Will God Forgive Me?
SUZIE ELLER
SUZIE ELLER
"And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly." Luke 22:62 (NLT)
We waited on the front porch. Moonlight filtered through the trees as tires crunched over the gravel driveway. When he stepped from the car, we rose. He saw us and hung his head.
He had come to live with us because he needed a safe place. That night he was supposed to be home at a certain time. Hours had passed beyond that curfew, and worry had led us to wait in the cool night air.
We said we'd talk in the morning.
The next day I walked into the living room and he sat on the carpet, head in his hands, rocking back and forth.
"Do I still get to stay here?" he asked.
Surely, he knew we wouldn't reject him.
Except he didn't know. Nothing in his former experiences led him to that belief. He expected punishment, perhaps not physical, but at the minimum he thought he was no longer welcome.
My husband and I knelt beside him. We placed our arms around him and began to pray.
Years have passed since then. Today that beautiful young man is a dad. A loving husband. A pastor and a strong man of faith.
In the New Testament, we encounter another man who worried if he'd be forgiven: Peter, a man who loved Jesus with his whole being. Yet, in Luke 22, on the night Jesus was turned over to the authorities, Peter denied he ever knew Jesus. Peter fled the scene weeping bitterly. Angst and grief were his companions.
Thank goodness the story doesn't end there.
Later we find Jesus talking with Peter on the shore (John 21:17). In the brief conversation, Jesus reminds Peter of who he is.
And Whose He is.
Yes, Peter made a big mistake. One that seems impossible to overcome, but Jesus sees beyond the mistake to the heart.
Over time, Peter became a teacher and speaker, leading crowds to Jesus (Acts 2:14-36) and watching as miracles unfold. He authored 1 and 2 Peter, two books of the Bible that have influenced millions around the world and across generations.
After his failure, Peter could have rejected Jesus one more time by refusing His love. He could have ignored the words Jesus spoke and allowed failure to define him forever.
Instead, He accepted that His Savior forgives a repentant heart. That Jesus loved Him still.
Maybe you failed and you failed BIG. Your greatest regret is feeling you let Jesus down, and it's the last thing you ever wanted to do.
In this crossroad moment, you have a choice.
You can let shame keep you stuck.
Or, you can lean into Jesus' love for you.
Maybe you have amends to make. With His help, make them.
Maybe getting up seems hard because condemnation weighs so heavy. Release that burden. One day you'll look back at this pivotal moment and realize getting up led you right back into the arms of Jesus.
Maybe your former experiences have led you to believe failure equals rejection. That when you fall, you've blown it and there's no way back. Except that's not truth. This is:
God will finish the work He began in you (Philippians 1:6).
His response to your repentant heart is forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Your Heavenly Father transforms you as you accept that gift (2 Peter 1:3).
The young man who once lived with us grew through his mistakes. That incident wasn't the first or the greatest challenge we walked through together, but every time he leaned into love rather than running away from it, he stood stronger.
Until one day he knew who he was.
And Whose he was.
Your God still loves you. His plan has not been erased because of your mistake. In this crossroad, run toward His open arms and begin anew.
Dear Jesus, though I want to hide from You, help me to reach for Your love and forgiveness. Teach me through this, and let it grow me. Thank You that I have a future because of You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Who dares despise the day of small things ." Zechariah 4:10a (NIV)
Laundry frames the end of my day. Stacks of clean underwear and yet-to-be-folded T-shirts, drifts of unmatched socks and mountains of wrinkled jeans.
Upturned baskets are scattered across the living room like tiny tables awaiting a tea party. But I';m not in the mood for a midnight soiree; I'm drinking from my own deep reservoirs of self-pity.
I'm exhausted and the voices of discouragement in my head rise above what my heart knows to be true.
What did you do all day?
Why don't you ever get anything done?
You're never going to have time to do something that really matters.
Dishes and dirt, tantrums and time-outs - some days, a mother's life can feel so small.
I rub the palm of my hand over those crumpled jeans, trying to press out the unwanted creases that sprouted in the dark of the unattended dryer. If only I could smooth the ragged edges of my soul in a similar fashion.
"Sometimes I just want to do something bigger than all of this ." I tell my husband, as he joins me on the floor and begins stacking the folded laundry into piles.
I imagine you've felt the same at one time or another. You don't need to be a mother to feel discouraged by the daily grind. Whether you're running errands or running a business, planning a meal or planning a merger, the everyday mundane can seem trifling and insignificant.
My man sits beside me in silence, weighing his words. Finally, he murmurs, "Just because what you're doing feels small, doesn't mean that it is."
I'm tempted to discard his comment like I dispose of ratty socks, but then I remember the scene that had unfolded on the driveway earlier that afternoon.
