Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1352 Parkway Drive, Saint Clair, MO (2026)

06/09/2026

I LONG TO SEE YOU

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” Romans 1:11

One of Paul’s stated goals was to see Rome. In Acts 19:21, he said, “I must also see Rome.” In our text, he said, “I long to see you.” It was not the glorious city with its grand structures that the man of God longed to see. It was the saints in Rome that he had his heart set on; he wanted to know them first-hand and witness the work of God in their lives.

He commended them earlier by saying, “your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). His interest in seeing them, however, was not simply that he might be encouraged by them. He wanted to be a source of blessing for their spiritual lives, “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift.” It is doubtful that the apostle is speaking of some extraordinary or miraculous gift, but rather he spoke of light, knowledge, inspiration, growth, or assurance that would come through his teaching and preaching. He wanted to share with them what he had received from God. Bible teaching and preaching are gifts to those who receive it. The effect of his ministry would be that they might “be established.”

God’s children, especially those newer to the faith, need strengthening and establishing. Although we are secure in our Savior and our position in Him, we can be unstable in our thinking or in our hearts. Believers need to be established in their duties and responsibilities. We need to be established in the doctrines of the Word of God. We need Christians who are strong in their faith. Paul longed to see them that he might contribute to their spiritual progress.

The unsaved do not understand this kind of brotherly concern and love. They do not comprehend wanting to travel a great distance or make personal sacrifices in order for others to benefit. However, this is the motive of Christian service. The Christian servant wants to help others grow in grace. The true man of God who has the heart of a pastor is not satisfied with receiving a salary or occupying a position; his goal is to proclaim and apply the Word of God in such a way that spiritual growth takes place. We want to see people, that we might help them in their journey of faith. Our goal as Bible teachers, and those involved in making disciples, is to see God’s people established and strong in the things of God.

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” Romans 1:11

06/08/2026

GOD KEEPS HIS WORD

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Joshua 23:14

Joshua was old and he knew that his time on earth was about to end. He had faithfully led God’s people into Canaan, beginning to possess the land promised to Abraham. He and the nation of Israel had seen many victories. Few people in history have witnessed such mighty acts of God. He assembled the leaders and all the people to give them final instructions and exhortation. What would he say to them? One part of his final words is recorded in our text. He testified to the faithfulness of God and His Word saying, “not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”

Everything that God said concerning Israel had come to pass. GOD KEEPS HIS WORD. What a parting testimony! Every good thing God said about them had come to pass. God never made a promise that He did not keep. He never gave a command that He did not give the recipient the ability to obey. He never promised judgment that He did not perform.

God always keeps His Word. Thank God the same is true for us. His Word can be trusted. If He said it, we can believe it. Whatever He has promised us, we can rely upon. Whatever He has prophesied will certainly come to pass. This gives us such assurance and comfort. It also inspires us to read and know the Word of God. How can we trust God to fulfill His promises if we do not know what those promises are?

Does God have anything to say about us? What has “the LORD your God spake concerning you”? We find His commands, judgments, and promises in the pages of our Bible. He promises to save us, help us, comfort us, guide us, strengthen us, forgive us, equip us, protect us, empower us, correct us, etc. The revelations of God’s Holy Word are perfectly recorded and preserved to reveal God’s will to us. God is good. He has many “good things” that He has said concerning us. Our privilege is to read and believe them. One day we can tell those that we will leave behind, GOD KEEPS HIS WORD.

“And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Joshua 23:1...

06/07/2026

HELPING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14

Several things should be obvious when it comes to helping people. We all need help from time to time. There are no “maintenance free” Christians. We all need assistance, comfort, instruction, reproof, encouragement, and acceptance. The mindset to avoid at all costs is the one of the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17, “I . . . have need of nothing.”

In our text, the Lord uses Paul to remind us that we all do not need the same thing at the same time. There will be some who are “unruly” and will need someone to “warn them.” When someone is rebellious and disobedient, he should be warned. We are to “comfort the feebleminded.” There will be those who are faint-hearted or discouraged; they are in need of encouragement and comfort. They do not need to be rebuked or warned. Sometimes the brethren will be “weak,” in need of someone to help carry their burdens or support them in their weakness. However, whatever their need, we must have patience for all of our spiritual family. This verse goes on to say, “be patient toward all men.” We are to be forbearing with all the brethren.

