DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.8.22

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. -------------------- Raised Us Up Together �And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.� (Ephesians2:6) The Bible clearly identifies the resurrection of Christ as central to the Christian message, just as crucial as the atoning death of Christ. �If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins� (1Corinthians 15:17). And just as surely as Christ is raised, we who have put our faith in Him shall be raised. What kind of body will we have then? �We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is� (1 John 3:2). In His resurrection body, He could appear and disappear(John 20:19), pass through closed doors (v. 26), be felt by others (Matthew28:9; John 20:27), eat food (Luke 24:42, 43), and He eventually rose into heaven (Acts1:9). Paul, who has been dead nearly 2,000 years, asserted: �We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body� (Philippians3:20-21). How can a person long since dead, whose spirit has been in God�s presence, receive once again a body? This, of course, is a miracle, for the physical elements that once made up Paul�s earthly body have long ago changed their form, and even whilehe was alive were continually being replaced. No, God will not restore a prior body to the dead but will present them with a new �glorious� body, fit for the eternal environment and service of heaven. Paul could only write of it by analogy, comparing the differencebetween the old and the new bodies to the difference between a seed and a plant, to different kinds of living things, and to different kinds of celestial bodies. �So also is the resurrection of the dead.� It is sown in corruption, dishonor, weakness, as anatural body, but it is raised in incorruption, glory, and power, as a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:37-44). JDM --------------------------------- BlessedAre the Dead “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord fromhenceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation14:13) This promise applies specifically to those recent believers who will suffer martyrdom during the last half of the awful tribulation period (“henceforth,” in context). But dealing as it does with the state of the believing dead, in principle, it surely likewiseapplies to all who die “in the Lord.” How are they blessed? In numerous ways, according to this verse. First, they are blessed in that they “rest from their labors.” In this life we earn our physical sustenance by “the sweat of [our] face” (Genesis3:19). Here we must work hard to train our minds (Ecclesiastes12:12). Now we constantly battle our inward, fallen nature: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans7:24). Even as we attempt to serve our fellow man, our efforts are spurned and rejected. Not so for the dead! There all these labors will cease, and joyous, eternal service to the Lamb will commence (Revelation22:3). Secondly, they are blessed in that their labors continue to bear fruit even after they have gone. Perhaps even a previous word or act of testimony will be the eventual tool God uses to bring someone to Himself, and the reward will be properly distributed. Noact done to the glory of God will pass unnoticed. Thirdly, what a blessing to know that this state is promised by the very Spirit of God Himself. One’s worth at death is not measured by the content and sincerity of the opinions of friends at his funeral. This doctrine should produce both great courage for the Christian and great comfort for the bereaved. JDM ------------------------------ TheHallelujah Psalms “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm146:1) The last five chapters in the book of Psalms (146–150) comprise what might be considered a great “Hallelujah Chorus” to this “Hallel” book—the “book of Israel’s praises,” as the book of Psalms was called by the Israelites. Each psalm in this five-psalm group both begins and ends with an exclamatory “Praise ye the LORD,” or, in the Hebrew, “Hallelujah!” This word occurs 22 times in the book of Psalms. This is significant in that the Hebrew language has just 22 letters, suggestingto us that the very purpose of language is for God to reveal His Word to man and for man then to respond with thanksgiving and praise to God. It is further significant that the letters of the Greek language in the New Testament begin with “alpha” and end with “omega,” and that Jesus Christ, the living Word of God, has reminded us that “I am Alpha and Omega” (Revelation1:11; 22:13). The Greek word “Alleluia” occurs just four times in the New Testament, all at the great congregation in heaven that will assemble at the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (19:1-6, 9). This may also well be what is called “the general assemblyand church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven” (Hebrews12:23). There, along with “an innumerable company of angels,” all the redeemed saints of all the ages will gather to rejoice and give thanks and “praise our God, all ye his servants” (Revelation19:5). It seems possible—even probable—that these five Hallelujah psalms will constitute the testimonies of praise and thanksgiving that will be sung by this great congregation in the presence of the Lamb. The book of Psalms then closes with the greatexhortation: “Let every thing that hath breath [or ‘Spirit’] praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm150:6). HMM ------------------------------ ANew Song for a New Year “Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” (Psalm33:3) This is the first of nine references in the Bible to a “new song.” Appropriately, the song of Psalm 33 deals with the primeval event of creation, and it is the first psalm that does so (note also Psalm 104, etc.). The new song is to be sung with instrumental accompaniment. However, the Hebrew word translated “loud noise” is so translated nowhere else; it is translated many different ways, but perhaps the familiar rendering “joyful sound” (Psalm89:15) is the most appropriate here. In any case, this new song is of great importance and so should be performed well and joyfully, for it deals with the grandest of themes. First of all is the great assertion that “the word of the LORD” is always right and the “works” of the Lord are always of truth (33:4). His righteousness and goodness are evident everywhere to those with eyes to see and hearts to believe (v. 5). Then there is the vital revelation that God’s creation of all things was simply by His mighty word, “the breath of his mouth,” accomplished instantly, and not dragged out over long ages of evolutionary trial and error. “He spake, and it was done” (vv. 6, 9). Furthermore, it is a comfort to know that God does not change, though new years come and go. “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever” (v. 11). “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (v. 12). There are many other great themes in this new song, and it would indeed be well to read and rehearse them all as the new year begins, committing ourselves once again to the faithful teaching of His inerrant Word, His magnificent creation, and His great salvation.HMM --------------------------- 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 in the wilderness and streamsin 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 just keep going with the flow, not to mess anything up. Butthen "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. Whether we recognize it or not, we’re rubbing shoulders every day with people that we needed to meet in our "new," however hard that new thing may be. We can rest in His care for us. He knows. He sees. He works in ways we don't always "get," but there's peace in knowing we don't have to try to control it all. We can let go - of the need to figure it all out, and the striving to make things happen. We can trust Him. Our future awaits, and there's still good around the bend. God has more in store. Peace. Intersecting Faith & Life: If you find yourself in a new season right now, or you’re struggling to find the good in changing times, be assured that God has the best in store. Choose to trust that He’s working on your behalf today, even in ways you may not fullysee or understand. ------------------- Choose the Right Foundation - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, �Come, make us gods that shall go beforeus; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him� �Exodus 32:1 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/choose-the-right-foundation/- Listen The golden calf was the Israelites� second idol. Moses was their first. Yes, the people bowed before a golden calf while Moses was away. But they had made an idol out of Moses as well. It wasn�t his fault, however. Moses simply was a godly example. Exodus 14 tells us, �Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord and believed the Lord and His servant Moses� (verse 31NKJV). Later when Moses left for a time to receive the 10 Commandments, he put his brother, Aaron, in charge. But after a while, the people said, �As for this Moses, the man whobrought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him� (32:1 NKJV). Hold on. It was God who brought them out of Egypt. But in a way, they had put Moses in the place of God. This happens today. For instance, maybe a wife is more motivated spiritually than her husband, who seems to be just going along for the ride. His relationship with God,so to speak, depends on his wife�s relationship with God. Now let�s just say, for the sake of illustration, that his wife loses interest in spiritual things. It won�t be long before he loses interest as well. Or maybe there�s a pastor that people will flock to hear, but then one day he says or does something that they don�t like. So they say, �That�s it! I�m leaving my faithand walking away from the church.� Don�t build your faith in God on the foundation of another person. Each of us needs our own relationship with Him, one that doesn�t depend on a spouse, parents, or anyoneelse. The Lord needs to be number one in your life. ------------------------- ThereShall Be No Night �And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord Godgiveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.� (Revelation22:5) In the account of the creation, we read that the first word from God was �Let there be light� (Genesis1:3). He did not actually create or make light, as He did everything else, since God is light (1John 1:5). He did create darkness, however (Isaiah45:7), and then divided the light from the darkness. �And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night� (Genesis1:5). Although the darkness of night can be a time of blessing through rest and sleep, it also soon came to symbolize spiritual darkness. Most evil deeds are done at night, and Christians are warned to �have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness� (Ephesians5:11). God has called us �out of darkness into his marvellous light� (1Peter 2:9). In that wonderful age to come when we go to dwell in our eternal home in the Holy City, the city gates �shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there� (Revelation21:25). �And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof� (Revelation21:23). The sun and moon will still be functioning in the heavens, however, for �he hath also stablished them for ever and ever� (Psalm148:6). In fact, all the stars will also shine �for ever and ever� (Daniel12:3). Our God is the Creator, not an uncreator. As wise Solomon noted: �I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever� (Ecclesiastes3:14). The sun and moon will still be there, but their light will not be needed in the Holy City where we shall live, for the Lamb of God will also be the Lamp of God. He is the Light of the world and where He is, in His eternal glory, there can be no night. HMM ------------------- TheMost Important Choices - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. �Psalm 1:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-most-important-choices/- Listen We make numerous choices every day, from what to order at the drive-through to what TV shows to watch to what music or podcasts to listen to. For the most part, those aren�timportant choices. But then there are very important choices that we�ll make in life. One choice we make every day is whether to start the day with the Word of God or with social media or something else. Are we going to start the day with prayer, or are wegoing to start it with worry? Are we going to make time in our schedules to meet with other believers or make other activities a priority instead? Psalm 1 tells us, �Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delightis in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night� (verses 1�2 NKJV). The words �blessed� and �happy� are interchangeable. Basically, the Bible is saying that if we want to be happy, there are some things that we shouldn�t do, and there areother things that we should do instead. Don�t walk in ungodly counsel, Psalm 1 tells us, and instead walk in godly counsel. In other words, meditate on (or think about or contemplate) the Word of God. This isn�treferring to the meditation of Eastern mysticism. Rather, to meditate on the Word of God means to ponder or contemplate what the Bible has to say. The Bible tells us that Moses �chose to share the oppression of God�s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin� (Hebrews 11:25 NLT). Moses made a choicenot to live in the pleasures of sin but to instead identify with God�s people. You make your choices, and your choices make you. ----------------------------- The Book of Books �This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God madehe him.� (Genesis 5:1) The Bible (literally �the book�) contains over 200 references to books. This implies, among other things, God�s approval of communication by books. Our text, containing the first mention of the word �book� in the Bible, indicates that the very first man wrotea book! �Give attendance to reading,� Paul recommends (1 Timothy 4:13), especially the Holy Scriptures (2Timothy 3:15-17). The pattern of first and last mentions of �book� in the Bible is noteworthy, for all refer to divinely written or divinely inspired books. The first use in the New Testament is in the very first verse��The book of the generation of Jesus Christ� (Matthew1:1). The book of Adam�s �generations� is, in a special sense, the Old Testament; the book of the generation of Jesus Christ�the last Adam�is, in a similar sense, the New Testament. The final mention of �book� in the Old Testament is in Malachi 3:16: �A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.� The third-from-last verse of the New Testament contains no less than three references to God�s books: �If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life,...and from the things whichare written in this book� (Revelation 22:19). Note the significant modifiers attached to these six key references: �the book of the generations of Adam,� �a book of remembrance,� �the book of the generation of Jesus Christ,� �the book of this prophecy,� �the book of life,� and finally, simply �this book�! HMM --------------------- The Body of Christ 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. --------------------------- Better than the World�s Best - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other sideof the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. �Joshua 24:15 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/better-than-the-worlds-best/- Listen Can sin be fun? You might be surprised by my answer. Yes, of course, there is pleasure in sin. Otherwise, why would we do it? But it�s a short-lived pleasure. Then the problemswill follow. That�s why we want to make the right choices. Joshua stood before the people of Israel and said, �Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.