday morning Christians and only make Him first one day a week. For those of us who have lived our lives in the United States, we have enjoyed tremendous freedoms to live and share our faith in virtual peace. However, we cannot comprehend and understand what many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, in other parts of the world, have to endure to simply be a follower of Jesus. In a way, all of this freedom has made us, "soft Christians." When we can't pray in public schools, we feel persecuted. When our city does not allow us to put up a manger scene at Christmas, we feel persecuted. When Wal Mart won't say, "Merry Christmas" to us, we feel persecuted. However, there is coming a time when this kind of persecution will seem tame, compared to what we think we are going through now. It is easy to say I would die for Jesus, but would you really? Let me challenge you today, that if you would die for Jesus, will you live for Jesus? If we really love the Lord as we claim, then He should be the top priority in our life. When you accepted Jesus into your heart and live by faith, you gave Him your life, not just for an hour on Sunday morning, but "all your life". You must live your life like it is no longer your own, but is His. You need to be totally and completely surrendered to Christ at all times. It cannot be about your desires any longer, it must be about His desires and the desires of others. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God at all times, and that should be the only goal of those who follow Jesus. I ask each of you, are you really living your life for God? Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 9

It's Not Too Late

It's Not Too Late "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21 There is coming a time in all our lives were there will not be a tomorrow, and I encourage all of you to be ready. As I think about the condition of our world today, and the depravity and lack of morality that is rampant in our society, I wonder just how long God is going to wait to come again. I know that there is much debate about the events of the end times, as to what prophesies must still be fulfilled, before God returns, but as I read the Bible I believe the end times are drawing near. The Bible clearly tells us that no man, only God knows the hour of Christ's return, but the things described in our Bible, clearly indicate that the events leading up to His return are being fulfilled as we speak. It tells us that nations will rise against nations, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Many will turn away from the faith, and will betray and hate each other. There will be many false prophets that will appear and deceive many people. There will be an increase of wickedness and violence. These are just some of the indications of the events that will appear in the end days. All of these things are happening in our world today, which indicate that we are truly in the last days. The message I want you to get today, is that you need to be ready yourself for Christ's return. Although we don't know when He is returning, you need to be ready. The Bible tells us that it is only God's mercy that is delaying this final event from happening, because it is His desire that none should perish and that all come to repentance. For those of you who have never made a commitment of your heart and life to Jesus Christ by faith, the Bible says that today is the day of salvation, as tomorrow may be too late. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 8

The Road To Heaven

The Road to Heaven “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1st John 2:3-4 My friends, this is probably the most serious and critical devotional I have ever written, but it is so important for you to hear it's message. It is not going to be as easy as you think to get to heaven, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14. The Bible is very clear when it talks about the importance of obeying God and His commands. The Ten Commandments were not just something that God told you about as an afterthought, and you have the liberty of obeying them or not obeying them. If you are going to find this narrow road to heaven you must begin to obey God’s commands, and not take them lightly. When you say you know God, as in the scripture above, you must do what he commands, and if not He calls you a liar. There is no room for anything else, and you must not go on fooling yourself and making excuses for not following the commands of God. Just look at God's greatest commandments and see how you are obeying these. He tells you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. How must time do you spend each day in prayer and reading His word. This is how you show God you love Him. When you love someone you make them number one in your life. You don't give them the crumbs from your table after you spend all your time on other things. His second greatest command is to love others as you love yourself. Is your life all about yourself or is it about others. The little white lies, the cheating, the lust, the pride, the hording of your wealth, the non use of your talents, not obeying the Sabbath, are all things that must cease if you really know Jesus as your savior. There is no room for them anymore in your daily life, if you really have accepted Jesus into your heart. There are even more drastic warnings from God that tells you how perfect your lives must be to reach heaven. Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." There would be very few American's who are not considered to be rich in the sight of God, so this scripture would apply to you. 1st John 3-9 "No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." My friends, this is God's words not mine, and there are dozens of other scriptures, just as powerful that say the same thing. Our world needs to wake up and realize that the feel good preaching that we are hearing today, does not tell us this message. Don't be led astray by these false teachings that are leading you to Hell. There is only one way to heaven and that is to first ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins and then obey His commands. You must realize that Satan is alive and well and is roaming our world, and will entice and tempt you to compromise the word of God. There is no compromise allowed, however, as when Jesus died to save you he made the ultimate sacrifice for you. The Book of Hebrews has the most compelling scripture in the Bible that tells us the importance of living a Godly life and obeying God's commands, after you have been saved. "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." Hebrews 6:4-6. These are frightening words, my friends, and these cannot be discounted as being taken out of context or not applying to you. The Bible is filled with many scriptures such as these that warn you that you cannot take your salvation lightly. When God's Word tells you over and over that you cannot sin anymore after you have been saved, you had better believe it. You can't continue to make excuses for your sins, as God is not going to listen to you and is warning you over and over. You are just not hearing this in your churches today, because "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2nd Timothy 4:3. There is too much at stake in your life not to heed God's warning, as heaven is the reward, but hell is the punishment if you don't begin to obey God’s commands. Don't take my word for it, but read the Bible yourself and see what it says about living a sin free life. Find all the scriptures for yourself that talk about the penalties of sin. 1st John 3-6 " No-one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." My friends, there is no other way to interpret a scripture such as this one or the one below, and I challenge you to interpret it any other way. John 9:41 "Jesus said, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." If God is really in your heart, you are not going to continue sinning as you are going to live the kind of life that Jesus led, as He tells you that you need to be an imitator of Him in everything you do. Take the time today to apply this devotional to your own life. Are you confident that you are living the life God wants you to live? If you aren't sure that God will be pleased with you, it is not too late to ask Him for forgiveness, and begin to obey His commandments. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six October 7

Serve Others

Serve Others “Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Jesus fully lived up to the scripture above. Jesus humbly ministered to the needs of those He taught, readily expending himself in their behalf. He crisscrossed the Promised Land on foot, walking hundreds of miles on preaching tours in an effort to reach as many people as possible. Unlike the proud Pharisees and scribes, He remained humble and approachable. All manner of people—dignitaries, soldiers, lawyers, women, children, the poor, the sick, even society’s outcasts—approached him eagerly, unafraid. Though perfect, Jesus was human, subject to fatigue and hunger. Even when He was tired or was in need of rest or a quiet time to pray, however, He put the needs of others ahead of His own. Jesus was equally willing to serve His own disciples. He did so by teaching them kindly and patiently. When they were slow to grasp some vital lessons, He did not give up, lose His temper, or berate them. He continued to find new ways to get His point across. For example, just think of how often the disciples bickered over who was the greatest among them. Again and again, right up to the night before His execution, Jesus found new ways to teach them to deal humbly with one another. Notice that Jesus did not merely tell the disciples what the example was; He taught them by example. He did not speak down to them from a lofty height, as if considering himself above carrying out the things He was telling them to do. That was the way of the Pharisees. “They say but do not perform,” Jesus said of them. Are you willing to serve others, are you willing to sacrifice your time to help someone in need. Your rest and leisure should be within balance and should not cause us to neglect the whole reason for our existence. We are here to serve, not to be served. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 4

It Is Not In Vain

It Is Not In Vain "This is what the wicked are like – always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart Pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." Psalm 73:12-13 One of the great spiritual questions many people wrestle with is the issue of why good people sometimes suffer, while so many bad people prosper. It is not a new question. The scripture today is from a man named Asaph. He was one of King David's chief musicians, who wrote this psalm after struggling with this very issue. Earlier in the psalm, Asaph tells us he found himself envying the prosperity of those he identifies as "the wicked." As he looks at what appears to be the lack of fairness in the world, he becomes discouraged about trying to live a righteous life. His conclusion about those who thumb their noses at God is that "the evil conceits of their minds know no limits." And yet, he observes, "always carefree, they always increase in wealth." Consequently, he reaches the conclusion of today's text: "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure." What does Asaph do to get his head back on straight? He steps back and looks at the "bigger" picture. He goes to "church." There he remembers some of the good things that we can't see in the visible world: God is always with us. God guides us and gives us strength. When our life ends, God takes us into His presence. As a result of getting his perspective straight, Asaph can say to God, "In this life, I don't need anything more than to be with you!" When you try to live in a way that is pleasing to God, it is not in vain. If it seems as though the "bad guys" are always winning, remember that we have a very limited perspective. As did Asaph, we need to get ourselves into a place where we can get some perspective. It can change our discouragement to joy. We can go from victims to victors. Living in a way that pleases God is never in vain, as the wicked will spend their eternity in the fiery darkness of Hell, while the good will spend all their eternity in Heaven. The future benefits of Heaven far outweighs the temporary pleasures of the present. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 3

Are You Ready

Are You Ready "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." John 9:4 If you died today would you be ready? We are not promised tomorrow, and many who are not ready, will face an eternity in Hell that will last for all eternity. The other day while I was doing our daily mail route, a car in front of me had a bumper sticker that said, "Look Busy", but underneath this there was a second line that said, "Jesus is Coming". This sign made me think, do people really think it will make a difference to Jesus if they look busy. Most people are busier than they have ever been, as life today moves at a seemingly insane pace. There is always more to do than most people will ever hope to accomplish, as almost everyone seems to have a "to do" list that they will never get done. Many times I rush to get my yard mowed before it begins to rain, or to get it mowed before it gets dark. Many times we have a limited time to do many of the things we must do, and we work hard to get them done. The question I would like to ask each of you to think about is exactly what you are busy doing, and are these the things that are going to make you ready for the return of Jesus? Have you opened your lives and hearts to Jesus, and recognized that He is the only one that you can look to for your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior, or have you been too busy with other priorities on your list of things to do. If this is you, what are you waiting for? You need to ask Jesus into your heart now. There is no guarantee that you will have another day, or another chance to accept Jesus as your Savior. There are many that will wait too long, and do things that means nothing to Jesus. You need to realize that Jesus may be coming soon, so you need to be busy keeping your eyes on Him, and getting ready for His coming. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 2

A LIfe Of Peace

A Life Of Peace "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7 If you have gotten up this morning and are struggling with a situation that has taken all the peace and joy out of your life, this message is for you. There should not be any situation that you will face, whether it is financial, a relationship, loss of a job, or even a health issue that you should let rob you of your peace and joy. If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, He will provide you peace even in the most difficult situations. When He made the promise to His disciples, just a few hours before His death, "even though we would have trials and tribulations, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." This promise is where your peace and joy should come from. From this precious promise, that no matter who or what may be going in your life, because you know Jesus Christ by faith, you not only have the assurance of spending your eternity with Him, but also the promise of His strength and comfort during your struggles. You also need to know that God knows what you are facing today, even the little things that may seem insignificant to you, as He is aware of all things in your life. God is there to comfort you, during your daily struggles, and all He asks in return, is for you to have faith and trust in Him for all things. Satan is the one that is robbing you of your peace and joy, as any distraction he can cause in your daily life, gets your focus off God, and if he can do this, he can take away your peace. Don't let Satan destroy your peace and joy, ask God to give you the strength to withstand. When you asked Jesus into your heart you also got the Holy Spirit which is there to guide you and comfort you through even the darkest storms. So, if you don't have peace and joy each day, it is not God, but Satan that is robbing you. When you put your trust in Jesus, He will give you peace. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 1