DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.9.21

AHelp in Sorrow “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah35:10) Christians have received great joy and hope for the future, but make no mistake, there are troubles in this life. Christ promised that even if we “weep and lament...your sorrow shall be turned into joy” (John16:20). The third verse of “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” expresses this well. Jesus! what a Help in sorrow! While the billows o’er me roll, Even when my heart is breaking, He, my Comfort, helps my soul. Our text shows that even when Israel was about to be captured and exiled, Isaiah still anticipated their return and ultimate victory. “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon theirhead: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah51:11). In this life He has not left us without comfort, for Christ promised His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John14:27). Even when death and separation are imminent, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1Thessalonians 4:13). And in the next life, the “forever” life, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation21:4). JDM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Mathful God? By Shawn McEvoy God doesn't count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus. Romans9:28, The Message Thank God that he calls us by name, that our names have been written in the Book of Life. He knows us intimately. We are not just numbers to him, as the verse above reminds. That said, have you ever looked at the face of a calculator and marveled at how completely God is involved in all of those functions? He adds, he subtracts, he multiplies, he divides. Positives, negatives, rationals, irrationals, imaginaries, radicals, constants...all indicate some aspect of God and what he does, how he interacts with his creation. Let's take a look at some examples of the most basic of these functions, and how they suggest a perfect sum of completeness and trust. He's worked it all out. The numbers add up. The whole world - its time and history and future - is well calculated, andsafe in his hands. ADDITION Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding totheir number day by day those who were being saved. --Acts2:46-47, NAS So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.--1Corinthians 3:7, KJV "Nothing in Scripture and in the life of Christ could be clearer: Wealth is not an objective of the spiritual life. When we encounter money on the path of life, we are encouraged to do one of three things with it: Turn and walk in the other direction; pickit up and give it away; or use it for the necessities of life. It's this last part that I think has become skewed over time. Our list of 'needs' is much greater today than it was in 1900 and their list of needs were certainly greater than during the time whenChrist walked the Earth. Now I know that here in the year [2014], it is countercultural to give money away. It is countercultural to seek your security in things that aren't man-made. But, remember what Jesus promised, 'But seek first the kingdom of God andHis righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew6:33, NKJV)." --Steve Scalici, "ShouldChristians Strive for the American Dream?" SUBTRACTION The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away thesin of the world! --John1:29, NAS If you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract yourpart from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. --Revelation22:19, MSG "Our spiritual engrafting provides an eternity of new life. While the struggles of our present earthly existence cause momentary, light affliction, the life to come for those who are in Christ Jesus will last forever. There will be no more heartaches, no more pain. He has taken our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He died so that we might live." --Peter Beck, "Engraftedfor Life" MULTIPLICATION For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplyingI will multiply thee. --Hebrews6:13-14, KJV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Body of Christ - In Touch - January 6 Ephesians4:11-16 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 workon 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Strength and Victory “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Mostgladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” verse two highlights His attribute of strength. David wrote of encountering and benefitting from it when he hid safely in Him. “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shallhe hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5). Jesus! what a Strength in weakness! Let me hide myself in Him; Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing, He, my Strength, my vict’ry wins. In times of opposition, we can go to Him for comfort and protection. In Psalm 23:4, we are comforted to read, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Wecan likewise pass this along to bolster others in need, for “we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2Corinthians 1:4). When conflict comes, our Friend for sinners provides a way out. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13). Ultimately, victory is ours through His great strength and wisdom. In eternal glory, we are told that “now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accusedthem before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10). Forever we will hide safely in Him. JDM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Faith Worth Remembering by Katherine Britton Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thingto me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. Whenshe poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughoutthe world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." - Matthew26:10-13 The woman with the alabaster jar knew something that I don't fully grasp. She knew she didn't belong with Jesus. She knew that he had every right to shun her, to see her life of sin, and turn away. Comparing Matthew's account with other gospels, she was probably Mary Magdalene,the fallen woman. Even by our cultural standards, her lifestyle barred her