NorMel House Devotions

Psalm 9: I will recount Your wonderful deeds In Psalm 9, David once again praises God and expresses joy for all that God has done. His heart is filled with thankfulness for who God is and all “His wonderful deeds” . Like David, we ought to be thankful for God’s divinity, His awesome work, and unfathomable power. A truly thankful heart can’t help but express that thankfulness in word and in deed; the more we know who God is, the more thankful we will be. God desires a living relationship with His people and has therefore given us ways to get to know Him. Not only has He given us His word, but Romans 1:19-20 tells us, 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. When we learn to see how awe-inspiring, loving, just, and gracious He is we o...

This world is filled with evil. We don’t like to think about how evil the world and people truly are, but sometimes it feels like it slaps us in the face and knocks us to the ground. When people do hateful and hurtful things to us, it’s easy to want to strike back. However, Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Not an easy thing to do, and it goes against our own sinful nature; but if we turn back a few verses, we’re told “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the LORD’.” (Romans 12:19). 1 Thessalonians 5:15 tells us, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Don’t strike back. When people slander you or do evil towards you, remember, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18). But...

Titus 3:5-6 “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done , but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” We often like to think that we are good people, that we generally do good, and that we deserve to go to heaven. Paul, however, points out the flaws with this ideology and the Bible is full of texts that contradict this idea. In our text, Paul is making the point that even the things we consider our “best works” cannot contribute to salvation. The reality is that there is not an iota within us that can contribute to our salvation. Salvation is only through God alone. Because of His mercy, God does not give us what we deserve, but rather, as we learned in verse 4, He sent His kindness and love in Jesus to give us what we don’t deserve. 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jes...

 Titus 2:7-8 “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned so that those who oppose you may not be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” People often pay more attention to your actions than to what you say. As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words”. If you want someone to heed your words about Christian living, you need to live out the very words you’re teaching. Your life will reinforce your words and what you’re teaching and will “earn” you the right to be heard. Paul urges Titus to be a good example so that others will see the word being active in his life and imitate him. He urges him to teach the truth with integrity and seriousness so that he can avoid criticism. Careful study of the Bible and listening before we speak is especially important when teaching others or confronting moral or spiritual issues. Just as the previous verse reminds us ...

Titus 2:1 “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” In chapter 1:1 Paul told us he was there to “further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness”. His purpose was to spread the good news of the gospel, and it is a transformative gospel! At the end of chapter 1, Paul talks about false teachers when he says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.” This leads us right into today’s text in chapter 2:1 where Paul reminds Titus that he is to teach what accords with sound doctrine. He wants Titus to know that the very doctrine he is to teach must be made evident in his own life. The grace of God transforms you, it is not simply moralism or religion; the true saving gospel will make an obvious and marked difference in your life. We are to make sure that the content of the preaching is wholesome and sound and combines correct knowledge and understanding with consistent practice in the preacher’s life. Faith that is ...

Titus 1:1 "Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness" Read Romans 6 Paul starts the letter to Titus with a surprising amount of information packed into his greeting. The first few verses tell us quite a bit about who he is and why he is writing. He starts off with telling us that he is a slave of God. Our translation uses the word servant but the original word, doulos, actually means slave. This is significant because he’s inferring that although he used to be a slave to sin, he has been bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and now is a slave of God. If we turn to the book of Romans, chapter six, Paul talks about what this means. He tells us, “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” He goes on to say in Romans 6:16, 18, “Don’t you know that when you offer yoursel...

 Read Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul wrote to the Ephesians with many instructions on how we, as Christians, are to live our lives. He comes to the close of the letter addressing how we will be able to live the way he has instructed. Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God, being strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Why? Because we are in the midst of a war! We are fighting spiritual warfare against darkness and the spiritual forces of evil, both here on earth and in the heavenly realms. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says, "For though we walk in the flesh we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." How can we, simple and sinful beings, possibly hope to fight the things we can not even see? Paul tells us to stand firm, to "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Some believe that Paul had Isaiah 59:17 in mind, as it says ther...

As God's children we are called to live a life that is different; we are called to be Holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 says, "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”" Why must we be holy? What does it mean to be holy? What does that look like for us? Thankfully, God doesn't tell us to be holy and then leave us to try figure it out on our own. Scripture is full of passages to help us. So what does the Bible say about why we must be holy? Our text has our first answer. We are to be holy because God is holy! Leviticus 20:7-8 says, “ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord , who makes you holy."...