Sermons & Devotionals by William MacDonald Devotions
William MacDonald Devotions
another angel came
“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” Rev. 8:3. We believe that the angel in this passage is none other than the Lor... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Are there not twelve hours in the day?
“Are there not twelve hours in the day?” Qohn 11:9) When Jesus suggested going back to Judea, the disciples were terrified. The Jews had tried to stone Him there only recently, and now He was talking about a return visit. In answer to the disciples’ apprehension, Jesus said, “Are there not twelve ho... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
as dying, and, behold, we live
“…as dying, and, behold, we live.” (2 Cor. 6:9) The Bible is full of paradoxes, that is, truths that seem contrary to what we would normally suppose or truths that seem to contradict one another. G. K. Chesterton maintained that paradox is truth standing on its head to attract attention. Here are a ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
as he is, so are we in this world
“…as he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b) Here is one of those New Testament truths that shocks us by its sheer audacity. We would not dare to utter the words if we did not see them in the Bible. But they are gloriously true, and we can revel and rejoice in them. In what sense are we like... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
as thy days, so shall thy strength be
“…as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” (Deut. 33:25) God promises to give His people strength according to their needs at any particular time. He does not promise it in advance of the need, but when the crisis comes, the grace is there to meet it. Perhaps you are called to go through a patch of s... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
as to the Lord, and not to men
“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” (Eph. 6:7) Paul’s instructions to slaves (Eph. 6:5-8) are freighted with meaning for all who profess to be servants of Jesus Christ. They show, first of all, that any honorable work, no matter how menial it is, can be done to the glory ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb. 13:2) Hospitality is not only a sacred duty (Be not forgetful to entertain strangers); it carries within it the promise of glorious surprises (for thereby some have entertained angels unawares). It ha... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Be ye doers of the word
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22) There is a subtle deception that attending meetings, conferences and seminars is doing the work of God. We listen to messages and talk about what we know we should be doing, and the delusion creeps over us that ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule
“Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule.” (Psa. 32:9) It seems to me that the horse and the mule picture two wrong attitudes we might have when we are seeking the Lord’s guidance. The horse wants to charge ahead; the mule wants to lag behind. The horse tends to be impatient, high-spirited and impetu... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam. 15:22) God’s instructions to King Saul were clear enough. Slay the Amalekites and destroy all their possessions. All of them. Don’t take any spoil. But Saul spared King Agag and the choicest of the sheep, oxen, ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Beloved, do not believe every spirit
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1 NASB) We live in a day when cults are multiplying with amazing rapidity. Actually there are no new cults; they are just variations of h... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Beloved, if God so loved us
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11). We must not think of love as an uncontrollable, unpredictable emotion. We are commanded to love, and this would be quite impossible if love were some elusive, sporadic sensation, coming as unaccountably as a common cold... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But go ye and learn what that meaneth
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” (Mt. 9:13) God is far more interested in how we treat other people than in how many religious ceremonies we go through. He prefers mercy to sacrifice. He places practical morality above ritual. It might seem strange to re... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But God hath chosen
“But God hath chosen…the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (1 Cor. 1:27) If a carpenter can take waste, scrap lumber and make a splendid piece of furniture out of it, it brings more credit to him than if he uses only the finest of materials. So when God uses things t... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But I have all, and abound: I am full,
“But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” (Phil. 4:18) Paul’s letter to the Philippians was really an acknowledgment of a gift which he had received from the be... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14 NASB) It is generally understood that Paul here borrows a figure from the victory parade of a military leader just returned from a forei... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” (1 Cor. 2:14) The natural man is the one who has never been born again. He does not have the Spirit of God. He is disinclined to r... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul
“But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” (1 Sam. 16:14) There are verses in the Bible that seem to assign evil actions to God. For example, when Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, “God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the me... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18) The Bible teaches that we become like what we worship. That important insight is found in today’s text. Let’s break it dow... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mt. 18:6) It would be difficult to imagine a more effective and foolproof method of drowning than this. The mi... Read More
Subscribe
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2024 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
His more than over eighty-four works published in North America are characterized by a clarity and economy of words that only comes by a major time investment in the Word of God.
MacDonald graduated with an AB degree from Tufts College (now University) in 1938 and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1940. During the 1940's he was on active duty in the US Navy for five years.
He was President of Emmaus Bible College, a teacher, preacher, and Plymouth Brethren theologian alongside his ministry as a writer. He was a close friend and worker with O.J. Gibson.
MacDonald last resided in California where he was involved in his writing and preaching ministry. He went to be with the Lord in 2007.