Flatwood Baptist Church Decatur, Texas

The Burning Bush Devotional June 24th , 2026
Faithful in the Small Things
Scripture Ref: 2 Kings 5:1-3; Luke 16:10; Zechariah 4:10; Colossians 3:17

Most people dream about doing something great for God. We imagine the large opportunities, the significant accomplishments, and the moments that seem to leave a lasting mark upon the world around us. Yet when we study Scripture, we quickly discover that God often works through things the world considers small. In fact, some of the greatest acts of faithfulness recorded in God's Word began with people who simply did what was right in an ordinary moment.

One of those people was a young servant girl whose name we are never told. She appears briefly in the story of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Naaman was a mighty man and a respected leader, yet he suffered from leprosy. The servant girl had every reason to become bitter because she had been taken from her home and carried away captive into a foreign land. Yet instead of allowing hardship to define her, she remained faithful. 2 Kings 5:3 "She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Think about how simple that moment was. She did not preach a sermon, she did not perform a miracle, she simply shared what she knew about God. Those few faithful words set in motion a chain of events that eventually led Naaman to the prophet Elisha and ultimately to healing. I encourage you to go read the whole story it will encourage you about how there are no “insignificant” people in the kingdom of God. 2 Kings 5

How many times do we overlook opportunities because they seem too small? We assume that if God is going to use us, it must involve something dramatic or highly visible. Yet much of God's work is accomplished through ordinary people being faithful in ordinary moments. A word of encouragement, a prayer offered in faith, a simple act of kindness, a conversation about Christ, or a quiet act of obedience may accomplish far more than we ever realize. Zechariah 4:10 "For who dares despise the day of small things?" God certainly does not. The same God who created the heavens and the earth notices every act of obedience, while also seeing every prayer, every sacrifice, every kindness, and every moment of faithfulness. What appears small to us is never small to Him.

Far too often we become so focused on what we wish we were doing that we fail to be faithful in what God has already placed before us. We wait for a larger opportunity while overlooking the ministry sitting right in front of us. We keep asking God to put us in a great ministry or give us the great job in the Church or better yet make us recognizable in His kingdom.

Yet God's kingdom has always advanced through faithful people doing small things with great love. It is the faithfulness and willingness of a nameless servant girl who caught the attention of God to be enough to become written about in His Word to be recognized centuries later by all who would read and hear the Word of God being taught and preached. This is so important to grasp because I go back to my old pulpit question… “If the Bible were being written today would you be important enough to God nameless or otherwise to be included?”

Today, do not underestimate the opportunities God places in your path. A faithful word, a faithful action, a faithful prayer, or a faithful act of obedience may have a greater impact than you ever know this side of Heaven. Be faithful in the small things. The God who sees the sparrow fall sees your faithfulness as well, and He delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

Serving Christ Together
Pastor Doug

The Burning Bush Devotional June 21st , 2026
Faithfulness
Scripture Ref: Lamentations 3:19-23; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:13

Faithfulness is one of those words we often use when speaking about what God expects from us. We talk about faithful service, faithful attendance, faithful giving, and faithful obedience. While all those things are important, they are not where faithfulness begins. Before we ever learn to be faithful to God, we need to discover that God has already been faithful to us. In fact, our faithfulness is simply a response to His. I say “need” because for some it’s a revelation that more than remembering. It is a fundamental truth that takes you back to the beginning of your walk with God…and that’s the relationship that started with Jesus’s Faithfulness on the Cross.

One of the greatest testimonies to God's faithfulness is found in the middle of one of the darkest books in all of Scripture – Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet for good reason. He had watched his nation reject God, while preaching warnings that went ignored and he had witnessed destruction, suffering, and heartbreak. By the time we reach the third chapter of Lamentations, Jeremiah is pouring out the deepest grief of his heart. He is not standing on a mountain celebrating victory, He is standing in the rubble of everything he once knew. Yet in the middle of his sorrow, something remarkable happens. Lamentations 3:19-23 “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. 20I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Notice that Jeremiah does not deny his pain, nor does he does pretend everything is fine. He remembers his affliction and his misery, while the bitterness and the gall leave a terrible taste in his mouth. Yet the turning point comes when he says, "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." Hope did not come because his circumstances changed. Hope came because he remembered the faithfulness of God.

How often do we do the opposite? We remember our disappointments, our failures, our fears, and our frustrations, yet we forget the countless times God has carried us through difficult seasons. We remember the storm but forget the Deliverer. We remember the problem but forget the Provider. We remember the valley but forget the Shepherd who walked us through it.
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

God has never broken a promise, He has never abandoned His people, and He has never failed to accomplish His purpose. His faithfulness is not determined by our circumstances, our emotions, or our understanding, He simply remains faithful because faithfulness is part of His character. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:13“if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” What a comforting truth! There are moments when our faith wavers, our strength weakens, and our understanding falls short, yet God's faithfulness never changes. He remains who He has always been.

Today, take a moment to look back over your life. Remember the prayers He answered, the doors He opened, the valleys He carried you through, and the grace He provided when you needed it most. Then do what Jeremiah did…recall it to your mind and let it strengthen your heart while it renews your hope. The same God who was faithful yesterday remains faithful today, and He will always be faithful tomorrow.

Serving Christ Together
Pastor Doug

The Burning Bush Devotional June 18th , 2026
Rejoice
Scripture Ref: Luke 15:22-24, Psalm 51:12, Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, James 1:2

This week we have talked about remembering, repenting, returning, and relationship. Each step has brought us closer to the heart of God, yet once the relationship is restored, something beautiful happens, Joy returns. One of the greatest tragedies in the Christian life is that many believers have experienced salvation, but they no longer experience the joy that accompanies it. Life happens, burdens increase, disappointments accumulate, and before long many find themselves faithfully serving God while no longer enjoying the relationship they have with Him.

That is why the story of the prodigal son is so powerful. After remembering what he had lost, repenting of his rebellion, and returning home, the father did not greet him with a lecture or a list of conditions. Luke 15:22-24 tells us that the father called for the best robe, a ring, and sandals, then declared, “Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Notice that the celebration did not begin when the son left the far country, nor did it begin when he started his journey home...no the rejoicing began when the relationship was restored.

David understood this truth as well. After his repentance in Psalm 51, he prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation...” David did not ask God to save him again. He asked God to restore the joy he once knew. Somewhere beneath the guilt, the sorrow, and the consequences of his choices, David remembered what it felt like to walk closely with God. He longed not only for forgiveness but also for the joy that comes from fellowship with the Lord. This many times is where we let the cynics of Christianity rob us of our joy as well. Instead of us concentrating on passages like these and others that tell us to rejoice; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I encourage you strongly to read that backwards and you will see why you are Rejoicing always because you are smack dab in the middle of God’s Will. Too often we allow them to tell us how difficult the work is instead of remembering how much joy comes from working with purpose. Working for a Purpose brings Joy! James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

Far too many believers live as though Christianity is meant to be endured rather than enjoyed. They faithfully attend church, serve in ministry, and fulfill their responsibilities, yet their relationship with God has become more obligation than delight.God never intended for His children to drag themselves through life carrying the appearance of faith while missing the joy of His presence. There is a reason the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Paul's circumstances were often difficult, but his joy was never rooted in his circumstances. His joy was rooted in his relationship with Christ. The world searches for happiness in possessions, accomplishments, entertainment, and success, yet all those things eventually fade. The joy found in Christ is different because it is rooted in Someone who never changes. When our relationship with Him is healthy, joy becomes the natural response of a grateful heart.

Today, take a moment to remember what God has done for you. Remember where He found you, how He forgave you, how He has sustained you, and how faithfully He has walked beside you through every season of life. Then rejoice. Not because every problem has disappeared, but because the God who saved you, loves you, and calls you His own is still worthy of your praise.

Serving Christ Together
Pastor Doug

The Burning Bush Devotional June 17th, 2026
Relationship
Scripture References: Hosea 6:6, Philippians 3:10, John 15:15, Revelation 3:20

This week we have talked about remembering, repenting, and returning; yet if we stop there, we miss the very reason God called us in the first place. Remembering is not the goal. Repentance is not the goal. Returning is not even the goal. Each of those is a necessary step along the road, but the destination has always been the same. God has always desired a relationship with His people. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is not simply the story of man's failure and God's forgiveness; it is the story of a loving Father pursuing those He created so they might know Him, walk with Him, and enjoy fellowship with Him.
One of the greatest misunderstandings in Christianity is the belief that God is primarily interested in religious activity. Many people spend their lives trying to do things for God while neglecting to spend time with God. They attend church, sing the songs, listen to sermons, participate in ministry, and faithfully complete religious duties; yet somewhere along the way they forget that all those things were intended to strengthen a relationship, not replace one. God has never been impressed by empty motions or routine obedience that lacks love. He desires our hearts.

That truth is beautifully expressed in Hosea 6:6 where the Lord says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” God was not condemning sacrifice because He established the sacrificial system. He was reminding His people that religious activity without a relationship is empty. The sacrifices and the worship pointed to Him and of course the commandments pointed to Him and while everything was designed to bring people closer to God, many had simply become satisfied with the symbols while neglecting the Savior.

This is no different than what we see today in our modern life and Churches. Many have replaced the focus from Relationship to Religion. Show up check a box, get a gift, get an attaboy and a motivational speech, a rock concert, or a great feeling for doing your weekly duty, “but don’t you dare talk to me about sin or hell. I didn’t come for that…My thing with God that’ that’s my business you just leave that alone.” Come back to me don’t stop reading now.

The apostle Paul understood this better than most. After years of ministry, countless sermons, missionary journeys, miracles, persecution, and spiritual victories, Paul still wrote these simple words in Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ...” Not knowing more about Him, not learn another fact, not gaining another title, Paul wanted to know Him more deeply. The closer Paul grew to Christ, the more he desired that relationship. That is the nature of genuine fellowship with God.

The more we know Him, the more we want to know Him.
Jesus revealed this same truth when He told His disciples in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends...” Think about the privilege contained in those words. The Creator of the universe desires more than our service. He desires fellowship. He desires friendship. He desires daily communion with those He has redeemed through His grace.

That is why Revelation 3:20 remains such a powerful picture of God's heart. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Notice that the invitation is not to a ceremony, a ritual, or a program. It is an invitation to fellowship; it is an invitation to relationship.

Today, do not simply spend time doing something for God, spend time with Him. Open His Word and listen for His voice, speak to Him in prayer while enjoying His presence. Christianity is not ultimately about religion. It is about a relationship with the One who loved you enough to save you, pursue you, forgive you, and call you His friend.

Serving Christ Together
Pastor Doug