from polite company; in her day, her gender prevented her from coming too close to the honored guest. She had no right to enter that dinner, and she knew it. So why does this womanwin such a place in Jesus' narrative? I tried to unravel her story in one of my few stints as a short story author. Picture a woman entering a room full of men, all of whom notice her impertinence. Perhaps she second-guessed her intentionsfor a moment. But I bet that once her eyes settled on Jesus, she never looked away. Not this woman, Mary. I can't think of any other compelling reason for her to walk forward, break a jar that cost a year's salary, and pour it over the head and feet of Christ. What did she know that today's Christians, me included, miss? I think that answer lies in where she looked. She kept her eyes trained on Jesus, refusing to look at her own moral standing and flaws. It's not that she wasn't aware of them - that's the very reason sheloved Jesus so much. But she didn't allow herself to dwell on the laws she had broken and the time she hadn't spent loving him. She was too caught up in his face to notice anything about herself. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We Have a Trustworthy Guide Psalms32:8-9 Hanging 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 wisestdecisions. 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 andapplying 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 theFather say, “Well done.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MySavior Makes Me Whole “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number:he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” (Isaiah40:26) The hymn “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” mentions the frequent failure of our friends and the persistent opposition of our enemies. Conversely, Jesus Christ, who loves us completely, never fails. “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews13:5). Jesus! what a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul; Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He, my Savior, makes me whole. The hymnist was not writing for believers only but also for those who still reject God’s gift of salvation. Jesus loves them and came to Earth on their behalf. A favorite Scripture reminds us “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John3:16). Abraham was one of those who loved and believed God, “and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James2:23). Christ taught His disciples that He would soon die, but they didn’t believe. Jesus taught them that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John15:13), and “ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (v. 14). They were growing in the understanding that He was God Himself. “Henceforth I call you not servants...but I have called you friends” (John15:15). Later, John wrote they were more than friends. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1John 3:1). JDM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus!What a Friend for Sinners “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, ifye do whatsoever I command you.” (John15:13-14) Hymns sometimes lift our souls to heights undreamed of. Let us use the familiar hymn “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” these next few days to take us into scriptural truth. The refrain that accompanies each verse follows. Hallelujah! what a Savior! Hallelujah! what a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end. Hallelujah is sometimes translated “praise ye the Lord.” Praising God is a precious privilege to Christians. The Psalms often give praise to our great Lord and King, and this will continue throughout eternity. “And after these things I heard a great voice ofmuch people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God” (Revelation19:1). He is saving us from sin and its penalty. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews7:25), helping us in our journey through life. “Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice” (Psalm63:7). Through any peril, He is keeping us “by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1Peter 1:5) while loving us through it. In fact, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans5:8). We can be confident that He will keep us for all time. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion andpower, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude1:24-25). JDM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When God Is Doing Something New, and We’re Still Stuck in the Old by Debbie McDaniel "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way inthe wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:18-19 Sometimes...God is wanting to do something "new" and yet we're still stuck in the "old." It's hard at times. To let go. Of what's familiar, and what we know. It seems easier to stay "comfortable," to justkeep going with the flow, not to mess anything up. But then "new" happens, and often sends us spiraling, on one big, long loop. For those who like change - "new" is mostly exciting. For those who don't like change - "new" is mostly stressful. Your family, if you're like most, is probably a mix of those two traits. But here's what I love about God. He thinks and works outside our own box of thinking. He doesn't always work in the ways that we would have chosen for our "new." If we had to have a "new." He sees the big picture. He knows what He's doing. He works behind the scenes of life that unfold our every day, in the places where we can't always see or understand all the “why's.” So we can trust...that He has our best in mind. That He's got our back. He’s with us right now. And He's secured our future too. Sometimes our "new" comes out of great blessing, new opportunities. And sometimes it comes through great pain, huge loss. People move, life happens, decisions are made, many change jobs, kids grow up, and there are times we might go through some really tough struggles. We may even start to feel cheated. Like life is unfair. But it still breathes this truth: God is not finished with our lives yet. You're still here. And He has great purpose in all that you walk through, even in every life change and season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Living Hope 1Peter 1:3-5 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. Butthere is no safety in things (1Tim. 