the7ones.comDevotionals
The purity of new-fallen snow
by Matthew K. Clifton It has never been a big secret that I am not the best yard-keeper in the world. Landscaping 101 was never in my course work, although I do come from a long line of greats in the lawn care industry (a story I will spare you for another day). My grass [...]
Bait and switch
Back when gas prices were so outrageously high, the news media spent a lot of time on stories related to the issue. One story I saw on television at the time was that customers in some locations were being tricked into purchasing gas at one price, only to find when they swiped their credit card [...]
What is Jesus really concerned about?
Someone once told me that he did not think Jesus would be too concerned about his sins because Jesus was a “cool dude” who was not too concerned about such things. Instead of focusing on sin, he said, “Jesus was all about love.” It is true enough that Jesus was all about love. It is [...]
Beware of ‘mind shafts!’
The most dangerous place in the world is a mine shaft. At least according to television. As my daughters and I watched an old Hardy Boys episode the other day, I began to think about the number of shows I have seen in my lifetime where the hero either falls down a mine shaft, or [...]
‘Can I Change?’
When a man or woman is confronted with the truth about Jesus Christ, there is a question that ought to ring loudly within the soul: “Can I change?” Nicodemus (John 3) seemed to be such a man. The woman at the well (John 4) seemed to be such a woman. Their positions in life were [...]
The Power of His Word
Those who seek to live godly lives will generally agree: The world is a dark place! The apostle John tells us, though, that a light came into the world. Jesus Christ is called the Word, who was with God in the beginning, and who was God (John 1:1). Though all things were made through Him, [...]
The night the lights went out
As so often happens, my young son awoke during the night crying. Bleary-eyed, I forced myself from the comfortable bed and staggered to his room, scooped him up and headed to the living room on the other side of the house. We sat in the rocking chair a while to calm him, and, neither of [...]
Don’t put them on your list!
Once upon a time there was a woman who had been bitten by a rabid dog, and since she neglected to go to the doctor in time, she was advised by her physician to write her last wishes, since it was very possible that she could die from rabies. She spent so long with pencil [...]
Don’t forget to ask!
There are a lot of instructions in the Bible on how to obtain things from God. James says if we desire wisdom, to ask God, but to ask in faith (James 1:6). He also tells us that we have to ask with the correct motives (James 4:3). John tells us that whatever we ask in [...]
A case of the “got to’s”
Have you ever come down with a case of the “got to’s?” It is a horrible illness. It is characterized by symptoms like forgetting there are other people around you (self-centeredness), profuse sweating and fatigue (from running here and there), and constant statements of “I’ve got to do this!” and “I’ve got to do that!” This disease is widespread, and very contagious. If allowed to run rampant for a long time, it can certainly harm the body, but more importantly, even over a very short time it damages the spirit!