The kids had designed a racetrack on the cement with squiggles of pink sidewalk chalk and then lined up their scooters for a friendly competition. I launched the action with a wave of my hand and stepped back to watch the race. Wheels squeaked. Kids squealed. And then a shrill cry halted the fun.
My 10-year-old laid sprawl-eagle on the ground, surrounded by a smorgasbord of broken scooter parts. Blood oozed from a gash in her knee, and her blue eyes brimmed with tears.
"What happened?" I asked as I ran to her side.
"I don't know ." Hannah mumbled as she surveyed the collection of bolts and screws, rivets and spokes that dotted the driveway. "My scooter was just missing one little piece."
She dropped her head in chagrin. "Something fell off my scooter right before the race began, but it was just a small thing, so I didn't think it was important."
As I lifted Hannah to her feet, her little brother began gathering the scattered parts in a bucket. With an ornery grin, he presented the pieces to his sister and declared, "I guess that small thing was really a big deal after all."
While there's no mention of a scooter race in the age-old book of Zechariah, God's message in today's key verse rings with a familiar echo straight from my pink-chalked driveway.
"Who dares despise the day of small things ."
God first spoke these words to the children of Judah as they prepared to rebuild the temple, one small brick at a time. I think He realized that they might grow discouraged in the daily grind, that the monotony of laying bricks day after day might eventually feel insignificant and trivial. But God knew that those little bricks would one day create a big opportunity for worship if His children remained faithful to the task.
Like the children of Judah, we, too, have a choice. We can measure the significance of our lives by the size of our accomplishments, or we can trust God to use our small offerings for His great glory.
As for me, I think I'll ask God to renew my passion for this ordinary, laundry-folding-carpooling life that I live. 'Cause there's a broken scooter in my garage that reminds me that the small stuff just might be a big deal after all!
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for trying to measure my significance by the size of my accomplishments. I want to serve You with all of my heart in big ways and small ways. Give me fresh passion for my daily grind and help me to glorify You in all that I do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil." Proverbs 15:28 (NIV)
One of my favorite Saturday morning pastimes is going to the Farmer's Market. The scene at this huge building filled with goods from far and near is a delight to my eyes. And on one weekend morning, God used apples to send a clear message about my words.
Rows of vendors line the marketplace floor. Colorful fresh-cut flowers. Bright raw veggies. Aromatic fruit. Handmade soaps and lotions. Woven textiles and dried herbs. For me, there is no better way to kick off my weekend than to stroll through the market, making fresh purchases for the upcoming week.
Whenever I pick apples to make homemade pie, I opt for the Michigan Northern Spy variety. They are the best for my family's favorite dessert, "Spies for pies," my mother always taught me.
While selecting my apples, I make sure to weigh them on the farmer's old gray metal scale to ensure I have enough for a pie. (That would be just shy of three pounds per pie, if you must know!)
One by one, I place the apples onto the scale. When I get close to the three-pound mark, I have to choose the perfectly sized apple for the final one; one that will make the dial on the scale read exactly three pounds. It takes a couple minutes, but by carefully weighing, I'm sure to have the perfect amount of apples for my flaky and tasty pastry.
And so it is with our words. If we want to ensure we have a pleasant outcome, we need to weigh our words carefully. Especially - as today's key verse instructs - when giving someone an answer.
Before we answer a child's request, we must think through what is really best for our son or daughter before we start to speak. Answering too quickly can lead to a sticky parental situation.
Before we answer a co-worker or family member who might be upset with us, we need to consider our response cautiously, selecting phrases that will convey the truth, but also promote understanding and peace. Speaking without weighing our words first may escalate the situation emotionally, causing an all-out verbal battle.
At times we may be asked a question that needs a gentle and tender response - instead of a quick and thoughtless reply. (This is definitely easier said than done!) We need to sort through the options in our minds as we invite the Holy Spirit to give us just the right combination of fruitful words.
If we are to pursue righteousness, we must heed the advice of today's key verse in Proverbs 15:28, "The heart of the righteous weighs its answers ."
Notice it says "the heart." It doesn't say the mouth.
Sometimes, by the time the words are starting to tumble out of our mouths, it's too late. When I don't first pause to pray and ponder in my heart, hurtful words come out of my mouth. In order to avoid causing heartache and even regret in the future, I've learned to contemplate words secretly in my heart. Which means running my thoughts through the grid of Scripture, before I ever let the words escape from my lips.
Back and forth. Back and forth. Searching for just the right . and righteous . fruitful combination.
Are you ready to carefully weigh your words today? The result will be a delightful offering, pleasing to you, to the hearer and to God.
It might even be more wonderful than my famous apple pie a la mode!
Father, today I will need to speak many words, both in person and online. Help me weigh my words carefully in my heart before I ever let them escape my lips. May they bear much fruit for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.'" John 4:13-15 (ESV)
Have you ever messed up so badly that it left you believing God wants nothing to do with you? If your answer is "yes," then you're in good company, because we all have. We've all made poor choices and bad decisions. A bad decision can cost you your marriage, job, friendships and even your peace of mind.
But, if you're willing to admit you've messed up, you're a prime candidate for an encounter with Jesus. In fact, He specializes in ministering to messed-up people. One of the many things I love about Jesus is that He gravitates toward those who are typically ignored, ridiculed, hated and rejected.
One of the greatest examples of this is found in the book of John. In chapter 4, Jesus encounters a woman at a well. This nameless woman meets Jesus while she performs one of the most mundane tasks in her messed-up life - drawing water out of a well.
She quickly learned a lesson we all need to know as well - the mundane can become momentous when we let Jesus clean up our mess-ups and radically change our lives. Jesus wants to clean up our mess-ups so much that He will break down every possible barrier to do so.
For example, to meet the woman at the well .
Jesus overcame a cultural barrier. Jesus traveled through a region that His people - the Jews - would always avoid. Jesus saw culture, not as a barrier to compassion, but as a bridge to ministry.
Jesus overcame a moral barrier. This woman carried a terrible reputation. Her past put her in the category of a Hall-of-Fame sinner. She had been married five times and was now living with a man who wasn't her husband. With this track record, everyone in her community knew her, and no man would dare to speak with her in public. No man, except Jesus! Jesus engaged with this woman, and we see her fess up to her mess-up.
We live in a culture that teaches us to hide our mess-ups and call them anything except the sins that they are. Jesus demonstrated through this woman that He will forgive us when we are willing to confess our sin to Him.
Jesus is not intimidated by our past. He sees beyond our failures and offers us a faithful future. You can't do anything so bad that it will cause God to love you less.
If you're reading this today and feel like Jesus wants nothing to do with you, I want you to know that He will break every possible barrier to reach you. Jesus is so serious about the task that He left heaven and came to earth to restore anyone who is willing to be cleansed. Today, you can meet with Jesus, bring Him your mess-ups, and allow Him to clean you up.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me so much that You destroy every possible barrier that could keep me from You. Help me to quickly fess up to my mess-ups, so that I can receive the wonderful forgiveness that is only found in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
We Have a Trustworthy Guide
Psalms 32:8-9Hanging on my office wall is a print that I've had for nearly 60 years. It shows the Lord Jesus standing behind a young man whose eyes are focused in the direction that the Master is pointing. Jesus' hand is on the man's shoulder, and I imagine He is saying, "This is the way we're going. I will get you to the destination." Although the road will be marked with both joy and suffering, the Lord leads His followers all the way to their eternal home.
Anyone who is honest will admit that he or she is ill-equipped to go through life alone. Our all-knowing God created us with a need for His guidance. In our own strength, knowledge, and reasoning power, we are simply not able to figure out how to make the wisest decisions. But the Lord's assuring hand at our shoulder can lead us down right paths to good choices.
The Lord is willing and able to guide us, if we will let Him. It isn't difficult to fall in step with Him. Acknowledge that you have wandered down paths of life that led to sin and disobedience. Choose to follow His lead instead by reading the Word of God and applying biblical principles to your life. And learn to pray through both large and small decisions as you seek the path He has set for you.
Just beyond our last heartbeat lies eternity. That's where our Savior is pointing us. The path may not be clear to our eyes, but Jesus is leading us there with a steady and sure hand. Our part is to follow in obedience so that we may reach heaven and hear the Father say, "Well done."
The Path of Life Jeremiah 10:23-24
Life is like an untraveled trail with complex twists and turns. Appealing activities can be detours that lead to the quicksand of sin. And engaging philosophies may form side paths that end up in a mire of muddled thinking. Even the best route isn't all sun-dappled meadows and quiet riverside lanes. We may at times have to journey over hard terrain or shadowed valleys. The only way to be sure we're walking right is to follow one who knows the way perfectly.
God is the perfect, full-service Guide. No one can go wrong by keeping to the pathways He selects. Consider that He lovingly and intentionally created you for this time and this place. The Lord watches over your steps because He desires to see your purpose fulfilled and His plan come to fruition through you (Prov. 3:5-6). Therefore, He promises to counsel those who follow Him (Ps. 25:12). When God warns His children away from a tempting sidetrack, it is because He foresees the dangers that lurk on that road.
There's a correlation between ignoring God's guidance and ending up in trouble: the one who stumbles off course has trusted his own "sense of direction"-his emotions, desires, or personal version of morality. He's been pursuing what feels good or looks right instead of seeking the Lord's will.
God has mapped out the path before you. He is aware of every obstacle and miry pit, and He knows exactly which sidetracks will tempt you. What's more, He has committed to walk beside you as a Guide and Comforter so that you never face the twists and turns of this life alone.
Setting Goals for Fruitful Living
2 Samuel 7:18-22
In the 70s, I experienced a turning point in my walk with Christ. It started with 2 Samuel 7, which inspired me to follow in King David's footsteps. He spent time alone with God, offering praise and thanksgiving. He would also listen as the Lord revealed truth and offered insight about the future. Because of what he learned, David was able to set goals and stay aligned with them.
Desiring that kind of solitude, I spent several days alone in a camper at Georgia's Stone Mountain. Most of the time, I was silent, listening intently for God's voice. I asked Him to speak to me regarding my future, and He answered. Using a journal, I recorded the goals He inspired. The things He communicated so impacted my choices and so greatly blessed me that I continued the discipline every couple of months.
Let's discuss how to establish aims in this manner. First, come before the throne of Almighty God with a repentant heart, praise, and thanksgiving. Then, ask Him for direction in areas such as spiritual life, career, and family. In silence, wait patiently and attentively-as you read and meditate upon God's Word, He will speak. Most often, His guidance is experienced as a prodding or conviction in the heart. When that happens, be sure to write down what you're "hearing" so you can review it later.
In order to stay on the path God intends for our lives, we should plan times to stop, ask, and listen for guidance. The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently. These conversations with the Lord are vital for a thriving life of godly impact.
A Living Hope
Believers are born into a living hope. However, people who are without Christ have no foundation for their
expectations and desires. Many live with a false sense of security. They assume that what is important in this life is the physical and material. But there is no safety in things (1 Tim. 6:9). Those who pursue wealth and health rather than God find that their dreams either go unfulfilled or fail to satisfy.
Believers anchor their hope in the solid rock of Jesus Christ. His words are always true and His promises always kept. I'll sometimes hear a person project his or her unfulfilled desires on God and then argue that He came up short. But Christians who make a request and submit to God's will always get an answer-yes, no, or wait.
The Lord does not disappoint those who seek His will. Don't misunderstand that statement. We might feel temporarily let down when something we hope for is not in God's plan. But He doesn't go back on the biblical promise to give His children the best (Isa. 48:17; 64:4). When one door closes, there is another about to open with something better behind it. Friends, the Lord cannot be outdone. We can't even wish ourselves as much good as God has in store.
The best choice a Christian can make is to fix his or her hope on the Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome whatever fits His will for your life, and turn away from all that does not. Circumstances may shift and change, but Jesus never does. He is a living hope who never disappoints.
The Anchor of the Soul
Hebrews 6:13-20
Hope is a healthy attitude. Anticipating good brings comfort to the mind and heart. In contrast, a state of hopelessness is a terrible condition in which to find oneself. It's overwhelming and depressing to think that what you're facing cannot be changed or resolved. For the person who has lost all hope, life looks like a long dark tunnel going nowhere.
Included in Proverbs is a verse that describes the result of this oppressive feeling: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12). Emotional, physical, and even mental illness haunt a person who feels trapped in a bleak situation. But I want to tell you, my friend, that as long as there is a God, no situation is hopeless. In Him, we have the promise of the second half of that proverb: "Desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Believers have a hope that anchors their souls. Our relationship with Jesus Christ brings us close to the throne of heaven, where we can cast all our burdens before an omnipotent God. Moreover, we can cling to Him through whatever trials are facing us. Because of the Lord's great love, He provides strength for weary bodies, peace for anxious minds, and comfort for grieving hearts. In short, He lights that darkened tunnel and tenderly guides us through trying situations.
An anchor was a popular image in the ancient Mediterranean world. In an economy that depended on shipping, the anchor symbolized safety and steadiness. The writer of Hebrews used the word to remind believers that God has given a hope that holds firm in any storm.
Hastening His Coming
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:12)
Exactly how can we "hasten unto the coming of the day of God"? The answer is by bringing its coming closer. In fact, the phrase can just as well be understood as "hastening the coming."
Although the Scriptures give us many signs to know when Christ's return is near, Jesus said that no one could determine the exact time-not even He, Himself! "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). In His self-limited human nature, He did not know because, apparently, it depended in some way on what His disciples would do to "hasten his coming" after He went back to heaven.
When He left them, He said: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This was a command, but it was also a prophecy: "Ye shall be witnesses" to the very last tribe on earth. In His Olivet discourse, He had said: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14). Sometime, somehow, every tribe will be reached, because John, in his vision, saw a great multitude "of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" in heaven (Revelation 7:9).
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise" to return, but He does desire "that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9), and we should "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (2 Peter 3:15). No one but the Father knows just when the last convert from the last tribe will be won, but if we "love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8), we can "hasten his coming" by doing all we can to get the gospel to the ends of the earth. HMM
Declaring the Unknown God
"As I . . . beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:23)
The people of Athens were known to be quite religious, worshipping a host of nature gods. They even had set up an altar "to the unknown god." Paul pounced on this point of contact to declare unto them the God they didn't know. He starts by laying the foundation: This God, he claims, is the Creator.
He not only "made the world and all things therein" (v. 24), but also is "Lord of heaven and earth." To cause to exist and then to rule over all of creation, one must be omnipotent. He is much too great to dwell in "temples made with hands." How ludicrous to think He might need anything, including the worship of men, "seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (v. 25).
This God "hath made of one blood all nations of men" and "hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (v. 26). To know all men, their race, futures, and details of their lives, God must be omniscient, eternal, boundless. He has done this so "that they should seek the Lord" (v. 27). He is not hard to find, for He is "not far from every one of us." He is the sustainer and source of all life. "In him we live, and move, and have our being; . . . we are also his offspring" (v. 28), totally unlike gods of "gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (v. 29).
But mankind has not known this God. He has been patient, but hates sin and "commandeth all men every where to repent" (v. 30), to gain forgiveness based on the work of "that man whom he hath ordained" (v. 31) as a final sacrifice, or as righteous judge. We can be sure of this because, when the sacrifice was slain, God "raised him from the dead" (v. 31).
Some mocked at the declaration of this mighty God (v. 32); some refused to act; but others believed (v. 34). JDM
Life is like an untraveled trail with complex twists and turns. Appealing activities can be detours that lead to the quicksand of sin. And engaging philosophies may form side paths that end up in a mire of muddled thinking. Even the best route isn't all sun-dappled meadows and quiet riverside lanes. We may at times have to journey over hard terrain or shadowed valleys. The only way to be sure we're walking right is to follow one who knows the way perfectly.
God is the perfect, full-service Guide. No one can go wrong by keeping to the pathways He selects. Consider that He lovingly and intentionally created you for this time and this place. The Lord watches over your steps because He desires to see your purpose fulfilled and His plan come to fruition through you (Prov. 3:5-6). Therefore, He promises to counsel those who follow Him (Ps. 25:12). When God warns His children away from a tempting sidetrack, it is because He foresees the dangers that lurk on that road.
There's a correlation between ignoring God's guidance and ending up in trouble: the one who stumbles off course has trusted his own "sense of direction"-his emotions, desires, or personal version of morality. He's been pursuing what feels good or looks right instead of seeking the Lord's will.
God has mapped out the path before you. He is aware of every obstacle and miry pit, and He knows exactly which sidetracks will tempt you. What's more, He has committed to walk beside you as a Guide and Comforter so that you never face the twists and turns of this life alone.
Setting Goals for Fruitful Living
2 Samuel 7:18-22
In the 70s, I experienced a turning point in my walk with Christ. It started with 2 Samuel 7, which inspired me to follow in King David's footsteps. He spent time alone with God, offering praise and thanksgiving. He would also listen as the Lord revealed truth and offered insight about the future. Because of what he learned, David was able to set goals and stay aligned with them.
Desiring that kind of solitude, I spent several days alone in a camper at Georgia's Stone Mountain. Most of the time, I was silent, listening intently for God's voice. I asked Him to speak to me regarding my future, and He answered. Using a journal, I recorded the goals He inspired. The things He communicated so impacted my choices and so greatly blessed me that I continued the discipline every couple of months.
Let's discuss how to establish aims in this manner. First, come before the throne of Almighty God with a repentant heart, praise, and thanksgiving. Then, ask Him for direction in areas such as spiritual life, career, and family. In silence, wait patiently and attentively-as you read and meditate upon God's Word, He will speak. Most often, His guidance is experienced as a prodding or conviction in the heart. When that happens, be sure to write down what you're "hearing" so you can review it later.
In order to stay on the path God intends for our lives, we should plan times to stop, ask, and listen for guidance. The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently. These conversations with the Lord are vital for a thriving life of godly impact.
A Living Hope
Believers are born into a living hope. However, people who are without Christ have no foundation for their
expectations and desires. Many live with a false sense of security. They assume that what is important in this life is the physical and material. But there is no safety in things (1 Tim. 6:9). Those who pursue wealth and health rather than God find that their dreams either go unfulfilled or fail to satisfy.
Believers anchor their hope in the solid rock of Jesus Christ. His words are always true and His promises always kept. I'll sometimes hear a person project his or her unfulfilled desires on God and then argue that He came up short. But Christians who make a request and submit to God's will always get an answer-yes, no, or wait.
The Lord does not disappoint those who seek His will. Don't misunderstand that statement. We might feel temporarily let down when something we hope for is not in God's plan. But He doesn't go back on the biblical promise to give His children the best (Isa. 48:17; 64:4). When one door closes, there is another about to open with something better behind it. Friends, the Lord cannot be outdone. We can't even wish ourselves as much good as God has in store.
The best choice a Christian can make is to fix his or her hope on the Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome whatever fits His will for your life, and turn away from all that does not. Circumstances may shift and change, but Jesus never does. He is a living hope who never disappoints.
The Anchor of the Soul
Hebrews 6:13-20
Hope is a healthy attitude. Anticipating good brings comfort to the mind and heart. In contrast, a state of hopelessness is a terrible condition in which to find oneself. It's overwhelming and depressing to think that what you're facing cannot be changed or resolved. For the person who has lost all hope, life looks like a long dark tunnel going nowhere.
Included in Proverbs is a verse that describes the result of this oppressive feeling: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12). Emotional, physical, and even mental illness haunt a person who feels trapped in a bleak situation. But I want to tell you, my friend, that as long as there is a God, no situation is hopeless. In Him, we have the promise of the second half of that proverb: "Desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Believers have a hope that anchors their souls. Our relationship with Jesus Christ brings us close to the throne of heaven, where we can cast all our burdens before an omnipotent God. Moreover, we can cling to Him through whatever trials are facing us. Because of the Lord's great love, He provides strength for weary bodies, peace for anxious minds, and comfort for grieving hearts. In short, He lights that darkened tunnel and tenderly guides us through trying situations.
An anchor was a popular image in the ancient Mediterranean world. In an economy that depended on shipping, the anchor symbolized safety and steadiness. The writer of Hebrews used the word to remind believers that God has given a hope that holds firm in any storm.
Hastening His Coming
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:12)
Declaring the Unknown God
"As I . . . beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:23)
Christ: Our Redeemer
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)
This famous testimony of Job has encouraged many. He knew, as we can know, the reality of his living Redeemer and that the Redeemer would one day reign over His creation as intended.
A redeemer is one who buys back something which has fallen into the hands of the enemy. Originally, the creation was in the proper hands, but Adam sinned, and to a great extent the rebellious world and all its inhabitants fell into bondage at the hands of Satan. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). We became the slaves or "servants of sin" (Romans 6:20).
In order to be freed, a slave must be redeemed. Could we as slaves have bought ourselves back? No, we had nothing of worth. Silver and gold would not do it. In fact, nothing short of the blood of a completely innocent sacrifice would suffice to pay the "wages of sin" (Romans 6:23). Only God the Son, by laying aside aspects of His deity and taking on human flesh, could be that perfect sacrifice. "And he saw that there was no man [capable of redeeming mankind], and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation" (Isaiah 59:16). "In his love and in his pity he redeemed them" (Isaiah 63:9) by His own blood, buying us out of bondage to sin and Satan.
Notice also that this redemption is not just something we hope for; it is a fact! He has done it, and it will never be undone! "Thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" (Isaiah 60:16). "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). JDM
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)
Hardness of Heart
"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16:14)
"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16:14)
Apparently many people-even Christians-are afflicted with "spiritual cardiosclerosis" (hardening of the heart), for there are some forty references in the Bible to this malady. The first was in reference to Egypt's unbelieving Pharaoh. Concerning him, God told Moses: "I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go" (Exodus 4:21).
But when the children of Israel did escape Pharaoh's persecutions, they also contracted this debilitating attitude: "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work" (Psalm 95:8-9).
Even the very disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were rebuked by Him for their hardness of heart. In spite of the Old Testament prophecies, and in spite of His own repeated promise that He would rise from the dead, the disciples forsook Him and fled into hiding when He was arrested. Some were even skeptical about the first reports of His resurrection until they saw Him for themselves. His rebuke (see our text) essentially equated their unbelief with "hardness of heart" (Greek sklerokardia).
If this heart of hardness and unbelief could attack the eleven disciples, it could surely happen to us, if we allow it. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. . . . But exhort one another daily . . . lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. . . . To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 3:12-13, 15). Instead, we should heed Christ's first great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart" (Matthew 22:37). HMM
Nailed to the Cross
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities." (Psalm 103:2-3)
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities." (Psalm 103:2-3)
When Christ was nailed to the cross as our atoning sacrifice, our sins-all of them-were nailed there, as well. His death paid the entire penalty, "having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:13-14). This is the theme of the thrilling third verse of "It Is Well with My Soul."
My sin-O the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). On what basis? "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (v. 7). "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24).
The fact that our sins are gone, "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12), and we bear them no more, gives us the courage, strength, and stamina to bear up, with His help, under the trials of this age-the theme of the song's first two verses.
If ever the circumstances of this present life threaten to overwhelm us, we can "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3). The certainty of our future overrides any uncertainty in this life.
"It is well, it is well with my soul." JDM
Tho Satan Should Buffet
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
The second verse of "It Is Well with My Soul" puts persecution and troubles in perspective.
Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Paul was given "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet" him (2 Corinthians 12:7). Almost every saint of every age could echo Paul's concerns, for trials come to each child of God. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (1 Peter 4:12). God had a purpose in Paul's life, and He has one in ours, although Paul couldn't clearly see the purpose, and, at times, we can't either. We can, however, "glory," as Paul did; or "rejoice," as Peter advises, in response to the knowledge of God's loving oversight.
The persecution may never stop, and may, in fact, result in serious loss-even death. But through it all, we can have the controlling assurance that He has made our destiny certain, "for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). "We see Jesus . . . for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. . . . [thereby] bringing many sons unto glory" (Hebrews 2:9-10). As our text reminds us, "in the world ye shall have tribulation." God may neither stop nor explain it, but He has "overcome" it, by shedding His own blood for our souls. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). Truly, "it is well with my soul." JDM
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Peace Like a River
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
The beloved hymn "It Is Well with My Soul" has been a source of much comfort to many. The hymn was written in memory of the author's four precious daughters who had just perished in a shipwreck and his wife barely rescued. Through it all, the couple maintained faith in their sovereign God and could say through their tears:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Our Lord has not promised us a life of ease, free from heartache and tragedy, but He has promised to be with us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).
God's promise of provision to Israel applies, in principle, to us. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour" (Isaiah 43:1-3). We can be content, whatever comes, knowing He is with us.
The prerequisite for the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" promised in our text is that we be anxious "for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Isaiah 26:3). JDM
Interpreting the Bible
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)
One basic reason why so many people seem to have trouble understanding the Bible is that they try to "interpret" it to fit their private opinions. The Greek word for "private" (idios) is related to such English words as "idiom" and "idiosyncrasy," and this key passage warns us against any exposition of Scripture which is based on the teacher's pet doctrinal or behavioral prejudices. A reader or hearer of the Word of God whose "heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing" will be unable to "understand" (Matthew 13:15) because he comes with his mind and heart already bound to his own opinions.
The Bible does not need to be "interpreted" at all. In every other New Testament reference to "interpretation," except the one in our text (which means "explanation" or "exposition"), the meaning is simply "translation." The Bible does, of course, need to be correctly translated from Greek and Hebrew into English and other national languages, but that is all. God is able to say what He means, and He wants to communicate His authoritative Word to men and women of obedient hearts, who are willing to devote diligent study to all the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 5:12-14), to obey them (James 1:22), and then teach them to others (2 Timothy 2:2, 24-26) carefully, and clearly, and graciously.
To such students of the Word, the promise is: "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3-5). HMM
The Books of God
"A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7:10)
This great vision of the coming Day of Judgment is apparently the same as that later seen by John: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12).
These books of judgment are evidently books of records of the "works" of men. They must include also the books of the Bible, for the words of men must be evaluated in terms of the words of God. As Jesus said: "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). The fearful truth, however, is that all who are judged according to their works are lost, for "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified" (Romans 3:20).
There is another book of God at the judgment: "And another book was opened, which is the book of life: . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12, 15). In this book are the names of all who are trusting in Christ alone for salvation.
There is still one more book which God is keeping: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels" (Malachi 3:16-17). All whose names are in "the Lamb's book of life" will never be judged by their works. Instead, all service for their Lord will be "remembered" in His special book of heavenly jewels. HMM
"A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7:10)
Why Do I Have So Many Issues?
LYSA TERKEURST
As we saw yesterday, all the people who gather to worship in churches around the world form one body-the body of Christ. Jesus is the head. Paul described Him as "the beginning, the first-born from the dead" (Col. 1:18). He takes priority in the church and in the lives of every believer.
At salvation, you become a part of the body, no matter what your local church's membership rules may be. By receiving the Savior, a person is made one with Jesus. Therefore, if you're a believer, you are a breathing and active part of Christ, who is at work on earth through His followers. The church is Jesus' feet to carry the gospel message, His arms to care for those in need of love, and His hands to uphold the weak.
Christ's physical body underwent terrible pain and persecution. His church body cannot expect a cozy, easy existence either. Being Jesus to the world means making sacrifices, accepting ridicule, and loving our enemies (Heb. 13:16, Matt. 5:44). God called us to spread the gospel, but that doesn't mean people always like what we have to say. Sin and accountability aren't popular messages. Yet being trendy and well liked is not the point. We're here to carry out the work and mission of God, even when doing so is uncomfortable.
The spiritual makeup of the church is linked to its mission. The gospel cannot be spread except through the strength and wisdom of Jesus Christ, the head. The body of believers is united with Him through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. He reaches the world through His church and its members.
LYSA TERKEURST
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (NIV)
Have you ever looked at other people and thought to yourself, "How does everyone else have it all together? And why is it I seem to have so many issues?"
I understand. For most of my life, I've struggled with my weight and committing to a healthy lifestyle. My soul was rubbed raw from years of trying and failing.
I wanted something to instantly fix my issues.
I wanted to stop calling myself awful names I'd never let another person call me.
I wanted to be naturally thin like my sister.
I wanted to stop crying when I walked into my closet to get dressed in the morning.
I wanted to stop calling myself awful names I'd never let another person call me.
I wanted to be naturally thin like my sister.
I wanted to stop crying when I walked into my closet to get dressed in the morning.
So when I lost 25 pounds a few years ago and kept it off for the first time in my life, it was a huge victory.
But my real celebration hasn't been over the smaller clothing size and reduced numbers on the scale. My real celebration is over the spiritual insights I gained while losing the weight and maintaining my healthy progress.
For me, this has been a spiritual journey - a significant spiritual journey with great physical benefits. I had been overweight physically and underweight spiritually and finally tying those two things together was life changing.
One of the richest lessons has been realizing the amount of mental and spiritual energy I wasted for years just wishing things would change. All the while, I was beating myself up for not having the discipline to make those changes.
If you have an issue with weight and food, you know what I mean. But no matter what issue you are currently dealing with, can I offer a bit of encouragement?
Jesus wants to help you with that issue. He really does. But you've got to stop beating yourself up about it and determine to follow His lead.
We like to identify our shortcomings, form them into a club, and beat the tar out of ourselves mentally. Over and over and over again. We label ourselves and soon lose our real identity to the beaten and bruised fragility we call "me."
We compare, we assume, we assess, we measure and most times walk away shaking our head at how woefully short our "me" falls compared to everyone else. How dangerous it is to hold up the intimate knowledge of our imperfections against the outside packaging of others.
If there is one thing that living 40-plus years has taught me it's this: All God's girls have issues. Every single one of us.
But we can make the choice to identify our shortcomings and instead of using them against ourselves, hand them over to Jesus and let Him chisel our rough places.
The grace-filled way Jesus chisels is so vastly different than the way I mentally beat myself up.
My mental scripts are too often full of exaggerated lies that leave me feeling defeated. His chiseling is full of truth that sets me free.
Oh what a difference.
Jesus doesn't compare.
Jesus doesn't exaggerate.
Jesus doesn't condemn. Our key verse, Romans 8:1, confirms this.
He simply says, "Hey, I love you. I love you just how you are. But, I love you too much to leave you stuck in this. So, let's work on it together. You can do this.
There is something so powerful in really believing that with Jesus' help you can do this. Say it with me, "I can." I can is a powerful little twist for a girl feeling deprived and defeated.
I can helps me walk into the dinner party and find the conversation more appealing than the food table. I can helps me stay on the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresher, healthier selections abound and smile that I know this.
I can helps me look at the drive-thru menu and order a fruit tray without even giving a thought to the fried foods I used to snack on. I can reminds me to look online for a restaurant's nutritional information before going out, ensuring wiser choices. I can reminds me no food will ever taste as sweet as victory does.
Having issues isn't the absence of victory in our lives. It's simply a call to action reminding us victory is right around the corner. Today is a great day to start believing you were made to walk in victory and to say to Jesus, "Yes, with Your truth as my guide, I can."
Dear Lord, help me see myself the way You see me. Remove the lies that defeat me more often than I want to acknowledge. You have set me free. Help me live like I truly believe that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
The Body of Christ
Ephesians 4:11-16As we saw yesterday, all the people who gather to worship in churches around the world form one body-the body of Christ. Jesus is the head. Paul described Him as "the beginning, the first-born from the dead" (Col. 1:18). He takes priority in the church and in the lives of every believer.
At salvation, you become a part of the body, no matter what your local church's membership rules may be. By receiving the Savior, a person is made one with Jesus. Therefore, if you're a believer, you are a breathing and active part of Christ, who is at work on earth through His followers. The church is Jesus' feet to carry the gospel message, His arms to care for those in need of love, and His hands to uphold the weak.
Christ's physical body underwent terrible pain and persecution. His church body cannot expect a cozy, easy existence either. Being Jesus to the world means making sacrifices, accepting ridicule, and loving our enemies (Heb. 13:16, Matt. 5:44). God called us to spread the gospel, but that doesn't mean people always like what we have to say. Sin and accountability aren't popular messages. Yet being trendy and well liked is not the point. We're here to carry out the work and mission of God, even when doing so is uncomfortable.
The spiritual makeup of the church is linked to its mission. The gospel cannot be spread except through the strength and wisdom of Jesus Christ, the head. The body of believers is united with Him through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. He reaches the world through His church and its members.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
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