One of the mistakes we make in our attempts to minister to God’s people is trying to give the same medicine to every ill person. We do not want to be correcting and reproving someone who needs support, nor do we want to comfort those who need warning. It is reassuring to know that God knows where every person is spiritually, and He knows what we need. We can come to Him with our needs and know that He cares and has the exact answer for our problems. We can also trust Him to give direction and discernment to us when we are seeking to help those who are struggling.

We must remember to “be patient toward all men.” None of us have arrived. We all have room to grow, much room as a matter of fact. People, like plants, do not all grow at the same pace. Although we may be further along in a particular area than another brother or sister, if we will be honest, there are other areas where we may not be quite so strong. Keeping this in mind will help us to be patient toward others. There is another thing that should help keep us patient. We need to remember how patient God has been, and continues to be, with us.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14

06/06/2026

IF THE LIGHT GOES OUT

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” Isaiah 50:10, 11

Is it possible that a person might fear the Lord, be obedient, and still experience a time when he walks in spiritual darkness? Do dedicated and committed Christians go through such spiritual struggles? In the verses that immediately precede our text, Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah: “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). Jesus endured the greatest torture and humiliation for us. He suffered the distress of human betrayal and disappointment. He went through unimaginable pain and physical anguish. He experienced the spiritual separation and darkness brought on by taking our sins upon His own body. None of the mistreatment experienced by our Savior was due to His sin or rebellion, yet He suffered a horrific period of darkness.

After Isaiah documented some of the torture Christ would endure on our behalf, he started our text, “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?” It is possible that faithful servants of God will go through times when it seems they are without clear direction, when their path has grown dark, and it seems that God is nowhere to be found. What advice does Isaiah give us for such a period in our lives? The Word of God is clear, “let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” We are counseled to keep trusting in the Lord and keep looking to Him.

He then says, “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire…walk in the light of your fire…ye shall lie down in sorrow.” The prophet warns us, in times of darkness, not to kindle our own fire. The natural tendency when God does not seem to be working or answering is to create our own light. This verse is so clear. God will not bless it.

When it seems that our way is dark, keep trusting and obeying, because God will come through.

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, a...

06/05/2026

THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20, 21

As salt and light in this world, as the people of faith commissioned to take the Gospel to every creature, we must stay refreshed in the source of our sufficiency. It is easy for us to lose our focus and begin to question if this mission is possible. Churches who lose their vision and purpose tend to drift toward complacency or redirect their energy. They often become only keepers of the aquarium rather than continuing to be fishers of men.

What is it that keeps us motivated and believing in our purpose in our darkening world? One thing is remembering whose ability we are counting on. Our text tells us that He “is able.” It is not about our ability, but God’s. He is not simply able; He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” When we add these terms together, it bolsters our confidence in Him. He can do more, much more, exceedingly more, than we can imagine. Jesus wants to work through His churches today, as much as He ever has. When He does the work, He gets the glory. “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus.”

These verses contain the great promise of His ability and the great purpose of His glory; but they also give us the channel of this great power, “according to the power that worketh in us.” God will work through us as He works in us. When we read and rejoice over the mighty way Jesus performed miracles and preached the Gospel, we know that His outward ministry was a manifestation of the Father working in and through Him. The dynamic testimony of the churches in the Book of Acts, their bold evangelism and successful church planting was the result of what God was doing in the believers and churches. He “is able…according to the power that worketh in us.” God has chosen to do His work through His churches.

As we think about the needs of our communities and the world at large, we should not doubt whether our work could be successful. We have been promised His ability. We should be keenly interested in seeing God work powerfully in our hearts, earnestly seeking to live surrendered lives, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20, 21

06/04/2026

THE LIBERAL SOUL

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:24, 25

Our text reminds us again that the Lord’s ways are not our ways. They are above our ways. Human reasoning says that the way to blessing is getting all that we can and not sharing it with others. God’s ways teach otherwise. He teaches us that it is possible to disperse generously and increase because of it. He also tells us that when a person hoards more than he needs, it will lead to poverty.

