Today’s Devotion: “EXHIBIT What You ARE!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

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HI!

J.M. Kennedy once told the following story.

“I am told that an Indiana cemetery has a tombstone over one hundred years old that bears the following epitaph:
‘Pause Stranger, when you pass me by.
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be.
So prepare for death and follow me.’

Someone had scratched a reply under the inscription.
It read:
‘To follow you I’m not content,
Until I know which way you went.'”

_SCRIPTURE______

1Thess. 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
KJV

_THOUGHT________

There are many things in this old world that are just WRONG!
The Bible says in the verse above, Christians are to ABSTAIN from them!

If we participate in things that are wrong morally, we are reflecting badly on salvation by grace.

The evidence of Christianity being USEFUL doesbecome SHADOWY when a Christian:
CURSES,
GOSSIPS,
DRINKS,
ATTENDS A GAMBLING CASINO.

The evidence of Christianity being USEFUL also becomes SHADOWY when a Christian is not in church regularly!

As a pastor, I’ve been asked many times: “WHY should I go to church? Those people are as bad as I am!”

Of course, APPEARANCES are not EVERYTHING!
One bad moment of a person’s life does not exhibit the WHOLE.

However, one bad moment WRONGLY INTERPRETED does make a difference!
That moment may become ammunition for the gossip’s gun!

If you are really a Christian, let the evidence be CLEAR!

Like my dad used to say, “Remember to WHOM you BELONG!”

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “Are You ALWAYS In The PRAYER Business?”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

A lady was walking on the beach with her grandson.
All of a sudden, a big wind picked up the grandson and carried him into the sea.

She fell to her knees, and said, “OH! LORD! Please! I cannot lose my grandson!”

Just then, a big wave washed him ashore.
He was coughing and sputtering, but well and alive.

She looked up and said, “Thanks, Lord. But,
You know, he DID have a hat on!”

_SCRIPTURE______

Ps 66:20
Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
KJV
_THOUGHT________

Are you comfortable with God’s answers to your prayers?
Do you feel badly because of unanswered prayer?

Our prayer life is an indicator of the depth of our relationship with God.

Prayer is the ENERGY which moves the tendons and muscles of God!

Perhaps God would answer MORE:
IF our prayers were more FREQUENT: and
IF our prayers were less LUKEWARM!

God NEVER turns His mercy away from
His children.
God is ALWAYS listening for our calls!

Jer. 33:3 says, “CALL unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”

1Thess. 5:17 says we should “Pray WITHOUT ceasing!”
In other words, be always in an ATTITUDE of prayer!

Matt. 26:41 says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
God’s Holy Spirit in the Christian is CALLING for him/her to be in prayer!
But, we in our human bodies, often feel to
pressed for time.

God is ALWAYS in the prayer ANSWERING
business.
We should ALWAYS be in the PRAYING
business!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “WHO You Really Are Is SHOWNBy How You ACT/LIVE”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

Once a little boy asked his father,
“What is a Christian?”

The father began to explain all the traits and characteristics of a Christian.

The little boy looked up in innocence and asked,
“Dad, have I ever SEEN a Christian?”.

_SCRIPTURE______

1John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
KJV
_THOUGHT________

Christian, have you ever thought about how people SEE you?

I mean, “if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, quacks like a duck – it MUST be a duck, right?”

Here are 3 Biblical reasons why Christians
should exhibit WHO they are by how they
ACT/LIVE.

1. For FULFILLING.
   Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
   FILLED.” (Matt. 5:6)

Staying away from sin’s temptations keeps us from suffering earthly consequences.
Being empowered by God’s Holy Spirit
produces the most joy in life.
There is no satisfaction like knowing one has lived today for HIS glory!

2. For your NEIGHBOR’s sake.
   The Bible says, “Provide things HONEST in the sight of ALL men.” (Rom. 12:17)

Christians are most often shot at from the lips of gossips.
Nothing gives a gossip more ammunition
than being less than we should be.
Each day, determine to DEMONSTRATE Him Whom we praise in our life.

3. For JESUS’S sake!
   Jesus said, “IF you love me KEEP my
   commandments.” (John 14:15)

How many times do we betray Jesus, like
Judas, when we do wrong in the sight of
others?
How often do we deny His Lordship like
Peter, when we speak hastily?
How often do we fail Jesus because we do
not study and learn to ACT/LIVE from His
WORD?

REMEMBER:
WHO you really ARE is SHOWN by how
you ACT/LIVE!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “Obtaining A Desired Destination,Requires CLEAR Directions”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

A lady asked her husband to go to the store.
She said, “I want a carton of milk,
and if they have eggs, get 6.”
He came back with 6 cartons of milk.
She asked, “WHY did you get 6 cartons of milk.”
He said, “Well, they HAD eggs!”

To be sure of good communication, we must
be clear in stating; and be sure they are
understood.

_SCRIPTURE______

Matt. 22:9
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do
ERR not knowing the scriptures, nor the
power of God.
KJV

_THOUGHT________

Unclear communications are the cause of
many marriage failures.
Unclear communications are the cause of
many business failures.

Let’s just face it:
Even CLEAR directions sometimes are
misperceived because they are not
READ or FOLLOWED!

And the truth is: spiritual misconception is
caused by either one or two things:
1) personal presupposition, or
2) failure to study the directions in God’s
WORD!

There are CLEAR directions about one’s
personal relationship with God in the BIBLE!

And the main reason we ERR from those
directions is we don’t STUDY them!

In the Bible, we find absolute truth and
POWER.
“..I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus
Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto
salvation to EVERY one that BELIEVETH;
to the Jew first, and also the Greek.”
(Rom. 1:16)

Most people WANT to get to heaven; but
most people won’t read the DIRECTIONS
to get there!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we MUST be saved.”
(Acts 4:12)

Jesus said, “If ye CONTINUE in my word,
THEN are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the TRUTH, and the truth
shall make you FREE!” (John 8:31-32)

STUDY the WORD!
WITHOUT it, “ye do ERR!”

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “HONOR thy MOTHER and FATHER”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

There were 8 children in the family.
Dad worked hard, and was very quiet-spoken.
The children were concerned because
Dad hardly ever showed appreciation for Mom keeping the small house
so well.

Their concern was that he didn’t respect her.
On afternoon, Mom had gone to the store.
She stopped on the way back to help a neighbor who had a sick child.

When Dad came home, all the kids were in the living room, doing homework.
He looked into the living room, and looked at each child slowly.

Then he said, “Where is everybody?”

AH! Mom was his “everybody!”
The children never worried again about Dad respecting Mom!

_SCRIPTURE______

Prov 1:8-9
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
KJV
_THOUGHT________

When Moses received the ten commandments, there were two stones.
The first stone (commands 1-4) were about man’s relationship with God.
The second stone (command 5-10) were about man’s relationship with mankind.

The very FIRST command on that second stone:
“HONOR thy father and mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God hath given thee.” (Ex. 20:12)

The Bible reflects on the SERIOUSNESS of that commandment in several places.
Prov. 1:8-9 says, “My son, HEAR the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”

Deut. 27:16 says, “CURSED is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt…”

In the Bible, mothers were leaders in economic affairs if the family AND community.
(See Prov. 31:16, Prov. 31:24, Acts 16:14)

Sometimes, mothers were involved in MILITARY affairs. (See Judges 4:4-8)

And, MORE, mothers were involved in RELIGIOUS affairs. (See 2Kings 22:14, 2Tim. 1:5-7)

“The law of thy mother” is a wonderful ornamental “chain about thy neck!
WEAR it PROUDLY!

And, HONOR thy MOTHER!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “PERFECTING the IMPERFECT!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

The pastor was making a point about the
imperfection of man.
He said, “Men, there are no perfect women;
don’t expect there to be.
Women, there are no perfect men;
don’t expect there to be.
Does anyone know a perfect man?”
No one said anything.
But just before the pastor could go on,
a man in the back raised his hand.
The pastor asked, “Do you know a perfect man?”
The man said, “Well, no sir. I don’t personally
know one. But my wife’s first husband MUST
have been!”

