Sermons & Devotionals by William MacDonald Devotions
William MacDonald Devotions
If ye know these things
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17) Those who teach and preach the Christian faith should practice what they preach. They should present to the world a living example of the truth. The will of God is that the Word should become flesh in the lives of His people. The wo... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
If ye love me, keep my commandments
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Commandments? In the New Testament? Whenever people hear the word commandments, they immediately think legalism. But the two words are not synonymous. No one spoke more of commandments than the Lord Jesus, yet no one was less legalistic than He. Wh... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
in Him you have been made complete
“…in Him you have been made complete.” (Col. 2:10 NASB) Contrary to popular opinion, there are no degrees of fitness for heaven. A person is either absolutely fit or he is not fit at all. This goes counter to the common notion that at the top of God’s totem pole are good, clean-living people, at the... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
In lowliness of mind
“In lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3b) To esteem others better than self is unnatural; fallen human nature rebels at such a blow to its ego. It is humanly impossible; we do not have the power in ourselves to live such an otherworldly life. But it is ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
In pressure thou hast enlarged me
“In pressure thou hast enlarged me.” (Psa. 4:1 Darby) It is true that “calm seas never made a sailor.” It is through tribulation that we develop patience. It is through pressure that we are enlarged. Even men of the world have realized that difficulties have educative and broadening values. Charles ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
In the beginning God
“In the beginning God—” (Gen. 1:1) If we separate the first four words of Genesis 1:1 from the rest of the verse, they form a sort of motto for all of life. They say, “God first.” We find this motto suggested in the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” No one and nothing mus... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Mt. 25:40) Here is both a rewarding encouragement and a warning that should bring us up short. Whatever we do to Christ’s brethren is reckoned as being done unto Himself. We can show kindness to the L... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
It is enough; now, O Lord
“It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4b) It is not uncommon for God’s people to suffer from nervous depression, just as Elijah did. Moses and Jonah also wished they could die (Ex. 32:32; Jonah 4:3). The Lord has never promised believers exe... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Jesus Christ is Lord of all
“Jesus Christ…is Lord of all “(Acts 10:36) One of the great themes of the New Testament is the lordship of Jesus Christ. Over and over we are reminded that He is Lord and that we should give Him that place in our lives. To crown Jesus as Lord means to surrender our lives to Him. It means to have no ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Judge not according to the appearance
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) One of the most deep-seated frailties of fallen humanity is the persistent tendency to judge according to appearance. We judge a person according to his looks. We judge a used car by its body. We judge a book by its c... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Judge not, that ye be not judg
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matt. 7:1). People who know little else about the Bible often know this verse and use it in a most bizarre way. Even when a person is criticized for unspeakable wickedness, they piously gurgle, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” In other words, they use the vers... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Let there be no silly talk, nor levity
“Let there be no…silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting.” (Eph. 5:4 RSV) Excessive levity should be avoided because it inevitably results in a leakage of spiritual power. The preacher deals with serious issues, with life and death, with time and eternity. He may deliver a masterpiece of a mes... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp
“Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Heb. 13:13) We learn first from this verse that Christ is the gathering center for His people. We don’t gather to a denomination, a church, a building or a great preacher but Christ alone. “Unto him shall the gathering of ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Lord, behold their threatenings
“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.” (Acts 4:29) When the early Christians were undergoing persecution, they did not wait for their circumstances to change. Instead they glorified God in the circumstances. Too often ... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Love not the world
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) The world is presented in the New Testament as a kingdom that is opposed to God. Satan is its ruler, and all nonbelievers are subjects. This kingdom makes it... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Make friends quickly with your opponent
“Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way; in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison” (Mt. 5:25 NASB) One of the surface lessons we learn from this passage is that Christians shoul... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Martha, Martha
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41, 42) Mary sat quietly at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Martha was flustered and upset in her service, and resented t... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
Moab hath been at ease from his youth
“Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and liath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.” (Jer. 48:11) Jeremiah here takes an illustration from the art of wine-ma... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
My kingdom is not of this world
“My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…” (John 18:36) The fact that Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world is enough to keep me out of the world’s politics. If I participate in politics, then I am casting a vote of confidence in the system’s a... Read More
William MacDonald Devotions
neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem
“…neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem.” (John 4:21) For the Samaritans, the center of worship was on Mt. Gerizim. For the Jews, Jerusalem was the place on earth where God had placed His Name. But Jesus announced a new order to the woman of Samaria, “…the hour cometh, and now is, when the ... Read More
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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.