� Then he added, �But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord� (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). Elijah stood on Mount Carmel and spoke to the vacillating, fickle people of Israel and said, �How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him� (1 Kings 18:21 NKJV). And Moses decided to choose difficulty over ease. Hebrews 11:25 says of him, �He chose to share the oppression of God�s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasuresof sin� (NLT). Yet because of his right choices, he was a man of personal integrity. God�s worst is better than the world�s best. What is the world�s best? It�s a few short-lived pleasures. And what is God�s worst? It�s persecution, rejection, being mocked,and things of that nature. On the other hand, God�s best is peace, purpose, meaning in this life, a relationship and friendship with God Himself, and the guaranteed assurance of Heaven beyond thegrave. What is the world�s worst? It�s misery, guilt, emptiness, and a future of judgment in Hell. No matter what choices you make, you will stand before God one day. But only one road leads to Heaven, and it�s through Jesus because He died on the cross for our sins androse from the dead. If you want to know that you will go to Heaven when you die, you need to ask Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and begin to follow Him as your Savior and Lord. ----------------------- Into God�s Presence - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. �Deuteronomy 34:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/into-gods-presence/- Listen As we get older, we realize that we have limitations. And sometimes when people get older, they begin to disconnect. They not only retire from their work, but sometimesthey retire from their spiritual lives too. That wasn�t the case with Moses. He finished his race well. The Bible tells us that �he went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is acrossfrom Jericho� (Deuteronomy 34:1 NKJV). Moses was 120 years old at this point, so I�m pretty impressed that he could climb this mountain. And he made it to the very top. The Bible goes on to say, �And the Lord showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land ofJudah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho�the city of palms�as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to Moses, �This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, �I will give it to your descendants.� I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land�� (verses 1�4 NKJV). God didn�t do this to depress Moses. Rather, He was saying, �Look, Moses, here�s the land. I keep my promises. I�m going to do what I said I would.� Moses understood that he was going to die, yet he wasn�t afraid. He finished his race well. If you�re a Christian, you don�t have to be afraid to die, either. In fact, the apostle Paul reminds us that �to live is Christ, and to die is gain� (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). And why is dying �gain� for the Christian? Because we go to Heaven, into the very presence of God. ----------------------------- The Mount of Olives �And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, andhe went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.� (2 Samuel 15:30) The Mount of Olives overlooks Jerusalem from the east. This first reference to it notes the sad occasion when King David had to flee Jerusalem for his life, escaping the conspiracy of his estranged son Absalom. Just as David wept over Jerusalem as he left it, so would his greater son, Jesus, a thousand years later, weep over the city as He entered it from Mount Olivet (Luke19:37, 41). It was there that He gave the great prophecy of His second coming (Matthew 24:3). It was also there He went with His disciples after thelast supper, and there He agonized in prayer, alone, in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26, 32). Finally, after His death and resurrection, it was fromthe Mount of Olives that He ascended back into heaven (Acts 1:10-12). This is far from the end of the story, however. The Mount of Olives has an amazing role yet to play in the world�s future, according to a prophecy given long ago. �Behold, the day of the LORD cometh,...And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount ofOlives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it towardthe south� (Zechariah 14:1, 4). Instead of a mountain there will be a valley, and �living waters shall go out from Jerusalem� (v. 8). Instead of a mountainfor weeping there will be a stream of rejoicing, and �the LORD shall be king over all the earth� (v. 9). HMM ------------------------------------ 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 visit again. 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 decision to 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 entropy we have created, making the disparate parts of our lifeinto 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? After the moment of salvation, God desires to sanctify us--to make us holy--but this takes time and daily repentance, submission, and prayer, all things that themselves require us to be in for the long haul if we hope to see fruit. God does not take His sweet time making us more like Himself because He enjoys seeing our impatience; He is patient in perfecting us because, for any truth to truly take hold in us, takes time. Although we are creatures who have no problem proclaiming an opinion in an instant, we also recognize that dearly-held beliefs are not easily relinquished. In His infinite mercy, God takes upon Himself the process of gently wrestling our most dearly-held but harmful, selfish, and just plain false beliefs from the intense grip we have on them. Our stubbornness to begin the growing process is often a reason why we do not spring forward in our Christian life in leaps and bounds. But that is okay. God knows our frame, and His patience and lovingkindness never fails, even when ours does. Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you struggle with patience and waiting on the Lord? What is the Lord trying to teach you through it? ------------------------ VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM