Dr. Roger D. Duke

A look at the three crosses from inside the tomb after Jesus was raised from the dead! John Gill asks the Question: Do You Want to Know HIM; That is Jesus Christ? Philippians 3:10   That I may know him [1] The Ethiopic version reads “by faith”, and to the same sense the Syriac. The apostle did know Christ, and that years ago; he knew whom he had believed; he knew him for himself; he knew his personal interest in him; nor did he know any but him in the business of salvation: b

Michaelangelo's Last Judgment A Devotional for November 5, 2025 From John Bunyan Why Some Tremble Before God? “I will restore he fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion me” Jeremiah 33: 7-8. And what mean the tremblings, the tears, those breakings and shakings of heart that attend the people of God, when in a

Jesus, as servant, washes His disciples' feet. A Devotional for The Fourth Day of the Month   “Spiritual Work has Rich Rewards” [1]   Scripture Portion "And he that reapeth receiveth wages," saith Jesus, "and gathereth fruit unto life eternal." John 4:36 Spiritual work has rich rewards. It has the reward of success. It is not in vain to try to do good to the souls of men through the truth of God and seeking his grace. Sometimes you may feel as if you were standing at the fo

Jesus telling one at the judgment, "Depart from Me for I never knew you!" A Devotional Thought for November 3, 2025 From the pen of John Bunyan author of Pilgrim's Progress His Presence is Dreadful to Us “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his righthand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last’” Revelation 1: 17. [One reason] . . . is God’s own greatness and majesty. The discovery of this or of himself thus, even as no poor mortals c

Luther's Ninety-Five Theses Brought Huge Changes in the Church ON THIS DAY, 31 October 1517 , in Wittenberg, Germany, one of the most famous events in Christian history occurred. A priest named Martin Luther nailed a challenge to a debate on the church door. It consisted of ninety-five statements, or theses , against the practice of indulgences—theses which he was willing to defend. Scholars commonly issued such challenges in those days.  Indulgences at first were rare, consi

Are you a big sinner? Or are you a small sinner? No matter Christ is Savior of all! Biggest Sinners Have the Most Need of Mercy [1] From the pen of John Bunyan author of Pilgrim's Progress He that has most need, reason says, should be helped first. I mean, when a helping hand is offered, and now it is; for the gospel of the grace of God is sent to help the world ( Act 16:9 ). But the biggest sinner has most need. Therefore . . . when mercy is sent down from heaven to men, the

Only in Christ is there true joy and rejoicing! A Colloquy on Rejoicing REMEMBER, O MY SOUL, It is thy duty and privilege to rejoice in God: He requires it of thee for all his favours of grace. Rejoice then in the Giver and his goodness, Be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God, for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness. He who is the ground of thy faith should be the substance of thy joy. Whence then comes heaviness and dejection, when joy is so

Famous painting of God creating Adam Third Day of the Week Morning Prayer: God Creator and Controller MOST HIGH GOD, The universe with all its myriad creatures is thine, made by thy word, upheld by thy power governed by thy will. But thou art also the Father of mercies, the God of all grace, the bestower of all comfort, the protector of the saved. Thou hast been mindful of us, hast visited us, preserved us, given us a goodly heritage —the Holy Scriptures, the joyful gospel, t

The Prodigal coming home to his father for mercy! A Devotional for Monday October 27, 2025 Questions Concerning Christ’s Ability Is Christ Able To Save? Is Christ Willing to Save? “. . . he is able to save to the uttermost . . .” What! shall not the worthiness of the Son of God be sufficient to save from the sin of man? or shall the sin of the world be of that weight to destroy [His ability?] That it shall put Christ Jesus to the uttermost of the worth of his person and merit

Moses in the cleft of the rock where he could see The Lord as He past by! A Devotional for Friday October 24, 2025 "The LORD—The Merciful" “The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’” Exodus 34: 6. When Moses said, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory,’ the answer was, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before t

Jesus in Heaven after His Coronation as King of King and Lord of Lords. “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” ©   “The Story Behind the Hymn” A Hymn of Coronation Scripture Portions   Rev. 4: 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns  before the throne saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to received glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleas

Alpha and Omega of the Greek alphabet-the New Testament meaning is that there are none before Jesus Christ and there will be none after Him. It is His way of saying He is Lord, Creator, Sovereign, and Final Judge! Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, it is done   [1] The end of all things is come; it is all over with the first heaven and earth; these are no more, and the new heaven and earth are finished: there seems to be an allusion to the old creation, he spake, and it wa

Blind Bartimaeus crying out for mercy for Jesus to heal his blindness! A Devotional for October 21, 2025 O Lord! Have Mercy! “And he cried out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke 18: 38. [Consider the town sinner and the great backslider. [1] ] There is a more than ordinary breaking up of the corruptions of their nature. It seems as if all their lusts and vile passions of the flesh were become masters and might now do what they will with the soul. Yea, they take th

Do You Have Privileges[?] O LORD GOD, Teach me to know that grace precedes, accompanies, and follows my salvation, that it sustains the redeemed soul, that not one link of its chain can ever break. From Calvary’s cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me, deals with my sin, washes me clean, renews my heart ,strengthens my will, draws out my affection, kindles a flame in my soul, rules throughout my inner man, consecrates my every thought, word, work, teaches me thy immeasurabl

Is someone pulling your strings? Who are they? Christ or others? A Devotional for Friday October 17, 2025 Paul: A Persuaded Apostle “. . . But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced [persuaded] that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me” 2 Timothy 1: 12. Thus, the apostle reckons [1]  up all the disadvantages that a justified person is incident to in this life and by way of challenge declares: That not any one of them

A Devotional for The Sixteenth Day of October 2025   “Unbelief is a Great Sin—It Fosters All Other Sins” [1]       1. It is seen in the fall. “Ye shall not surely die” [Genesis 3:4, KJV]—and the woman began to doubt whether God would fulfill his threatening—the tree was pleasant looking, the fruit inviting—the prospect of being as God awakened sinful pride—she ate. In unbelief it commenced. This led to disobedience.             2. The Israelites “could not enter in becaus

[Is] Heaven Desired [?] O MY LORD, May I arrive where means of grace cease and I need no more to fast, pray, weep, watch, be tempted, attend preaching and sacrament; where nothing defiles, where is no grief, sorrow, sin, death, separation, tears, pale face, languid body, aching joints, feeble infancy, decrepit age ,peccant humours, pining sickness, griping fears, consuming cares; where is personal completeness; where the more perfect the sight the more beautiful the object, t

Meeting God! Meeting God GREAT GOD, In public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise .Urged by my need, invited by thy promises, called by thy Spirit, I enter thy presence, worshipping thee with godly fear, awed by thy majesty, greatness, glory but encourag

Christ's ransom is not in money but Christ's ransom is paid with His own Blood! A Devotional for Friday October 10, 2025 Our Ransom is...

"Peace in the Valley," one of Elvis's favorite Gospel songs. A Prayer to Consider and Pray Repose HEAVENLY FATHER, My faith is in thee,...