A Closer Look Ii: The Second in a Series of an Inspirational Collection of Morning and Evening Devotionals

By Robert L. Thompson

A Closer Look II is the second in a series of morning and evening devotionals developed from the Lords inspiration during times of personal prayer and Bible study. They include recollections from notes taken while in fellowship with friends and family during worship and small group Bible studies. Included in this series is a number of devotions on the various names of God. The God we serve is all knowing, all powerful, all loving, and worthy of our praise and worship. Spend extra time learning His names and sharing them with family, friends, and those needing special encouragement.

These devotions are not intended to replace your daily reading of Gods Wordthe Holy Bible. Neither are they intended to replace your time spent in personal prayer on a daily basis. Rather, they are intended to encourage you to take a closer look at Gods Word during quiet times in the presence of our Lord. They can be read over the course of a month and then repeated in subsequent months. It is not necessary to wait for the first day of the month to begin reading; simply begin with the devotional for that day of the monthmorning or evening.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512754766

Robert L. Thompson

ROBERT L. THOMPSON is an ordained Deacon with more than thirty years of Bible teaching experience in Southern Baptist churches among many diverse groups. He is the author of G.R.A.C.E. Evangelism–Five Steps to Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Sharing the Gospel, as well as A Closer Look, A Closer Look II, and A Closer Look III which are Collections of Morning and Evening Christian Devotionals. He and his wife Melissa have been married forty years and reside in Virginia. They have four adult children and one grandchild.

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Praise for A Closer Look II

"I have been so encouraged by A Closer Look. Bob’s perspective in these daily devotions is uplifting and challenging. A Closer Look II is another great work deserving your attention."

—Greg Poss

Executive Pastor

Calvary Baptist Church, Winston Salem, NC

There is nothing better in life than to begin and end each day in the presence of God. Bob Thompson has captured that idea by creating scripture based daily devotions filled with solid thoughts and focused applications. Each devotion stands alone filled with power and grace while building upon each other, leading the reader to a stronger walk with Christ.

—Juan Rivera

Pastor for Ministry and Missions

Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Stafford VA

This book is a great resource for all those wishing to deepen their faith and grow their relationship with Jesus. The morning and evening readings guide, encourage, and challenge the reader to explore the depth of God’s character, truth, and direction for life. Through insight and application, Bob has created a meaningful, life changing resource.

—Zac Ashley

Lead Pastor

Fairview at River Club, Fredericksburg, VA

Other Books by Robert L. Thompson

G.R.A.C.E. Evangelism: Five Steps to Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Sharing the Gospel. Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2011.

A Closer Look: An Inspirational Collection of Morning and Evening Devotionals. Nashville, TN: WestBow Press, 2015.

A Closer Look II

The Second in a Series of

An Inspirational Collection of Morning and Evening Devotionals

Robert L. Thompson

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Copyright © 2016 Robert L. Thompson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5475-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5477-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5476-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016914155

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/06/2016

For Kelly Marie

Acknowledgments

Grayson Thompson for inspiring Day 4 Morning:

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises.

Kelly Thompson for inspiring Day 7 Morning:

Call unto Me, and I Will Answer Thee.

Bobby Louderback for inspiring Day 23 Morning:

Looking unto Jesus.

Preface

These devotions were developed from the Lord’s inspiration during personal times of prayer and Bible study. They often include recollections from notes taken during times of fellowship with friends during worship and small group studies.

Also included in this series are a number of devotions regarding several names of God. The God we serve is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving, and worthy of our praise and worship. Spend extra time learning His names and sharing them with your family, friends, and those who need special encouragement.

These devotions are not intended to replace your daily reading of God’s Word—the Holy Bible. Neither are they intended to replace the time spent in personal prayer on a daily basis. Rather, they are intended to encourage the reader to take a closer look at God’s Word during daily quiet times in the presence of our Lord.

They can be read over the course of a month and then repeated in subsequent months. It is not necessary to wait for the first day of the month to begin reading; simply begin with the devotional for that day of the month—morning or evening.

As an alternate method of study, the reader may choose to review the table of contents for a topic that may be of interest or review the Scripture references at the end of the text to locate those devotions that may include a favorite verse.

May our Lord richly bless you as you take A Closer Look.

Robert L. Thompson

July 2016

Contents

In the Beginning God

God Is All-Powerful

God Is All-Knowing

God Is All-Present

Living Sacrifice—Why

Living Sacrifice—How

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

Every Word of God

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

God’s Will–His Simple Commands

In Everything Give Thanks

Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

Call unto Me, and I Will Answer Thee

Crowns–The Believer’s Reward

The Essentials of Christianity

Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

The Secret Place of the Most High

Reprove Them

Yahweh

Gift

Jehovah-Tsidkenu

Repent

El Shaddai

Almighty God

Immanuel

Christ

Jehovah-Rapha

Express

Elohim

A Pillar of Salt

Adonai

The Fool Hath Said

El-Olam

Create In Me

El-Elyon

Evil Was Not Created

Jehovah-Jireh

Everlasting Love

Jehovah-Maccaddeshem

Salvation, Faith, the Word, and Grace

Jehovah-Nissi

Earnestly Contend

Jehovah-Raah (Rohi)

Get Thee Behind Me satan

Looking unto Jesus

The Word Is a Reproach

Jehovah-Shalom

He That Hath the Son Hath Life

Jehovah-Shammah

Gold, and Frankincense, and Myrrh

Jehovah-Sabbaoth

Yet Without Sin

Take Up His Cross

Set Your Affection

Intercessory Prayer

Into the Sanctuary

Professing While Denying

Whosoever Will

Walk, Redeem, Understand

Eliminating Loneliness

Seek Ye First

This Day, That Day

Scripture References

Notes

Notes

Alpha and Omega

The Beginning and The End

Day 1 Morning

In the Beginning God

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

—Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 declares the eternal truth about God, our Creator. He is eternal. Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God (Psalm 90:2). I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13). The Baptist Faith and Message states the following about God: There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.¹

Yes, our eternal God created all things. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding (Isaiah 40:28). Yet skeptics, pundits, and false teachers deny the