_SCRIPTURE______

Ps 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which
concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever:
forsake not the works of thine own hands.
KJV
_THOUGHT________

One thing is for certain: I am not perfect!
Just ask my wife!

But there is another thing that is certain:
God will “forsake NOT the work of” His own hands!
He IS working IN me.
And, as long as I keep striving, He will keep driving!

You see, once we have surrendered to Jesus as
Lord of our lives, He SEALS us into His Holy
PRESENCE and GUIDANCE.

God does NOT forsake the “works” of His own
hands!
The Bible says, “In Whom (Jesus) after that ye
BELIEVED, ye were SEALED with that Holy
Spirit of PROMISE…” (Eph. 1:13)

Now, WITH His Holy Spirit IN us, He LEADS us
to STUDY His Word.
“STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth NOT to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the WORD of TRUTH.”
(2Tim. 2:15)

And Jesus PROMISED, when we study the
Word, His Holy Spirit will help us to understand.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
Whom the Father will send in my name, He
shall teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”
(John 14:26)

Have you SURRENDERED your life to Christ?
Then, be ASSURED His “mercy endureth
FOREVER” toward you. (Ps. 106:1)

During this life on earth, you may still be
IMPERFECT; but God is FAITHFUL to
continue the work of PERFECTING.
He is CONSTANTLY drawing you to strive
being better each day.

No, you may not be perfect.
But, if you keep striving, God will keep on
driving.

And, ultimately, He will bring you to His glory.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He
which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:6)

Keep working on yourself and God will keep
working on and in you!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “ESTABLISH and MAINTAIN UNITY!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

Once I performed a wedding in the evening.
After the ceremony, during the reception, one lady looked like she had been left by herself.

Ann and I approached her.
I asked, “Are you a friend of the groom?”

She answered, “Heavens NO! I’m the bride’s grandmother!”

It didn’t sound like it was going to be easy to establish UNITY in that marriage!

_SCRIPTURE______

Ps 133:1
A Song of degrees of David.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
KJV
_THOUGHT________

Neither is it easy to establish, and maintain, unity in a church family!

But, Oh how “GOOD” and how “PLEASANT” it is when unity is kept!
It is GOOD when people work together in unity because there is a GIVING attitude.

There is GOOD given to the church by God!
And, there should be GOOD given FROM the church, THROUGH the body!

It is PLEASANT when people work together in unity because there is a special PRESENCE.
The presence is God’s Holy Spirit working in and through self-sacrificial attitudes.

When we are pulling together for HIS glory, He comes in and accomplishes things we never imagined!

Are you seeking to establish and maintain UNITY in your church?

Remember Jesus’ “new commandment.”
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

“As I have loved you,” means with
SELF-SACRIFICIAL love!

When people enter your church:
Do they find it “good” and “pleasant?”
Do they become aware of the power of God’s presence?
Do they see the characteristic of self-sacrificial love?

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “TRUTH DISPELS DARKNESS!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
SKYRIDER COMMUNICATIONS
Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

Once while visiting a site in Tennessee, we
entered a cave.
At first it seemed nice.
Dimly lighted but ok.

But then, the lights were turned off!
We could see NOTHING!

It’s amazing what a little light can do!

_SCRIPTURE______

Prov. 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable:
but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
KJV

Prov. 11:11
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
KJV

_THOUGHT________

There is a vast difference between “free press” and unaccountable gossip.

It’s shameful when a nation has more of the latter and less of the former.

When the news media presents accountable facts, they are more righteous.
But, when the news media is used to just
“blow smoke,” then the “wicked speak frowardness!”

“Hatred stirreth up STRIFES; But love covereth all sins!” (Prov. 10:12)

We have come to the point where the “mouth of the wicked” is touted more than the “lips of the righteous.”

GAMBLING is NOT just GAMING!
Homosexualism, lesbianism et all are not “OK;” but are despicable!
RACISM is NOT “good,” it is EVIL!

“WOE to them that call evil good, and good evil;…” (Isaiah 5:20)

All it takes for evil to progress is for good men to do NOTHING!
Evil CANNOT progress when “LIGHT” is shown by the TRUTH!

When sin is called sin, then light PIERCES darkness!

STAND UP!
SPEAK OUT!
SPEAK the TRUTH!
And, be careful to speak the truth in LOVE!

Christians, “YE are the LIGHT of the world!” (Matt. 5:14)

So, let your light SHINE!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

Today’s Devotion: “AWAKE and LIVE for CHRIST!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

Grandmother came to visit on her grandson’s birthday.
She handed him a present.

He unwrapped the present, and squealed with delight when he saw the water pistol!
Immediately he headed for the nearest sink.

Mom was NOT pleased.

She turned to Grandmother and said,
“I’m surprised at you. Don’t you remember
how we used to drive you crazy with our water pistols?”

Grandmother said with a smile,
“Yes. I remember.”

_SCRIPTURE______

Eph. 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall givethee light.
KJV

_THOUGHT________

First, we should realize that God is speaking through Paul to the church at Ephesus.
THEN, we can approach the term “AWAKE!”

Let me AWAKEN you to the fact that the
statement is made to the CHURCH!

If you were sound asleep in your home, and
firemen came bursting in saying, “AWAKE!”:
then you would arise QUICKLY!!

The bright glory of Christ our “light” is bursting into the life of the church and saying, “arise from the dead!!”

Are we not sleeping when there is so much
evangelism MISSING in our churches?

Do we not realize that many of our neighbors, friends, co-workers are “dead in trespasses and sin?” (Eph. 2:1)
Christ wants to “quicken” them, or make them ALIVE!!

Paul goes on to say, “15 See then that ye walk circumspeclty. not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

My Christian friends, it is high time we AWAKE, and RISE UP from dead works!!

It is high time that we learn and grow in Christ enough that we call to others: AWAKE, RISE from the deadness of sin, and surrender to the LIVING CHRIST!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce

TODAY’S DEVOTION: “A RED BRICK Church?

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
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Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

A young man was applying for a job.
He came to the question, “What is your church preference?”

Now the young man REALLY wanted
the job.
So, he gave this question a lot of thought.
He wanted to impress the employer.

Finally he wrote, “I prefer a red brick
church.”
________SCRIPTURE____________

Heb 12:22-24
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion,
and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an
innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church
of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made
perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things
than that of Abel.
KJV

________THOUGHT______________

Christian, think about to WHOM you
have come!
The “LIVING God”!
He Who has “an inumerable company
of angels.”
He Who FORMED the church.
He Who writes your name in an
unbreakable, eternal covenant!
He Who has called you “just”, and has
made you “perfect” (completed you,
finished your journey).

You have come to Jesus “the mediator
of the new covenant.”
Though He is powerful enough to speak
the worlds into existence,
He is condescending enough to place Himself on the cross for your sake!

By His blood he has cleansed your soul.
He made Himself an offering for your forgiveness and salvation.
Thus He made a covenant that seals your soul in ETERNAL redemption!

He is the Almighty God, El Shaddai, the everlasting Elohim, “the Judge of ALL.”
In His love and by His omniscience, He
laid the plan before you were born.
For had He not come to SHOW the love
of God, and lay the plan of your salvation,
you would not have known.

Romans 5:8 says,
“But God commendeth (showed)his
love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners,  Christ died for us.”

First, He MADE the covenant, then He CALLED you into it!

It’s not the red brick church,
its the red BLOOD church!!

How wonderful it is to know that the
Eternal, Living God thought enough
about you and me that He would make
and complete such a covenant, then
offer us a place in it!

Honor Him today! Praise Him today!
And tell others of His wonderful love!

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce