Jim Gallagher

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 65-66 & Philemon 1
Old Testament: Isaiah 65- Holier Than Thou

Isaiah 65:5
“Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’”

“Holier than thou” is defined by a modern dictionary as, “having a superior attitude or view of one’s self.” It is most commonly used as an accusation against a Christian… Read More
Isaiah 66- Famous People

Isaiah 66:2
“For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”

Imagine walking into someone’s home, where, on the mantle, they had a picture of themselves with a famous or powerful person. As you looked closer, there was not one… Read More

New Testament: Philemon 1- That’s Refreshing

Philemon 1:7
“For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”

The world honors men for many reasons. We have a Hall of Fame for most sporting endeavors. Men’s lives are immortalized for throwing a ball, riding a wave, or taking a punch. What an amazing… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 63-64 & Titus 3
Old Testament: Isaiah 63- Looking Back

Isaiah 63:7
“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord And the praises of the Lord, According to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His loving-kindnesses.”
I recently attended a communion service where we were… Read More

Isaiah 64- Come On Down

Isaiah 64:1
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!”

As Isaiah looked at the present condition of his world, his heart cried out for the Lord to come. He was not alone in this cry, for the apostle John brought the book of Revelation to a close crying out for Jesus to return. Saints throughout… Read More

New Testament: Titus 3= Old Faithful

Titus 3:8
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Sometimes, when we want to emphasize the importance of something, we might… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 61-62 & Titus 2
Old Testament: Isaiah 61- Robes Of Righteousness

Isaiah 61:10
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Certain garments are necessary… Read more
Isaiah 62- What Love

Isaiah 62:5
“As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.”

Life can cause us to misunderstand God. In the midst of difficulty, it is common to respond like the disciples who cried out, “Lord don’t you care that we are perishing” (Mark 4:38)? It is during those times, we need to cling all the more to the promises of God. Circumstances are often misleading. If we want to know how God truly feels about us, we need to look into the pages of His Word. Isaiah declares that God rejoices over us. I have had the privilege of … Read More

New Testament: Titus 2-Did You Hear That?

Titus 2:1
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine”

The purpose of the teachings of God’s Word is not simply information. We should not expect a test when we arrive in heaven or a pop quiz along the way. Instead, we learn the Word so we might behave right. Sound doctrine… Read More

James 5:13
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Like many of you, I awoke this morning as I do every morning. My first thoughts were coffee, my morning devotions and my schedule that had developed for the remainder of my day. This morning however, that routine was drastically interrupted. Almost as soon as my eyes opened I was met with news of the shooting in Las Vegas. I immediately turned on the television only to see images and hear sounds more graphic than I could have ever imagined. The sound of gunfire and the sheer horror on the faces of those running for cover broke my heart as I am sure it did yours as well. Scenes like this have become all too commonplace in our world today, but the shock remains the same.  

I am certain that this event will result in politicians, the judiciary, members of law enforcement and other first responders convening and look into policy, legislation and procedures in an attempt to stop these kinds of things from continuing to happen. That being said, I think the focus of our attention as believers should not be focused upon a political argument but instead we should be doing all we can to show support to the hundreds, even thousands of family members, friends and loved ones of the victims of this horrific event. 

While it is not always clear what we can do for those we do not personally know, James tells us that if anyone is suffering we should pray. As the shock and horror of this event transitions into anger and other emotions let’s be sure not to forget that the best outlet will be found at the throne of grace. We should be those who stand in the gap for the broken hearted and plead with God to extend His mercy, grace and loving kindness upon them. 

The world is hurting and the love of Jesus Christ is the only balm strong enough to aid the broken hearted. 

In His matchless grace,

Jim 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 59-60 & Titus 1
Old Testament: Isaiah 59- Bridging The Gap

Isaiah 59:1-2
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

Sin is missing the mark. Just as an archer aims at a target, lets his arrow fly, and misses; so we attempt to do our best, only to fall short of the perfect standard of God. The problem is, sin has grave consequences. Sin not only effects our emotions by making us feel… Read More

Isaiah 60- Peace
Isaiah 60:18
“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise.”

Isaiah promises a time when violence and destruction will be replaced with… Read More

New Testament: Titus 1-Double Agent

Titus 1:16
“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

The church in Crete was like most churches. It had a pastor, who was seeking to minister to the spiritual needs of the people, while facing many struggles from within and without. It had members who were growing in the Lord and seeking to serve Him, and members whose growth was stunted, due to a variety of lingering and tolerated personal sins. Then there were others, who only pretended to be Christians. Paul describes this group as ones who claim to be followers of Christ, yet they fail… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 57-58 & 2 Timothy 4
Old Testament: Isaiah 57- When Righteousness DIes

Isaiah 57:1
“The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart…”

Isaiah watched as righteousness ceased in the land. Those who lived their lives according to the standards of the Bible were looked down upon and even persecuted. Rightoeusness was seen as a plague, and the righteous were treated with… Read More
Isaiah 58- Fasting

Isaiah 58:6
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?”

In one of His longest recorded… Read More

New Testament: 2 Timothy 4- Finish LIne

2 Timothy 4:6-8
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 55-56 & 2 Timothy 3
Old Testament: Isaiah 55- The Better Way

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

If you read your Bible regularly, you have come to realize, God thinks differently than we do, on just about every subject. The values God esteems are different than the values of the world we live in. Jesus spoke of life being found… Read More
Isaiah 56- House Of Prayer

Isaiah 56:7
“For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Isaiah foresaw a day when people from all nations would be adopted into the family of God. He saw salvation reaching beyond the borders of Israel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Seven hundred years later Jesus entered into the temple and saw the outer courts turned into a marketplace. Instead of people being encouraged to to come to God… Read More

New Testament: 2 Timothy 3- Profitability

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 53-54 & 2 Timothy 2
Old Testament: Isaiah 53- Despised And Rejected

Isaiah 53:3
“He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

How would you treat delegates… Read More

New Testament: 2 Timothy 2- Be Strong

2 Timothy 2:1
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

It seems as though men have always been fascinated with strength. We have all seen images of Greek or Roman statutes, they look like they have come off the pages of a body building magazine, making us… Read More

Isaiah 54:1-2
“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.”

Isaiah calls on those without children to sing as though their quiver were full and those to enlarge the size of their tent in preparation for the promises of God to be fulfilled among them.

This passage is a beautiful picture of a person of faith. We seem to face things on a daily basis that call into question the promises of God. Our emotions make us wonder if His promise to be with us is true. The struggles in life cause us to wonder about His power and the setbacks we face make us doubt whether or not He will provide for our needs. We have much to learn from the words of Isaiah. When we choose to trust that the promises of God are more certain than the trials of life we must act upon them. Like Isaiah’s young woman who builds a nursery before her child is ever born we must live as though the promises of God have already been fulfilled. That does not mean that we should spend money we don’t have but that we should walk in confidence knowing that God will always be true to His Word. Paul wrote that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ.

Pastor Jim

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Isaiah 51-52 & 2 Timothy 1
Old Testament: Isaiah 51- Filters

Isaiah 51:6
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.”

We use filters every day to keep things… Read More 

Isaiah 52- Beautiful Feet

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

It seems as though people have always had “bucket… Read More
New Testament: 2 Timothy 1- Godly Home

2 Timothy 1:5
“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

Timothy is one of the stars of the New Testament. His story has all the makings of a blockbuster hit. When we are first introduced to him, he is a teenager described as “being well spoken of in all the churches.” We know that his… Read More