DAILY DEVOTIONALS
First Baptist Church of Palmetto exists to develop missionaries who share Christ's love with our community and beyond. This blog provides daily devotions to inspire and equip Christ-followers to know Him and make Him known.
A Sermon Excerpt by John Piper The legacy of missions at Bethlehem (church) goes back over a hundred years. And it has been one of the highest privileges of my life, without any...
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
“Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” Acts 13:12
By George Volpe Two hundred twenty miles on horseback. I get sore just thinking about it. That’s roughly how far Saul of Tarsus travelled to reach Damascus, Syria searching for...
Gospel Goodbyes
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2
By Kel Cunard It’s not easy to say goodbye. We are creatures of habit, and we come to expect that certain people will be there. They are part of our routine, part of what...
Whose Plan Is It?
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
By George Volpe By killing the one who had disrupted their religious thinking, the Jews thought they had accomplished their purpose in wiping out “The Way” as they called...
When All Seems Lost
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell…” Acts 12:7
By Nick Molick There is a strange dichotomy for Christians; we tend to give the devil either too much credit, or blame, while diminishing God’s power in our daily lives and in...
Walking with God
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12
By Cathy Slusser Facebook is a deceiver. Not everything you read there is accurate. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at my page. I write about my dog who is amazing and...
Power of Life
“But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Luke 8:54
By Nick Molick We like to think we are the ones in control of most if not all circumstances in our lives. It’s only when things go a little sideways that we begin to realize how...
Two Prison Breaks, Two Different Outcomes
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,declares 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.” Isaiah 55:8-9
By Darryl Mikulec After reading Acts 12:6-19, my first thought was to marvel at God’s power and sovereignty for remarkably freeing Peter from prison. Certainly, this was a...
Unpredictable Power
“Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me…” Acts 12:11
By Kel Cunard There was no honeymoon period for the Early Church. Instead of a season of calm and hope, its early days were marked by pain, suffering and persecution. King Herod...
How You Should Respond to Evil
How should Christians relate to evil? Death? Natural Disasters? What about the evil and pain you confront in your own daily lives?
by John Piper Eight Things to Do with Evil: Expect evil. “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to...
Consider the Source
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
By Faith George Arrogant. Heartless. Disobedient. Slanderous. Ungrateful. Selfish. These are not exactly the most flattering words I’ve ever heard, but they are the words Paul...
Who is a Leper?
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 17:12-13
By Cathy Slusser I can’t remember the date of my first mission trip to Guatemala, but I can remember the way God changed my heart. I went reluctantly and came home passionate...
The Call of Saul of Tarsus
“But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.’” Acts 9:15
A Devotional by R.C. Sproul Saul of Tarsus was present at the execution of Stephen and became inflamed with hatred for the followers of Jesus. He sought to destroy the church in...
Not Much Has Changed
“Turn me, and I will be turned…” Jeremiah 31:18
By George Volpe Defiance. Resistance. Rage. Angry words. Uncommon motivation to hurt others without mercy based on human reasoning and selfish ends. This is the picture we could paint...
The Power to Change
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.” Acts 9:3
By Kel Cunard As a young man, Saul was on the fast track to success. The dream of most young Jewish boys was to one day be a part of the religious leadership. After all, they had a...