http://opc.org/devotional.html A Daily Devotional from OPC.org en-us Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:01:01 EDT Copyright 2007-2026 Orthodox Presbyterian Church Orthodox Presbyterian Church http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6564 Monthly Theme: By God&#e2;Pcs Word and Spirit the world was made, and he uses the same tools to rebuild the creaking cosmos. God does not save some souls from the wreckage of the planet; instead, the whole groaning creation must be delivered from bondage by the love and power of God. Bible Reading: Acts 14:8–20 Bible Text: "He has shown kindness by giving you rain ... and crops ... [and] plenty of food. [God] fills your hearts with joy" (Acts 14:17). Devotional: This passage tells about Paul's travels among people who were living in the darkness of paganism. He came with the power of the gospel, power that made the lame walk and the blind see. Yet the people's reaction to Paul was as fickle as the weather—one day they thought he was a god, and the next day they nearly killed him. Even in places where the gospel has not yet been preached, God gives signs of his existence. People can see and feel God's presence through the good things he gives them. Rain shows God's kindness. Crops testify to God's goodness. An abundant supply of food witnesses to God's generosity. The joy of God's gifts must cause people to thank the Giver. But it's a long way from appreciating God's world and enjoying God's blessings to knowing the living God. If human beings were sinless, God's testimony in creation would be perfectly clear to everyone. Sin has so blinded people that they worship what God has made rather than God himself. That is why we need the gospel. The gospel not only shows us the way to salvation but also helps us see God's kindness in the rain and his goodness in the crops. We need the gospel in order to know God as the source and goal of our joy. When God has revealed himself to us in his Word, our eyes are wide open to his revelation in the world. In fact, it is then hard to understand why others don't see that God is everywhere. ]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 EST http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6564 http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6563 Monthly Theme: By God&#e2;Pcs Word and Spirit the world was made, and he uses the same tools to rebuild the creaking cosmos. God does not save some souls from the wreckage of the planet; instead, the whole groaning creation must be delivered from bondage by the love and power of God. Bible Reading: Genesis 1:11–25 Bible Text: And God saw that it was good (Gen. 1:10, 12, 18, 21). God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Gen. 1:31). Devotional: God made a perfect world out of nothing: "The earth was formless and empty" (Gen. 1:2). Out of chaos God made the cosmos. God filled the vast emptiness of earth, sky, and waters with an endless variety of life. Nobody can study all the marvels of God's creation in a lifetime, yet all of us may enjoy parts of it, use some fruits of it, and take care of some of it. The world is good because God made it and God is good. But some days creation does not seem so good to us. Our planet has been invaded by evil powers and is now inhabited by sinful people. Nevertheless, creation's original goodness is discernible and unforgettable. Humanity remembers a time of goodness and light that preceded the coming of darkness and dragons. We express our common remembrance in a thousand tales and nostalgic songs. In all generations the longing persists for that pristine morning when God said, "It is good. It is very good." Humanity also shares the hope that someday all will be good again. But we must not expect a renewed world from the wrong remedy. Our only hope is that God the Creator will finish his work of redemption. On that day, when the cosmic cleanup operation is accomplished, all the world will echo the judgment of the Creator Redeemer: "This is good; this is very good." ]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 EST http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6563 http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6562 Monthly Theme: By God&#e2;Pcs Word and Spirit the world was made, and he uses the same tools to rebuild the creaking cosmos. God does not save some souls from the wreckage of the planet; instead, the whole groaning creation must be delivered from bondage by the love and power of God. Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1–10 Bible Text: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). Devotional: God is the creator of the universe. Everything has a beginning, but God brought about the beginning of everything. The Bible does not give a scientific account of the origin of the universe. Instead it gives the religious story. Genesis I is therefore not written for a few interested specialists; it is the authoritative account for everyone. Genesis 1 will never be outdated like a science textbook because it is the revelation about God and the world for all ages and all peoples. Some people (&#e2;P c;a-theists&#e2;P d;) say there is no God. All things grew by chance from a prehistoric soup, they say. Christians find that an impossible and terrible thing to believe. If we come from nothing, we go to nothing, and nothing tells us how to live. If we come from God, we go to God, and God rules our lives. Genesis 1 does not argue with atheists. It assumes the etemal existence of God. This chapter does, however, argue with the millions who believe in many gods (&#e2;P c;polytheists&#e2;P d;). All their gods—fertility, moon, sun, stars—are not really gods but part of the creation of the true God. Nor is nature divine, as many think today. God is above nature. God is near his creatures but never a part of creation. In Christ, the sovereign God is our Father: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." ]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 EST http://opc.org/devotional.html?devotion_id=6562