“The liberal soul” is the person who shares with others, distributes to those in need, and supports the work of God. He is habitually being a blessing to others, and in doing so, is assured of receiving a blessing. He is contrasted with the lean and unhealthy soul of the selfish. “The liberal soul shall be made fat.” The generous person will be abundantly blessed, whereas the stingy person will be in want. You cannot water others without being watered yourself.

At some point in our lives, we begin to decide which road we want to travel in life concerning this subject. Will we be givers or takers? Will we look for ways to be a blessing to others or always be looking for ways to benefit from others? Shall we be the servers or the served? If we listen to our natural minds and inclinations, we will choose the wrong road because the path to the greatest blessing is not in being helped, but in helping. Ask anyone who has experience in sharing and ministering to people. When we go and visit someone in jail or in the hospital, who receives the greater blessing? Is it not the one who is giving his concern and compassion? Selfish people are generally unhappy people. As a rule, the people who complain the most are the ones who do the least.

We should teach and model this to our children. Our children should see that their parents are happily serving and giving. Parents who allow their children to be selfish and self-centered are doing them a great injustice. Children need to be taught to give and to serve and be shown the danger of always thinking of “self.” The most fulfilled young people will be the ones who have made room in their schedules for helping others. If you want to be happy in life, learn to give yourself away.

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:24, 25

06/03/2026

SHALL YE SIT HERE?

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?” Numbers 32:6, 7

The families of Reuben and Gad requested that they might settle on the east side of the Jordan River and not go into Canaan, the land promised to Israel. They found this region favorable for raising cattle, and they had many cattle. In addition, this land called the land of Jazer had already been conquered by Israel. The Reubenites and Gadites preferred that this be their inheritance and presented their desire to Moses.

Our text contains the response Moses gave them, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” It would not be just for Reuben and Gad to settle in a territory already subdued by God and the armies of Israel, and to leave their brethren to engage in a war with their enemies without assisting them. Moses also saw the danger of this causing the remainder of the tribes to be discouraged. “And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?” The two tribes offered to build fences for their cattle and cities to protect their families, and the men of war would go over Jordan and fight until the remainder of the tribes possessed their inheritance. Moses agreed with this proposal.

The question Moses presented to Reuben and Gad could well be asked of many of God’s children today, “Shall ye sit here?” How is it that Christians are content to let others do their fighting for them? Faithful saints have preceded us and have provided us with great spiritual opportunities. It is not reasonable that we would let others engage in spiritual conflict while we engage in leisure and commerce, enjoying time with family and friends, while avoiding sacrifice and service. Moses told his fellow Israelites that their negligence and inconsideration would greatly discourage the remainder of their brethren. The same is true today. Those who are unwilling to serve and engage in spiritual warfare discourage those who do.

God has been so good to us. Thank God for the benefits and blessings that are ours. May each of us be willing to serve our Savior and serve alongside our brethren, as long as there are battles to fight.

“And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?” Numbers 32:6, 7

06/02/2026

THE ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” Luke 22:24

Sometimes the Bible is like a mirror. If we are willing, we are able to clearly see our reflection on its pages. The Scripture before us describes some tension between the disciples: “there was also a strife among them.” The timing of this event could not have been more critical. Jesus was with the twelve in the upper room and had just announced to His men that one of them would betray Him. With that as a backdrop, these men were discussing “which of them should be accounted the greatest.”

Imagine such a conversation taking place just as they are about to accompany the Savior to Gethsemane, and see Him taken to Calvary. It seems so disrespectful, contentious, prideful, inconsiderate, and disconnected from the events before them. However, it fit perfectly into the discourses of the evening. Jesus was using these final moments to prepare His disciples for His departure. He capitalized on their discussion to teach them about true greatness and THE ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY that we all must deal with. As He continued, Jesus told them that worldly leaders exercise authority over their subjects, but it was not to be so in His kingdom. It was His intention that among His followers, those who were the leaders were to be the greatest servants. He used Himself as an example, saying that He had been among them as a servant, not a ruler.

Some of the struggles and attitudes of the disciples put us in touch with our own humanity. These were outstanding men who would be greatly used of the Lord, but they struggled with their flesh and desire for exaltation and recognition. They wanted to know “which of them should be accounted the greatest.” Who would be in charge? Who would be the most important? Certainly, no one would want to be considered the least.

This ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY was not in the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not come to be served, but to serve others. We must recognize in our own hearts these prideful attitudes and ambitions and resist the temptation to exalt ourselves above others. The text tells us, “there was also a strife among them.” Pride, ambition, and self-exaltation cause much strife, not only between individuals, but also in our own hearts.

Sometimes the Bible is like a mirror. If we are willing, we are able to clearly see our reflection on its pages. The Scripture before us describes some tension between the disciples: “there was also a strife among them.” The timing of this event could not have been more critical. Jesus was with ...

06/01/2026

ONE THING

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

What is it that matters most to us? The wise person knows what is important and makes priorities accordingly. Obviously, our families are important, as are our vocations, our health, our friendships, and our spiritual lives. But what is most important? What is it that we want more than anything else? In our Scripture, David declares that there is “one thing” that took precedence over all other things. That was his relationship to the Lord. He wanted to be right with the Lord and always be near His house. We may have interests and responsibilities in many things, but there is ONE THING that we are concerned about most.

There are some who might take issue with David’s position. For instance, they might say that the family should come before anything, but they are wrong. The family is important, but the family should not come before God. If a person puts his family before God, his family becomes an idol. If a person puts God first, he will be more likely to be the family person he is designed to be. When a person’s relationship to the Lord is not what it should be, everything else will be affected.

There ought to be something that is more valuable to us than our possessions, our relationships, our obligations, our leisure, or our comfort. The thing that matters most is our relationship to God. We want to know Him above all else. David said, “that will I seek after.” It is not difficult to see what our priorities are. Take an honest look at what we spend our time seeking. Are we seeking to know the Lord and grow in His grace? Are we seeking to spend time with Him in Bible reading and prayer? How easily are we distracted from the faithful assembly with the body of Christ?

David said, “that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” We do not worship the church, but we worship the God who placed a high priority on the assembly of the saints. We worship the Savior who promised to be present when His church assembles. David loved the Lord and lived to “behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”

What would you say is the “One thing have I desired”? What is it that we think about most often?

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

05/31/2026

SHOW THYSELF

Today's Devotion from Pastor Thomas Smith

“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.” Psalm 94:1

The writer of the Psalms cried out for God to “shew thyself.” He needed the Lord to work, to demonstrate His power in a mighty way. The remainder of the Psalm lets us know that the wicked were triumphing, and the workers of iniquity were destroying God’s people. The writer knew better than to think that he was sufficient to handle his attackers. He was trusting the Lord to intervene. He wanted God to manifest Himself, supporting the cause of those who were right and opposing the work of the wicked.

Twice in our Scripture, we see the phrase, “God, to whom vengeance belongeth.” It is God that takes care of punishing wrong doers and getting revenge on His enemies. He is the perfect and holy Judge and will mete out justice, just as He gives mercy. SHOW THYSELF is certainly a legitimate prayer for us as well. We need for God to show Himself in our day and in our circumstances. The wicked speak and act as though God does not know or even exist. Our natural tendency is to try to straighten out those who stand against the truth or those who oppose the work of God with their words and deeds. What we really need is for God to show Himself and manifest His power and His position.

We can know with assurance that God will show Himself. One day, He will reveal Himself as the eternal Judge and will honor the godly and chasten the wicked. The last verse of Psalm 94 says, “And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness, yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off” (23). In that day, there will be no doubt about who and what is right. However, we can also believe that God wants to show Himself mighty in our present day.

We need for God to work in a powerful way. Satan is definitely working his will in many lives. Our communities need revival, our churches need revival; and in reality, we all need revival. We need for God to stretch forth His strong right arm and do a great work. We can be sure that God wants to manifest His power and grace in an unusual way. May this be our prayer, “SHOW THYSELF. SHOW THYSELF strong in our homes and families. SHOW THYSELF mighty in our churches. SHOW THYSELF capable in our individual lives.”

The writer of the Psalms cried out for God to “shew thyself.” He needed the Lord to work, to demonstrate His power in a mighty way. The remainder of the Psalm lets us know that the wicked were triumphing, and the workers of iniquity were destroying God’s people. The writer knew better than to ...

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