GOD NEVER PANICS

 

Monday, October 26, 2026

GOD NEVER PANICS

(a CLASSIC devotional from 2010)

Ps 91:1-2

91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Panic is the result of challenges that are greater than our store of resources. We come up against a force too strong to deal with and we run away. This happens often with men but never with God. He has an unlimited supply of options at His disposal. His strength is unmatched.

Secret Place! The idea from the Hebrew word is simply a “cover,” hiding place or disguise. The idea of a “secret” place suggests an inner circle of those initiated into a choice brotherhood. It is a place for insiders, for those who are intimately acquainted with “the Most High.” It is a place of acceptance no matter how diverse the individual members of this secret society may be. They have status. They are granted entrance and protection.

Shadow of the Almighty! The Hebrew is Shadday (shad-dah'-ee) and springs from one of the names of God, El Shaddai. Shaddai itself occurs forty-eight times in the Old Testament and is translated "almighty." The other word so like it, and from which we believe it to be derived, occurs twenty-four times and is translated "breast." As connected with the word breast, the title Shaddai signifies one who nourishes, supplies, satisfies. The Egyptian goddess Isis was clustered over with breasts because all things are sustained or nourished by the earth or nature." The same was true of the idol of the Ephesian goddess Diana in Acts 19, for Diana signified nature and the world with all its products.

(From Names of God, Copyright 1944 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)

Perhaps that is too much information for this early in the morning, but the idea is that God is quite capable of satisfying the needs of His people! The Almighty is all-mighty.

When I first became pastor of my current church, the secretary had a small item on top of her file cabinet which read simply “God Never Panics!” I will never forget misreading it for the very first time as “God Never PUNTS!” When you think about it, it still makes good sense. If God had a football team there would be no punts!

Dear Lord, I know I can hide in your secret place today. I am a member of beloved band and have access to the “hideout.” I know also that I have no need that can’t be more than adequately met by your rich supply. Let there be no panic today. AMEN

 

THE CHURCH IN ACTS 4

 

Saturday, October 24, 2026

THE CHURCH IN ACTS 4

A properly functioning church should use the book of Acts as a model.

Acts 4:32-35

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

          UNITY!  (v.32). There is no schism in the body. One heart [kardia] or feelings and emotions. They were of one soul [psuche] Psyche or mind; way of thinking. Opinion! Paul battled the Corinthians on many fronts including party politics. Some favored the oratory of Apollos while some were true to Paul.

1 Cor 3:3-4

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

          COMMUNITY! (v.32) Community is impossible without yielding rights! Because they had one heart and one mind it was not hard to develop one pocket! Nobody felt that any of his things belonged to him alone. (v.33) Those things that they held in common they treated with respect. They looked on church property not as if it was their own possession but as something that was borrowed and must be returned in good condition.

          ENERGY! (v.33) This is the kind of church the Lord can easily bless. They were able to witness with great power because there were no divisions in the body and no competition between various programs. Great grace was upon them all.

          SUFFICIENCY! (v.34) There was no lack anywhere! You can not make a hole in a bucket of sand by thrusting in your fist. The moment you remove your hand the hole is immediately filled as every grain of sand in the bucket rushes to make his contribution.

          GENEROSITY! (v. 34 & 35) The idea of a healthy modern church has such a practical application that perhaps we miss it by over spiritualizing it. All Spiritual truth has a simple and practical application.

Dear Lord, make me willing to share. Make me respectful of church property. Let me not think that my program is more important than any other. When there is a hole, let me rush to fill it. AMEN

 

A LONG-REMEMBERED GIFT

 

Friday, October 23, 2026

(A “classic” and a wonderful memory)

A LONG-REMEMBERED GIFT

Mark 14:8

8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

          Fifty plus years ago, just before leaving home to begin Bible college studies, an elderly lady baked me a pie. I don’t even remember what kind of pie it was. Perhaps it was double crust apple, but that detail has escaped me. What has not flown away is the memory of that simple kindness. The lady was probably living on retirement income so she couldn’t give me money. She didn’t offer sage advice although she most likely could have. She simply did what she could. She baked a pie.

          The fact that I remember the kindness and not this woman’s name is testimony to the power of small investments made in others. It may seem insignificant to us, but it may literally linger a lifetime in the grateful mind of the recipient.

          Thanksgiving is a month away and we will gather with family and struggle to remember why we are thankful. It shouldn’t be as hard as it usually is. Perhaps it would be easier if we recalled the small kindness given simply. These enrich our lives and bore deeply into our thinking. They make a home there and change us for the better. For this we should be thankful.

          Stop thinking of what you can’t afford to do. Stop mourning your lack of time and energy. Just do what you can do and ask God to bless it. Your gift may last a lifetime.

Dear Lord, today someone will need a small act of kindness. Let me do what I can to be a blessing to others. AMEN