Most days, Don Ruhl's will share his devotional thoughts, "Twice Blessed," with us twice a day. So be sure to visit often. If you'd like to sign up to receive them by email, click here.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47

How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless

Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said,

30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (Joh. 5:30).

How can you go wrong in life, if you follow the example of Jesus? Have you been following His example? Every time you make a decision about anyone or anything in the next 24 hours, look to see what was the basis of your decision.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3

Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name?

Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins,

1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1).

In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in this verse. Even then, what is said in the Bible is very little compared to his over 900-year life! How much does a man experience in that amount of time?

Pick a name, any name from among the rest listed in the first nine chapters and it will probably seem just like a name to you. While that name is in the Bible for a purpose, yet to God that name is more than just a name. God knows everything about that man. The next time you watch the news on television and you see a large crowd, quickly pick a face. Who is he? What is his name? What has gone on and will go on in his life? Hey, it might be you that I pick out. You know the rich history of your life, but I may not know a thing about you.

There is no need for despair, because God knows everything about you, even the number of cells in your body.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23

Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law.

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16).

Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people of the world, but members of the church, so to speak. If they did that to Him, they will do it to us. Do not be surprised, therefore, when you engage in good works and someone in the church finds fault with it. It happened to Jesus. It will happen to you. Did Jesus throw up His hands and quit? No, He continued until the criticisms got so severe that they killed Him, but look at the good that He accomplished. What shall happen to you? Do not quit. Keep going. The effects of your good works are beyond human calculation.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25

They Were His Servants

As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was

2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2).

Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something that you think makes you important? Just remember that you are merely a servant of the great God of heaven.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100