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 arequest 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 neverdisappoints. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Fresh Start “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfullusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians4:22-24) Everyone deserves a fresh start. As we start the New Year with resolutions and lofty ideals, it is good to remember that we can all renew our commitment. We can all purpose to gain even loftier heights in our spiritual journey toward Christlikeness. No matterhow far we have ascended, we can go farther; no matter how low we have fallen, we can begin again. How can this be accomplished? As the context of our text teaches, we must go back to school—the school of Christ. “But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians4:20-21). “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). As our text verses explain, we must both “put off...the old man” and “put on the new man,” clearly speaking of our manner of life, just as if we were changing clothes. If we as believers are hanging on to a few old rags, let this New Year see us obey this passageas an act of faith through the living Spirit of God: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). This act of submission and desire will result as we are “renewed in the spirit [or attitude] of [our minds]” (Ephesians 4:23). The old man will not be removedor changed into the new but will be brought under control. The new man is a new creation of God modeled after Him “in righteousness and true holiness.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians2:10). JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope: The Anchor of the Soul Hebrews6:13-20 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 orresolved. 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 thatproverb: "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. Becauseof 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 anystorm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Loaded with Blessing “Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm68:19) As we come to this year’s end, it is salutary for the believer to think back over the days of the year and to meditate upon his blessings. He may, indeed, have experienced defeats and losses, disappointments and injuries in great number. If he is honest withhimself, however, the Christian will always have to acknowledge that his blessings far outweigh his burdens. God “loadeth us with benefits,” and is even working in and through all the trials and hurtful things together for our good (Romans8:28). In our text verse, the words “with benefits” have been supplied by the translators. Some might, therefore, conclude that the verse could mean that God is daily loading us with burdens instead of benefits. The context, however, assures us that the emphasis isreally on His blessings. For that matter, even a burden can become a blessing if we take it as a gift from God for our spiritual benefit. Therefore: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in ChristJesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians4:4). He has given us “life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). Far more importantly, He is “the God of our salvation.” Whatever else we have, or don’thave, in this life, we have the great gift of eternal life, through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. We have it every day of the year and are daily ready to meet the Lord, whenever He calls. Each day we have the indwelling presence of HisSpirit, the illuminating guidance of His Word, the daily provision of all real needs, and the assurance of His love. He has surely loaded us with benefits! HMM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TheTrinity in Ephesians “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith,one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians4:4-6) Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus is surely one of the most profoundly doctrinal—yet intensely practical—books of the Bible, and it is not surprising that the doctrine of the triune God breaks into his message so frequently. For example, note Ephesians 2:18: “For through [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” More often, however, it appears not in a succinct formula like this but rather in interconnected references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always implying that each is deity, but never that they are three different “gods.” Paul prayed that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians1:17). He also prayed “unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,...That he would grant you,...to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians3:14, 16-17). Thus, the believer is “filled with all the fulness of God” (v. 19). We are exhorted to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God,...even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians4:30, 32). And “be filled with the Spirit;...Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians5:18, 20). There are others, but note especially our text, speaking of our unity in Him and His triunity in us. “There is...one Spirit...One Lord,...One God and Father of all, who is above all [i.e., the Father], and through all [the Son], and in you all [the Spirit].” All this is a magnificent mystery, but a wonderful reality! HMM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGood Brainwashing - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God�s will foryou, which is good and pleasing and perfect. �Romans 12:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-good-brainwashing/- Listen I read a strange story awhile ago about a large python that ate a family�s dog. Interestingly, a local zoo owner who came to pick up the snake told a reporter that it hadbeen stalking the dog for days. �The family that owned the dog had actually seen it in the dog�s bed,� he said, �which was a sign it was out to get it.� That would have been the first clue: �Wow, look at that large python in our dog�s bed! This could pose a problem down the road.� However, we can be the same way with the Devil. He will essentially plop himself into our beds, so to speak, and we pay no attention to him. We think, �Oh, he won�t be back.I can handle this.� We underestimate his power and allow our minds to be open to things that actually can hurt us. The Bible tells us, �Don�t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn toknow God�s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect� (Romans 12:2 NLT). In other words, we need a good brainwashing. I�m not speaking of the traditional meaning of the word where we�re not able to think for ourselves. Rather, I�m talking aboutcleaning out all the junk that fills our minds and then replacing it with godly information. The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Philippi, �And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, andpure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise� (Philippians 4:8 NLT). We need to guard our minds. What are you filling your mind with today? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guideand Keeper �For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name�s sake lead me, and guide me.� (Psalm31:3) David wrote often about the trials of life, but he leaned on a wise and good Guide for deliverance. The next verses tell of the grave danger ahead and David�s resolve: �Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Intothine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth� (vv. 4-5). �Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners� addresses that in its fourth stanza. Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper! While the tempest still is high, Storms about me, night o�ertakes me, He, my Pilot, hears my cry. There was a time in the gospels when the disciples were overwhelmed by a tempest, but Jesus Christ, their Guide and Keeper, calmed the sea and rescued them. �There arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves....Then hearose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm� (Matthew8:24-26). This was one of their first indications He was more than a mere man. �What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!� (v. 27). Sailors know the value of a wise and experienced pilot who can guide their ship into safe harbor. In an analogous way, Christ and His Spirit can keep us from ruin�human, natural, or spiritual. Christ promised, �When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he willguide you into all truth� (John16:13). We are safe in His care. The Old Testament contains the precious truth �Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee� (Isaiah26:3). We have the assurance that �the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus� (Philippians4:7). JDM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Waiting is the Hardest Part By Veronica Neffinger �Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!� (Psalm27:14) Did you ever realize how good things nearly always take time? As children, waiting can seem like agony. We don�t want to think about the hours that must slowly slip by until school lets out, until summer comes back around, or until our favorite uncle comes to visitagain. As adults, our impatience is little lessened, albeit perhaps better concealed. In our culture of immediacy, having patience is even more difficult and out of reach. We are used to multitasking and packing each day with so much busyness that we seldom have time to hear our own voices. This impatience for results, for productivity is, I believe, something that we, as Christians, must learn to surrender, will have to learn to surrender if we are going to keep growing. Have you ever noticed that good things nearly always come about because of a process; oftentimes, a long process? Conversely, it seems many bad things are those that happen in an instant: a car crash that turns your life upside down, a quick word hurled out in anger which breaks a relationship, a split-second decisionto give in to peer-pressure. Now, of course not all split-second decisions lead to negative consequences, but there is a striking parallel here: As we are jumping from one thing to the next on a continual cycle of busyness, spiraling away from deep understanding and hovering on the periphery of thought, God is seeking to work against the entropywe have created, making the disparate parts of our life into something beautiful. God is very comfortable working slowly (or what appears as slowly to us). We all want this transformation God promises us in His Word, but are we willing to wait for it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Is Our Loving Father Luke15:11-24 Humanity tends to project its own faulty habits onto God. This is especially true regarding the nature of His love. We think we must barter, plead, or try hard to earn the Lord's favor. But as the prodigal son learned, the Father's love is unconditional. The wayward son expected his father's love to be diminished. Therefore, he went home hoping for a place among the family servants. Imagine the boy's delight when Dad greeted him with a hug and a celebration. His actions certainly didn't merit an outpouringof affection, but Jesus' parable is all about a Father who doesn't give people what they deserve. A love based on conduct would keep people guessing, Have I done enough? Instead, God cares for you simply because you're you, and He expects nothing in return. Consider the prodigal's life after his homecoming party. He didn't move into the servants' quarters and get to work. He was reinstated to his placeas the second son of a wealthy man, with all of the privilege that entails. In the same way, believers are the Lord's cherished children (2Cor. 6:18). When God looks at His loved ones, He doesn't focus upon past failures, faults, or sin. He sees the heirs to His kingdom�men and women who love Him and desire to spend eternity in His presence. No matter how far we may wander from the Lord's perfect will for our lives, we are always welcome back. The Bible teaches that God's love cannot be lost, regardless of sin or poor decisions (though we may have to live with the consequences). Our Father's arms are always open. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asleep on Your Feet - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we lookforward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. �Titus 2:12�13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/asleep-on-your-feet/- Listen I remember a story that Pastor Chuck Smith told about driving around with his wife, Kay, one day in the fall. It was around October, and they noticed that Christmas decorationswere up already. So Chuck said, �Look, Honey, Thanksgiving is almost here.� Kay said, �Thanksgiving? No, Chuck. Those are Christmas decorations, not Thanksgiving decorations.� �Well, if Christmas is close,� Chuck said, �then Thanksgiving is even closer.� As we look at end times events, we might say, �Wow, the Antichrist is near.� That�s true. But it also means the return of Jesus Christ is even closer. So what are we to do in light of the fact that Jesus Christ could come back at any moment? How are we to live? We find the answer in 1 Thessalonians: �So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkersget drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation� (5:6�8 NLT). Instead of walking in the Spirit, it seems as though some people in the church are sleepwalking. They�re not watching for the signs of the times. They have a certain lethargyor passiveness�maybe even laziness�about them. There�s a disconnect between their personal lives and their spiritual lives. God doesn�t give us the truths of His Word to merely hoard. He gives them to us to share. We are blessed to be a blessing. God wants us to take the truths He has put intoour lives and work them through us. And He wants us to share them with others. So don�t be a spiritual sleepwalker. Wake up, pay attention, and be ready for the Lord�s return. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christ in You, the Hope of Glory �To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; whichis Christ in you, the hope of glory.� (Colossians 1:27) The last six words of this text have been the theme of many sermons, and surely they are worth our study, for the concept is used throughout Scripture. They also are included in the final verse of �Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners.� Jesus! I do now receive Him, More than all in Him I find; Christ in me, the Hope of glory, I am His, and He is mine. Christ does indeed live in each believer and fills and controls as allowed by the individual. But for those filled with His abundance, He provides the certain �hope� of glory. We have assurance of salvation, adoption, grace, Spirit-filled life, and eternalglory as we are in Christ. �I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me� (Galatians2:20). Scripture specifically teaches that God loves sinners as they are and moves as a gracious �Friend� to pay the penalty for their sin. �If thou shalt...believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved� (Romans10:9). The words �believe� and �receive,� while not the same, can often be used interchangeably in Scripture. Once we truly believe, we can receive Him, for when we believe we simultaneously receive God�s forgiveness and salvation. And we can affirm, �I am His, andHe is mine.� His sweet �friendship� will last for all time. JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Knows Our Way and His Plans Are Good by Debbie McDaniel �ForI know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, �plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.� Jeremiah 29:11 Sometimes, we may not believe this is true. Troubles swirl around us, pressures feel too great, life seems hard. We might even feel like God has forgotten us and left us facing the struggles all alone. Yet in the background of this great verse, we're reminded that God spoke these words to His people, not when times were easy, but when times were very hard. They would endure 70 years of captivity, they would experience great suffering. And it's right there,in the midst of all that, we can see the hope of God shine through. He didn't leave his people in the tough trials. He won't leave us there either. He walks us through, reminding us that His plans are for good, for a future, for a hope. He is right with us, and breathes confidence and peace, that we will press through thestruggle, and come out to the other side, stronger, faith-filled. He assures us that He will never waste the pain of what we experience in this life, but will bring greater good and blessing because of it. If you find yourself facing hard times today, or maybe you�ve just walked through a difficult year, this verse is your reminder � there�s hope ahead. Be confident of this, God�s not finished yet. You're still here, you're gaining strength and perseverancethrough the trials. He has good in store, great purpose in all that we walk through, no matter how hard it may be. He sees the big picture of our lives, and He's aware of every little detail too. He knows what He's doing, even when we can't see it all yet. He often works behind the scenes that unfold our every day, in the places where we may not always understand Hisplans. Even through all our seasons of waiting. So we can trust...that He has our best in mind. He's got our back. He's with us right now. And He's secured our future too. Resting in that truth today. There's peace in knowing we don't have to try hard to control it all. We can let go of the need to try to figure it all out, or the striving of trying to make things happen. God knows, He understands, we�re never alone. Keep pressing through. He loves you. He cares. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus Our Intimate Friend Matthew26:47-50 I�ve counseled plenty of folks who argue that they are not worthy of God�s love. Of all the passages I could point to that describe the Lord�s devotion, today�s is the one I think best showcases the unqualifiedfriendship He offers His followers. As Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion, Judas Iscariot approached him with a band of men. The betrayer stepped forward and kissed the Lord�s cheek. And whatwas Jesus� response? According to another disciple, Matthew, He called the man �Friend� (Matt.26:50). VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM